Art, Art and more Dream Art with Holly Smith

My name is Holly Smith, I’m an international volunteer from England and have been here conducting the Dream CreativeArt Program since the start of October 2007. This is the first time I’ve lived away from home and have so far found it both challenging and rewarding. I feel really pleased that I was allocated a placement at Dream a Dream through the Gap year organization – Gap Guru. From the staff team to each and every child, I’ve been made to feel very welcome which has given me the confidence I’ve needed. The staffs at Dream a Dream have helped me to settle into life within the community in Bangalore, they are always on hand to explain Indian cultural differences and have introduced me to a variety of South Indian food.

Whilst I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the most creative of people the support I’ve been given from the team, especially Kiran, has enabled be to carry out really fun and enjoyable sessions for both myself and the children. Some of the sessions I have organized have involved trips to local markets to source resources needed. These trips have been an experience in themselves, trying to find the correct shop for coloured tissue paper or beads amongst the tiny overcrowded streets is difficult task!

All of the international volunteers at Dream a Dream are made to feel like part of the team from day one. Fun team building exercises have become part of the weekly routine. These help us all to become a stronger, more involved team.

The time I get to spend with the children is consistently the highlight of my day. Its hard work but thoroughly enjoyable. The children’s lives are so different from children in England, I find myself actually learning lots of things about life in India from the children. I am impressed by the level of some of the children’s English skills. During my time so far at Dream a Dream I have noticed an improvement in other children’s English too, ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ are now common place in the creative arts sessions. Traveling to sessions at Ananya has been made easier by a friendly rickshaw driver, who spends his time playing cricket with the children while waiting for us, the children look forward to seeing him too!

Using my digital camera I was able to photograph the children at Vishwas and have them developed, so that the children could make photograph frames. The children displayed their photographs in the main living area, so they could all enjoy them. This was my favourite task so far, I felt I had left something with the children that they really appreciated and could look back in future years. A wide variety of materials were used to make the frames; paint, foam, glitter, lollypop sticks, coloured pens and much more, although it was one of the more messy sessions, all of children seemed to thoroughly enjoy the session and the older children even asked if we could repeat the session with them as well.

A Venetian mask session at Sukrupa was also very successful, using brightly coloured feathers sent from the UK, glittery paper and sequins, the children created very beautiful individual masks. They then proudly left the session wearing their masks. During one trip to Sukrupa we were lucky enough to get to watch a rehearsal for their nativity play. This brought Christmas cheer to us all, so far away from our friends and family at this festive time of the year. Christmas cards are the order of the day in this week’s sessions; the children are very content with drawing and making up pictures for their cards.

I would love to have some volunteers to come and visit these sessions to see the wonderful work done by children and also to encourage them. If you are interested in joining the sessions, do mail me at hollsmail@aol.co.uk

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Holly Smith
International Volunteer
Dream Creative Art Program

Bhasker Runs For A Dream

We are delighted to inform you that one of Dream A Dream’s volunteers participated in the first-ever Bangalore Ultra Marathon that was held on Sunday, 16th December 2007. Bhasker Sharma completed his first 52K run yesterday in 5 hrs 51 minutes - finishing 2nd in the senior category (45Y+). The guy who came 1st was an American who also finished 1st overall - in 4hrs 24 minutes!!

Dream A Dream was the official charity that was supported through the Bangalore Ultra Marathon organized by Runners for Life and over 40 runners committed to run and raise pledges for Dream A Dream.

According to Bhasker, “It was the finishing that was important not the placing - as I am running purely for self satisfaction and the high that I get on running long distances!! I look at (distance) running as a metaphor for life - you set milestones, try your best to succeed, there are ups and downs, pain, fatigue and disappointment along the way.”

Bhasker would be more than willing to talk to anyone interested in running and you can reach him at bhskr@yahoo.com

Bhasker was also able to raise Rs. 32,000 so far for Dream A Dream and is continuing his efforts to raise funds as he will also be participating in the Full Marathon at Mumbai on January 20th 2008 and hopes to exceed his target of Rs. 60,000/- over the next few weeks. You can help him reach his target by pledging for him at http://www.giveindia.org/give/pledgepage/DreamerBhasker or mail him for more details.

We at Dream A Dream are proud of Bhasker for his achievement, commitment and determination and thank him for his support to Dream A Dream. Wishing him all the very best for the Mumbai Marathon.

Happy Dreaming and Running :)

Vishal Talreja
Director Ashoka Fellow
Dream A Dream

Are you living your life with Inspiration and Passion

I woke up one fine morning and rather than the usual hurried rush to office, I just sat in bed wondering, What have I done? A sudden wave of panic struck me, For it finally dawned on me that I couldn't go to the office I had been going for the last three and a half years. I had quit my job because I wanted to do something different.

I looked at my appointment letter from Dream a Dream and wondered what life had in store for me। I still don't know how I landed a job with them. ITES to NGO, something must be wrong with me. I got out with a million questions running through my head – How would the team be? Will I able to work in small office? Do they have systems and processes? I don't know anything about the sector; will I be able to contribute?

That was the start of my first day at Dream a Dream, As I stand today, 5 months later from that day, I only find it amusing. In the last 5 months, working with Dream a Dream has given me a lot more than I could ever imagine.

I learn a lot from the staff at Dream a Dream, Each one is special and unique। Like all of us, each one has troubles in their personal lives, yet they all come to work smiling. They treat their work as their creation and something that they want to nurture. Monetary incentive is not why people work here, because if they want they can earn much more some place else, and they all know that. Yet, they slog day and night, not thinking of how many extra hours they have put in. They may not have degrees from top universities, but they are all sincere.

They and I get our inspiration from our children, The smiles we see, the change we see, the success we see… we don't know how much of a child's development we are involved in॥ but we all work hoping that somewhere we have triggered something positive।

To work on this hope is not easy… it is possible only when there is Passion and Inspiration.

Passion for every day work. Where work is a way to reach one's heart and not just to sustain a living. Inspiration from the people around। The NGO sector is not blessed with many "professional" people but it is filled with people who have done what their hearts told them to. Each one has a story to tell. Some stories give me goose bumps. Some stories bring tears in my eyes. But all stories leave me humbled and inspired. Professionalism can be taught. Passion cant.

Passion and Inspiration. Aren't these the 2 things around which human life should revolve? Ask yourself – Do you get up everyday passionate about what lies ahead and inspired to live the day?

If not, are you living life???

Namrata Agarwal
Volunteer Manager
Dream a Dream