As the first step and as her project in Landmark Education’s SELP, Goyal arranged a movie show for 180 children from Bangalore, which took place on 1st April at the Galaxy Theatre. The movie shown was Care of Footpath, which was chosen to relate specifically to the lives of the children attending – it’s about a child of humble beginnings who learns to excel in school and become educated.

Read about this initiative in more detail in at article from Bangalore’s Citizen Matters.

The event will take place from 7-11pm downtown at the Pink Ultra Lounge on 6th and Pine. Dates with ten men and ten women will be auctioned, with the package including a complete date experience such as a romantic dinner, a movie night, dancing or even rock climbing.

The event is intended to raise $10,000 for children’s scholarships and provoke awareness about what it will take for Kenyan children to get real opportunities.

Tickets cost $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. For more information visit the Date to Educate event page.

Zeitz, who professionally is the executive director of the Global AIDS Alliance nonprofit, says that “What once was an America ‘by the people and for the people’, today is a dysfunctional and ailing America ‘by corporations and for corporations.’ Our elected leaders have failed us, as they are stuck in an intractable quagmire of greed-driven, lowest-common-denominator deal-making.”

According to an article at AZ Central, the work was part of a Landmark effort to gain funding to eliminate bedbug infestations at public shelters, and to increase awareness of the problem. Orlando’s partner in his efforts, Dawn Gouge (an etymologist whose efforts guided the work at the Mesa shelter), is seeking $190,000 in grants to take on the issue at other shelters.

Kai Tahu hui

By Dani McDonald

Wellington will be hosting a substantial hui (meeting) for a predominant South Island tribe this weekend. The hui, Our Pounamu Pathway, will be held at Tapu Te Ranga Marae in Wellington on September 4.

Organiser James Muirhead says it is a chance for the 3,000 Kai Tahu descendants currently living in the greater Wellington region to learn about their culture and to connect with other descendants of the iwi (tribe).

With the support and guidance of community leader Angela Wallace, Mr. Muirhead’s project has become bigger than expected.

“It’s a hui, a real whanau environment with stories and songs of the past and of ancestors, spoken by a number of speakers coming along.

“It will be looking at what it is to be Kai Tahu today and how we can all be a contribution for the greater good of the iwi” he says.

Iaean Cranwell, leader of Aoraki Bound in Christchurch, is also expected to attend.

But for Mr. Muirhead, an exploration geologist, getting to know his culture hasn’t always been easy.

“I sort of came to realize that I haven’t recognized my Mari heritage.

“I was brought up Pakeha, and never really got myself involved,” he says.

As part of a 3-5 month programme run by Landmark Education, in which participants undertake projects with a community-based focus, Mr. Muirhead created the hui for himself and others to experience the culture of the south.

“I’m really excited about it when I share about it. I’ve got the opportunity in an environment that’s new to me.”

He says he is inspired to be involved in a Kai Tahu community in Wellington and to open up the opportunities of learning about Kai Tahu protocol to other whanau members.

“There is an expanded community that could be involved in this. For myself I really want to get an enhanced feeling of my Kai Tahu taka (essence).”

Mr. Muirhead hopes this becomes a yearly event to occur on the first day of spring.

“I’m hoping to really strengthen the Kai Tahu community – to expand it and to help people know what’s available through the runaka (tribal council) and what’s available through the community.”

The hui will run from 12pm to 6pm.

The following article was written by Agnes Ginestet in August 25th Cook Strait News in New Zealand – it’s about the project Charlotte Clark created in Landmark Education’s Self-Expression and Leadership Programme to appreciate grandparents by having a Grandparents Day established in New Zealand.

Appreciating Grandparents

A 24-year old Thorndon resident is hoping to gather 50,000 signatures on a petition to create a National New Zealand Grandparents’ day.

Charlotte Clark says like Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day, this would be an opportunity to celebrate who our grandparents are for us, to call them, to visit them, to let them know how amazing and how loved they are.

