Dr. Robert Verkerk and Alliance for Natural Health (http://www.anhinternational.org)
The last speaker at the organic farming workshop I attended in Delhi
was Dr.Robert Verkerk the Executive and Scientific Director of Alliance for Natural Health International.
It is hard to follow a talk by someone as amazing and exceptional as
Dr.Shiva but Dr. Robert Verkerk did just that and was just as amazing
and exceptional! His talk was quite complimentary as his main point was the link between current diseases in Western culture
and agriculture. More or less many of the modern day diseases we deal
with are directly related to our practices of agriculture. With direct correlation
to the inception and use of pesticides, hormones, chemicals, and genetically modified organisms.
Agriculture
and health; what is the link? Dr.Verkerk highlighted inflammation or
inflammatory diseases in Western culture. He suggests that our bodies
are not able to properly digest the foods we consume which, in turn causes an
inflammatory reaction. These foods are not recognized or able to be
broken down by the body because they are scientifically engineered,
a.k.a. genetically modified, are coated or contain pesticides,
chemicals, or fertilizers that are foreign to our bodies. Our bodies'
defense mechanism against these unnatural or inorganic substances is
to become inflamed. One of my girl friends, who is also a medical student,
explained this to me saying if our bodies take in a substance that is toxic, for
example pesticide, the substance will not be broken down but passed on
into the blood stream. From here the body will recognize the substance as a foreign or invading entity, and begin to attack it, much like it attacks a
disease or virus. The attack mode of the body is what causes the
inflammation. As someone who suffers from gluten intolerance, my body is
unable to
break down the protein part of wheat. So when ingested my body
understands wheat as a foreign entity and tries to attack
it.
In terms of GMO's, especially the most
popular ones of corn, soy, rice, and wheat, there are many questions to
ask. Such as 'what long term effects will these products have? On our
bodies? On the crop? On the land? On the industry?' Because GMO's are
relatively new to our diets, culture, and the industry we don't have
conclusive or definitive results on the long terms effects. This could
be a huge problem. Or more plainly this could be the reason as to why
there are so many inflammatory diseases and problems in our society and
culture right now!
Another highlighted topic of
Dr.Verkerk was the importance of community-based agriculture. In essence, a
low-input farming system. This system hosts a variety of different
species of the same crop as well as multi-crop growing system. Instead
of mono-cropping, low-input farming supports many different species
which all collectively contribute to each other "some plants attract
helpful insects while others repel
pests"(http://www.mhacbiointensive.org/growbiointensive.html). The same
is true for vital nutrients and minerals within the soil. "A focus on the production of calorie
farming for the gardener and carbon farming for the soil ensures that
both the gardener and the soil will be adequately fed and that the farm
will be sustainable" (http://www.mhacbiointensive.org/growbiointensive.html). In essence ""organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity,
and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs
with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation
and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair
relationships and a good quality of life for all involved"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_farming). Dr.Verkerks' crucial
point in advocating low-input farming is the stability of the system.
This stability leads to sustainability. As a counter example monoculture
farming is an unatrual way of farming. It takes many different inputs
because it is incredibly vulnerable. There are no natural means of
defense mechanisms, nutrition, or regeneration. All of these things have
to be contributed by an outside source, i.e. inputted into the farming
process.
An excellent example of this type of farming is Manor House Kitale (http://www.mhacbiointensive.org/welcome.html) in Kenya . The farm was established in the mid-80's as a response to several years of drought. The drought led to starvation in rural Kenya. This farming project MHAC, Manor House Agriculture Centre was a way of providing sustainable
farming practices to rural farmers. It has been met with great success
as over 200 000 farmers, from all over the world, have been trained in
MHAC's courses on low-input farming. AMAZING!
In linking the industry of agriculture and Western disease I began to
see the effects this has had on our bodies and our health. The list of
inflammatory diseases are endless. In terms of preventing or alleviating
the stress caused to our bodies from chemically contaminated foods
Dr.Verkerk posed a few different thoughts. For starters to stick to and
support organic, non GMO foods. He also made mention of Ayurvedic
medicine, which seems to understand how to deal with inflammation in the
body. He also made a direct correlation between the human gut and the
earths' soil. They both have a microflora content. If either are
out of balance, due to varying stresses, nutrients cannot be absorbed.
