DEEP, Faciliation Continuiation, EE2go

I have been on this journey with ELI since 2016 and it has profoundly changed my life. No matter how many times i revisit the content with the guidance of Vishwas and the ELI team, there is always something new to learn and there is always a shift - a deeper understanding of this line of work and my self is achieved
It is a beautiful shared journey and i cannot recommend any course with Vishwas enough. What are you waiting for? Sign up now!

Sukriti Gupta

Experiential Education Consultant -

ee2go - 2

The ee2go (- 2 ) course seemed like a wonderful learning opportunity, which came highly recommended by my peers in the Outdoor Education field; but I was nervous and unsure about how effectively I would be able to learn via the online medium.

8 weeks later and I feel the course was pure gold in its rich content, in its deliverance, and its level of online interaction. A big thank you to Vishwas, Chetan, and Madhavi for making this so comfortable on the online medium.

I have so many takeaways from this course and as I'm at the very start of my journey on the path to an educator, I feel that I've built a considerable arsenal of efficient learning tools from this course. Be it whole chapters of content or Vishwas's one-liners in the middle of his ever stimulating dialogues, I found great value across these sessions.

I used to be in a rush to pen down his words before he would move onto something else which would be equally important, but the recordings of the session came to my rescue. I could play it over and over again to comprehend better and thus I could study at my chosen pace if I felt that a topic needed a revisit.

It feels like a valuable concrete addition to my groundwork as an educator. Thank you for this opportunity Vishwas.

Dhruv Vishwasrao

Outdoor Educator in the making

CEEP | DEEP (multiple times)

DEEP is home-coming for me.
As Rumi said, "There is no path, the path is paved by walking".
Not, only did I not have a path, I didn't even have the legs to walk or pave it for me. DEEP did come at this juncture of my life and gave the resources to build my legs and pave the path into Education.
I owe my career in Education to Vishwas and DEEP. The experience influenced me to rethink what Education is and What it can be! Opened up my mind and the world of meaningful education. The beauty of the course and why we keep coming back to it is it evolves, no DEEP is the same:) every year it is different, better and evolving.

Also, what stands out is the "becoming" piece in DEEP. Nobody comes to DEEP and leaves the same! and something about every DEEPer changes DEEPly within. I did, too.
As I always say, "I joined to DEEP to learn Experiential Education but I learnt about myself".
You will, too:)

Heart swelling Gratitude to Vishwas and DEEP

Ashwini Govind

Experiential Educator | Arts Based Therapy Practioner

EE2Go (1)

I have been hearing about Vishwas and his DEEP course for the past few years from so many different resources, yet have never been able to join.
When I heard about EE2Go I thought that's probably the best time to get engaged in something online, not to just brighten the pandemic time and feel more connected to fieldwork, but also a great opportunity to deepen the knowledge.

The course offered some amazing, visual presentations and concepts which not just shifted my perspective in professional life but also brought new insights into personal space.
Along with the content provided live, there were some great readings recommended and forwarded which inspired me to look deeper into it. All sessions were beautifully interconnected.

The course gives me time and space to rethink my role as an educator, facilitator and human being. It helped me realize the importance of living consciously.

I highly recommend to anyone interested to learn something new, to dwell deeper into Experiential Education, to bring a new perspective to work and life.

Monika Piasecka

Facilitator / Educator / Dreamer / Outdoor Enthusiast / Lifelong learner

Ee2Go (July-Sept 2020)

I was introduced to Vishwas through a friend who had done DEEP and was insistent that I must get touched by his way of being. So, although online is just not my forte, as there was no other way out and I was struggling to train teachers online. How can one deliver online and yet let the whole experience be experiential was get challenging for me. So with this agenda, I reluctantly joined Ee2Go.

In the first session itself, I was bowled over by the beautiful Powerpoint presentation (again not my way of delivering). I guess the artist in me connected to the aesthetically done slides and I started paying attention. I found Vishwas very easy going and so relaxed in his demeanour, that it caught my attention too and gave me several clues of how one is as a facilitator.

Session after session, what flowed were numerous theories and models leading to gain a mature thought process, but again what caught my eye was the personal touch. His sharing of his personal stories, asking people to hydrate themselves, and breaking the monotony by several energisers was what kept me sticking initially.

And then there were many things more...The flow theory, the three C's, Reflective practices, Invitational theory and A look at conflict, really made so much sense as it added richness to not only an accumulation of mental processes but also added riches to Life itself.

In the format of Colin Beard, Viswas as a facilitator created a sense of Belonging and led the learner to one's Being. I think it's a huge investment that I have made and am glad and in gratitude for that!

