Colours Of Life
The Yongs' Pic Album since 1998
World Seva 2011
Robyn's Diary
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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 37 (14-20 Nov 2011)

Take-off for Hands Up For Kids

This was a gainful week of translating ideas into action and more action still to help Hands Up For Kids take off from the runway into the limitless sky. It was thoroughly fun and exciting working with Monika because she's an inexhaustible action lady but at the same time always well grounded and centred. She attributes her clarity and steadiness to her daily morning routine of pranayama-kriya-meditation.

   

Today, we went to Lamu Town to conduct a training session for some youth from the Lamu Youth Alliance.

Mercy, our first youth leader, conducted the coconut art workshop hands-on training and every youth made at least one coconut necklace. The idea was to duplicate more youth leaders to conduct this simple workshop in different schools across Lamu.

We hope that these youth would take this opportunity to actively contribute towards this community project.

Mercy, our first youth leader, conducted the coconut art workshop hands-on training and every youth made at least one coconut necklace.
Youth hanging coconut necklaces onto donkeys in Lamu
Tirelessly we talked to anyone who would listen to our donkey coconut necklace idea.
Tirelessly we talked to anyone who would listen to our donkey coconut necklace idea.
We also got support from the Lamu Cultural Festival organizer who offered us a performance slot and stand
We also got support from the Lamu Cultural Festival organizer who offered us a performance slot and stand.

Mercy gathering kids in Shela to make more coconut necklaces.
Mercy gathering kids in Shela to make more coconut necklaces.

It grew into an art of its own class... we know we were making history...
It grew into an art of its own class... we know we were creating history...

   

Alvin doing his pranayama at the rooftop

Each morning, we went to a different spot for kriya.

Jin doing her yoga at the wellness centre rooftop
Robyn specializes in kriya-in-bed

Our fav spot was the roof at the wellness centre. Robyn specializes in kriya-in-bed while Monika always does hers at the wellness hall.

Monika always does her kriya at the wellness hall

Robyn helping Patricia to launch a new HandsUp4Kids Facebook Page
Robyn helping Patricia to launch a new HandsUp4Kids Facebook Page.

> Karim enjoying a Meridian 101 herbal oil massage
by his 'best friend' Alvin.

Karim enjoying a Meridian 101 herbal oil massage  by his 'best friend' Alvin
   

We set off in a boat to Wiyoni Primary School. Mercy joined us to be the youth trainer for the art workshop.

The headmasters of both Wiyoni and Mkomani were very supportive of our idea so we hope to make these 2 schools the models for the rest to follow. Productivity wise, we hope to have a few hundred necklaces made and painted by end of the day.

As we marched into Wiyoni Primary School, wondering how keen might the kids and teachers be...
As we marched into Wiyoni Primary School, wondering how keen might the kids and teachers be...
The kids ran out and greeted us warmly with their handmade coconut necklaces!
The kids ran out and greeted us warmly with their handmade coconut necklaces!
"I'm ready to paint!"
"I'm ready to paint!"
"Let me make a hole..."
"Let me make a hole..."
"Hello? Save Lamu please."
"Hello? Save Lamu please."
Mercy giving a brieing to the students
An elder girl helping a younger boy with painting Save Lamu
A girl smiling away as she painted on her coconut art.

A boy showing off his completed craftwork

The headmaster and teachers were all actively involved and dispatched class by class to our painting station under the tree class by class. All the kids had so much fun putting the final touches on their coconut craftwork.

We were mighty glad to have kicked off the coconut art workshop in school with a high at Wiyoni.
We were mighty glad to have kicked off the coconut art workshop in school with a high at Wiyoni.

> Next, we headed to Mkomani Primary School with a basket full of coconut necklaces...

Next, we headed to Mkomani Primary School with a basket full of coconut necklaces...
Mkomani Primary is a girl school with over a thousand students.
Mkomani Primary is a girl school with over a thousand students.
Mercy conducted the workshop to a bunch of highly motivated kids eager to paint their coconuts!
Mercy conducted the workshop to a bunch of highly motivated kids eager to paint their coconuts!
Friends working together...
Friends working together...
"Mine is done!"
"Mine is done!"
All the girls were proud of their coconut creations!
All the girls were proud of their coconut creations!
We got these kids to hands up for Save Lamu!
We got these kids to hands up for Save Lamu!
   

Yesterday, we completed our taste adjustment for our new Lamu Kaya and we also helped Nadia rehearse her presentation. This morning, Monika and Nadia presented our Lamu Kaya to a group of British holidaymakers. Nadia secured her first batch of 15 orders. We were all so happy!