In essence if we are put the right things into our bodies we are not
going to need a lot of other inputs to correct the balance. The micro
flora content will be properly in check.
Dr.Verkerks'
talk was incredibly informative and enlightening. I felt inspired and
motivated by what he had to say. I felt very drawn to agriculture, the
farming industry, soil quality, food, health, and disease. I want to learn more, read more, dialogue more, and just gain an understanding of the whole cycle of food. I have been thinking
and questioning my own diet, food practices and their potential
correlation to my own health concerns and issues. All in all I am
incredibly thankful to Dr.Verkerk for his talk, his information and opinions, as well
opening my eyes to new possibilities of good health! Thank you !!!
Friday, March 1, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Spinning hope! Navdanya's efforts to distribute seeds, information, and biodiversity
Navdanya means ‘nine seeds‘. Each one represents India's collective source of food security (http://www.navdanya.org/about-us/190-nine-seeds). In an attempt to achieve food security Navdanya has created a biodiversity conservation program. The program aims to support local farmers, rescue and conserve crops and plants that are being pushed to extinction, and make them available through direct marketing. Navdanya is actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture. It has created awareness on the hazards of genetic engineering, defended people's knowledge from biopiracy and food rights in the face of globalization.
Navdanya is an organization that Dr.Vandana Shiva established in the 1980’s. Navdanya was a research initiative of the Research Foundation for science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE). The aim of the organization spun from the issue of seed debt and farmer suicide in India. Local farmers had given over their heritage seeds in favour of new genetically modified seeds. After implementation farmers did not reap abundant yields on their crops, could not afford to buy new seeds every season, would fall into debt, and in turn would commit suicide.
One of the first and main initiatives by Navdanya is ‘seed banks’. The seed banks offer heritage seeds for farmers to grow in their fields as an alternative to the GMO seeds they would have to buy from multinationals like Monsanto. The idea for the seed banks came from Ghandi. “The British take our cotton, destroy our weavers” repeating Gandhi's words. Gandhi saw that the British were taking their cotton, sending it to England where it was made into cloth, then selling it back to Indians at an inflated price. Gandhi said “we don’t have to be slaves. We can make our own cloth.” From that Ghandi encouraged the people of India to spin their own cloth. All over India you will see images of the spinning wheel hanging proudly the same way a patriot hangs their national flag.
Skeptics questioned Gandhi asking ‘how can you think something as simple as a spinning wheel can change the fate of India?’ He responded saying that because it is so simple it has the power for anyone and everyone to access it. “Anyone can spin. Only a few people can take guns. Gutsy people can throw bombs.” Providing seeds mirrors the same idea. It is so small but is is accessible to everyone. And so it is with this same idea that Navdanya is making seeds available to all farmers in India. They are creating a resistance by simply telling Monsanto we don’t need or want you interfering with our industry, ecology, and health.
Now there are over 111 seed banks in India! Navdanya has not stopped there. Navdanya also has an organic farm called Bija Vidyapeeth. Located north of Delhi in Dehra Duhn. This organic farm spreads out over 45 acres. When the farm was opened there were two main initiatives: one, to prevent the disappearance of seed diversity in India. Two, to “demonstrate to Indian agriculturalists tangible proof of the superiority of organic and bio-diverse agriculture, compared to chemical farming.” Navdanya has conserved more than 5000 crop varieties; 3000 varieties of rice, 150 of wheat, 150 of kidney beans, 15 of millets and some varieties of pulses, vegetable, and medicinal plants.
In addition to all of this Navdanya releases numerous publications on GMO’s and seed saving. Two of the most recent are “The GMO Emperor Has No Clothes-A Global Citizens Report on the State of GMOs”, which is available on their website. As well as a new book called “Seed Freedom”. Navdanya also hosts volunteers at Bija Vidyapeeth as well as internships at the office of Navdanya. I must confess that after learning about Navdanya and the work that they do I have looked into volunteering at Bija Vidyapeeth to learn more about organic farming and the movement, as well as to be able to contribute my efforts and labour to the farm and the local farmers.
