Educating for Wholeness Conference in Sarajevo May 12-14. 2017
- Bloom School
- May 9, 2017
- 3 min read
Updated: May 8, 2023
To educate for wholeness, means that all efforts are directed towards guiding children in their unique process of self-discovery, helping them to develop their full human potential and become creative contributing members of society, with respect for the environment, others and themselves.
Maëlys de Rudder, founder and the owner of Bloom, talks about organization of upcoming conference „Educating for Wholeness“ that will be held in Sarajevo from May 12 - 14, 2017.
Q: How far in advance did you start planning? Was it something you always wanted to do and were simply waiting for the right time? Why this spring?
Barbara Isaacs, Wendy Compson and myself have been discussing this conference for quite some time but were indeed waiting for the right moment to start. The region is in full renaissance and there are many interesting things happening, namely in the field of education. Sarajevo is a beautiful city in spring and very much an emblem of unity in diversity.
Educating for wholeness is about celebrating diversity in children whilst addressing a universal need: to enable children to achieve their full human potential and become creative contributing members of society, with respect for the environment, others and themselves.
Q: Who is involved in putting together this conference“?
It is a collaboration between Bloom and representatives from Montessori Centre
International in London.
Q: How do you go about producing a conference that is both educational and appealing?
Well first you need a theme and this guides the choice of the right people. People are the key. Bringing the right people together. Diverse people; people who understand that learning is a life-long process, and that meaningful conversations create the most interesting learning opportunities.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about the conference as a whole?
I am very happy to be able to welcome new people to our beautiful heart-shaped land and to show them that contrary to the focus of the media, we have so much to be proud of!
There will soon be 5 Montessori schools running in different parts of the country. There is also a wonderful Steiner nursery in Sarajevo, which was set up straight after the war and is thriving!
Q: What else have you done to differentiate the conference and deliver additional options for conference goers?
The main goal of the conference is to create a space to reflect on what wholeness means when you consider the developing child, in order to be better prepared to accompany the child’s individual process. So, we have made sure that all four aspects of the child’s development be explored and discussed during the conference (mental, physical, emotional and spiritual). If our focus is the holistic child, it also seemed vital that the diversity of human expression be given a voice as much as possible.
Our speakers come from around the globe and have very diverse backgrounds and experiences. They also represent many different fields of expertise and educational approaches.
We also believe that the individual should be an active participant in his/her own learning and wanted to provide a lot of interactive space for our guests. This led to the creation of the concept of Inspiration Hours, which are simply meaningful conversations on certain topics facilitated, by one of our experts.
Q: How will this have an impact on education in the future and other areas such as business and politics?
Our traditional systems are based on curriculum and control. Curriculums are dry. They organise the world in fake boxes. And they don’t evolve as quickly as our society does, so they cannot provide children with the knowledge they need for a future world we can’t even imagine.
I understand the need for visibility and understanding. But the control systems that are in place in many systems in the world simply limit teacher’s creativity and their availability for children.
The debate on education has to shift if we want the world to continue progressing. The main goal of education should not be the absorption of knowledge, but the development of character and skills, or, borrowing Maria Montessori’s words, the “release of human potential”. Politics and Business are simply a reflection of the kind of people we have become, disconnected from important values and ourselves.
Q: You’re about ten or so weeks out from the conference. Are you excited? Worried? Both?
Definitely excited!
Building on the insights shared at the Educating for Wholeness Conference in Sarajevo May, one theme that resonated strongly was the importance of nurturing well-being in every dimension of life—physical, mental, emotional, and social. As several speakers emphasized, holistic health doesn’t begin in hospitals or clinics; it starts with the daily choices we make, especially those related to lifestyle and nutrition. This idea becomes even more relevant when we look at some of the most widespread health challenges today. Interestingly, this connects to one of the most common global concerns: high blood pressure.
High blood pressure quietly affects millions, often progressing without noticeable symptoms until it becomes a serious threat. This is why conversations around preventive care and sustainable habits,…
The discussions at the Educating for Wholeness Conference in Sarajevo in May emphasised how trust, integrity, and accountability serve as the foundation of healthy communities. Interestingly, these values do not apply only to educational spaces; they resonate just as strongly in professional, corporate and legal environments. As several speakers noted, societies thrive when individuals feel protected by systems that uphold fairness — and when there are mechanisms to address situations where that trust is broken.
This connection becomes particularly relevant when we consider the increasing complexity of modern civic and business interactions. Whether in personal relationships, organisational settings or financial transactions, concerns about honesty and ethical conduct arise across sectors. And when misunderstandings escalate into formal allegations, people often find themselves…
The Educating for Wholeness Conference in Sarajevo, May 12–14, 2017, brought together educators, innovators, and community leaders to explore how holistic development can positively influence both individuals and societies. One of the core ideas discussed was how well-rounded education empowers people to make informed choices that improve their livelihoods. Interestingly, this theme extends far beyond classrooms and directly connects to practical, income-generating fields that support community well-being. Among these opportunities, establishing a poultry farm has emerged as a promising avenue for self-reliance and economic growth in many regions.
As the conference emphasized, sustainable development relies on aligning knowledge with real-world practices, and agricultural ventures are a perfect example of this connection. This is where the concept of a modern chicken farm becomes…
Coming out of the insightful discussions at the Educating for Wholeness Conference in Sarajevo May 12–14, 2017, one major takeaway was the importance of adapting our environments to meet changing needs—whether in education, community development, or organizational planning. The conference emphasized how flexible, thoughtfully designed spaces play a crucial role in supporting innovation and long-term growth. Interestingly, this concept of adaptability doesn’t apply only to classrooms or learning systems; it extends into many practical aspects of everyday life, including how individuals and businesses manage physical space.
As people look for smarter ways to handle evolving storage demands, there has been a noticeable shift toward solutions that offer both mobility and convenience. This is where mobile storage units come into the picture.…
While reflecting on the Educating for Wholeness Conference in Sarajevo (May 12–14, 2017), it becomes clear that the event’s focus on human-centered development, systematic learning, and continuous improvement extends far beyond the world of education. Interestingly, the principles discussed there also relate closely to how modern industries strive to build smarter, safer, and more efficient work environments. Today, organizations across the globe are looking for structured methods that not only enhance productivity but also support worker well-being. This is where scientific approaches to work measurement and motion analysis become highly relevant.
Another factor to consider in this transition from holistic learning to industrial efficiency is how organizations increasingly rely on standardized systems to evaluate work processes. In this context, MODAPTS—the…