Rosy Maria of Hampton, England, has brought youth together inside of her project, titled Hampton’s Street Dance and Music Festival, while taking Landmark’s Self-Expression and Leadership Program. The project she created, with the partnership of fellow youth worker Peter Moorcock, attracted the attention of The Informer newspaper of the Hampton area. The article appears below.

Hampton’s Musical Youth

Young performers showcased their talent at a streetdance and music festival organised by the Hampton Youth Project on Sunday.

Four youth bands led the dancing and singing at the event, which is the first time the youth project has put on a public display. It was organised by youth workers Peter Moorcock and Rosy Maria, who said:

“The aim was to give a chance for some of the great talent of the area to show off its paces. The event was a great success, and it brought together the whole Hampton community, both young and old.”

Several hundred onlookers came to the show, at the project’s Tangley Road studio, which starred twelve streetdancers and 23 singers. Bands included Groove Academy, The Long Game, The Substitutes and Adam Cleaver.

Third grade teacher Tracey Mott decided to make her Landmark Education Self-Expression project be something that would directly impact her students, as well as the lives of students around the world. She decided to bring the “Pennies for Peace” program to the Hickory Grove Elementary School where she works.

Pennies for Peace is a program that inspires students to get involved in making a difference by collecting pennies to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pennies may not seem like a lot, but they add up, and besides, they enable children without access to much money to gain the experience of contributing and making a difference.

“The [program] teaches children the rewards of sharing and working together to bring educational opportunities to less fortunate children,” remarked another teacher.

Despite a rainy day, Hickory Grove students went out on May 8 and collected change from the car line at the school. Through the May 8 work and other penny collection efforts, the students have so far raised more than $1,000 for these schools in need. Two local television stations covered the children’s remarkable efforts. The plan is to continue to collect money until the end of the year.

To read more about the national program, go to the Pennies for Peace website.

Cynthia Zenner took Landmark Education’s Self-Expression and Leadership program in Atlanta, and the area of life she wanted to impact was educating people about elderly people who are dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. She created a symposium at her church, the All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta, where a panel of experts came together on May 17th to provide education and support for those with friends or family suffering from Alzheimer’s.

“As the population ages, many adult children are grappling with these and many other issues for their aging loved ones,” says Zenner. The symposium addressed issues such as how to deal with a parent or loved one who is having trouble driving, or isn’t taking their medications. It provided innovative, practical ways to care for our elders with grace and honor.

In addition to the symposium, Zenner has created an Atlanta ministry recognized by the church for the care of the elderly. She intends to make this ministry national. For more information on what is happening at the church, go to www.allsaintsministry.org.

Linda Kamka created “Project with Love” as her community project in Landmark Education’s Self-Expression and Leadership Program. The project was a fundraisher which inspired her local community in Orange, CA, to donate new jewelry, which would then be passed on to kids in the care of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. These children weren’t able to get presents for mother’s day, and with the help of the project, each one was able to select a piece to give to their mother.

Linda’s intention was to allow her community to come together and give from their hearts, as well as to empower and move children.

The event itself was held Saturday morning on May 10. Linda and her friend Kamii delievered more than 100 pieces of jewelry to the hospital on a silver platter. The jewelry was individually wrapped in clear bags with ribbons, and each one game with a gift card that the children personalized for their mothers.

Dr. Bryce Crowley, of Centerville, Utah, recently put on a safety event, Helmet Heroes, to protect young bike riders from head injuries. About 500 young people were fitted with and given new, high quality bicycle helmet. Crowley chose this as his project in landmark’s self-expression and leadership program based on personal experience – He recently had a close call in a bike accident where the third vertebra in his neck was crushed. Only his bike helmet saved him from severe injuries. 

Based on his own experience as both a doctor and a bike rider, Crowley is adamant that parents make sure their youngsters use helmets. “Just like every time you buckle your child with a seatbelt in a car, you ought to have a helmet on your child anytime they’re out and about on a bike,” he says. He hopes his work will reduce Emergency room visits for young riders.

Crowley’s “Helmet Heroes” was covered extensively by local television stations, including KSL News and KUTZ 2 Noon News.

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For Monet Critchley’s Self Expression and Leadership program project, she didn’t have to look further than her own life. As a single mother, she is acutely aware of what single moms have to deal with in their lives.

“Single mothers have a more difficult time than some may realize,” says Critchley, a Draper, Utah resident. “They rarely get time for themselfves, and children may go without any extra activities because of time and money constraints.”

In the Landmark Education program, Critchley created a project to address these concerns titled Soul 2 Soul, which was a special day for single mothers and their children.

“The event was an opportunity for single mothers to have a break. It’s important for single moms to take care of themselves so they can come home, be rejuvenated, and take care of the kids,” she says.

The Soul 2 Soul event was held May 31 at the Axis Dance Center from 1 to 5pm, and was free for single moms and their children aged 6 to 12. Mothers received a free goodie which included beauty and self-help items. While moms relaxed during the afternoon, the kids learned to sing and perform a song, which they did at the end of the afternoon for all their mothers.

This moving event was covered extensively by the local media, including KUTV 2, a CBS affiliate, the Draper Journal, South Mountain Living, ourcommunity.com, and LDS Living.