I am amazed at what Navdanya has, and is, offering the nation of India. Through the seed banks, publications, collaborations, and organic farm initiative Navdanya's efforts are crucial in teerms of changing the face of organic farming in India and changing the future of our food! Thank you Navdanya. You are an inspiration :)
Navdanya:
http://www.navdanya.org/
Seed debt; seed death
Navdanya (http://www.navdanya.org/home)
“Do things they cannot finance a response”. Poignant words from a poignant woman! December 16th, 2012 I went to see Dr.Vandana Shiva speak. Just a little background: “Vandana Shiva is an Indian environmental activist and anti-globalization author. Shiva has authored more than 20 books. She was trained as a physicist and received her Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, in 1978 with the doctoral dissertation "Hidden variables and locality in quantum theory." She is one of the leaders and board members of the International Forum on Globalization, (along with Jerry Mander, Edward Goldsmith, Ralph Nader, Jeremy Rifkin, et al.), and a figure of the global solidarity movement known as the alter-globalization movement. She has argued for the wisdom of many traditional practices, as is evident from her interview in the book Vedic Ecology (by Ranchor Prime) that draws upon India's Vedic heritage. She is a member of the scientific committee of the Fundacion IDEAS, Spain's Socialist Party's think tank. She is also a member of the International Organization for a Participatory Society. She was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 1993.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandana_Shiva). I will spare you more of my Dr.Shiva gushing as you can easily read this in my other blog about meeting a modern day Martin Luther King. I went to see her speak about GMO’s, seed saving, biodiversity in India at an organic farming workshop in New Delhi, India.
Her talk began with a background on how GMOs(Genetically Modified Organisms) first came into India. Dr.Shiva started working on seed saving when small farmers began committing suicide in the late 1980‘s. There became a huge incidence of deaths directly related to seed loans and seed debt. Monsanto, a multinational biotechnology company, had come into India and offered farmers a fairly hefty sum of money if they gave up their heritage seeds for new hybrid seeds produced by Monsanto. This exchange meant that farmers would now have to buy their seeds every year/season as the Monsanto seed is considered ‘intellectual property’ because it was created by them. The sum of money given plus the promise that the farmers’ crops would always be successful and have greater yields were the main bargaining chip. The farmers started using the genetically modified Monsanto seeds annually but yields were not as great. Pesticides were needed for the new crop as the seed was not naturally resistant to pests and infections. Plus the fact that the seeds could not be planted in conjunction with other plants. For example a natural, organic farming system consists of a variety of different species in the same area which all offer different things to each other to create a balanced ecosystem. Some plants release nitrogen into the soil for other plants to absorb and use. While other plants offer other minerals and nutrients.
The Monsanto seeds were far more labour and monetarily intensive. Crops failed, drought happened as the soil was no longer as rich in nutrients and minerals. The pesticides and mono-cropping had sucked all nourishment from the earth. Farmers were not making money from their land, but rather losing money. Hence they started going into debt; taking out loans to buy seeds for the season and never making the return. Debts mounted and farmers began committing suicide. Dr.Shiva said that each and every suicide was traced back to when the farmer bought the GMO seeds. The farmers gave up their heritage seeds, got into debt, committed suicide. The pattern is the same with all of them.
95% of commercially grown cotton in India is now genetically modified. This happened within one decade. How did this happen so fast? At the time that Monsanto was entering into the Indian market there were no regulations or controls on disclosure. The World Bank gives you a loan but writes the policies. They are in control of what information can and is released. When the genetically modified cotton first came on to the scene the law stated that it didn’t have to be tested or regulated. It was called “truthful labelling”, which meant it was left up to the company to declare what is in the product. Ironic, I know! Dr.Shiva said “here you have, literally, the criminal writing the laws, being the judge, being the parliament, being the executive, all in one”.
A small farmer working in Rajasthan who makes a few thousand rupees a month, if that, cannot compete financially with a multinational. However they can reply in a way that multinationals cannot buy. “Do things they cannot finance a response” said Dr.Shiva. In essence you have to respond to people with money with creativity. For the multinationals money is their language and they will use it to buy whatever it is they want or need, which is evidenced by GMO’s in India. However these farmers can go to a seed bank, plant heritage seeds, which they can then use the following season, and the season after that, and for existence. That choice is a form of communication, a way to say “we don’t want genetically modified seeds, crops, or foods. No thank you“!