“That would just be amazing if we had something like that for grandparents. It is really big and exciting for me to think about something and think I can actually give it a go.”

She started this initiative as part of a self-expression and leadership programme at Landmark Education.

“We get to choose a community that we want to make a difference in, and create and lead a project in the community.”

She says grandparents play a role in communities by doing a lot of volunteer work, and they play a huge role in the families in terms of supporting their children and grandchildren.

“It is easy to forget to really acknowledge them for how amazing they are.”

Charlotte has one grandparent left, Helen, who lives in Tauranga and whom she sees twice a year.

“I just love her so much. Her and my granddad were always there. Grandparents are so warm. They are just so loving.”

Charlotte says she has contacted Grey Power Wellington and other organizations such as Girlguiding NZ and Scouts NZ to let people know about the petitions.

She would love that young people go in the community, and tell their friends and families about it.

“The more people hear about it, the easier it will be to happen.”

Sign the petition online here.

At an open house meeting of the Chelmsford Toastmasters being held on October 14, both members and visitors will be supported in how to give a speech that acknowledges people, as well as touching and moving them. Some Toastmaster members will give a 5-10 minute speech that acknowledges a loved one, and as per Barrett’s project, will have DVD’s made to give to the person.

Barrett’s inspiration for the project came from a video acknowledgement he made for his own father shortly before he died.

“All we have is right now; tomorrow is not guaranteed,” said Barrett.

For more information about ‘Don’t Leave Appreciation Unsaid’ or the Chelmsford Toastmasters event on October 14, Barrett can be contacted at 978-454-5019.

Dance for Donations, which appears to be Evarts’ project from the self-expression and leadership program, is being held Sunday, September 12th at the Cabana Bar in St. Leonards, from 12-10pm. A $10 minimum donation is required.

A variety of performers will be there to perform or play for the cause, including DJ Libre, DJ Samrai, Carlito Bangs and many more. To find out the latest news, visit the Dance 4 Donations Facebook page(where 277 are currently confirmed as attending the event) – or go directly to this contributions page to give directly to Open Family Australia.

Teubert’s project goes beyond simply providing care in her own salon – she has put together a team of people which has a group of participating salons, the support of the local YWCA, which has a shelter for battered women, and ultimately, the purchase and refurbishment of a travelling RV which will be a ‘salon on wheels’ catering to victims of domestic violence. The project is named Ruby Violet both because of the color of bruises and the same initials as an RV.

Jane McCauley of the YWCA, Jeni Sauser of Studio 107, Rachel Walker of J.P. Cullens & Sons, and Chad Barnes are all taking leadership roles within the project. Allison Hokinson of the YWCA describes the value of the project in the Gazette:

“Their self-esteem is at an all-time low, and they’ve never been treated with such dignity and respect that you get during a salon appointment,” she said. “The project and its tag line ‘pampering with a purpose’ provides an opportunity for women to feel pampered again and to connect with another woman.”

Treatments are ongoing at local salons until the RV can be purchased and set up – fundraisers are planned to raise $15,000 for this purpose and for raising awareness.

Visit our story on Olga’s Beautiful Beings for another great example of salon treatment for those affected by domestic abuse.

Motorcycle display puts transport museum into gear!

A vintage motorcycle has roared into a shop to help promote ambitious plans for a new transport museum.

The 1956 Ariel Red Hnter 350 is currently on display in the window of Serendipity on Biggleswade High Street.

And it is hoped that the bike, which is on loan from Stotfold Engineers, will encourage more people to get involved in the project and show their support for Transport Autism.

Transport Autism, the brainchild of Mark Ty-Wharton, is a project that hopes to bring a transport museum straffed by people with Autistic spectrum disorders to the town.

Anyone interested in finding out more is encouraged to drop into their shop and sign up to the new mailing list for the latest news about the project.

The bike has been in storage for 15 years, and was the first restoration project of Stotfold Engineers’ Terry Ives.

For more information visit the website at transportautism.org.uk.