Meanwhile, the Lamu Kaya labels that I designed had been printed in Nairobi and were on their way to Lamu hand-carried by Moses, Monicah and Phanise, arriving this evening.

"I want to order 1."
"I want to order Lamu Kaya."
"Gimme 5 bottles of Lamu Kaya."
"Gimme 5 bottles of Lamu Kaya."
"We too, give us 1 each."
"We too, give us one each."
This social enterprise was created to help Nadia earn her way to pay for college education, to fulfill her dream to become a teacher.

Lamu Kaya, by Hands Up For KidsAnd so, Lamu Kaya was born.

This social enterprise was created to help Nadia earn her way to pay for college education, to fulfill her dream to become a teacher.

While it was an idea from Alvin, it was the decisiveness of Monika and the willingness of Nadia to undertake this experiment that led to its manifestation.

We hope that this would be the start of many more social enterprises by Hands Up For Kids to empower children and youth in Lamu to stand up for their dreams. Stand up with good ideas but with feet firmly grounded, plan boldly and move swiftly into action.

 
Moses Ndung'u comes to Lamu

We suggested having Phanise and Monicah from CGH come over to help Monika to motivate the children in Lamu and teach them the African Child dance. Monika promptly agreed and we made it happened within days.

Robyn with Phanise and Monicah in Banana House

Moses accompanied the 2 girls in the long overland journey from Nairobi to Lamu. They took an overnight bus from nairobi to Mombasa, then changed to a 12 hour bus to Lamu. From the mainland, it was another 40 min boat ride to Shela.

It was Monicah's first sight of the ocean, and Phanise's second. For all 3 of them, it was their first experience crossing the sea in a boat.

We hope that Phanise and Monicah would pick up swimming skill in their 2-week stay here with Monika.

We hope that Phanise and Monicah would pick up swimming skill in their 2-week stay here with Monika.
I took Moses to Lamu Town to look-see around
I took Moses to Lamu Town to look-see around and to distribute some donkey necklaces to restaurants, hardware shop and boutique shop.
We distributed some donkey necklaces to restaurants, hardware shop and boutique shop
In the mean time, Phanise, Monicah and Robyn stayed back to help Nadia prepare kaya to fulfill her first batch of 15 orders, to be delivered tomorrow.
 

We left Banana House for the beach at 6am to catch sun rise. It was a wonderful morning at the beach. I enjoyed a long meditation session sitting in silence facing the horizon where the sky merged into the ocean. I also enjoyed a quiet moment staring at the vast sky with beautiful clouds that spoke to me in a cosmos language of love.

The kids and Moses, especially, enjoyed a morning swim. It was Moses', Phanise' and Monicah's first swim in the sea so it was especially memorable for everyone. Jin was unwell so she missed out on the fun.

Robyn taught everyone the African Child dance. The girls, including the principal, had so much fun

Daddy Moses with Phanise and Monicah.

> Monika with Karim.

It turned out that the best dancer was the principal!

Alvin with Robyn at Lamu beach.
Alvin with Robyn at Lamu beach.

Lovely Lamu beach in the quiet of the morning.
Lovely Lamu beach in the quiet of the morning.

The kids had a splashing great time!
The kids had a splashing great time!
Moses' virgin swim in the sea!
Moses' virgin swim in the sea!

At dusk, Monika arranged for all of us to go on a sunset dhow. We sailed for only a short while as the windless sky couldn't bring us far enough to view any sunset.
At dusk, Monika arranged for all of us to go on a sunset dhow. We sailed for only a short while as the windless sky couldn't bring us far enough to view any sunset.

In any case, the heavily overcast sky was so pregnant with rain that it was a good idea to turn around. We got back to Banana House just in time to escape from a downpour. Well, at least we enjoyed a sailing experience in a dhow.
In any case, the heavily overcast sky was so pregnant with rain that it was a good idea to turn around. We got back to Banana House just in time to escape from a downpour. Well, at least we enjoyed a sailing experience in a dhow.
Best friends Karim and Alvin.
Best friends Karim and Alvin.
We left a few days before Karim's birthday on 23 Nov.
We left a few days before Karim's birthday on 23 Nov.

We have Monika to thank for her hospitality, warmth and friendship. We'd been thoroughly pampered at Banana House! : )

Like all seva before this one, we are extremely privileged to be supporting a lady with a vision for a better world, through empowering children. She may be Dutch but she has made Lamu her home and she is seeing sons and daughters into every Lamu child. We are honoured to have played a little role and we hope to continue supporting her Hands Up For Kids project.

 

> Week 38: Homeward bound - Lamu to Nairobi to Istanbul to Singapore...

 

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