Al-Sanabel initiative in Baka el-Gharbiya is expanding and institutionalizing its best practices. In its fourth year, the Rawad training program was born. Rawad (رواد) means “trailblazers” in Arabic. This group of leaders, composed of two staff members from each participating school, is set to make social-emotional learning (SEL) an inseparable part of the school’s DNA.
Why Rawad? The decision to introduce this training element stemmed from the need to move from individual initiatives within each school to sustainable, systemic change at the municipal level.
School counselors and pedagogical coordinators were intentionally chosen to lead the initiative.This strategic, deliberate connection aims to connect the emotional-therapeutic aspect of school (which is the responsibility of school counselors) with the didactic implementation in the classrooms (which is the responsibility of the pedagogical coordinators). Together, they are breaking new ground to build a language and routines that will transform the promotion of SEL skills from an external add-on from the municipal school system to the heart of the school pedagogy.
What does the Rawad training include? Participants undergo an in-depth process based on the unique SEL model developed in Baka el-Gharbiya. The model designed especially for the city has three main components: developing identity; developing agency; and recognizing, expressing and regulating emotions. The training provides participants with tools to guide communities of teachers and to develop skills to integrate SEL into pedagogy. This year, each pair of school representatives already is guiding a group of teachers as part of a school training program.
This is a crucial step in realizing the city’s vision: building a strong education system that endows its students with a sense of pride and a local identity, as well as reduce violence by strengthening the SEL skills of the next generation in Baka el-Gharbiya.
