Zoe Griffiths Founder/CEO Alchemy of Learning International Ltd

Hope is a strategy….

As I awake every morning within the belly of the architecture and backdrop to my entire life these days. I reflect on the building that surrounds me, the foundations of which are rooted in the land fought for by my ancestors, which now surrounding the roots of my being, the inner place where I call home.

A building that I have nurtured through alchemy into a spiritual haven, where Qi flows every morning in movement to connect my energetic and physical body, where my spirit sings to the most beautiful words created by talented musical souls, I recite mantra’s that energy healers vibrate, and breathe the breath of life to connect to the universe, for we are all interconnected every soul inside of us. Every morning I choose my own well-being as my priority, my inner architecture is my gift of self love.

When I was asked to speak on a Welsh current affairs programme (Y byd ar bedwar) and ITV news last week, my awareness drew me to energetically connect with and feel compassion with the 16 percent of homes across the UK as the scandalous fire safety problems continue to ripple across the United Kingdom, a complex problem that I too have become inheritus.

I send love and light to those that have paid the biggest price through the loss of loved ones as a result of the use of combustible cladding on buildings and to those who live in fear and economic crisis living in homes that have a Zero value in this present moment. Insurance premiums that have sky rocketed until the remedial work has been completed. I wonder how on earth companies who have produced combustible materials passed a regulatory check and been enabled to supply construction companies impacting 16 percent of the housing stock in the UK without accountability?

Within me, the colour red engulfs me, the colour of the uniform that I proudly wore for Wales in International Netball competitions, the colour of the dragon that I gazed at on the Welsh flag as I sang my national anthem with honor. The colour red now that is a stealth attack on collective root chakra, but is also what unites us, us the ~15 million of humanity, us the powerful creators, us the community of homes that have love at their hearts. The most powerful source of change for humanity against adversity comes from love and the awareness that we are all interconnected. United we come from a position of strength. The colour red to me has strong symbolism of being a part of a high performing TEAM to serve a higher purpose than myself.

“I believe that tangible hope around a common purpose with a vision to match is a strategy”“

Becoming a powerful observer of the complexity of the challenge we face together made me really curious about the position each part of the public and private housing ecosystem has taken in the face of a crisis. Pushing accountability for the scandal onto the end users in different ways, – interestingly, the people who are the source that fuel a buoyant housing market, making a contribution to our countries GDP. Even though we are all interconnected in the way energy, love and money flows between us and within our ecosystem each stakeholder limits the infinite possibility of co-creating a collective solution. Rather, building their own stagnant pond cutting off the constant exchange of living water that keeps a pond environment alive and healthy and thus flowing with a hope strategy and infinite possibilities. Every stakeholder is indeed off balance by the scandal but we always have the choice on how we respond. Why can we not challenge the process of solving complex challenges together, public and private and find opportunities in common ground to fulfill our own needs and our collective as a housing ecosystem for we are all interconnected. I envision a public, private sector human service task force with HOPE an integral strategy :-

“A human service task force which solves complex challenges top down and bottom up with compassion, empowering community voice from a position of love and care. A force that draws people from all segments of the ecosystem, for when their advice is sought into the challenge ahead the ecosystem whose advice are sought feel honoured and needed and become powerful co-creators towards the solution which impacts them directly””

I’m curious, what’s the default strategy in solving complex challenges in our world today – HOPE or FEAR?

The Spectrum of AI

Every morning I feel truly blessed to return to the beauty of the Welsh countryside and coastal paths the land of my mothers and fathers to remember what I had forgotten, that the world can be wholesome and beautiful, that the harmony and integrity of ecosystems at peace is a mirror to what we have lost during Covid19. Being with all the riches of Wales all around me has kept my spirit alive and I have never wondered once what it’s worth. The playful grey squirrels remind me to not take life and myself so seriously, Jonathon Livingston seagull by the sea shows me how to embrace the perils of flying with courage and bravery, the falling leaves underfoot remind me how shedding a few more layers leads to such continual growth towards a higher self and the smell of the honeysuckle fills my aura with the sweet smell of spring and of the awakening of becoming a divine feminine.

And I breathe our fresh air, and I observe a spiders web glistening in the morning sun, curious how the web allows a spider to catch prey without having to expend energy by running it down. This efficiency method of gathering food hit my like a lightening bolt.

I slowly opened up my heart to reflect upon the habitual behaviours and stealth conditioning that have formed during this gift of life called time that has passed. 150 days not 66 days of Robin Sharma’s 5am club undergone, Over 3600 hrs of time spent living, I’m curious how Gladwell will frame the Outliers of 2020, what Range our future generation experience in this life and the echo of Elsa Mendoz’s poem on humanity flows through my being. Who influences our humanities architecture?

I am curiously aware of the spider again and at this moment the spectrum of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that has effortlessly flowed through our web rather like the way our breath goes in, breathe goes out in a never ending cycle of flow. AI relies on big data for functionality which we surrender to whatever data centre in whatever country without a second thought. As our school day and home life ebb and flow and intertwine the personal field that our children graze upon, fields of abstract pastures are shepherded by large multinational companies free to roam. It makes me feel really uncomfortable that the unexpected drawbacks of these technology solutions that we were so drawn to, have such profound unintended consequences for our children’s future. An external world that churns all of our children’s personal data without their understanding, breaching their human rights particularly article 16 (right to privacy). Connecting with conversations at day 3 of the T20 Saudi Arabia task force 6 Economy, Employment and Education during the digital age; synchronised with this awareness, the universe aligns to create policy recommendations to G20 post Covid19.