GMO seeds are being pushed, implemented, and grown for as many of our foods as possible. The most common or identifiable ones are corn, wheat, rice, soy, and canola. Food is our source of life, energy, nourishment, and nutrition. Is there a more important topic than the health of the world and its citizens? The topic at hand is of utmost importance not only because farmers are killing themselves in India, but because we have a right to control our own food production, to know what is going into it, what is being sprayed on it, what is growing or living next to it, and the right to say if that is, in fact, what we want to be putting in our bodies as a source of nourishment. Thank you Dr.Shiva for reminding me of this; the importance of healthy, nourishing food, that everyone is entitled to!
For more information on GMO”s in India Dr.Shiva recommended the publication
“The GMO Emperor Has No Clothes-A Global Citizens Report on the State of GMOs” available on the Navdanya (http://www.navdanya.org/home) website.
“Do things they cannot finance a response”. Poignant words from a poignant woman! December 16th, 2012 I went to see Dr.Vandana Shiva speak. Just a little background: “Vandana Shiva is an Indian environmental activist and anti-globalization author. Shiva has authored more than 20 books. She was trained as a physicist and received her Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, in 1978 with the doctoral dissertation "Hidden variables and locality in quantum theory." She is one of the leaders and board members of the International Forum on Globalization, (along with Jerry Mander, Edward Goldsmith, Ralph Nader, Jeremy Rifkin, et al.), and a figure of the global solidarity movement known as the alter-globalization movement. She has argued for the wisdom of many traditional practices, as is evident from her interview in the book Vedic Ecology (by Ranchor Prime) that draws upon India's Vedic heritage. She is a member of the scientific committee of the Fundacion IDEAS, Spain's Socialist Party's think tank. She is also a member of the International Organization for a Participatory Society. She was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 1993.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandana_Shiva). I will spare you more of my Dr.Shiva gushing as you can easily read this in my other blog about meeting a modern day Martin Luther King. I went to see her speak about GMO’s, seed saving, biodiversity in India at an organic farming workshop in New Delhi, India.
Her talk began with a background on how GMOs(Genetically Modified Organisms) first came into India. Dr.Shiva started working on seed saving when small farmers began committing suicide in the late 1980‘s. There became a huge incidence of deaths directly related to seed loans and seed debt. Monsanto, a multinational biotechnology company, had come into India and offered farmers a fairly hefty sum of money if they gave up their heritage seeds for new hybrid seeds produced by Monsanto. This exchange meant that farmers would now have to buy their seeds every year/season as the Monsanto seed is considered ‘intellectual property’ because it was created by them. The sum of money given plus the promise that the farmers’ crops would always be successful and have greater yields were the main bargaining chip. The farmers started using the genetically modified Monsanto seeds annually but yields were not as great. Pesticides were needed for the new crop as the seed was not naturally resistant to pests and infections. Plus the fact that the seeds could not be planted in conjunction with other plants. For example a natural, organic farming system consists of a variety of different species in the same area which all offer different things to each other to create a balanced ecosystem. Some plants release nitrogen into the soil for other plants to absorb and use. While other plants offer other minerals and nutrients.
The Monsanto seeds were far more labour and monetarily intensive. Crops failed, drought happened as the soil was no longer as rich in nutrients and minerals. The pesticides and mono-cropping had sucked all nourishment from the earth. Farmers were not making money from their land, but rather losing money. Hence they started going into debt; taking out loans to buy seeds for the season and never making the return. Debts mounted and farmers began committing suicide. Dr.Shiva said that each and every suicide was traced back to when the farmer bought the GMO seeds. The farmers gave up their heritage seeds, got into debt, committed suicide. The pattern is the same with all of them.
95% of commercially grown cotton in India is now genetically modified. This happened within one decade. How did this happen so fast? At the time that Monsanto was entering into the Indian market there were no regulations or controls on disclosure. The World Bank gives you a loan but writes the policies. They are in control of what information can and is released. When the genetically modified cotton first came on to the scene the law stated that it didn’t have to be tested or regulated. It was called “truthful labelling”, which meant it was left up to the company to declare what is in the product. Ironic, I know! Dr.Shiva said “here you have, literally, the criminal writing the laws, being the judge, being the parliament, being the executive, all in one”.
A small farmer working in Rajasthan who makes a few thousand rupees a month, if that, cannot compete financially with a multinational. However they can reply in a way that multinationals cannot buy. “Do things they cannot finance a response” said Dr.Shiva. In essence you have to respond to people with money with creativity. For the multinationals money is their language and they will use it to buy whatever it is they want or need, which is evidenced by GMO’s in India. However these farmers can go to a seed bank, plant heritage seeds, which they can then use the following season, and the season after that, and for existence. That choice is a form of communication, a way to say “we don’t want genetically modified seeds, crops, or foods. No thank you“!
