these kids a package to help them out," she says. Another student jumps into the discussion asserting, "It would be good to send material goods, but I think it would be better to tell their governments to build schools for the kids so that they can become professionals. They have a right to a free education." A couple months ago, none of these students could have elaborated correctly on what it means to respect human rights or what mechanisms work to promote them.

Fifteen months earlier, as a participant in the Second World Youth Conference, I watched the graduation of students from all over the world who had received their training at the Institute of Sathya Sai Education in Thailand. As Swami presented the diplomas and as we looked on, the moderator announced the topics of each student's advanced thesis project, which included the visual arts and human values, integral human values, and the methodology of human values. As we sat in an atmosphere charged with the radiance of Sai and bubbling with the energy of the youth conference participants, an idea emerged. Why couldn't I also find the link between human values and my field of work - human rights? There is a natural connection between the two since one must possess certain human values in order to be able to respect human rights. Consequently, the lack of education for developing character and human values is being reflected in situations of human rights abuses throughout the world. The emphasis of many human rights organizations has traditionally been on seeking out and punishing those responsible for abuses. While this is important in deterring future violations, it does not address the issue of prevention. I resolved to look into what was being done in terms of promoting human values and human rights through educational initiatives.

Fast forward one year to December 2000. With the support of a grant and the assistance of advisors, I found myself in the Dominican Republic working to develop a curriculum for 8^th graders on human rights. Each lesson includes an activity about human rights, group discussion and a reading in the student text pertaining to a certain value such as peace, love, cooperation and honesty among others. In order to experiment with the curriculum and identify ways to make it better, the course is currently being taught to nearly forty 8^th graders in an urban middle school. I am observing the course as the school year progresses and adjusting it depending on what works and what doesn't.

Sai's teachings were the impetus for this project and they have continued to surface at every step along the way. For example, I was at the Dominican Ministry of Education one day reviewing some books in their small library. One of the first books I opened had a quote by Swami, translated into Spanish and which goes as follows: "Where there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the Character. If there is beauty in the Character, there will be harmony in the home. Where there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. Where there is order in the nation, there will be Peace in the world". An expert in education mentioned at a meeting that she uses Swami's education in human values program in workshops for teachers here. The day I went to get the student texts bound, the clerk at the photocopy center randomly started asking me whether Sai Baba is an Avatar (an incarnation of the Divine) or a guru (a spiritual guide), and what was the difference between the two.

The experience of learning about the educational system in another country has been invaluable to me. As I elaborate this project, I am continually struck by the universality of Sai's mission, and particularly how people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds can all benefit from Sai's pioneering, yet age-old, concepts in the field of human values education.

Swami reminds us that He is everywhere and, personally, it has been wonderful to see Him in the angelic faces of these youths as they analyze social issues and develop the values and abilities to begin considering solutions to them. They are learning to value human rights and developing the unity that binds all of humanity.  

	"Today the whole world is engulfed in troubles and turmoil on account of injustice, falsehood and unrighteousness.  Only young men and women are capable of restoring the declining human values.  Only when man upholds morality, can there be equality, fraternity and freedom in society." Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Lesson Plans used in the Dominican Republic