Skills Beyond Education™ is a dedicated team of mentors championing real and authentic project-driven learning through a self-directed, peer-assisted and mentor-led approach. Between personal and community-driven goals, knowledge is harvested by using mentoring techniques from varied disciplines, all of which are blended with the spiritual nature of the individual being. What we grow into as our lives evolve, depends on the nature and parameters of our living experiences in the present moment. Hence, we strive to be conscious of our thoughts and actions, and ensure that our efforts are supplemented with kindness and mindfulness.
Our creative teams are composed of a diversity of people with different but complementary talents. That combination always produces beautiful results – with strong bonds of friendship and community-oriented thinking being the by-products of our ventures. Our programs nurture the individuality of each apprentice while ensuring that connections are created through overlapping ideals and values with their peers and mentors. The mixed age-group of apprentices ensures a synergetic and symbiotic mindset, each one learning and benefiting from the other. Skills Beyond Education conducts varied workshops to augment its core unit, the Inner-Strength Program, and also serves as a platform to empower the youth and people in general to find their own purpose and direction in this life while cultivating kinship along the way.
We invite you to join us and observe the subtle shifts in paradigms, not only in the way we learn and teach, but also in the way we live.
Our vision is to ensure that each adolescent and adult who partakes in this journey becomes reinforced with inner guidance, strength and courage that they would need to find and fulfil their own purpose in this life while sustaining a culture of joyful living and learning.
OUR MISSION
To be at the frontiers of educational research and change
To facilitate inner strength development in each individual
To cultivate skills beyond education among children and adults
To create and develop a community of 21st century mentors
OUR GOALS
To strengthen the inner will
To build courage and gratitude
To kindle wonder and curiosity
To pursue the joy of learning
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Our Programs
We conduct programs, workshops and camps for teens, adults, and/or schools and corporate organisations to help them develop their own learning platforms. Some of our popular programs are Inner Strength Program, Survival Skills, Risk and Uncertainty, Personal and Occupational Safety and the leading Apprentice Education Program.
Apprentice Education Program:
The elemental qualities of each individual are often buried under multiple layers of conformity. Just like a farmer, we have to create optimum conditions where they are able to push through those limiting layers of mental/ emotional baggage and flourish. The Apprentice Education Program is designed to integrate meaning and functional learning through the social and civic projects taken up by adolescents and young adults, with a combination of self-directed, peer-assisted and mentor-led sessions. The apprentices, at the end of the project, deliver their learnings to a larger audience through classroom sessions, practical demonstrations, live interactions and their own published works to government schools, rural schools and children from underprivileged backgrounds. We have learnt that true empathy only develops from hands-on experience, that engaging with our environment and the local community is the way to build our bravery muscles, that real learning comes from the most unexpected sources, and that doing our work deliberately and consistently strengthens our will, collectively moving us forward.
The act of mentoring thrives on partnership and collaboration—within schools, between schools, and with other groups and organizations. Our role is to mentor the apprentices through hands-on and holistic methods so that they’re outfitted to face the future.
They need not feel discouraged by the magnitude of the problems they’re surrounded by; they need only to see it as a potential way to change things within their capacity and means. By that mentality, we empower the youngsters to lead the way forward – to present to them the issues we’re currently facing and leave it to them to design and form creative solutions in implementing change. The apprentices have a variety of options to materialize their ideas and creativity which transcend conventional and traditional structures. As mentors, we act to facilitate what they’re already born with – the resilience and knowledge needed to create a movement.
Features:
Self-directed and mentor-led learning with peers and mixed age group. Authentic, experiential project work; fully-partially sponsored for select students*; work and learning opportunity for youngsters.
Program objective: To help youngsters cultivate leadership, resilience, confidence, great habits, strength of will, collaboration and inner strength to face life’s challenges.
Ages 14 – 24 years
Awards and certificates issued at the end of the Apprentice and Internship Program. * Selection of students at the management’s discretion. Conditions apply.
