Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tare Fun Day
On Monday kids from our community partners came to Sangam for a children's day of fun. The day was great. The World Thinking Day event participants joined us in leading games and crafts for the children. The face painting station was a very popular location.
For many of the children, it was their first time experiencing a whole day where they were able to just have fun. I will never forget the look on one of the girl's face, when she saw the parachute games. She had never seen a parachute before. She was so excited.
Many girls from the Ramgar slum, where I worked, were able to come to the fun day. It was fantastic to spend the day with them, to dance with them and to make sure that they got enough of the wonderful Sangam food to eat. For them, it was like a day at Disney World. Their only disappointment was that they could not swim in the pool but they did get a chance to at least stick their hands in the water.
For many of the children, it was their first time experiencing a whole day where they were able to just have fun. I will never forget the look on one of the girl's face, when she saw the parachute games. She had never seen a parachute before. She was so excited.
Many girls from the Ramgar slum, where I worked, were able to come to the fun day. It was fantastic to spend the day with them, to dance with them and to make sure that they got enough of the wonderful Sangam food to eat. For them, it was like a day at Disney World. Their only disappointment was that they could not swim in the pool but they did get a chance to at least stick their hands in the water.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Photos: Week 4 in Review
Dinner with an Indian family |
A classic Indian truck |
A fuzzy pic of Ronja and I next to the Sangam lantern! |
Preparing for Tare Fun Day |
Car trip back from an unexpected project with orphans. |
The 4 week Tare hail their own rickshaw! |
A much need chocolate fix |
Hindi Movie Time!!! |
ABCD- Any Body Can Dance- even mine! |
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Happy Thinking Day!
Happy World Thinking Day from Sangam! For all of you non-Girl Scout readers, every February 22nd Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world celebrates our global sisterhood and renews our promise to make the world a better place.
In 2010, I celebrated Thinking Day with Kenyan Girl Guides in Londiai. In 2011, I was at Our Cabana in Mexico with the Guías de México. This year I was with The Bharat Scouts and Guides in India!
The Sangam family with the World Thinking Day event participants joined the Bharat Scouts and Guides at their Scout facility in Pune. It was so much fun to celebrate with them. The events included honoring Boy Scout and Girl Guide founders, Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, recognizing the outstanding scouts from various units and a fantastic dance performance by the visually impaired scouts. The day also included an hour of activity time with the local guides and those of us from Sangam. Steff and I led the group of visually impaired Boy Scouts though building paper sculptures.
In the evening, Sangam invited members of the local community to join in a Thinking Day ceremony around the Thinking Day tree. I think since I was 14, I've always choked up a bit when I think about the power Girl Scouts and Girl Guides have to change the world and this year was no different.
The really fantastic day ended with a jump into the Sangam pool with my fellow Tare and little dancing to Ignite by the famed Melinda Carroll.
Our way is clear as we march on,
And see! Our flag on high,
Is never furled throughout the world,
For hope shall never die!
We must unite for what is right
In
friendship true and strong...
The Thinking Day Tree |
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Marnye Walla, Walla
Today
was my last day with most of the girls from the Ramgar slum. I will see a few
of the girls on Monday for Tare Fun Day at Sangam.
We
have spent most of this week talking about hygiene and the importance of
keeping ourselves and our clothes and our living spaces clean. The girls did an amazing drawing of an
Indian girl and labeling all of her body parts earlier this week. After they
finished their masterpiece, as a group we added the methods used for cleaning
each body part.
For
our final activity in the unit, I wanted to reinforce the importance of hand
washing. When I was in Kenya I learned about Tippy Taps. I had noticed in my
visits to the slum that there did not seem to be any easy access to water and
soap for hand washing. With a few clicks on Google, I found simple instructions
on how to make a personal hand washing station using a plastic bottle and some
rope.
After
we demonstrated how germs are easily passed from one person to another by
touching hands rubbed in chalk, the girls did a great job following directions
to make their Tippy Taps. I wanted to make the project as sustainable as
possible. So that when the initial water runs out the girls and their families
could easily be able to refill the bottle and keep it near their cooking space.
I decided to create a soap sling to attach to the bottle for easy use.
The
soap was the unexpected part of the day. When I started opening the boxes of soap
to give to each girl, I was unprepared for the excitement and the gratitude.
I
choked up a bit and then I started to cry. Of course, then the girls were a bit
upset that I was upset. I then told them that today was my last day. I don’t
think I have ever received as many bear hugs and kisses from so many people in
one minute. It was all a bit overwhelming.
I
hope the girls understand how grateful I am to them for letting me into their
lives and into their community and for letting them into my heart. Of course, I
am also grateful to them for teaching me “Walla, Walla” and the “Alligator”
game, a game that I still don’t quite understand but I sure did enjoy screaming
and giggling with them at the end of every round.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Teacher, Lawyer, Police Woman
Last Friday was an awesome day with “my girls.” For the
final activity of the self-esteem unit, I asked the girls about their future
plans (aka: what do you want to be when you grow up). The Green Tara Foundation
sure is doing something right. The girls had amazing answers. They really
inspired me. I know they have the potential to achieve their
dreams to be teachers, lawyers, police officers, dancers and singers if they can break the poverty cycle. My wish for each girl is to avoid an early marriage and to have the chance live their future plans.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Photos: Week 2 in Review
In my uniform with my tiffin (packed lunch) and ready for site |
My roomies in our uniforms |
Ready for Wednesday fun day |
Paola and I standing outside of the Alandi Temple. |
The Alandi Temple |
The Hindu god Shiva. |
Women in a sewing class |
Riding the commuter bus |
Outside of the Chatashringi temple |
Showing off our programs from the AMAZING cello and piano concert! |
In our new punjabis! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)