Free social emotional learning lessons, made by students

The class meets on Zoom. On one end is an NGO school in Thailand for Myanmar refugees, where elementary students take a wellbeing class. On the other end are the students of Mutual Minds, the initiative Yena Choi began.

Mutual Minds creates social emotional learning (SEL) lesson plans for students around the world, especially for schools with students in need. The lessons are free. The group makes lesson plan booklets for teachers that describe each SEL skill and concept, along with the lesson plans themselves. At the school in Thailand, the lessons are part of the wellbeing class curriculum, and the Mutual Minds students teach them too.

“Education is for all, and SEL provides the life skills that help every individual grow and thrive.”

Yena Choi

Yena studies at the American School of Warsaw. "I have always been passionate about education and dream of working in this field in the future," she says.

The idea took shape after she learned about concepts like the Hidden curriculum, the lessons we pick up naturally that go beyond academics. She says the realisation was that these fundamental skills of wellbeing are more important than academics.

Quality education may differ for students around the world, Yena says. Building lifelong skills such as SEL, though, can set a foundation for their futures "that academics alone cannot achieve."

The next piece is local. The group plans to work locally and branch out in Poland. The plan is monthly sessions, either hosting the students at school or going to the refugee centers, doing the lesson plans with them "and also building relationships with these students."