The traditional education system, primarily structured around imparting theoretical knowledge, often falls short when it comes to equipping individuals with the practical skills necessary for success in their careers and personal lives. Theoretical knowledge, while invaluable, only forms one part of the equation. The ability to apply that knowledge, think critically, and navigate real-world challenges is equally crucial.
Charlotte D’Souza discovered this profound gap in her remarkable journey spanning 17 years within the realms of Marketing, CSR, and Sustainability on a global scale. This realization unfolded against the backdrop of an intense rat race, marked by heightened competition and the consequential surge in anxiety, stress, and various physical and mental health challenges.
Motivated by a vision to address this disparity and instill a holistic approach to personal development, Charlotte embarked on a transformative venture—SOUL (School of Understanding Life). This self-development course became a testament to her conviction that bridging the gap between the intellectually centric focus of traditional education (IQ) and the crucial emotional acumen required in practical life (EQ) was imperative.
Shaping the Future Generation with Collaboration
Charlotte shared her insights with her childhood confidante, Sarah Lobo, an accomplished professional specializing in Speech and Drama with accolades from renowned global institutions. Sarah’s career encompassed leadership roles in International Baccalaureate (IB), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) schools across India.
Sharing Charlotte’s conviction on the significance of Emotional Intelligence in shaping the future generation, Sarah and Charlotte delved into a joint pursuit of knowledge, obtaining certifications in Psychology.
Thus, the collaborative journey paved the way for the inception of BLAH BLAH BLAH (Building Life’s Attainable Habits), a venture that seamlessly intertwined Charlotte and Sarah’s wealth of experience and expertise. Together, they committed to applying their collective wisdom to conduct Life Skill workshops tailored for children aged 7 to 17, transcending geographical boundaries. The workshops, rooted in three foundational pillars—I Matter, You Matter, and the Environment Matters—sought to empower the younger generation with a well-rounded understanding of life, nurturing both individual growth and a sense of interconnectedness with the world at large.
Going Against the Norms
For the name, Sarah’s creative mind came up with the option of BLAH BLAH BLAH – A term that is familiar to children and adults alike. A term that also stands on a strong belief that one doesn’t need to follow norms and can have a company name that is not conventional. This was then fleshed out as Building Life’s Attainable Habits as per its offering.
The company’s mission is to impart Life Skills to children in every country, making them changemakers of the future.
The 3 pillars of the company are:
- I Matter: I am Enough, I am Confident, I can do anything.
- You Matter: Each living being across the world matters irrespective of caste, creed, race, sect, color, etc.
- Nature Matters: Sustainability is no longer a trend. It is the need of the hour and needs action.
Its vision is to help each child across the world become Emotionally Intelligent and the best version of themselves.
Its students are unique in their ways. However, they indulge in self-doubt due to the constant pressure to excel, fear of failure, fear of being judged, and seeking validation. The company provides a safe, non-judgmental space to express themselves, normalize mistakes, share respect, and extend help whenever and wherever needed. This helps individuals to accept and embrace themselves as they are and strive to make a difference, helping BLAH BLAH BLAH get a step closer to achieving its mission and vision.
Encouraging Effective Communication
Two of its initiatives this year are “Parent-Child Connect Workshops” and “Life Skill Workshops for Children of Determination.”
Parent-Child Connect workshops are designed to strengthen the parent-child relationship by encouraging effective communication and mutual support. The workshops for People of Determination were designed to empower children and encourage inclusion by providing them with life skills essential for personal growth and social integration.
These projects created positive ripple effects within families and communities. Parents testified that they developed relationships with their children, and children of determination experienced increased confidence and a greater sense of belonging. BLAH BLAH BLAH aims to build on the success of these initiatives, expanding their reach and continually refining its approach to better serve the diverse needs of families and children across the Middle East.
The company has won 2 awards in the Education Category, which stands as a testimony to its efforts over the past two years:
- The Indian Women in Dubai Award,2023
- Indian Woman Global Awards, 2023
Apart from the above, BLAH BLAH BLAH has been covered in digital media in India, such as Yourstory.com and Daily Hunt.