GMO seeds are being pushed, implemented, and grown for as many of our foods as possible. The most common or identifiable ones are corn, wheat, rice, soy, and canola. Food is our source of life, energy, nourishment, and nutrition. Is there a more important topic than the health of the world and its citizens? The topic at hand is of utmost importance not only because farmers are killing themselves in India, but because we have a right to control our own food production, to know what is going into it, what is being sprayed on it, what is growing or living next to it, and the right to say if that is, in fact, what we want to be putting in our bodies as a source of nourishment. Thank you Dr.Shiva for reminding me of this; the importance of healthy, nourishing food, that everyone is entitled to!
For more information on GMO”s in India Dr.Shiva recommended the publication
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Millets of Mewar
Millets of Mewar (http://milletsofmewar.com/)
I had walked by Millets of Mewar several times before I actually went in. They had a sign out front which listed ‘gluten free’ food as a menu options. A great thing for me. I arranged to meet up with my Australian friend at Millets of Mewar, which soon became to be known as MOM to me, for breakfast one morning. As I tried to select a breakfast option the server/ co-owner helped me make my decision suggesting millet pancakes with scrambled eggs on the side. As I came to know the owners of MOM I learned that they not only offered gluten free options out of demand but out of sustainability. The owners wanted to open a restaurant that focused on healthy, sustainable foods. As such they wanted to provide alternate grains such as millet and amaranth. In India the main cash crops are rice and wheat and the diet is inundated with it! I was beyond thrilled. Also included in their menu were vegan food options and some organic food options. Everything I tried from the menu, which was almost everything, was beyond scrumptious!
After breakfast my Australian friend and I took a look around the restaurant, which is spread out amongst several levels, with a rooftop patio on the top floor, of course. In the restaurant they offered a wide assortment of books on cooking, food, grains, politics, socio-economic causes/issues in India. Additionally they sold arts and crafts from local vendors and neighbourhoods, as well as different spices and herbs for health and healing. Fabulous! I was in heaven. Not only did I find a great place to eat, but a place which had similar interests to my own, mainly being living a healthy and sustainable lifestyle with an infusion of social justice.
MOM became a regular haunt for me as the food was delicious and well priced, there was lots to read, and much to discuss amongst the people I would meet there or introduce the restaurant to, which was many in number. I celebrated American Thanksgiving at MOM which a group of individuals from America, Europe, Canada, Japan, and India.
In keeping with the theme of sustainability MOM also offered ‘sustainable walks’ through Udaipur. These were guided neighbourhood walks showcasing artisans, local gardens, or business focused on reusing materials, or creating products with little to no waste. MOM also offered to refill your water bottle with purified, filtered water to decrease buying the filtered water in plastic bottles, which is incredibly common amongst tourists, I am no exception! Great initiatives all around.
After becoming somewhat of a regular at MOM I was approached by one of the owners one evening for my thoughts about the restaurant. Anoop, one of four part owners wanted to pick my brain about how to promote the restaurant to tourists. As we spoke I mentioned that when I travel I usually don’t look for places to eat online, but through word of mouth or in this case advertising ‘gluten free’ options. However I mentioned how much I appreciated their efforts towards offering different grains, like amaranth and millet, being able to refill your water bottles, the sustainable walks, etc. I emphasizes how impressed I was by all of this and so happy to see and learn that these initiatives existed in India. The more I blathered on I mentioned how food politics played into all of this and mentioned Dr.Vandana Shiva; an extraordinary Indian activist focused on keeping GMO’s out of India and encouraging seed saving for local farmers. When I mentioned Dr. Shiva’s name, Anoop said that he knew her and that she had been helping them with some of their social justice related initiatives!!! Fabulous. Through MOM and Anoop I was able to attend a workshop on organic gardening in India, learn more about food based political issues in India and meet the amazing Dr.Shiva! What a great place!
A very big thank you to MOM for providing my body with tasty, nutritious, and alternative foods while in Udaipur, as well as bringing me into the India world of food politics, and of course, allowing me the opportunity to meet, and see twice see speak, the incredulous Dr.Vandana Shiva!
