LOVING DEEPLY

Don and Rosalinda

 I recently received an email from a fellow cruiser, whose wedding I attended, thanking me for taking photos and sending them a video slide show of it.  He wrote:

"I think one's art is certainly well-developed when one is able to capture the essence, and then to share this essence--of anything--a boat form, a learning process for young students, the story of one's life, or a wedding.  Thank you for being able to share this with us..."

He then added this quote:

"I think one's art goes as far and as deep as one's love goes.  I see no reason for painting but that if I have anything to offer it is the emotional contact with the place where I live and the people I love."--Andrew Wyeth

 Wyeth's words about 'emotional contact with the place I live...the people I love..." and Don's observation about one's art being well-developed when essence is captured and able to be shared, resonated within me as to Why, long-after One Candle Schoolhouse's last class ended, I continue to tell the stories.  

It isn't just gratitude for the support that was given.  It is because love this place and these people; I want to show and share that love with others.  

Rosalinda was is/was the mother of Welnar, an OCS deaf student who died tragically in 2007. Don, now 81, provided employment, taught her English, and gave Rosalinda a new life aboard his steel sailboat, SCOTSMAN.  Don is a good man, a Don Quixote, eager to offer help to those who need it most and appreciate the opportunity. 

Thank you, Don, for taking he time to create an email Thank You that went deep into my being.

RAZZLE DAZZLE

 "If someone listens, or stretches out a hand,

 or whispers a kind word or encouragement,

or attempts to understand, 

extraordinary things begin to happen..."

--Loretta Girzartis 

Last month I posted a list of names that belong to friends who were (and still are) founding supporters of One Candle Schoolhouse. For the past thirty days I have been sorting through reams of photographs, stacks of CD's, and wallowing through ancient folders from long-defunct laptops, determined to find one special picture I have of Jim and Jamie Richter. That photo, taken in January 2004, was of them standing amidst the happy hoard of students who'd planned a going-away party for them, in the still-under construction rooms where OCS had seriously begun Saturday school. I have given up on locating that picture, but the two faces above have exactly the same joyful radiance they had then, almost ten years ago. Jim and Jamie truly were with us from the start, arriving in Port Bonbonon aboard their s/y RAZZLE DAZZLE, the same year (2002) that Saturday classes had casually begun as summer school for a few local children. At that time, we didn't even have a name, or a building of our own, or even knew we'd soon be needing one! During the time that the Richters still lived aboard their boat, they participated as teachers to the children while Bill and I were in the States, providing them with their first exposure to professional photography lessons and giving them 'throw-away' cameras afterwards. Their next project was to solicit the donation of TWO Macintosh computers, a printer, and about a hundred educational CD's!

click here to read Jim's Journal

The list of their donations goes on and on--books, tools, art supplies, mounds of dried foodstuffs, household goods, (recently, two MORE cameras, with lenses--professional quality, too!)--but undoubtedly the most significant were the funding of two college scholarships.

Roy, Cornelia (widow), Ivy

Roy, a recent high school graduate, became One Candle Schoolhouse's first recipient of the opportunity to attend College. Roy wasn't able to complete a full course in law enforcement, but does now have a respectable position as a Security Guard, and responsibly supports his young family.

The following year, when Ivy graduated from high school, the Richters again offered to sponsor a college education, but this time for Ivy. And, because they "stretched out their hands,"extraordinary things have happened...

Jamie congratulates Cornelia

2009 Graduation

Ivy elected to major in Secretarial Science, finalizing her last year's requirement of On The Job Training (OJT) at Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation, for Children with Disabilities, in Dumaguete. Immediately hired to work full time as a bookkeeper and librarian after graduating, she soon began assisting the physical, occupational, and educational therapists. 



Ivy with Gabrielle

 As GP Rehab's funding began to wind down last year, Analou Suan, Founder/Director, arranged for continuity of services for their client families through local municipalities while Ivy secured for herself another place of employment.  Her dream, however, was to bring those same services back to her own rural community...

 (from a recent email: )

     "...I've just spent the morning talking with one of my former students, IVY, who is so dedicated to helping the Special Needs families in our area that I am continually re-inspired to hang in there with the community work. She has asthma, which is aggravated by not only working in an air-conditioned environment, but living in Dumaguete, too. Bad air. She works at a call center, rotating her shifts weekly, 6am-2pm/2pm-10pm/10pm-6am, and then on her one day off, Sundays, she comes back here to tromp around the back-bush finding families of Children with Disability. 