Effective Collaboration to Achieve Common Goals
Sarah is a seasoned speech & drama professional and Soft Skills trainer, certified in Psychology, Mass Media & PR, with experience at leading IB, ICSE, and CBSE schools across India.
Charlotte is a Senior Marketing and Communications professional, certified in Psychology and Sustainability with Corporate experience in Marketing Strategy, Brand Management, Public Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Sustainability.
While Sarah’s strength lies in creative space, Charlotte is focused on strategy. They synergize and collaborate with each other and their team to plan and execute the business strategy.
As they encourage students to have a growth mindset, they practice the same themselves. The company aims to learn and attempt every vertical – from marketing, finance, workshop delivery, business planning, and so on. While they both have their individual opinions, they are focused on a common goal – to achieve the vision of BLAH BLAH BLAH.
Charlotte and Sarah embrace their differences, regulate their emotions, respect each other’s space, listen to one another, ideate individually, and work collectively on any given situation.
Instilling Essential Life Skills
In a world of technology, parents are focused on enhancing their child’s IQ (Intelligence Quotient), thereby weakening their EQ (Emotional Quotient). For the company, a major obstacle has been creating awareness of the importance of Life Skills in the developmental years of a child to create an emotionally intelligent adult. Parents believe that Life Skills are learned through experience and need not be formally taught based on their personal upbringing; thus, they invest in the best of schools and extracurricular activities, preparing them for success.
The company strongly believes that it is essential to bridge the gap between formal education and real life. Its strategy towards every obstacle has always been to brainstorm, be perseverent, take one step at a time, do intensive research and execution, unlearn and relearn, challenge the norm, and tread the unconventional path. BLAH BLAH BLAH is proud that, in a span of 2 years, it has conducted 100+ workshops across 12 countries with a rating of 4.92/5 from students and 4.87/5 from parents.
As the company introduces children to Life Skills, its challenges have trained the founders with various Life Lessons. They have learned to accept inclusion, failures, resilience, perseverance, innovation, creative solutions, and diversity.
BLAH BLAH BLAH’s objectives aim to create positive change at both the individual and societal levels.
- Its fundamental goal is to equip children with essential life skills, demonstrating tangible benefits, thereby creating emotionally intelligent individuals who utilize their potential and become leaders of change in society.
- It aspires to create strong, supportive communities in the Middle East. Through collaboration and empathy displayed in our workshops, the company believes it can strengthen social bonds and contribute towards mindful living.
- In a diverse and culturally rich region like the Middle East, the organization strives to promote inclusion. Its workshops aim to bridge gaps and promote communication among participants from various backgrounds, leading to a sense of unity and shared humanity.
- It envisions establishing partnerships with local organizations, educational institutions, and businesses to create a network that amplifies the impact of its programs.
- Beyond its immediate impact, the company aspires to advocate for the integration of life skills education into mainstream educational curricula. By collaborating with policymakers and educational authorities, it aims to contribute to a long-term shift in the way essential life skills are perceived and prioritized in the Middle East.
Pioneer for Positive Change
To culminate, its collective vision is to be a pioneer for positive change by empowering children, building strong, inclusive communities, creating a resilient and empathetic society, and impacting the lives of people across the world.
BLAH BLAH BLAH has finalized its corporate collaborations in North America and India and is excited about cementing its credibility in those countries. In addition to this, it also has upcoming workshops for UAE, India, Singapore, and Australia.
Charlotte and Sarah’s advice to all aspiring entrepreneurs is to Begin, get out there, and take their first step. Do not have an ounce of doubt about your potential! The journey will not be easy…one can make mistakes and might fail, and that’s okay. According to them, one should never give up, Learn and Upskill themselves, Research, ask for help when required, Strategies, Plan the qualitative and quantitative aspects of their business, and be consistent and visible – this will enable them to make a mark in any part of the world.
Charlotte and Sarah believe that “When you do what you love, you don’t have to work a day in your life.”