I had walked by Millets of Mewar several times before I actually went in. They had a sign out front which listed ‘gluten free’ food as a menu options. A great thing for me. I arranged to meet up with my Australian friend at Millets of Mewar, which soon became to be known as MOM to me, for breakfast one morning. As I tried to select a breakfast option the server/ co-owner helped me make my decision suggesting millet pancakes with scrambled eggs on the side. As I came to know the owners of MOM I learned that they not only offered gluten free options out of demand but out of sustainability. The owners wanted to open a restaurant that focused on healthy, sustainable foods. As such they wanted to provide alternate grains such as millet and amaranth. In India the main cash crops are rice and wheat and the diet is inundated with it! I was beyond thrilled. Also included in their menu were vegan food options and some organic food options. Everything I tried from the menu, which was almost everything, was beyond scrumptious!
After breakfast my Australian friend and I took a look around the restaurant, which is spread out amongst several levels, with a rooftop patio on the top floor, of course. In the restaurant they offered a wide assortment of books on cooking, food, grains, politics, socio-economic causes/issues in India. Additionally they sold arts and crafts from local vendors and neighbourhoods, as well as different spices and herbs for health and healing. Fabulous! I was in heaven. Not only did I find a great place to eat, but a place which had similar interests to my own, mainly being living a healthy and sustainable lifestyle with an infusion of social justice.
MOM became a regular haunt for me as the food was delicious and well priced, there was lots to read, and much to discuss amongst the people I would meet there or introduce the restaurant to, which was many in number. I celebrated American Thanksgiving at MOM which a group of individuals from America, Europe, Canada, Japan, and India.
In keeping with the theme of sustainability MOM also offered ‘sustainable walks’ through Udaipur. These were guided neighbourhood walks showcasing artisans, local gardens, or business focused on reusing materials, or creating products with little to no waste. MOM also offered to refill your water bottle with purified, filtered water to decrease buying the filtered water in plastic bottles, which is incredibly common amongst tourists, I am no exception! Great initiatives all around.
After becoming somewhat of a regular at MOM I was approached by one of the owners one evening for my thoughts about the restaurant. Anoop, one of four part owners wanted to pick my brain about how to promote the restaurant to tourists. As we spoke I mentioned that when I travel I usually don’t look for places to eat online, but through word of mouth or in this case advertising ‘gluten free’ options. However I mentioned how much I appreciated their efforts towards offering different grains, like amaranth and millet, being able to refill your water bottles, the sustainable walks, etc. I emphasizes how impressed I was by all of this and so happy to see and learn that these initiatives existed in India. The more I blathered on I mentioned how food politics played into all of this and mentioned Dr.Vandana Shiva; an extraordinary Indian activist focused on keeping GMO’s out of India and encouraging seed saving for local farmers. When I mentioned Dr. Shiva’s name, Anoop said that he knew her and that she had been helping them with some of their social justice related initiatives!!! Fabulous. Through MOM and Anoop I was able to attend a workshop on organic gardening in India, learn more about food based political issues in India and meet the amazing Dr.Shiva! What a great place!
A very big thank you to MOM for providing my body with tasty, nutritious, and alternative foods while in Udaipur, as well as bringing me into the India world of food politics, and of course, allowing me the opportunity to meet, and see twice see speak, the incredulous Dr.Vandana Shiva!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Khusi Hona
Khusi Hona
khusihona.org
While I was staying in Rishikesh I was fortunate enough to bump into another fellow traveler named Matthew. Matthew and I sat together and chatted amidst the very cold Himalayan winds one evening. We both had electronic readers, a shared North American privilege for sure (thanks Eddie)! Matthews’ story was quite incredible. He grew up in a Christian family, his father was actually a theologian and has published numerous books. Growing up primarily in Africa, I believe South Africa, and moving to Florida in his later years, Matthew was always situated in the missionary work of his family or his church. Last year Matthew was living a fast-paced, go-getter life as a marketing executive in Tampa bay Florida. Finding his work unfulfilling he decided to give it all up and try something new and different. He sold all of his belongings, went to India and established Khusi Hona an organization which networks orphanages throughout India.
For two months Matthew traveled around India visiting orphanage after orphanage and adding them to his network. The network is designed to bring awareness of orphaned children in India, attention to the specific orphanages that exist, and to fuel money and resources directed to the children in need. Matthew wanted to put his marketing skills to good use and so he has. The website is fabulous and the cause is more than essential, particularly in India with such a huge population and too many orphaned children.