Inner Strength Program
Our workshop on will power is one of our core modules. Any decision without action is pointless. Execution is the key to change our thoughts into action. The more we become aware of how our bodies and minds work, the easier it is to build inner strength and draw inspiration to do great or even routine things. We need to consciously build the will, like a muscle, to achieve our goals. Age old practices and tools are woven into our workshop “Cultivating Will Power” which is designed to build and nurture our will.
Age Group: Suitable for ages 9 years and above.
During school and college years we are primarily concerned with studies, friends, sports, academic and career choices. As we move into the adult chapter of our lives, many issues may be thrown at us, for which we may or may not have been prepared.
Inner Strength Camp helps develop winning habits and rhythms to maintain a healthy lifestyle, incorporating fitness, improving relationships important to us (with parents, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, bosses), setting boundaries, understanding our decision-making patterns, handling crisis, becoming aware of cultural context in communications and overcoming hidden fears, beliefs and behaviors.
The future is of unrestricted mobility with international education and business opportunities. Foreign travel will become the norm due to cheaper air fares, availability of various accommodations, and a growing appetite for global and national travel. Understanding the nature of communications along with sensitivity to people’s practices, beliefs and communication styles will help the budding generations face their future world with ease and comfort.
The heart of the Inner Strength Camp is to cultivate integrity, character and ability to face challenges of the future. Strong will power to get things done without procrastinating will be the key. This program develops leadership, self-reliance, collaboration, decision-making, self-awareness, life rhythms and inner strength to face life’s challenges.
Can include as learning tools: Woodworking, Knots, Journaling, Theatre, Artistic work, Art of Decision making, Will-Boot-Camp
These are short programs or mini-versions of the apprentice education programs to bring to adolescents who may not be involved with us in the full-year program. Inner-strength is part of the apprentice education. Inner-strength program is also our outreach program to engage with children from govt. and private schools from time to time apart from being a summer and holiday workshop.
All skill building workshops, which have been curated by skills beyond education and which we believe helps build a certain inner quality apart from taking away a real-life skill is part of the inner-strength program larger offerings.
Mentoring Program 121
Mentoring Program for Adults and Adolescents for building inner strength, will power, decision making, handling uncertainty, stress and becoming more mindful of oneself. Counselling to address work place challenges, stress, depression and uncertainty. Mentoring will be done one-to-one by real-life experts with varied life experience and learnings.
Star-Gazing Camp
Our flagship program, Star-Gazing Camp, inspires and cultivates cosmic consciousness by building our imagination and creativity through the simple act of gazing up at the night sky and learning our place in the galaxies; how we are all temporal and spiritual beings, yet know so little about the space that surrounds our planet. This session is tailored to suit all age groups – children (can be exclusive or open for all), adults, senior citizens, NGOs, corporates – to tap into the greater inspiration source: the cosmos.
Features:
Beginners Program for Adults and Kids. Overnight outdoor camping on the outskirts of the city. Stargaze with a ship captain, learn old sailors’ way of navigation, discover stars, constellations and planets without gadgets and telescopes.
Listen to star-lore and mysteries of our universe whilst watching the night sky and also during the pre-dawn star-gaze walk. Learn to identify the zoo-circle, pick up tips on astro-photography and learn to recognise galaxies and the milky way. Understanding our place in the universe and how we can relate to it physically and spiritually.
Program is designed for a soulful connect with the cosmos apart from learning tools and techniques for star-gazing for both adults and children over 11 years.
Viewing is subject to weather and light conditions.
Allied Learning Programs
Mentor training program
Personal and Occupational Safety
Safety and Security at Schools and Colleges
Mindful Parenting
Decision Making
Social and Emotional Learning Camps
Please follow our Facebook page for the latest event dates and venues. You can also register through our contact page for updates via WhatsApp.
