IN a world blighted by poverty, slavery, wars and violence – along with a huge disparity between those who have and those who don’t – many of us have been led to think about what needs to be done for those who will inherit this mess; namely the next generations.

Education is of course one of the keys. Perhaps the education that will yield the most benefit, is the one that takes into account the future needs of today’s children. Here in Mallorca, amongst many emerging educational projects, one offering a rather different experience is to be found in the village of Mancor de la Vall, near Inca, nestled in the recognised World Heritage Site of the Sierra de Tramuntana.

Sa Llavor (meaning the seed) opened its doors in 2007 and offers education from 3 to 15 year olds using Spanish, Catalan and English as the main languages of learning. I spoke with Manuel Santiago, founder and secondary school teacher, about what makes Sa Llavor different from a traditional school setting.

“If we consider the true meaning of the word educate, (to bring out that which is within), then Sa Llavor respects the individual child and allows for an holistic development of the innate human qualities; in connection with life, nature, the community and above all, the self,” explained Manuel. “We understand that education is not only a question of what knowledge must be acquired, but what capabilities must be developed in us so that new strengths can be introduced in society.”

At Sa Llavor nature plays a crucial role and the whole school spends time every day in the nearby woods as part of the curriculum. There is also a vegetable garden, which is worked on by the children; with produce then being used in the school’s kitchen. The children not only learn to grow their food, but classes are held in the kitchen, allowing the children to take turns helping to prepare lunch for their companions. The school is vegetarian and as such celebrates and reveres all life forms.

As mother earth is the main protagonist in the school philosophy, on Fridays the classroom is the beautiful Mallorcan outdoors with excursions planned to nearby beauty spots such as the Puig de Massanella, Binibona, Coanegra and Caimari. The whole school spends this day together with the little ones being helped by the bigger children. Perhaps the most important lessons learned on these days are: the use of imagination – it’s amazing how a stick can transform into so many items; companionship – see how the cool teens relate to the little ones; healthy living – walking in nature for miles gives a good basis for that and an appreciation of natural beauty!

The school acknowledges the Spanish government’s educational requirements, although the content at Sa Llavor is applied in a different manner. Gone is the bell ringing to signify a change of subjects and classrooms. Three projects are undertaken each term, one in each of the three languages. The approach is an integrated one, with subjects interrelating. Maths can happen in the kitchen or the vegetable garden and language and history can be studied on a walk in the woods. Classes are small as some 80 children make up the school population. Art, music and movement are studied along with maths, languages and sciences.

“Sa Llavor is not an alternative school as such,” said Manuel. “Instead it’s a school where, like many indigenous cultures, we aim to connect to our original essence and learn to not only do, but also to just be.”

Sa Llavor is looking for a new school building in the same area.

For more information on the school, please visit www.sallavor.es or like them on Facebook: Pedagogia Holística Sa Llavor.

If you would like to support them, please consider investing or donating.

By Glynis German

Presenter, The Happiness Café Radio Show

Mondays 10am – Mallorca Sunshine Radio 106.1FM (repeats Tuesdays at 8pm)