Weeks 3 and 4

We spent the week at Sambodhi school getting ready for the Independence Day assembly. The children practiced songs and their parts for the performance on Feb, 3rd, (Sri Lankan Independence Day is Feb. 4th, but it is a school holiday). I was asked by the teachers to draw different Sri Lankan heroes for the occasion. I spent most of the week with the oldest students. I would draw an outline of a hero from their books and try to get them to color it in. They were very shy to try and paint the faces, but very interested in watching.
 

The assemby was very proud occasion for the school. The students seemed honored and excited to play their parts. Many parents came to the school to watch the performance.

click here for additional photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=266649&id=552870904&l=6c9519e85c

(scroll through because I put all of the Sambodhi photos from the last two weeks in one folder)

At Sambodhi Home I am working with the residents on making personal choices, specifically choices about color and choices of materials. In the previous week, I noticed many of the residents waiting for me to give them colors and materials and thought it would be helpful to let them choose for themselves. It is very interesting to see what each person prefers. The residents seem to really enjoy our time together. Some of them have started waiting for me outside of the school to walk with me over to the home to help set up for our art group. One man (called Udaya) has been carrying some of his artwork around in his pocket. I noticed him looking at it while he was waiting for me one day. He folded up the pictures, put them back in his pocket, grabbed my arm and started walking me over to the home with the biggest smile. How I wish I could speak Sinhala, it would be wonderful to know more fully what they are thinking.

Udaya loves art

We made a paper chain out of strips of everyone's artwork. We say,
Art: Kah-laah-wah
Together: Ekah-tah-ek-vah
One: E-kah
Family: Dah-vu-lah
I hope to continue it around our whole space. A woman called Latha missed art group that day and made some links on her own that evening. She dragged me to her room the next morning to show me her work. I just about cried, it was really touching to see her excitement about the activity.

We cleaned out the library. Which was really a closet. I didn't really get too many "before" photos because I was so motivated to jump in and get it done. Its just as well... alot of things were very dirty, moldy and covered with cobwebs - not a pretty sight. I also came across many different bugs I never care to see again. Its for the best the light didn't work.

As I started to drag out old boxes and piles of books, the residents were very intrigued. They jumped right into help. Terrance, a wonderful man who works at Sambodhi told me that the residents were very happy to be cleaning the books with me.

We wiped each book clean of dust and dirt and I tried to organize them as best I could - English books, Sinhalese books, books in other languages such as French and Dutch, coloring books and blank school books. While doing this we found many art supplies as well. The residents were thrilled and so was I. We now have many sets of craypas, markers and colored pencils to use. I also found some larger paper, colored construction paper and games. The best part was when a girl called Nishanthi came home from school and picked out one the books to start reading. It was a really good day.

We also made masks this week. This was a riot. The residents loved it. It was so heart warming to see them wear the masks walking around the home. I hope you enjoy the photos. Click here to see more photos: 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=266649&id=552870904&l=6c9519e85c

AND thanks so much for reading.