Course in navan on joy of vegan living
Have you ever wondered what veganism is about? Perhaps you have wished to be vegan but lacked the know-how. Psychologist Sandra Higgins is beginning a Vegan Education Programme in Navan, this week. Entitled 'Compassionate Living & The Power of One', this six week course is an introduction to the joy and rationale of vegan living. It simplifies veganism, equipping participants with the practical knowledge necessary to remain vegan for life.
The course is delivered in a fun, interesting and challenging manner using a combination of film, reading material, handouts, and group discussion. Participants will explore the ethical, health and environmental reasons for choosing to live vegan. They will sample vegan food, cosmetics, and toiletries, and learn how to shop, cook, eat and live vegan.
Higgins is a Psychologist who specialises in the Science of Compassion at The Compassion Foundation of Ireland. She is one of the authors of the recently published How to be Happy & Healthy, The Seven Natural Elements of Mental Health (ed Maeve Halpin). Higgins founded Eden Farmed Animal Sanctuary in 2008. It was the first vegan sanctuary in Ireland and is now home to over one hundred rescued animals. Higgins is also Director of Matilda’s Promise, Animal Rights & Vegan Education Centre. She has been vegan for six years. “Going vegan was the best decision of my life” she says. “This course aims to fill the gaps and offer the support that I wish had been there when I first went vegan.”
She is joined on two sessions of the course via Skype by renowned American Registered Dietician Jack Norris. Jack is the author of Vitamin B12: Are you Getting Enough of it? and the very popular book Vegan for Life: Everything you Need to Know to be Healthy and Fit on a Plant Based Diet (Jack Norris & Ginny Messina, MS RD). “Jack’s involvement in the programme is a wonderful opportunity for people living in Ireland to access the expertise of a qualified dietician who specialises in plant based nutrition. Jack will present the latest scientific findings on the components and benefits of a well balanced plant based diet and answer any questions that arise over the six week programme” says Higgins.
The course uses an evidenced, science based approach to examine the impact of our lifestyles on ourselves and others. Participants are encouraged to re-assess the values they hold dearest in life and are equipped with the practical tools and motivation to live more harmoniously in alignment with those values.
Higgins says that she meets many clients who feel that, as individuals, they have little control in their lives and are at the mercy of those who appear to wield all the power. “This course in veganism demonstrates the power of each individual to effect substantial change at both the personal level and in the world. Simply making relatively minor changes in how we choose to live our lives has a significant impact on issues such as world suffering, health, justice, climate change and environment destruction, worker’s rights, and world hunger” she says.
The programme begins on Wednesday 5th November next between 7pm and 10pm at the Newgrange Hotel, Navan and every Wednesday thereafter until 10th December. The six week programme costs E150. “If you would like to do the course but cannot afford the fee please don’t let lack of money stop you” advises Higgins. Subsidised places have been made available through two generous grants from The Pollination Fund and A Well Fed World. To book telephone 0872325832.