Hi, I’m Orly Seagull. I’m the founder of The Nature of Things. The Nature of Things is a house of education, as we call it.

My story begins with DOWN to EARTH. I spent probably some of the most life-changing hours in the cinema while watching the film here in Tel Aviv. I felt everything that was said in the film was so central and important for the understanding of what education is and what our responsibility toward the planet is. It felt like something needs to be done, and it felt like this is what I owe my children. I owe them the possibility and the privilege of education that comes from the heart, with responsibility towards themselves, their community, the nature and the earth. And so we’ve made a decision to open up our own school, so we can give our children the opportunity to understand what learning is actually about and develop to be good human beings, and finding their own truth.

There’s a change we can generate. I think it’s a matter of just doing it and understanding that we have the power to change. And I think that’s what the film gave me. There are 220 people involved in this initiative and another 120 people active in making it happen. Daily activities for the kids include building mud-houses, cleaning the dishes, exploring the nature and emotional-education classes.