The SSE or Bal Vikas Wing is a uniquely designed children’s educational and spiritual development programme. Run by dedicated and specially trained teachers, it aims to foster character development, human values and spiritual transformation in children aged 4–17 years. Indeed, the term Bal Vikas means blossoming of the child and thousands of children around the globe enjoy the benefits of SSE every week.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba clearly explains:

“The ideal of the Bal Vikas is to raise a generation of boys and girls who have a clean and clear conscience. Bal Vikas is the primary basis of the great movement to restore dharma (righteousness) in the world. The young minds of children are not polluted and hence they can be led into good ways of living, simplicity, humility and discipline.”

Sathya Sai Speaks: Vol 14, Ch 3: 06 June 1978

By doing so, SSE draws out the finest qualities in a child, enabling their personality to develop into the best they can be as an adult. The children of today become the torchbearers of tomorrow’s society through this path of self-enquiry and self-discovery. They develop self-confidence, powers of critical thinking, listening to their inner voice, tolerance, and awareness of the divine presence.

One of the primary routes to help children blossom is by anchoring them in the five basic human values which are universal and central to many world religions as well as the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation: love, truth, right conduct, peace, and non-violence.

SSE also attaches great importance to supporting parents in nurturing and reiterating the learnings from the classes. As main caregivers, parents are custodians of children and have the primary responsibility to mould the character of these special young souls.

Children from all walks of life and backgrounds are welcome to participate in SSE, irrespective of whether they belong to a Sai Centre or not.

All activities are carefully designed to help children develop into rounded and self-confident individuals who fulfil their latent potential.

Simple and intuitive teaching techniques and activities are used such as prayers, storytelling, group work, group devotional singing or bhajans, dramas and meditation.