Colours Of Life
The Yongs' Pic Album since 1998
World Seva 2011
Robyn's Diary
About the Yongs
Projects

 


13th Year: 2011
Jan
- Piano Recital by Robyn, Mosaic Art Portrait & CNY Reunion Lunch
Feb
- Chinese New Year, PA Got Talents, Alvin's Birthday & Opening of Clay-Street New Studio
Mar
- Bye-bye Heni
Seva Wk 01: Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore
Seva Wk 02: 1st Seva with Divine Karnataka Project & On Course
Seva Wk 03: Sponsoring Rural Village Sport Clubs & Bridge at Chikmagalur
Seva Wk 04:
'WHY DKP' Corporate Fund Raising
Apr
Seva Wk 05: DKP Helps Rural Farmers, Gadag & Koppal, Karnataka
Seva Wk 06: Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Konark, Puri & Sri Sri University
Seva Wk 07: Tribal School Project, Jharkhand
Seva Wk 08:
Tribal School Arts Festival on Facebook
May
Seva Wk 09: Tribal School @ Dumuria & Ranchi
Seva Wk 10: Tribal School Digital Contest & Kolkata
Seva Wk 11: Kolkata to Delhi to Himachal Pradesh
Seva Wk 12: Shoghi, Shimla & Tirthan Valley in Himachal Pradesh

Jun
Seva Wk 13: Homestay @ Tirthan, Kullu Valley
Seva Wk 14: Sangla, Peo, Nako, Kinnaur Valley
Seva Wk 15: Tabo, Kaza, Kye, Spiti Valley
Seva Wk 16: Demul to Komic on Yaks, Spiti Valley

Jul
Seva Wk 17: Kaza to Manali to Gurgaon, Delhi
Seva Wk 18: Gurgaon & Barefoot College,Tilonia
Seva Wk 19: Jaipur & back to Bangalore
Seva Wk 20 & 21: With the Murthys in Bangalore

Aug
Seva Wk 22-24: Meridian 101 Ambassadors for India & Bye Bye India
Seva Wk 25: Seva in Africa - Jumbo Kenya!
Seva Wk 26: Seva at the Children's Garden Home
Sep
Seva Wk 27: More Seva Projects at CGH
Seva Wk 28: Self-drive Safari to Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate
Seva Wk 29: Short Break to Arusha, Tanzania
Seva Wk 30: Safari at Nairobi National Park & Children's Day Celebration
Oct
Seva Wk 31: Launching BEADwear for Christmas
Seva Wk 32: Robyn turns 13 in Kampala, Uganda
Seva Wk 33: Rafting the White Nile, Jinja, Uganda
Seva Wk 34: Sipi Falls, Uganda & African Child Mega Dance in Kenya
Nov
Seva Wk 35: Nairobi to Mombasa, Malindi & Lamu
Seva Wk 36: Seva@Lamu - Donkey necklace + Kaya
Seva Wk 37: Seva@Lamu - Hands Up 4 Kids
Seva Wk 38: Bye Africa, Hello Istanbul, Homeward-bound Singapore
Dec
- Home Sweet Home in Singapore
 
   

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SEVA WEEK 25 (22-28 Aug 2011)

 

"JAMBO!"
"There's no hurry in Africa!"

It was mighty good to be back in Kenya, after 22 years! The first time that Alvin travelled in Kenya was in 1989.

For the first week of orientation in Nairobi and to seek out seva opportunities, we stayed at the Wildebeest Camp, where we lived in tent and room on alternate nights due to availability. It was a nice start to our African journey.

Camping in the garden
We enjoyed a spacious tent in the garden.
Robyn doing her homework in the garden
It was a great place to read and do homework...

Robyn and Fatty
Robyn and Fatty.

Nairobi is at an altitude of 2000m so it felt chilly even though we were in the tropics! When there's sunshine, it was delightfully warm but not hot.

Robyn doing the African swing
 

On recommendation by Monika Fauth and Sonal Nagda, respectively the Chairperson and Secretary of Art of Living Kenya, we got in touch with Moses Ndung'u, Founder of Children's Garden Home.