Priti Umamahesvaram Mandi

Educator, teacher trainer, artist

DEEP 9

I have been dawdling on writing this for a while now. That's simply because writing about one or two things from an ocean of ideas feels difficult.

In 2008, I went to see the beautiful Andamans. When I dived in the lovely turquoise coral reef waters, I couldn't see the colours and the beauty of the coral reef. All I saw was muddy murky water and bland corals till the time I donned the snorkeling gear. Through that I could appreciate the colourful fish and the variety of corals. What Vishwas gave me was this snorkeling gear to help me see my life, and what I do as a parent, an educator, a friend or a family member more clearly. The concept was 3Cs or in simple terms what is known as consciousness, awareness, or mindfulness. I am still in that ocean trying to navigate my way through tricky waters, but it helps to understand my being and my actions from time to time.

I came as an educator with years of experience and I thought I knew quite a bit about teaching. DEEP just showed me how little I know. More importantly, it showed me how much role do control, perfectionism, and conditioning play in my life - both personally and professionally.

Signing up for DEEP opened a lot of doors for me - one of them was an invitation to a join a community of educators. This community keeps discussions alive and it has been a source of stimulating ideas and questions which have given me a much needed distraction from dreary and overwhelming work during this lockdown.

I find it fascinating how Vishwas can leave a learner in discomfort, allowing the learner to explore and to figure out things for himself. It is not easy to get answers from him. Whatever you get from him may not please you but there aren't many people who will be able to tell you that. Stay with the frustration and the discomfort long enough and understanding starts seeping in like rays of sun.

And it is not empty philosophy that Vishwas offers, he can flood you with enough research, experience and activities to back up his arguments.

I was looking forward to attending DEEP 10. (He allows ex DEEPers as observers.) DEEP 10 didn't happen because of covid 19 situation but I hope that I will get an opportunity to delve deeper into EE philosophies with Vishwas sometime in future. 🤞✌️

Janhvi A Nanavati

Mom to a dog and a human. And an educator, hopefully :)

ee2go

I joined this course to learn tools/techniques for creating experiences for my students. In just one session, i realized i am here to learn, unlearn much much more. Each session has been a revelation, offering new perspectives, challenging my beliefs, showing me whole new way of looking at education.

What i have learnt in these 10 days is not just limited to education, i see it applicable to life in general. It sure has widened my perspectives.

I am grateful to Vishwas for sharing nuggets of his wisdom so simply with us.

Madhu Maddipatla

Teacher

ee2go

Being from the world of design I had never really thought of doing a course in Experiential Education/ learning. I guess we limit ourselves :)
So when my senior ( @work) introduced me to this course I had my own doubts, but after some research and what I heard from her (about her experience ) I dived right in.

The first session I must say left me a little confused or should I say in 'disequilibrium', not sure why, cause I definitely had an engaging session.

The second and third was loaded with content, and had some post-session assignments too. Some I enjoyed doing some I couldn't devote enough time to. However I realized I had happily started taking notes
(writing some memories that connect, adding an idea that clicked and so on).
The fourth session however was a lot more interactive, with role play and analogies. Somewhere in my mind I started building the web connecting my past experiences, reactions, beliefs and values. Some I questioned while some I was proud I got a term to associate ( I'm not sure I'll remember those terms though). But I've slowly started pausing to think whether a few changes here and there in my actions / reactions will make a difference ?
I think that's what this course does. Makes you think, believe in yourself more, shows us perspectives we thought we knew and helps us learn / unlearn in the process.
It kinda grows on you...and me being just half way through I'm sure there's a lot more to come.

Bindhu Madhu

I'm into Designing for children / Content Design / Innovation in Education and ready to grab more on thw way !

CEEP, DEEP, Raccoon Circles

It is not a mere coincidence that the acronym DEEP also describes what this transformational journey is intentionally designed to be!

I joined this program in 2013. After quitting my career as a radio jockey I took the plunge to explore new possibilities in the world of education. Journeying from one professional identity to another is similar to how a snake sheds it’s old skin! During this long, painstaking process the snake is unable to see clearly, not at its best and feels very tentative and vulnerable. Career transitions can be similar.

DEEP gave me the gift of a very supportive community of peers - many of whom were on similar journeys as mine, and are now friends for life. I had a space in which I was comfortable to talk about the struggles, triumphs, good days and bad days of my career transition. I learnt how to accept myself and others, test my assumptions and beliefs, build better relationships and manage conflict. And in Vishwas, I found a mentor and dear friend who helped me work on my blind spots and build a new life. This program helped my character, strengths and unique abilities find new expression. It helped me celebrate myself and the light I bring to the world.