There has never been such a high sense of urgency to protect the unique talents of our future generation from the developer bias of algorithms. Indeed, every child has the right to privacy, the law should protect the child’s private, family, school and home life, including protecting children from unlawful attacks that harm their reputation (UN Convention for the rights of the Child, UK 1992). Technology is herding our children into an existence that not only damages social relationships and communities but also impacts their privacy across our Worlds borders without protection. Causing marked inequality and an open door to a world that doesn’t require a passport or a visa; one that doesn’t have their best interests at heart; one that categorises and divides our humanity into economic, cultural, social, personal and political domains, labelled and divided and in the wrong hands the enabler for a high level of surveillance, control and diminishing freedom and rights.

AI crosses our child’s personal boundaries without the safe space, compassion and love that the family home provides, yet, the data points that children surrender to the external world enable a personal network domain that know more about them than their family and friends.

As my own self awareness grows on those challenges that the new world order impose upon us, I open up to get more creative control and confident hope that a country led data centre that celebrates and nurtures our future generation becomes a reality. Data algorithms that align with the values of the United Kingdom, AI that lives within our own data centres, regulations that protect our citizens freedom and humanity. With our collective intelligence we can unite our society again, spread love and hope across our communities rippling into our schools and we again hear the sound of laughter, see the joy of a smile, the soothing nature of human touch and the freedom once again to have self sovereignty of our own data under the safety, security and stewardship of our own web.

I offer my final closing reflections on inner architecture from the Dalai Lama for us to consider..

The planet does not need more “successful people, the planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds.

Let’s be curios together to explore under what influence and conditions our inner architecture is formed, and what does the web look like within our family homes? Let’s individually fix our hearts, address it in our homes and make the world a unified, free place to love once again.

Thank you for your service to our country

Thank you for your service to our country, we are sorry that during this time that we are unable to build meaningful relationships with you that are mutual and empathetic to fully understand your fears and what you’re going through in the face of COVID-19. We just wanted to let you know that we silently admire your courage, bravery and resilience from afar and we gain inner strength from the hope that you bring to us everyday. You shine a light on humanity the kind that unites us as a community, rippling across our country and into the world in our collective global fight.

Yes we feel inadequate by saying thank you for your service to our country, we will however make some sacrifice greater than the amount of lung effort necessary to utter a few words. There is one thing we do understand, however, that words are cheap and action is dear, especially the sort of action you value as a frontline health worker and those caring for our elderly, our most vulnerable, our education sector and those caring for our future generation at home.

As you all give so that we may live, we will stay at home and be inspired by every single one of you leading without a title serving our country. The ones who are able will reach out to those people some of which are your family members within our community and offer our service to ensure they have food to eat, the medication they need and an ear to listen and converse to bring a little joy within the safe parameters of 2 metres away not to put them at risk. We will build the vibration around our community, one of hope, strength and optimism to lift you up through your darkest days. Our love and our light are with you every step of the way.

Thank you for your service to our country
Diolch i chi am eich gwasanaeth i’n gwlad

Alchemy of Learning International’s journey to inception

Following retirement from international netball a young adventurous business owner, educator and open hearted girl from Wales felt she had achieved everything she wanted in life at 30, and simultaneously felt completely lost. What was life’s purpose when there was nothing else to achieve? After many hours deliberating with her partner, family and friends project purpose emerged to face front on this burning question and to seek out a new meaning to her life. Her journey companion the enchanting Santiago in the Alchemist by Paolo Coelho, the destination – United Arab Emirates, the search – Elixir of Life.

A new mindset of possibilities was born, opening her up to a rich and meaningful array of experiences in the private and public sectors within education in the UAE at a time when a 30 something year old country was creating itself too. Being under it’s stewardship at this time was an extraordinary, authentic experience and a synergy naturally ensued on life’s journey. She begun walking the journey of a thousand miles; she traversed, slipped, rested, climbed had altitude sickness and then soared like an eagle across all touch points of the journey of a life learner. It took her from early childhood development through every part of the education system, military (as a civilian) and into the labour market spanning the 7 emirates and the wider Gulf Cooperative Countries (GCC). As an experiential learner, intrepid world traveller and generalist she developed a wide view of the region, its culture, faith and identity.

The term ‘Alchemist’ is an endearingly used word for her derived from a privileged and authentic heartfelt connection with the United Arab Emirates and from her temporary intrepid adventures across 6 continents where she learned to understand the language of the world guided by the local communities. Listening to each other’s stories was a practice of compassion invoking points of connection and feelings of empathy towards each other to support a personally meaningful understanding of the real needs and challenges of their respective communities and education systems.

The language of the world refers to the oneness of all things: that everything in the universe is tied together. And believers of this truth feel that the language of the universe links people in the world together.
Paolo Coehlo

During her journey in a time where globalisation and the interconnectivity of the world was rippling through and dividing the communities she be with – diluting culture, national identity and language like a silent tsunami. The alchemist started meeting and connecting with people across the world to deliberate ways in which the universe could help support the future generations to find their unique talents to live lives of meaning and continue speaking the language of the world.

A vision to humanise technological advancements in education in the world to place the learners, families, communities and society at the heart of progress burned like an eternal flame. A new purpose was born, a talent cloud that serves humanity and connects all stakeholders that are involved in nurturing the future generation to be the best that they can be.

The language of the world has indeed brought the global alchemists together on a co-creation journey and we unite under the auspices of a personally meaningful, intrinsic goal aimed at contributing to something larger than ourselves in the fields of education and technology. We all bring our faith, culture, national identity, wholeness, generation bias, experiences, imperfections and our knowledge and skills to each bespoke project.

Our strong sense of purpose unites us as a comprehensive to addressing some of the biggest challenges the future poses for learners, families, schools and societies today creating a path to a purposeful life, for isn’t this the most important outcome of our students education?

So we begin on our purpose journey with all the beautiful souls we have met along the way in order to shine a light on humanity through an education system that serves our learners on their journey of purpose.

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.