Building a Foundation

Lesson 1: Building a Foundation: OVERVIEW (Come back to the lesson after we have completed the live session. Here you can find the educational material as we move on.)

A. Background Situation: This lesson provides a historical overview, tracing the journey from the moment of cosmic emergence to the present day. It examines the evolution of human communities, exploring key milestones and societal developments that have shaped our understanding of community dynamics.

B. The Need: Understanding the Imperative: This section delves into the underlying forces that underscore the necessity for Prenatal Science and Human-based Community Work. Participants will explore the societal, cultural, and health-related factors driving the demand for professionals equipped with the knowledge and skills to support prenatal health and community well-being. Through critical analysis and discussion, participants will gain insights into the pressing need for proactive engagement in this field.

C. Working with Concepts: This segment focuses on elucidating fundamental concepts integral to the training program. Participants will delve into the realms of Prenatal Sciences, Human Rights, and the multifaceted role of Community Workers. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of these concepts and their interconnectedness within the context of community-based prenatal care and advocacy.

Community Implementation: In this segment, participants will learn practical strategies for addressing cultural and religious perspectives while fostering a supportive environment within the community. Emphasis will be placed on promoting understanding, respect, and inclusivity to create a space where diverse beliefs are valued and celebrated. Through case studies and interactive discussions, participants will gain insights into navigating cultural nuances and fostering meaningful connections within the community.

Warm-Up Activity:

Are you ready? Let’s get to know each other. Please get ready to share
“Story Circle:  Share a brief story or memory related to your cultural heritage or community history. 1 minute for each sharing.  Reflect on common themes, shared experiences, and lessons learned from the stories shared.

The Ecological Model (Urie Broefenbrenner) as Maternal Environment

From the Void to Humans

On Human Nature

From Early Honinins to Now

Challenges Faced

On Communities

On Cultural Competence

Μητρικό Πριβάλλον (Οικολογική Θεωρία)

Από την Αρχή μέχρι τον Άνθρωπο

Ο Άνθρωπος;

Από τον Αυστραλοπίθηκο μέχρι τον Homo Sapiens Sapiens

H Κοινότητα ως Οντότητα 1

Η Κοινότητα ως Οντότητα 2

Η Κοινότητα ως Οντότητα 3

Η Κοινότητα ως Οντότητα 4

SYMBIOSIS

By Ian Alexander – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71067142

Ζωή και Βίος
Σύμφωνα με την Θεογονία του Ησιόδου η Βία ήταν θεότητα, θυγατέρα της Στυγός και του Πάλλαντα. Αδέλφια της ήταν το Κράτος, ο Ζήλος και η Νίκη:

«H Στύγα, σμίγοντας με τον Πάλλαντα μες στο παλάτι της,
κόρη του Ωκεανού, φέρνει στον κόσμο,
καλλίσφυρη τη Νίκη και τον Ζήλο, το Κράτος και τη Βία,
τέκνα επιφανή – δεν μένουν απ’ τον Δία μακριά,
δεν κάθονται και δεν κυκλοφορούν μονάχοι,
αν ο θεός δεν τους ηγεμονεύει […]
(Ησίοδος, Θεογονία, 383-5).

Ο Αισχύλος λέει πως η Βία με τα αδέλφια της διέταξαν τον Ήφαιστο να αλυσοδεθεί ο Προμηθέας, στον Καύκασο. Από την λέξη Βία, προέρχεται η λέξη Βίος, καθώς η ζωή είναι ένας μόχθος, ένας διαρκής πόλεμος ενάντια στις αντιξοότητες. Βλέπε Αισχύλου “Προμηθεύς Δεσμώτης”. Επίσης σύμφωνα με τον Όμηρο, « βίος» ή αλλιώς «βιοτή» ονομάζεται, διότι ο άνθρωπος από τη στιγμή της γέννησής του, «ζει με βία και ανάγκη». Να τονίσουμε εδώ- πως από ό,τι γνωρίζω – μόνο στην ελληνική γλώσσα έχουμε δύο λέξεις που φαίνονται ότι σημαίνουν το ίδιο, αλλά διαφέρουν σημαντικά.