In terms of professional skills, Vishwas taught me the art of facilitation and showed me how mastery comes from being a lifelong student of any craft! I practice these facilitation skills in my many roles - as a program manager, trainer, coach, designer, colleague, family member and friend.

Today, 7 years later, I look back and realise that the larger purpose this program was to make me go beyond the boundaries of everything I was taught and to find my own place from which I now speak my own unique truth! And I'm thrilled to see how Vishwas and his amazing team at ELI have launched these wonderful programs online, made them as engaging and even more accessible to people from across the world! May this light spread and this tribe grow.

Arjun Sashidhar

I help people and organizations across the world develop their potential to create social impact. I manage global programs in Social Innovation and Leadership. My work involves training, coaching, design, community engagement and bringing crazy ideas to life!

EE2GO

This has been one of the best training programs I have attended in terms of content, delivery, expertise in the subject area, and just the overall experience. While I signed up expecting to learn just the basics of Experiential Learning, this course is giving me so much more. Every session has been a revelation of sorts and has helped me see even the concepts I was familiar with from a new perspective.

I have never seen a more giving facilitator who is willing to give as much as one is ready to take. Vishwas’s content delivery style and rich experience (that he most willingly shares via anecdotes and stories) ensures that the most complex concepts get across.

I would highly recommend this course to anyone who does any degree of facilitation and definitely to parents…it just opens up a new world of possibilities, while keeping it all doable, realistic…and most importantly, human!

Shweta Agharkar

Learning Consultant

DEEP8 onwards - everything!

I was introduced to this course by a friend who insisted that I do it! I didn't question and just jumped right in with both feet. I had expected it to be interesting for sure, but by the third session, I was completely baffled with the content of the course and its delivery!

Since I'm not from an EE background, I connect the learnings from this course to life itself (or to making films and children's entertainment). I truly believe that if DEEP is something that is taught to us in school - we will have a better chance at life! The sessions on communication, conflict and having better conversations have been profound and I have managed to apply them so beautifully in my personal and professional life. Many more concepts like detachment from outcome, FLOW theory, pause, 3Cs, Growth Zones, the importance of PLAY (the list is really long) have had an effect on my being. More than just the concepts - it is the delivery of it that is so organic (it's art!) that has made it so impactful.

Even though we come from the Guru+Shishya culture, Vishwas for me has been a friend more than anything else. Even just seeing him conduct himself in class has given me immense perspective about how a classroom could be.

As I have seen the course over the years now, I have seen that every time we are doing the next piece - he reinvents it! It's never the same... Even with the new online course, he has managed to create deep, impactful experiences for people. I have seen people being moved by the sessions. I'm not from this field, but I do know that there are not too many people who have managed to do this online - yet!

As we say - once a DEEPer, always a DEEPer! This is going to stay with me...

Chetan Vohra

Filmmaker, Children's Entertainment

DEEP9P

Initially when I heard about DEEP, (being from the corporate sector) was wondering why am I even trusting him for a 9-month commitment when the work he does is mainly for facilitators, teachers. Besides, you ask him a question and he has no answers.…Don’t mistake me, Vishwas is very approachable, but definitely you will never, ever get answers from him, all who know this will be smiling!!!
For me, DEEP – 9P, a life changing process. Can’t explain in words but one has to experience it as the degree varies for each individual. I was able to confirm my purpose in life and what it will take of me to achieve it. It takes into consideration the whole person. Learning was fun here in DEEP because he let me be myself, comfortable in my skin. No judgements whatsoever, but probing questions for reflection plenty.
A few lessons will always stay with me which are not very novel you may say but got a chance to live them….”detach from outcome”, “pause”, “plan till you die and throw it away”…..and many more complex concepts, simplified. In my journey of being a better person everyday, DEEP has played a role and given me strength in my dark days.
I was lucky to have the classes in Pune where I met the most beautiful, loving people, respected individuals in their own field….but here all merely students wanting to understand more from him…..
Last but not the least, once you get hooked on to him it is a life- long membership, of discussions, sharing important learnings, stupid irrelevant stuff, references, workshops everything needed to become a better individual and facilitator.
Lovingly for many he is “dadi wale baba” his iconic style, “Vishy” for a few…for me “My cool guruji”. Very calming to be in his presence. Grateful to the universe that I was introduced to him and learnt a lot from him….journey still continues.

Lina Vijay Singh

A corporate employee by profession, a counsellor by choice for kids, adolescents, parents.