According to the Arlington Advocate, Sabine Keller of Arlington, Massachusetts has created a project out of taking landmark education’s self-expression and leadership program that is a special event for German families to be held on June 22. Working with several of her friends, Keller has organized a potluck picnic that at least 30 families have already agreed to attend. The event will be held at Menotomy Rocks Park, from 2:30 to 5:00 pm.

The idea of the project is to grow and strengthen the already existing community of families in the Boston area who raise their children speaking speaking both German and English. To get involved or get more information, feel free to email Keller at sabine.keller@gmail.com

Jacinta McManus’ project in Landmark Education’s Self Expression and Leadership Programme took the form of a huge family celebration. The McManus family came together to celebrate the lives of its three most senior ladies. The matriarch of the family, Mrs. Mary McManus, recently turned 95 years of age. Her sister, Mrs. Kate McManus, is 91, and their sister-in-law Mrs. Kathleen Logan is 81. All three ladies have a zest for life that keeps them in remarkably good health–Mary and Kate recently participated in a QUB research study on the genetics of longevity.

Jacinta, who is Mary’s daughter, gathered everyone for an enjoyable day which commenced with a special Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Canon Macartan McQuaid. The family made donations which went to help Friar Terence McGuckian with his work in Zambia. The photo above shows five generations of McManuses, including Mary with some of her 7 children, 33 grandchildren, 40 great-granchildren, and two great great granchildren!

programs. Perhaps you are familiar with the multi-bounce rule changes that accommodate the little players’ shortcomings. Dan’s new Wacquetball  rules provide for the less mobile but more than eager senior club members’ special abilities. Wacquetball also appeals to young children just beginning and handicapped kids.

Wacquetball rules allow two bounces, but the biggest change from the regular racquetball rules is his creation of a special three-inch foam ball (the official color is yet to be determined) that is a lot slower, quieter and easier on the arm than the standard racquetball and will not bounce all the way to the back wall, no matter how hard you hit it into the front wall. Dan’s senior group absolutely loves the game.

Dan’s Wacquetball  group was showcased on the local Denver news in April. This news piece can be seen at the following link:

 http://youtube.com/watch?v=8X7gM0ziWOg

This could be the perfect program for you to fill up the courts at your facility during the day, before the high school players and the after-work crowd. Players may eventually want to play with the standard ball and rules, and we welcome the new recruits, but the important thing is to get them on the court and moving at their ability level.

For more information on how you to get involved with Wacquetball, contact Davis at dndvs1@msn.com.

Nagendra K.S. took on being a source of happiness, innovation and leadership. During his participation in Landmark Education’s Self Expression and Leadership Program that started in February, he created a project called “ULLASA” (In English it means Joy).

The specific intended result of the project was to unite orphan kids and old age people. The old people have rich experience sof life which are very valuable for kids of present generation. These values and experiences of aged people are not tapped for the development of kids. On the other hand the orphan kids do not have the privilege of being with their grandparents and thereby they are deprived of love or affection of grandparents and also the value that they could derive from old people. To fill the gap in between these two communities and also bring in the atmosphere of belongingness and joy to these communities the project was created.

Anatha Shishu Nivasa at Basavanagudi in Bangalore, a NGO taking care of orphan kids and Asha Jeevan at Huli Mavu, Bangalore, a residence for old aged people, took part in the event of the project that happened on 11^th May 2008.

Nagendra and his community of friends at Office and SELP community arranged four vans for the transportation of kids to Asha Jeevan, where old people reside. The kids reached at 2 .45 PM. The Old people were eagerly waiting to meet kids. When the kids arrived at the place there was lots of joy and warmth in the expression of aged people.

Many activities were evolved to engage kids and old people together. All the activities of the day are narrated briefly here:

1. Singings & Dancing: Kids and old people sung devotional and songs of moral value. One song of Yaswanth, who is about 10 years old, was in appreciation of mother. This song moved everyone and we all remembered our mothers in those moments. Many kids performed dances. Also an old lady had a small cat walk! It was full of fun and joy.

2. Story Telling: Old people shared lots of stories, which were rich in experience and there was some value to take home from each of the stories. One old lady shared how much she likes Gandhiji and she urged that all kids should go on the foot steps of Gandhiji.

3. Balloon blowing and Bursting: This event was very exciting and fun-filled. All the kids and old people were asked to blow balloons. There were about 100 balloons in various sizes and shapes. Once they were ready, they were instructed to burst them. It was full of self-expression of everyone. Each and everyone were so much involved in that exercise that they were lost in happiness and joy.

4. Drawing: Kids and old people made drawings for each other. The drawings of kids were retained by old people and the writings and drawings of old people were retained by kids as token of appreciation and remembrance.

Nagendra’s friends had got few books for distribution among kids. The same were handed over to the management of orphanage home for the Library. Everyone had cake, cool drinks, chips and also butter milk and enjoyed each other’s company for till 6.45PM. By 7.30 PM all the kids were dropped back to their homes and we all went home fulfilled and looking forward for one more such opportunity.

The intention of the project, belongingness, joy, and acknowledgement, were present in the event and the project was a huge success.

The same team is wiling to organize such events regularly. Not only that Nagendra has taken on uniting 15 orphanage homes and 15 old age homes for such regular events so that the possibility of the project is alive forever.

The project event was mentioned by a local daily, Vijay Karnataka, on May 24, 2008. The media appreciated and acknowledged the project for creating fun and joy in the lives of old people.