IKIGAI KIDS
Early purpose education for a changing world.
Ikigai Kids
Ikigai Kids is the youth division of the School of Ikigai — developing emotional intelligence, creative expression, and inner-guided leadership in children through nature-based learning, storytelling, and self-discovery
built on five foundations:
Ikigai Kids is built on the following 5 pillars:
- Inner awareness before performance
- Storytelling before standardization
- Nature before classrooms
- Identity before productivity
- Belonging before achievement
The roots of Ikigai Kids come from over 15 years of working with children across education, storytelling, and resilience-based programming.
Our Background
Suzanne-Isabella Kanso previously spearheaded a global children’s storytelling initiative that grew into a pilot program reaching over 35 countries, in co-venture with Prix Jeunesse and UNICEF — centered on children’s voice, emotional expression, and cultural storytelling.
Ikigai Kids is the evolution of that work — expanded into a full youth development philosophy housed within the School of Ikigai.
Our Programs
Ikigai Kids currently develops and pilots:
• Storytelling & Voice Labs
• Emotional Intelligence Circles
• Nature-based identity programs
• Purpose & strengths discovery for youth
• Creative resilience workshops
• Cultural storytelling projects
• Parent-child integration experiences
Programs are delivered through schools, NGOs, community organizations, retreat environments, and cultural institutions.
How to work with us
Kids is part of the long-term vision of the School of Ikigai to develop a full ecosystem of purpose education — from childhood to adulthood.
Our mission is to contribute to the rise of emotionally intelligent, self-directed, creatively rooted generations through our 3 pathways below.
Organizations & NGOs
Schools & Learning Environments
Families & Parents