“Gazing at the stars made me feel light and protected, it was an amazing feeling” – Usha Chandra Chood
“It was a very, very wonderful experience for me, heartfelt gratitude for that” – Nidhi (Teacher @ Bangalore Steiner School)
“Thank you Preetham, today I got to a chance to attend the star-gazing night, it helped me a lot and made me more interested to learn about the stars, thank you and god bless you” – Venkatesh @ Friends-of-Camphill-India and the Organizing team of Anthroposophy festival, Bangalore
“Thanks for everything, the time with you was the highlight of the anthroposophy festival for me” – Ravi Koushik, Biodynamic Farming Expert @ Organichutbkk.com
“The star is within me – a touching poetry and stunning art – it was an amazing journey” – Remya & Sathya (A poet & An artist)
“Thanks for the awesome time and information” – Swananda (Teacher @ BSS)
“We had a fabulous stay, this is a unique experience to explore the unknown ocean. Thanks to you and your team for taking us through this journey. I felt one day is not enough to explore the ocean of sailing knowledge you have. We look forward to visiting again and star gazing. Wishing you the best on this new voyage” – Prasad, Bangalore
“Till yesterday, I had my own view on stars which was not true. I got a realistic sense of stars from the night sky astronomy session, how to spot constellations, where to spot them was taught to a layman like me. The approach to learning was very interesting. The complexity of stars was made simple enough for me to understand. My quest for discovering and learning about new stars begins with this session” – Charan, Class 12, Pathashaala School (Elimichampet, Tamil Nadu)
“Well, I have been in space club before but they were very detailed, you were more informal, loved the experience and the stories you told. Thank you for this experience and taking my interest a little further” – Elalavya, Grade 11, The Peepal Grove School (Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh)
“Stargazing was fun, learnt about the many stars, their history. Best part was listening to the stories. I could easily find Leo, Scorpio, Orion, Gemini, The Great Dipper, Preetham Uncle was explaining very good, I’m gonna miss this place.” – Ajay, Grade 8, Abhaya School, Hyderabad
“It was a magical experience to watch the dark skies and learn the names of the stars, the beginning of a valuable relationship. You brought a master’s humility and knowledge to the interactions and navigation seemed deceptively simple. The wonder remains, thanks for the great experience” – Sumitra, Head Mistress, Pathashaala School (Elimichampet, TN)
“Thank you so much for opening my mind to the infinite possibilities out there! it was amazing to hear all the stories, really makes one remember the stars! I will definitely learn more about the large universe out there, thanks to you!” – Varsha Yeshwant Kumar, Professional Photographer & Videographer
“It was wonderful to meet you on this trip and to hear you share your knowledge with all of us about the stars. Sitting outside in front of the house at night was definitely a magical experience I won’t forget” – Casey, Professional Videographer & Photographer, Boston
“Thank you so much for opening my mind to the infinite possibilities out there” – Neha (Parent)
“It was a wonderful experience, first time in all these years I’m seeing the sky for so long, thanks” – Shanmuga (Parent)
“Really enjoyed the way you connected the star gazing with your stories. My take away from this session was about the sun sign and moon signs that you explained. Thank you” – Jayashree, Geography Teacher, Bangalore
“It was a great outdoor event for the family & kids, we were able to learn how to read the constellations and planets. It was terrific yet a simple program, shows the experience of our guide Capt. Preetham, Kudos for this and Congratulations” – Raghunandan, Sandhya, Vedant & Kabir
“There is one thing I really liked about last night were the stories. Yesterday was the first time I was able to see the images in the sky. Learning about the stars was the best thing ever, I didn’t actually know that there was a star called Bellatrix till yesterday, so felt yesterday’s stargazing session was the best one I’ve had till now. So thank you Preetham Uncle, Sir, Capt. for the wonderful session and making our last night more exciting. Hope to meet you again”– Seshnag, Class 8, Abhaya School, Hyderabad
“Dearest Captain Preetham, Thank you for spending the time to teach us so much we may have never learnt” – Parinita, Grade 7, Bangalore Steiner School
“We have immensely enjoyed learning from you over the past few weeks. We hope you have more wondrous adventures and tell us about them” – Aanyaa, Grade 7, Bangalore Steiner School
“Session was very interesting, had activities for children. He filled positive attitude in students with his stories and shared his experiences as a captain of the ship” – Mamatha, Head Mistress, St. Philomena’s English School, Bangalore
“I really like the way you teach and the stuff you taught” – Sneha, Grade 7, BSS
“Thank you sooooo….much Captain Preetham ! you have taught us things we never thought of. We’ll miss your classes.” – Vineetha, Grade 7, BSS
