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 30 (26 Sep - 2 Oct 2011)

 

The Art of Living board members met this morning at the Sarit Centre to sign the necessary document to formally register the IAHV Kenya, inspired by Guruji's vision for a stress-free and violence-free world. Monika flew in from Lamu, met us at Children's Garden Home for a 7.30am chat, and Alvin went along with her and Paul to meet the rest in the city.

Paul, Moses and Monika at Children's Garden Home.
Paul, Moses and Monika at Children's Garden Home.

Devna, Paul, Alvin, Kirit, Monika and Sonal.
Devna, Paul, Alvin, Kirit, Monika and Sonal.
   

After lunch, we went cow-hunting and view some cows with Moses and Lazarus at the Muguga village.
Handmade tables and benches.

Moo Moo Cow
The children benefiting from the hands-on learning guided by carpenter Fester.

 

 

To help Moses and his student committees plan and manage the various Little Fingy's self-help projects well, Alvin conducted a 2-night "Business 4 Youth Course" for 15 students. Certificates were awarded to those who completed and presented their business plan to Alvin.

Gabriel presenting his business plan for the Little Fingy's Kuku Farm Project.
Gabriel presenting his business plan for the Little Fingy's Kuku Farm Project.

Muge contributing his ideas on how to market and which customer segments to target.
Muge contributing his ideas on how to market and which customer segments to target.

 

27 Sep 2011: Cow Consulting with Mr Mini Patel, owner of Kigwa Farm

Referred by Raj, we drove to Kiambu with Lazarus to seek out Mini Patel, who owns a beautiful farm cum home. We found his place easily and went aknocking without any appointment.
Referred by Raj, we drove to Kiambu with Lazarus to seek out Mini Patel, who owns a beautiful farm cum home. We found his place easily and went aknocking without any appointment. Mini is so kind a gentleman who offered us invaluable advice.

Mini is so kind a gentleman who offered us invaluable advice.
He has over 300 Jersey cows and he gave us invaluable advice for our dairy farm project.
He has over 300 Jersey cows and he introduced us to Professor Mutiga whom we discovered later to be another kind hearted gentleman and cow expert.
Mini keeps peacocks as pets.
Mini keeps peacocks as pets. He showed us around his house, his garden, part of his farm and his kennel of barking German Shepherds.
   

The 4WD van has a huge open top for an all-round viewing of wildlife.28 Sep 2011: Safari at Nairobi National Park

It was so thoughtful of AOL teacher, Ms Devna Pandit, who is also director of Boma Holidays Ltd, for sending us a safari vehicle complete with a driver for a morning visit to the Nairobi National Park. The 4WD van has a huge open top for an all-round viewing of wildlife. We spotted a good variety of animals here.

We invited Sylvia to come along as she has not visited the park for a long time. The park fees were US$40 per adult and US$20 per child, and only Ksh.300 per local.

Two Lions lying in the grassland with city skyline in the background - kinda an misfitting sight...
Two Lions lying in the grassland with city skyline in the background - kinda misfitting sight...

We soon spotted the Capped Buffalo - another respected member of the Big Five.
We soon spotted the Capped Buffalo - another respected member of the Big Five.

Another Big Five member - the Rhino, which is well protected round the clock in the park.
Another Big Five member - the Rhino, which is well protected round the clock in the park.

> A proud Ostrich.

A proud ostrich

Staring match with an Eland.

A gentle Giraffe munching away at the leaves.
A gentle Giraffe munching away at the leaves.

< Staring match with an Eland.

This is the first kid to go to university next year.
The Secretary Bird, aptly named after its office attire of 3-quarter pants.

> Piercing stare of the Marshall Eagle.

an impala with a missing horn

Tree Hyrax

< Tree Hyrax.

Ugly Warthog on the prowl.
Not-so-handsome warthog on the prowl.

We met some 'handicapped' animals - a zebra that has lost its tail, and an impala with a missing horn.

a zebra that has lost its tail

an impala with a missing horn

Robyn atop the 4WD safari van.
Robyn atop the 4WD safari van.

> Sylvia, Robyn and Jin at the ivory burning site. Ex-president Moi torched over US$1m worth of ivory in 1989 to signify the commitment to crush the ivory trade to save the elephants.

Sylvia, Robyn and Jin at the ivory burning site. President Moi torched over US$1m worth of ivory in 1989 to signify the commitment to crush the ivory trade.


Picnic and viewing point within the Nairobi National Park.


Is that a lion behind the bush?
   

