A difficult announcement - it is with a heavy heart that I share that we are closing SFI. Since 2017, we’ve been dedicated to creating communities where everyone can flourish. From rebuilding community in Melbourne during COVID-19, to teaching and consulting on strength-based community development in countries like Pakistan, Zambia, the Philippines, and Kenya, CBBC/SFI has worked to help individuals, organisations, and communities re-think their work—encouraging openness, inclusion, and recognition of the good that already exists. It's with this legacy that I need to let you know the sad news that we are closing SFI. These past couple of years have been hard ones for the organisation and for me personally. We had hoped our rebranding earlier this year would signal a new beginning and for a while it did, creating an exciting buzz. However, behind the scenes a stretched, largely volunteer crew worked hard to attract new business and opportunities to teach and consult about flourishing. Unfortunately none of our efforts bore fruit and so here we are in September, tired and a little depleted, but hopeful as we remember our legacy and what has been achieved. I take comfort in the Buddhist teaching that nothing is permanent. Things rise, and for a time they are steady—but attachment can cause suffering. With this in mind, and due to personal life changes and fatigue, I have stepped away from the organisation, and the board has accepted the recommendation to close. While SFI may be closing, the concept of flourishing lives on. The question now is: how can each of us make flourishing a reality within our own circles of influence? Even small, positive steps can ripple outward, creating change beyond what we can imagine I’m not disappearing. My focus is shifting to dreaming, writing, and sharing ideas about flourishing in new ways—perhaps teaching, perhaps simply sharing insights as a friend on the journey. If you’d like to stay in touch, reach out directly or follow me on socials. Andre Van Eymeren (fb)

🌱 Join the Flourishing Hub on LinkedIn — Free! Are you passionate about creating thriving communities—in schools, workplaces, health settings, online spaces, or society more broadly? This is the space for you! Hosted by Dr. Andre Van Eymeren, the Flourishing Hub is a free place to: 💬 Share insights and ask questions 🤝 Connect with like-minded people across the globe ✨ Collaborate and explore what flourishing could look like in your context Start by introducing yourself—tell us who you are, what brings you here, or what flourishing means to you! 👉 QR code or https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14726286/ #CommunityConnection #FlourishingAustralia #StayMotivated #socialflourishinginstitute (fb)