16 Guidelines for a Generation of Children: How Akshay School Brings Ethical Education to Life

Featuring: Ceci Buzon

The 16 Guidelines for Life programme has long been a source of inspiration and ethical grounding for children and educators around the world. At Akshay School in India, the 16 Guidelines for children are fully integrated into the curriculum and daily life, creating a vibrant model of ethical education in practice.

In January 2025, a special three-week training led by facilitator Ceci Buzon offered a deeper exploration of the Guidelines for both staff and students. From reflective sessions with teachers to creative activities with children, the programme came alive in new ways, highlighting Akshay School as a powerful example of how ethical education can take root and flourish when practised consistently.

Deepening Wisdom with the Staff

Over the first two weeks of the training, daily sessions were held with school staff to “deepen [their] understanding of the programme.” Ceci explained, “We especially focused on the Wisdom Themes and the Tools. We reflected and practised each one of them, both individually and as a group.”

These Wisdom Themes – How we think, How we act, How we relate to others, and How we find meaning – provided the structure for in-depth learning. Staff explored the meaning of each theme, how the individual guidelines within them connect, and how they interrelate. Together, they looked at practical ways to apply the guidelines in everyday life, not just in theory but through lived experience.

The sessions were also a space for mutual growth. “These were very fruitful meetings,” Ceci noted, “in which the teachers could also deepen their own personal practice and understanding.” By the end of the fortnight, the staff had also designed a variety of activities to bring the 16 Guidelines to students of all ages, ensuring that each activity was both meaningful and developmentally appropriate.

Working with Teenagers: From Learning to Living the Guidelines

During the afternoon, Ceci met with a group of teenagers aged 13 to 16 who had completed their studies at Akshay School but continued to stay involved. “They all have had many classes about the 16 Guidelines during their school years so are very familiar with the programme,” Ceci shared.

This group’s familiarity allowed for a more nuanced and honest exploration of the Guidelines. “We chose to deepen our understanding of the 16 Guidelines by bringing the shadow side of the guidelines and discussing those guidelines which we found harder to put into practice,” Ceci explained.

These sessions provided a rare and valuable opportunity for the teens to reflect on personal challenges and growth. The group shared stories and discussed the realities of applying the Guidelines beyond the school setting. They explored how to “fill up their own cups” using the 16 Guidelines independently and considered how to establish a daily practice now that they no longer attend school regularly.

This phase of the training was particularly meaningful. It not only validated the challenges of ethical living in adolescence but also empowered the students to carry the wisdom of the Guidelines forward into their adult lives.

Bringing the 16 Guidelines for Children into the Classroom

The final week of the training was dedicated to hands-on classroom work with students across all year groups, from the youngest in kindergarten to those in Year 8. Ceci described it as “a delight,” not only for the joy of engaging with the children, but also for the chance to support teachers in real time. “The main aim was to share these moments with the teachers so as to work together on their doubts or difficulties while delivering 16G activities.”

With the youngest students, learning began with storytelling. One highlight was the story of The Dragon’s Mouth, which opened up a playful yet powerful exploration of the importance of our words. The children then expressed what they had learned through related crafts, deepening their understanding through creativity and interaction.

Older students took part in activities focused on specific Guidelines such as gratitude, service, and courage. These sessions were tailored to encourage reflection and action, connecting values to daily experiences and peer relationships.

With students in Years 7 and 8, the focus shifted towards more complex ideas. “We worked with the Wisdom Themes and also with the concepts of perspective and interconnection,” Ceci reported. These themes resonated strongly with the older pupils, prompting thoughtful engagement and dynamic discussions.

Each session was designed not only to convey the Guidelines, but to live them, turning ethical concepts into shared experiences that could be carried into the students’ everyday lives.

Whole-School Practice: Assemblies and Mindfulness

The training culminated in a special whole-school assembly where every student and staff member came together to engage in mindfulness practice. “We worked as a whole during the Assembly,” Ceci noted, “deepening our personal awareness by practising body scan and mindfulness breathing all together.”

This collective moment of stillness and connection offered a powerful illustration of the 16 Guidelines in action, particularly those rooted in self-awareness, kindness, and unity. For many, it was a highlight of the training: a shared pause to breathe, reflect, and simply be.

More than a one-off activity, the assembly served as a reminder of how mindfulness can be woven into the rhythm of school life, enhancing emotional regulation and building a culture of care and presence. It also reinforced the idea that the 16 Guidelines are not just lessons to be taught, but values to be lived by everyone, together.

A Ripple Effect: Future Facilitators and Community Impact

As a meaningful follow-up to the training, Ceci has initiated a regular study group with two long-standing staff members: Shiv Kumar, the school principal and teacher, and Ranjan Singh, the project manager and education coordinator. Both have shown deep commitment to the 16 Guidelines and have worked with the programme extensively, both online and in person.

“They will have online meetings twice a month and complete a learning log between meetings,” Ceci shared. This ongoing engagement will support their continued growth as educators and deepen their ability to mentor others.

Looking ahead, the aspiration is to train Hindi-speaking 16 Guidelines facilitators, an important step in making the programme more accessible across India. With over 200 students already shaped by this approach, all from the same village, the potential long-term impact on the local community is both tangible and inspiring.

“When we think that all the students come from the same area, that gives 200 plus students who will be the future adults in the same village all formed within this programme,” Ceci reflected. “I can’t wait [to see] what positive impact that will bring to their community.”

Reflections and Looking Ahead

Reflecting on the training, school founder Raquel Mason shared:

“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to FDCW for the opportunity to welcome Ceci to our school. Her sessions with both the teachers and the 16G students brought a deeper, more meaningful learning experience for everyone involved. As always, having Ceci at Akshay School is a true joy. Her presence inspires us, and we are committed to continuing our learning journey by putting into practice the wisdom she shared.”

With the creation of an ongoing study group, and aspirations to train Hindi-speaking facilitators, the impact of the 16 Guidelines at Akshay School continues to grow. As Ceci noted, the school now has more than 200 students from the local community who will carry these values into adulthood.

Akshay School offers a shining example of how the 16 Guidelines can become a living framework for education, nurturing compassion, courage and wisdom across generations.

Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW)

At FDCW, we are committed to a more compassionate, wiser world. We provide resources, courses and training to develop qualities such as kindness, patience and honesty – qualities that are essential for meeting the challenges of the world we all share.

The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) was established as a global charity based in London in 2005. Since then, we have provided secular training, programmes and resources across many sectors of society – schools, universities, hospices, workplaces, healthcare, youth groups and community centres. Our courses have reached thousands of people across the world through our dedicated and growing network of facilitators in more than 20 countries.

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