29 Aug 2011 - Getting to Know Children's Garden Home
Today was our 3rd day at the CGH. We saw a bunch of children living very simply, with very little, but happy and caring for one another. Every older child has a younger charge to care for, including bathing, feeding and clothing.
The place badly needed maintenance. But with 250 children under its care, fund was so short that they were close to running out of food just recently.
So we kicked off some seva improvement projects today!
Moses and Sylvia Ndung'u are the kind couple who founded CGH 10 years ago in 2001. While CGH has relied solely on donation for its first decade of existence, Moses is determined to work towards self-sustainence in the next 10 years.
We are honored to be here to continue the seva of Art of Living. Thanks to Tineke, an AOL teacher from Holland who came and lived here for a month last year, many staff, teachers and children here have undergone AOL courses and Sri Sri Yoga training.
Baby Joy looking forward to better days ahead.
Jin conducted daily yoga session for the kids.
Seva Project #1: Replacement of Classroom Doors
29 Aug: Four of the classroom doors were either missing or damaged. The classes were subjected to cold and disruption from chilly wind and rain.
So we called in trusted carpenter, Fester, to work out a quotation. We requested him to set up a workshop onsite and involve the children in the making and installation of the doors to bring about a stronger sense of belonging. Moreover, it's hands-on vocational training for some boys.
We gave the green light to start work immediately, and the money to purchase the timber. The timber arrived the same afternoon and everyone helped in the clearing of a storeroom to turn it into our carpentry workshop. Fester sprang into action the very next day (30 Aug).
Monika Fauth kindly sponsored this project under Hands Up for Kids.
29 Aug: We borrowed the idea from Tribal School Project in India and decided to put up blackboard paint on half of each classroom wall so the kids can doodle away with chalk and express their creativity or draw what they learn from class. Crown Berger Paints sponsored the paint so we just spent on paint brushes. The kids, led by Juma, completed the paint job before the new school term start the following Monday.
2 Sep 2011 - Football Breakthrough: Kenya 3 vs Nigeria 0
Today saw a historical moment in football. Apparently, Kenya has never won Nigeria in football. But today, the CGH team made Kenya proud by scoring a 3-0 win over a Nigeria school team that came looking for a challenge without notice!
A group of Nigerian touring Kenya came aknocking at CGH and issued a challenge to the CGH football team. Although they asked to field a mixed team, the Nigerian side had only 2 girls while CGH team fielded a 50% mixed team. The Nigerian group was nice to offer our football team a set of grey jerseys.
Although most of our kids played barefooted, we scored, and won 3-0 in the end!
What's memorable: the Nigerian group took us to the field in their bus; but after we won, we were asked to take matatu back to CGH. But we were jubilant all the way home. : )
4 Sep 2011 - Meridian 101 Workshop in Kenya
Today was another first - the first Meridian 101 workshop to be conducted in the whole of African continent in Nairobi, Kenya.
The audience was the family of Art of Living Kenya, and it was held at the home of Sylvie at Planet House.
Everyone had fun and contributed generously to our seva project of making dining hall furniture at CGH. Kirit and Priti Shah offered to sponsor the timber!
Jin and Alvin doing Meridian 101 acupressure demo while Robyn served as the event photographer.
The AOL Kenya family at Sylvie Campaigne's lovely meditation hall in her Planet House home.
29 Aug 2011 - Getting to Know Children's Garden Home
Seva Project #1: Replacement of Classroom Doors
Seva Project #2: Painting of Classrooms
2 Sep 2011 - Football Breakthrough: Kenya 3 vs Nigeria 0
Although most of our kids played barefooted, we scored, and won 3-0 in the end!
