LIFE Final International Retreat: A Transformational Experience for Educators

In a world where education extends beyond the classroom, the LIFE program has provided a profound and transformative journey for educators and principals from five different countries—Iceland, Bulgaria, Italy, Belgium, and Greece. Over the past nine months, participants have engaged deeply within their national cohorts, building a strong sense of community, engaging in deep reflection, and exploring fundamental questions about life, education, and personal growth. The final international retreat in Belgium marked the culmination of this journey, bringing all five national cohorts together for the first time as a united LIFE community.

“The activity I enjoyed the most was the ritual around the open fire. I felt a deep connection with everyone present at the event. The invitation from the mentors to speak words that would help fuel the fire affected me emotionally. The herbal fragrance burning in the fire further enhanced my inner peace. The feeling was truly fulfilling. I felt wonderful and fully present in the moment.”

During this retreat, the LIFE community transitioned from national cohorts into an international learning space, fostering a sense of belonging and trust among participants. The retreat was designed to ensure that every educator felt safe, confident, and actively engaged in their continued journey. This expanded learning environment encouraged critical thinking, deep reflection, and cross-cultural engagement.

By exploring the ways in which we understand the world, the participants were able to reflect on their own experiences, engage with cultural differences, and participate in rituals and discussions that deepened their connection to their work and to each other. Through reading philosophical, cultural, and religious texts, and expressing themselves through creative and participatory methods, they built an enriched understanding of the themes they had been exploring throughout the LIFE journey.

The central focus of the retreat was the question, “How does the good life feel?” Participants approached this question through diverse methods and media in an intercultural setting. By engaging in deep discussions, storytelling, movement, creative arts, and outdoor experiences, they were able to explore the emotional and philosophical dimensions of “a good life”.

The mornings began with optional early yoga sessions or a cold-water dip, setting a reflective and invigorating tone for the day. Throughout the retreat, participants engaged in:

Side-by-side story sharing, allowing them to connect through personal narratives.

Large community inquiriy and small group text readings, providing opportunities for deep intellectual and emotional discussions.

Outdoor reflective circles and interactive workshops such as dance, poetry, collage-making, amulet crafting, creative writing, and vocal music.

World Café sessions, where they could exchange ideas in an open and dynamic format.

“My favorite activity was making the amulet. It was an immersion in oneself, an understanding own values, part of personal development and thinking about the meaning of life.”

Through these experiences, educators not only deepened their understanding of a good life but also began to consider how they could translate their insights into their schools and classrooms, ensuring that their learnings had a lasting impact.

“The favourite activity was the analysis and interpretation of texts, because I learned new reading keys”

As the LIFE journey approached its conclusion, participants turned their attention to the broader questions that framed their experience: What is the shape of a flourishing life? What is a life worthy of my humanity? What is my vision of a good life? These reflections provided a moment of personal integration, where each participant had time for quiet contemplation to craft their own response, drawing on everything they had learned, experienced, and come to understand.

The participants began their LIFE journey in January 2024 and finished it in October 2024. The final reflections were first shared in national cohort gatherings during an intimate closing ceremony. This was followed by a final dinner, marking the end of the retreat and the beginning of an ongoing commitment to the principles and learnings of the LIFE program.

Though this retreat marked the official conclusion of the LIFE program, it was clear that the participants’ journeys were far from over. The experience of the retreat reinforced their sense of purpose, strengthened their personal and professional commitments, and provided inspiration for bringing new practices into their classrooms and lives. The impact of the LIFE program exceeded expectations, leaving participants with an increased sense of meaning, connection, and purpose.

“Now more than ever I want to teach children how to express their feelings, to accept different point of view and enjoy the differences instead of judging them.”

As the educators return to their home countries, they carry with them the spirit of LIFE—not just as a program, but as a way of thinking, feeling, and being. The international community of practice that was built over these months will continue to thrive, ensuring that the transformative power of LIFE extends well beyond this final retreat.

“It was a life-changing experience.”