We visited the home where Moses takes in orphans, abandoned and abused street children from the slums and provide them with love, care and school.

We decided to move in to the home on 27 Aug to live amongst the kids and see how we could help.

Jin at Children's Garden Home
Jin at Children's Garden Home.

Eric Mohaka (Service For Peace) and Moses Ndung'u
Eric Mogaka (Service For Peace) and Moses Ndung'u

Robyn and the children at CGH
Robyn and the children at CGH.
   

We met Lesley Dann from the UK at the Wildebeest Camp. She is the founder of the Harambee for Kenya, a charity that provides home for 30+ street children in Kisii, 5 hours away from Nairobi. She travels to Kenya 2-3 times every year and has been doing that for 13 years! Her dedication is truly inspiring. Lesley drove us around to visit the Kibera slum and the Scout HQ.

Lesley Dann and us
In our background was the huge Kibera Slum.

Kibera slum in Nairobi
Over 2m people live in the Kibera slum!
Kibera slum viewed from the Scout Camp
Kibera slum viewed from the Scout Camp.
Alvin was a scout with Arrow 1501, Victoria School
Alvin was a scout in Victoria School.
Joy of Meridian 101 acupressure

"Be Prepared" - the scout motto

 

< Lord Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941) was the Chief Scout of the world. After his retirement from the Army, he stayed on to lead the scout movement in Kenya till his last day. His home was at the foot of Mount Kenya.

> This is a true footprint
of Lord Baden-Powell.

Beloved Guruji
 

On Lesley's recommendation, we visited the Elephant Orphanage where orphaned elephants are rescued and raised for subsequent re-integration to the African plains. While David had passed on, his wife continues the wonderful work of wildlife conservation.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Orphans' Project
Elephant drinking milk
The public may view the feeding only at 11am-12noon daily. The elephants are fed special milk formula.
The trust relies on donation, entrance fee collection and elephant adoption for sustainability.
The trust relies on donation, entrance fee collection and elephant adoption for sustainability.
 

We finally moved in to Children's Garden Home to live amongst the children. This would be the best way to grasp the needs of the home and identify areas of seva that we could do.

We are so blessed to have so many children to play and laugh with everyday. And we soon discovered that every child here has a very moving life story to tell...

Children's Garden Home in Nairobi, Kenya
In the volunteer room
Our room is a simple one but comfortable.
Jin with Harriet
Jin chatting with Harriet to gain better understanding.

Robyn and Beth
Robyn and Beth, who is the student spiritual leader and she has a beautiful and powerful voice.

> Robyn with baby Joy, who is just beginning to walk.

Robyn with baby Joy
Alvin with baby Ng'ang'a, who was abandoned at birth but rescued by a samaritan and brought to CGH
Alvin with baby Ng'ang'a, who was abandoned at birth but rescued by a samaritan and brought to CGH, where is his home now.
Every Sunday morning, Moses holds a service at the dining hall and provides spiritual nourishment to the children
Every Sunday morning, Moses holds a service at the dining hall and provides spiritual nourishment to the children.
Kezia, eldest daughter of Moses
Kezia is the eldest of Moses' 3 daughters. All 3 live, play and study with the 250 street children. Moses treats all children as his own.
Silas, the little rapper
Silas is our youngest rapper and is always smiling. His mother died and his father could not be found. So a nun brought him to CGH.

Moses showed us the classrooms. We thought it was high time for a fresh coat of paint.
Moses showed us the classrooms. We thought it was high time for a fresh coat of paint.

> A few classroom doors were either damaged or missing. We thought it was high time for some repair.

Numerous of the classroom doors were either damaged or missing. We thought it was high time for some repair
Kitchen where meals for the children are prepared by the children themselves.
Kitchen where meals for the children are prepared by the children themselves. There is no gas and electricity is too expensive. They use firewood.
When even food is sometime not enough, when bread has to be sliced thinner so everyone gets something to munch, infra repair is naturally low in priority...
When even food is sometime not enough, when bread has to be sliced thinner so everyone gets something to munch, infra repair is naturally low in priority...

 

We decided here's where our seva should begin in earnest...

 

> Week 26: Living in the Children's Garden Home in Nairobi, Kenya...

 

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