Khusi Hona connected with Hoola for Happiness an organization which provides hula hoops to children in India. What a fantastic idea! As a twenty-nine year old woman I still enjoy hula hooping, especially during my travels in India. To bring fun and joy to children in orphanages is such a fantastic idea. It is like Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams, the doctor who believed laughter was the best medicine and distributed it to all his patients. Kusi Hona has also collaborated with Vitamin Angels, which supply vitamins for children under the age of five, and Freeset Global, which offers employment to girls and women trapped in the sex trade of Kolkata. You can buy a t-shirt through Khusi Hona to support Freeset Global.
All in all I really appreciated meeting Matthew and hearing all that he is trying to do in India. It takes a lot of courage and strength to give up all of one's comforts, including one's home, and begin building a better life for others in another country.
Best of luck to you Matthew and all of the wonderful children you are helping!
khusihona.org
While I was staying in Rishikesh I was fortunate enough to bump into another fellow traveler named Matthew. Matthew and I sat together and chatted amidst the very cold Himalayan winds one evening. We both had electronic readers, a shared North American privilege for sure (thanks Eddie)! Matthews’ story was quite incredible. He grew up in a Christian family, his father was actually a theologian and has published numerous books. Growing up primarily in Africa, I believe South Africa, and moving to Florida in his later years, Matthew was always situated in the missionary work of his family or his church. Last year Matthew was living a fast-paced, go-getter life as a marketing executive in Tampa bay Florida. Finding his work unfulfilling he decided to give it all up and try something new and different. He sold all of his belongings, went to India and established Khusi Hona an organization which networks orphanages throughout India.
For two months Matthew traveled around India visiting orphanage after orphanage and adding them to his network. The network is designed to bring awareness of orphaned children in India, attention to the specific orphanages that exist, and to fuel money and resources directed to the children in need. Matthew wanted to put his marketing skills to good use and so he has. The website is fabulous and the cause is more than essential, particularly in India with such a huge population and too many orphaned children.
Khusi Hona connected with Hoola for Happiness an organization which provides hula hoops to children in India. What a fantastic idea! As a twenty-nine year old woman I still enjoy hula hooping, especially during my travels in India. To bring fun and joy to children in orphanages is such a fantastic idea. It is like Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams, the doctor who believed laughter was the best medicine and distributed it to all his patients. Kusi Hona has also collaborated with Vitamin Angels, which supply vitamins for children under the age of five, and Freeset Global, which offers employment to girls and women trapped in the sex trade of Kolkata. You can buy a t-shirt through Khusi Hona to support Freeset Global.
All in all I really appreciated meeting Matthew and hearing all that he is trying to do in India. It takes a lot of courage and strength to give up all of one's comforts, including one's home, and begin building a better life for others in another country.
Best of luck to you Matthew and all of the wonderful children you are helping!
KE SAFIYA
KE SAFIYA- Autism Centre
(https://www.facebook.com/pages/KESafiya-Autism-Centre/351946128170440)
Today, my second official day with L’Arche Kerala, known here as Ashaniketan, we spent the afternoon visiting with the folks from KE SAFIYA Autism Centre. It is a school for children with autism. L’Arche is mainly adults. In rare circumstances they offer placements for children, but typically LArche is meant for adults with developmental disabilities. Being around all these energetic children was amazing. I couldn’t help trying to take everything in at every moment. So much life and excitement. Lots of energy put forth by those taking care of all the little kids.
There was one little boy, in particular that I couldn’t help fixating on. This was a difficult task as he wouldn’t stop moving. He would not sit down; there was too much to see and do. He would move from one corner of the building to the complete opposite in a flash. But he didn’t run around. He would move very gently, so much so that his teachers would barely notice that he had left. He was clever in this way; move so you are indistinguishable. Before snack time had officially begun and been distributed he was already walking around the room with a cookie in his hand. Even after everyone had finished their snacks he had located yet another biscuit as he continued to move around. Hilarious! At one point he was twirling a flower around in his hand. I really loved it and tried to capture a photo with my camera. He took great interest in the camera, came over sat right on my lap and took a bunch of photos with the flower. I got a couple of great ones with him too. He liked looking through the photos on my camera. It was probably the only instance where I saw him sit in one place for longer than twenty seconds. What a fabulous little boy!