From Nairobi National Park, we went to the Kazuri Bead Factory to see how this amazing outfit helps poor and single women earn a living by manufacturing beaded jewellery.

They have machines to mix their own clay and provide employment to over a hundred women and men in making beads from clay, doing pottery, glazing and firing with huge kilns, and of course, sale and guiding for visitors.

Robyn at Kazuri Bead Factory

Women hand moulding clay beads.
Women hand moulding clay beads.

Bowls, cups and plates are created using moulds.
Bowls, cups and plates are created using moulds.
A massive glazing workshop for beads.
A massive glazing workshop for beads.
Hand glazing of beads one at a time.
Hand glazing of beads one at a time.
Assembly of bead jewellery
Hand assembly of bead jewellery.
Hand glazing of tea pots, cups and plates.
Hand glazing of tea pots, cups and plates.
The Kazuri Shop displays its full range of products.
The Kazuri Shop displays its full range of products.
Sylvia and Robyn at the Kazuri Shop.
Sylvia and Robyn at the Kazuri Shop.
It was an inspiring visit to Kazuri. What begun as a self-help initiative for single women has today flourishes into an international brand of immense success. Little Fingy's can do it too!
It was an inspiring visit to Kazuri. What began as a self-help initiative for single women has today flourishes into an international brand of immense success. Little Fingy's can do it too!
Thank you, Devna and Boma Holidays Ltd, for such a lovely treat, and thanks also to Diki Diki, our guide-cum-driver who possesses very good knowledge of the wildlife and brought us to a superb local eatery.
Thank you, Devna and Boma Holidays Ltd, for such a lovely treat, and thanks also to Diki Diki, our guide-cum-driver who possesses very good knowledge of the wildlife and brought us to a superb local eatery.
   

We met Mr Nagesh Karuturi, CEO of Karuturi Farm, at Amrita Children's Home and he invited us to visit his farm. He is a proponent of social investment and we were keen to get to know him better. Moses drove us to get an inside look at the world's largest rose grower and exporter. So we returned once again to Lake Naivasha.

Karuturi provides free housing, water/electricity, healthcare and schools for its 20,000 staff.

Jin, Robyn, Nagesh and Alvin at Karuturi
The Karuturi Hospital offers a full range of medical care from dental, delivery to surgery. Free for staff and low cost for the local community. It's run by 2 doctors.
The Karuturi Hospital offers a full range of medical care from dental, delivery to surgery. Free for staff and low cost for the local community. It's run by 2 doctors.
Karuturi runs a nursery, a primary school and a secondary school that provides subsidized education to over 2000 children of its staff.
Karuturi runs a nursery, a primary school and a secondary school that provides subsidized education to over 2000 children of its staff.
Robyn and children.
Robyn and children.
Children and Alvin.
Children and Alvin.
   

We met Art of Living devotees, Ashwin and Varsha, at Amrita Children's Home and they warmly invited us to have lunch at their beautiful home at Westland.

After lunch, we went to another Art of Living devotee, Vanita's home to celebrate her birthday with a satsang, led by Ashwin and Varsha.

Varsha and Robyn making chapati
A wonderful satsang in Nairobi!
A wonderful satsang in Nairobi!
Thanks, Ashvin (1st from R).
Thanks, Ashwin (1st from R).
   

Children's Day Celebration at Children's Garden Home

We got back to Children's Garden Home by 8pm to join in the 4-in-1 celebration with all children and staff:

  • Singapore Children's Day (Kenya's is not on 1 Oct)
  • Eggs for the children from our own Kuku Farm
  • Inaugural use of new dining tables and benches
  • Bozza's adoption of Diana approved by the judge
The children sang and danced.
The children sang and danced.
Wonderful traditional dance performance.
Wonderful traditional dance performance.
The 3 mothers also danced!
The 3 mothers also danced!
We love our new dining hall tables and benches!
We love our new dining hall tables and benches!
Joy enjoying the egg from our chicken

It was considered a sumptous dinner for there were eggs (from kuku farm), meat (sponsored by us), bananas and soda drinks (sponsored by Eugenio and Alessandra Bozza).

It was considered a sumptuous dinner for there were eggs (from kuku farm), meat (sponsored by us), bananas and soda drinks (sponsored by Eugenio and Alessandra Bozza).

We taught them our Singapore style "yum-seng"!
We taught them our Singapore style "yum-seng"!
The Yong, the Bozza and the Ndung'u families.
The Yong, the Bozza and the Ndung'u families.
   

 

> Week 31: Launching the Little Fingy's BEADwear Project...

 

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