Introducing IKIGAI+, a brand-new goal development program for game-changers. The goal of this program is to discover your purpose, align it with your passions and skills, and put it into action in your communities.
IKIGAI, a Japanese concept enriched with Western perspectives, offers a convincing approach to goal-oriented living. It combines “Iki“which symbolizes life, and“Gay”, which stands for value in action, transcending mere passions to embrace what really stimulates you and enables you to make a significant impact in the world.
Since 2020, the’LearningPlanet Alliance, supported by’Learning Planet Institute and UNESCO, nurtures a community of more than 500 LearningPlanet Youth Fellows. These young gamechangers, passionate about transformative action, were invited this summer to embark on the inaugural voyage of our program. Their objective? To discover and anchor their purpose, passions and skills in their respective communities.
“I refocused my priorities and was reminded of my strengths, particularly as a coach and storyteller. This program offers the opportunity to better understand what's crucial to you, get to know your strengths and determine the path you want to follow.” - Jonas Søvik, Denmark
About the Ikigai program
The design of the programhelps participants discover their life's purpose and align their passions with the world's needs. Finally, the goal of the program is to develop the skills and mindset needed to create positive change in their lives and communities.
In this pioneering cohort, 130 young Fellows from six continents and 42 countries embarked on an IKIGAI journey. Over 8 weeks and 10 online sessions, they went through the three crucial stages of the IKIGAI journey. These stages are: discovering, deepening and connecting their IKIGAI with the wider community.
- Chapter 1: Discovering your IKIGAI - Starts with self-discovery, exploring passions, talents and what brings joy. Participants wrote their first IKIGAI statements, laying the foundations for understanding their motivations and strengths.
- Chapter 2: Deepening your understanding - Participants take part in eight diverse workshops, exploring aspects of personal growth and purpose. They reflect on global and local needs, and how their purpose fits into the world. In addition, they identified their personal strengths, aligned their actions with their values, and envisioned life paths that reflected their IKIGAI. Each workshop was designed to deepen their understanding and provide practical skills for personal and professional development.
- Chapter 3: Connecting your IKIGAI to the community - In the final chapter, participants apply their IKIGAI to their community. This involved action and inspiration, implementing their goal and sharing their journey. The program ended with a celebration of personal growth and collective achievement.
“I gained a better understanding of myself, my skills, values, passions and roles. At the same time, I've identified the areas I'd like to improve ” - Reem Najjar, France
“I feel like I've become more self-aware and confident in realizing my dreams. More than just discovering what I want to do, I've learned to understand who I am as a person, a team member, a friend and a group leader". - Oda Holzknecht, Germany
But the story doesn't end there. It's time to put those IKIGAIs to work!
Based on feedback and co-design sessions with young Fellows, the LearningPlanet team is currently finalizing Chapter 4 of the IKIGAI+ pathway: “Taking Action”. This chapter includes three workshops and a presentation session, designed to delve deeper into creating actionable steps to integrate the IKIGAI declaration into life!
“Recognizing my strengths, I will now use my Ikigai statement to ensure that my interactions, efforts and ideas are intentional and aligned” - Pearl
Stay tuned for news and highlights from the LearningPlanet Festival 2024!
MORE ABOUT IKIGAI+
- Discover Ikigai+
- Download the brochure Ikigai+ (in English)
- Request a demonstration
Article first published on Alliance website