Η Νίκη, ως αδελφή της βίας θα καταφέρει να υπερισχύσει, όταν τόσο σε συλλογικό επίπεδο (Κράτος), όσο και σε ατομικό, πρυτανεύσει το λογικό στο παράλογο, όταν παύσει η Βία, και πρυτανεύσει η Ζωή. Είναι η στιγμή εκείνη που ο Προμηθέας τότε θα αποδεσμευτεί από τα δεσμά του.

πηγή: Αντώνιος Αντωνάκος: ΕΙΣ ΟΙΩΝΟΣ ΑΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΜΥΝΕΣΘΑΙ ΠΕΡΙ ΓΛΩΣΣΗΣ, ΙSΒΝ: 960-7076-13-3, 2003,  EKΔΟΣΕΙΣ ΝΕΑ ΘΕΣΗ

On Human Nature (Plato-Aristotle)

The following diagrams can offer a look at some of the patterns one can see over time

Health competence from a transcultural perspective. Knowing how to approach transcultural care
Citation: Pulido-Fuentes, Montserrat, et al. “Health competence from a transcultural perspective. Knowing how to approach transcultural care.” Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 237 (2017): 365-372.

Transcultural Competence as Transformative Learning for Building an Inclusive Society

Citation: Jurkova, Sinela. “Transcultural competence as transformative learning for building an inclusive society.” Transcultural 2019 (2019): 08-22.

Human Nature

Citation: Zwart, Hub. (2015). Human Nature. 10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_233-1.

Did you know that?

Smaller brains, resistance to disease, blue eyes…
In the relatively recent span of the last 40,000 years, thousands of genes have undergone evolutionary changes. These alterations manifest in various ways, such as the development of smaller yet more efficient brains, not indicative of diminished intelligence, but rather enhanced functionality. Additionally, there’s been an emergence of resistance to diseases, an uptick in conditions like ADHD, and even the advent of traits like blue eyes. Surprisingly, the origins of blue eyes trace back to a single individual somewhere in the vicinity of the Black Sea region some 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. This unique phenotype gained considerable traction, offering a reproductive advantage that led to the proliferation of blue-eyed individuals, now numbering around half a billion worldwide.

HgbS
The evolution of the HgbS gene, responsible for sickling hemoglobin, renders individuals immune to malaria. Given malaria’s devastating toll on human populations, it’s not surprising that a mutation granting resistance to the disease emerged, particularly in regions heavily afflicted by malaria such as Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the same mutation also predisposes individuals to sickle cell anemia—a reminder of the complex interplay between evolutionary adaptations and their potential consequences.

Lactose tolerance
The evolution of lactose tolerance highlights how human dietary habits have influenced genetic changes. Whereas early humans typically consumed milk only during infancy, certain populations have evolved the ability to digest lactose into adulthood, a trait especially prevalent in regions where dairy farming has been historically significant, such as among Caucasians. This adaptation, believed to have arisen relatively recently, has now become widespread, with lactose tolerance observed in nearly 95% of North Europeans.

Mouth and teeth
Even our anatomical features are subject to evolutionary shifts. Our mouths, for instance, are undergoing changes, becoming smaller and assuming a more streamlined shape. However, this transformation hasn’t been mirrored in the evolution of our teeth, necessitating interventions like orthodontic treatments and wisdom teeth removal. Interestingly, an increasing number of individuals are born without wisdom teeth or experience delayed eruption, indicative of a gradual evolutionary divergence from our ancestral dental structures. While the precise genetic underpinnings of this phenomenon remain elusive, it underscores the ongoing evolutionary journey shaping the human species.

Live your days as if you were a Stoic. The 12 Stoic rules are below. Reflect on them.
Rule 1: Own the morning
Rule 2: Only focus on what’s in your control
Rule 3: Don’t suffer imagined troubles
Rule 4: Treat success and failure the same
Rule 5: Just do one thing every day
Rule 6: Make beautiful choices
Rule 7: Constantly ask, “is this necessary?”
Rule 8: Love your life mission
Rule 9: Speak with the dead
Rule 10: Be strict with yourself and tolerant with others
Rule 11: Turn obstacles upside down
Rule 12: Remember: you are dying every day