The Goodville Program
Character-led social-emotional learning through stories, play, music and interactive design.
Social-emotional learning · Character-led pedagogy · Play-based learning · Storytelling · Music and movement · Child-centred design · Growth mindset
The Goodville Program is an evolving creative learning design project I first began in 2021 to help children explore kindness, empathy, emotional intelligence, self-confidence, responsibility and positive behaviour through characters, songs, puppetry, games, story quests and colourful learning tools.
What began as a simple values-based idea has grown into a playful learning world for children aged 4–9, shaped by close observation, experimentation and the belief that children learn deeply through imagination, movement, repetition, emotion and joy.
The story behind the creation of Goodville
Goodville began from a small creative spark during my Advanced Level Business Studies. For a marketing campaign project, I created a music jingle around the idea that “goodness comes from within" inspired by the way the sweetest (and yummiest) part of a cream cookie is found on the inside!
What started as a classroom idea slowly became something more meaningful when I introduced it to young children. I began creating and designing songs, simple stories and cheerful cream-cookie-inspired characters to teach values such as kindness, sharing and helping others.
The first characters Goody, Jolly and Sweety quickly became more than digital drawings. Children remembered them, sang with them, spoke about them, and connected their behaviours to the characters. Parents began using the characters at home too, turning them into visual reminders for positive behaviour.
That was when I realised that characters could do something very special in learning. They could make abstract values feel concrete, memorable and emotionally safe for children.
All Videos
All Videos
An introduction to the Goodville Program
Introducing the Goodville Program to the Future Leaders Montesorris August 2023
Introducing the Goodville characters to children in the Bridge2peace schools -14th & 15th July 2023
GOODVILLE TESTIMONIALS
" We're over the moon with joy about the Goodville program! Jeneli is beaming with enthusiasm, applying what she learned and animatedly chatting about Jolly, Sweety, Goody, and even Naughty. Your efforts have truly made a positive impact already.😃😃I feel that kids are not just learning, but absorbing valuable lessons about kindness and character in such a delightful way. Your dedication to teaching these essential values in a fun manner is commendable. It's not just important but timely for young minds."
Welcome to the Town of Goodville!
Meet the Goodville characters!
National recognition for Goodville
GP was given national recognition at the New Generation Awards 2023 organised by Women in Management and the National Youth Service Council. GP received the “Well Being Award” which “recognizes organisations and individuals who take great care to promote the wellbeing of children and young people, as well as ensuring that families can stay together.”
Through the non-profit BridgetoPeace, I got the invaluable opportunity to introduce the Goodville Program to underprivileged children from broken homes. By translating the program into Sinhala, I ensured accessibility for all, reaching both children and parents with messages of kindness and empathy in pre-schools in Diyatalawa and Lunugamvehera.
A significant moment occurred when I rang the bell of peace for kindness. This marked the first time kindness resonated alongside peace, signaling a collective dedication to fostering both peace and kindness within the school. Now, every morning, the bell is rung twice with the first and second rings representing peace and kindness respectively.
I was deeply moved by the children's response as they enthusiastically embraced the program's characters. I vividly recall one child excitedly running to his mother after the session, exclaiming, “Api jolliyen hitiya!”
(We were jolly!), referring to my character Jolly who makes others happy. When I addressed their parents, I emphasized the profound impact of kindness on healing and resilience to combat the pressing challenges of broken homes and societal divisions. I was incredibly touched by the expressions of gratitude and appreciation from parents. This reaffirmed the importance of the program's mission to spread kindness and empathy in our communities.
I am excited to branch out my program and spread joy and goodness in similiar areas.
GP in rural pre-schools
"Social-emotional learning (SEL) is like a toolbox which gives you the tools needed to fix and tweak your emotions to better understand yourself and others"
- Anagi
Goodville Camps!
Camp is always a buzzing with enthusiastic chatter, smiles and laughter as kids learn good values, behaviours and social-emotional skills through fun and positive activities like role play, puppetry, crafts and much more!
Join the Goodville WhatsApp community, to get notified of camps and other GP updates!
The Goodville Store
This is the place to buy special Goodville merchandise that will help your child develop and remember the ‘will to do good’ all the time!
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