The afternoon was a delight! KE SAFIYA is incredible. It is a resource centre comprised of a special needs school including vocational education and rehabilitation. KE SAFIYA is set up to have a variety of resources available under one roof as opposed to shifting from centre to centre for testing or other. Part of the aim is to help guide youth at a young age. For example children below four years old will go into the “Early Intervention Service” which focuses on motor skills, cognition, and communication. The Vocational Training centre is pre-vocational training dependent upon abilities. Skills offered include office management, home management, teachers aid, candle and card making.
Other programs KE SAFIYA offers includes parent-infant programs, guidance and counseling programs, audiological evaluations and interventions, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and sensory therapy, among many other options.
I was surprised to see such a far reaching organization here in India, and yes that is partly my narrow mindedness. Compared to Canadian standards occupational and physio therapies are more common but not so much with autistic or developmentally disabled individuals. I worked at a physiotherapy clinic but our clientele was geared towards sports injuries, as there were two Olympic teams located in town and lots of avid skiers. A good friend of mine is studying recreational therapy and has looked into the benefits of this type of therapy with the developmentally disabled, but it is nowhere near mainstream. All this being said I would appreciate this facility if it were in Canada, let alone in Kerala, India.
All in all my experience this afternoon was beyond enjoyable. I was so impressed with KE SAFIYA and would like to visit the facility while I am still in the area. I wish the center the best of luck and success with what they are offering to autistic children.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/KESafiya-Autism-Centre/351946128170440
(https://www.facebook.com/pages/KESafiya-Autism-Centre/351946128170440)
Today, my second official day with L’Arche Kerala, known here as Ashaniketan, we spent the afternoon visiting with the folks from KE SAFIYA Autism Centre. It is a school for children with autism. L’Arche is mainly adults. In rare circumstances they offer placements for children, but typically LArche is meant for adults with developmental disabilities. Being around all these energetic children was amazing. I couldn’t help trying to take everything in at every moment. So much life and excitement. Lots of energy put forth by those taking care of all the little kids.
There was one little boy, in particular that I couldn’t help fixating on. This was a difficult task as he wouldn’t stop moving. He would not sit down; there was too much to see and do. He would move from one corner of the building to the complete opposite in a flash. But he didn’t run around. He would move very gently, so much so that his teachers would barely notice that he had left. He was clever in this way; move so you are indistinguishable. Before snack time had officially begun and been distributed he was already walking around the room with a cookie in his hand. Even after everyone had finished their snacks he had located yet another biscuit as he continued to move around. Hilarious! At one point he was twirling a flower around in his hand. I really loved it and tried to capture a photo with my camera. He took great interest in the camera, came over sat right on my lap and took a bunch of photos with the flower. I got a couple of great ones with him too. He liked looking through the photos on my camera. It was probably the only instance where I saw him sit in one place for longer than twenty seconds. What a fabulous little boy!
The afternoon was a delight! KE SAFIYA is incredible. It is a resource centre comprised of a special needs school including vocational education and rehabilitation. KE SAFIYA is set up to have a variety of resources available under one roof as opposed to shifting from centre to centre for testing or other. Part of the aim is to help guide youth at a young age. For example children below four years old will go into the “Early Intervention Service” which focuses on motor skills, cognition, and communication. The Vocational Training centre is pre-vocational training dependent upon abilities. Skills offered include office management, home management, teachers aid, candle and card making.
Other programs KE SAFIYA offers includes parent-infant programs, guidance and counseling programs, audiological evaluations and interventions, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and sensory therapy, among many other options.
I was surprised to see such a far reaching organization here in India, and yes that is partly my narrow mindedness. Compared to Canadian standards occupational and physio therapies are more common but not so much with autistic or developmentally disabled individuals. I worked at a physiotherapy clinic but our clientele was geared towards sports injuries, as there were two Olympic teams located in town and lots of avid skiers. A good friend of mine is studying recreational therapy and has looked into the benefits of this type of therapy with the developmentally disabled, but it is nowhere near mainstream. All this being said I would appreciate this facility if it were in Canada, let alone in Kerala, India.
All in all my experience this afternoon was beyond enjoyable. I was so impressed with KE SAFIYA and would like to visit the facility while I am still in the area. I wish the center the best of luck and success with what they are offering to autistic children.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/KESafiya-Autism-Centre/351946128170440
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