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The world as we see it today is very fast-paced, and the well-being of our children is more crucial than ever. Sherri Samuel, a dedicated Primary Educator and the visionary Founder of The SEL Hub, is at the forefront of this important mission. The organization’s focus remains clear: giving children a voice for their well-being and fostering a brighter, emotionally resilient future.
Before relocating to the UAE in 2013, Sherri pursued her Bachelor of Education at the University of East London, followed by a Postgraduate Degree in Education at the University of Sunderland.
Sherri, with a profound commitment to nurturing the mental fitness of young minds, witnessed the struggles faced by her students on a daily basis.However, Sherri’s motivation to create a lasting impact goes beyond the classroom. A tragic personal loss—the suicide of her brother at the age of 22, after a lifelong battle with emotional self-regulation—fueled her determination to create meaningful, proactive solutions for social-emotional learning.
The concerning reality illuminated by UNICEF is that one in seven adolescents globally grapple with mental disorders, accounting for a staggering 166 million young individuals, comprising 89 million boys and 77 million girls. Studies further indicate that in the UAE, a significant portion of the youth, ranging from 17% to 22%, battle depressive symptoms. Alarmingly, suicide stands as the second-leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults aged 10-34, as reported by the CDC in 2022.
In response to this pressing need, the SEL Hub has emerged as a groundbreaking support system, providing a diverse range of tools, services, and resources tailored for parents, children, and schools. These offerings are meticulously designed to aid young individuals struggling with self-confidence, behavioral challenges, and the weight of low moods and self-esteem. The overarching goal is to empower them to regulate their emotions and enhance their mental well-being.
Sherri shares her motivations candidly: “We are witnessing a distressing surge in mental health problems among children and adolescents, yet a comprehensive support system is alarmingly lacking. Speaking from a deeply personal perspective, my brother grappled with emotional self-regulation from a young age. These struggles persisted into his adulthood, compelling him to emotionally retreat whenever he experienced emotions beyond happiness, ultimately leading to his tragic suicide at the age of 22. I firmly believe that had we had access to the right tools and services, his suicide could have been prevented.”
Furthermore, as an astute educator, Sherri acknowledges the struggles children face within the classroom and the prevailing stigma associated with seeking mental health support. She emphasizes that the fast-paced nature of today’s world demands a robust foundation in social-emotional learning for the younger generation. Drawing a parallel with physical first-aid kits, Sherri advocates for the introduction of mental health first-aid tools to equip individuals for proactive well-being.
Recognizing the critical role parents play in nurturing the mental health of their young ones, The SEL Hub offers a comprehensive range of supportive measures aimed at aiding parents in navigating the complexities of their child’s emotional world.
Empowering Workshops: The SEL Hub conducts monthly workshops for parents, delivering easily implementable strategies to co-regulate their child’s emotions.
Mindfulness Workshops for Young Minds: Catering specifically to children under the age of 11, these workshops instill crucial mindfulness practices in children, fostering emotional awareness and balance from an early age.
The Calm Quest Subscription Box: The Calm Quest Subscription Box is a monthly delivery packed with indispensable tools and resources. Each box contains surprises designed to make mindfulness engaging and enjoyable for kids. It empowers children to cultivate resilience, prioritize self-care, and nurture foundational life skills vital for their holistic development.
The Calming Self-Regulation Journal: This journal serves as a safe haven for children to name and tame their emotions. It acts as a guide, teaching accountability and aiding in the process of self-regulation. By utilizing this journal, children can enhance their social skills, learn conflict resolution, and understand the impact of their actions on themselves and others.
The Mind Dump Journal: A supportive tool allowing children to release their thoughts onto paper, The Mind Dump Journal provides a free writing space for self-expression. It features daily affirmations, sections to draw their feelings, and a platform to record their personal growth mindset statements, promoting a healthy outlet for their emotions and thoughts.
Understanding the vital role schools play in children’s lives, The SEL Hub has also developed the Tell Dovie App, in alignment with the KHDA’s Well-being Framework. This innovative app provides teachers with a proactive, digital solution to support children within the classroom.
The App offers a variety of features, including journaling and mood tracking, enabling children to regulate their emotions and enhance their learning behavior. Importantly, it allows children to reflect, record their feelings, and learn from challenging situations, fostering a sense of accountability and reducing classroom disruptions.
Sherri Samuel emphasizes the urgency of providing mental health first-aid tools for prevention, akin to physical first-aid kits. The Tell Dovie App exemplifies this ethos by empowering children to boost their self-confidence, particularly during challenging academic endeavors.
The SEL Hub’s unwavering dedication to enhancing children’s well-being extends to its accessible pricing structure for the Tell Dovie App, making it feasible for schools to adopt this transformative tool.
Sherri Samuel’s vision is indeed crystal clear—a world where children find their voice and agency in the crucial domain of mental health. She envisions a society where emotional well-being is not just a concern but a priority, nurtured and cultivated right from the beginning of a child’s life. It’s a vision deeply rooted in empathy, experience, and an understanding of the struggles that young minds face. Through her tireless efforts, she is making strides towards a reality where emotional well-being is prioritized, stigma is erased, and every child is given the chance to grow into a mentally resilient and empowered individual. Sherri Samuel’s vision is not just a dream—it’s an ongoing journey, and through The SEL Hub, she’s lighting the way for a brighter and emotionally fortified tomorrow.