     Today she told me she's asked her mother to donate some of their land so she can build a Center where livelihood skills can be taught to those capable of it, train locals to be Physical Therapists to teach parents how to give proper exercises, as well as be a resource for education/diagnosis for the locals who are in need of help with their children. I had visited her in order to get a photo of of Jim and Jamie Richter, who'd funded her college education, because I had planned to FINALLY give them their long-overdue Thank You blog posting...but in checking emails quickly, I looked at a Grants Newsletter I subscribe to, I was thrilled to find something I think we can apply for, for her! It's a thousand dollars, not as much as she is going to need but that goes such a very long way here it could possibly be enough to begin the basic building ...certainly it would be enough to begin getting medical help for some of the kids..."

 Since last December, Ivy has steadily pursued her project,

 
methodically using the skills she gained at GP Rehab to interview and assess families, 

while listening carefully to the dreams the parents want for their children's future.

 Her project has a name:  

OPEN DOOR HABILITATION

Last Sunday, May 12, 2013, Ivy's first classes were held in Siit and Bonbonon, at the two Bright Lights Community Learning Centers.

...and there is much more to come!

Jim and Jamie, daghang salamat for all that you helped make possible.

Moving Forward Looking Back

      In 1991, as Bill and I threw off dock lines in Santa Cruz to begin our cruising life, a very special teacher—Mary Duffield—presented us with a packet of quotes she’d gathered over the years. 

     She apologized for the cut-and-pasted assortment of photocopied pages,  “I'm on a pension,” she said, “can’t afford more in the way of gifts to friends.”   Mary has passed on now, but the values she held dear are a legacy of comfort and inspiration that, as in e e cummings' poem,“I carry…in my heart.”

     Not knowing how to resume posting to this blog without another apology for lengthy silences, one of Mary’s quotes came to mind.  Her annotation to George Bernard Shaw’s words put shape to my reasons why updates have continued to be so few and far between. She wrote:

“Ecstasy comes from devoting your life to a purpose larger than all the little things in it.”   

     Showing appreciation to those who are supportive is not something I consider one of the ‘little things’ of life, but committing to a purpose very large has tended to quickly sweep me past events and people I want to remain connected to.

     Being part of the One Candle Schoolhouse, first, then the evolution of it into the two Bright Lights Community Learning Centers, has been an involvement much larger than my abilities—it has been a project larger than any of us who have been involved—thus the learning curve has been arduously time-consuming.  But the evolving, often elusive ‘ecstasy’ of seeing what we have brought to fruition, that of being part of a “mighty purpose…being a force of nature” through the support of others, has kept us moving forward. 

     Giving individual recognition to everyone who has helped make so much possible is paramount to me because, by those individual acts of generosity, all of you have demonstrated a belief in belonging to a world community. You deserve to see the results of your participation and to experience the resulting joy therein.  Upcoming posts will feature:

• Jim and Jamie Richter, s/y RAZZLE DAZZLE—Pioneer Supporters, they provided Mac computers, scholarships, books, materials, cameras and so MUCH, MUCH MORE
• Danah and Jong Fortunato gave school materials, books, invaluable organizational advice, introductions to influential people and events, donated financial aid for college uniforms and shared home-cooked meals for a former OCS student, to name only a few examples of their support.
•  Michael and Stephanie Radunsky, s/y WILD GOOSE—frequent care packages of school supplies, including a year of monthly financial help, and a continuing, treasured friendship.
• The Pool/Stuckey family, who sent annual financial donations in lieu of birthday/Christmas gifts in addition to numerous gifts of school materials, educational resources, plus stateside networking on the school’s behalf.  Kathy divided her father’s legacy towards a college scholarship and personal bequeath to Renato, who had assisted Bill in building his last small boat.
• Phil and Ann Gagnon and their family sponsored our first livelihood skills projects, and more recently a two-day Gender Sensitivity Training.
• The N.Z. family of SILLHOUETTE (see Maya’s letter of condolence) taught music, art, and brought Saturday dinners for Bill and I when class was over.  AMAZING friends.
• Trish and Fitz, s/y COLUMBUS –financial support, quilting techniques, management skills; extraordinary summer school guest teacher.
• Sue James--introduced by Trish—came twice from N.Z. as a guest teacher for several months, directing numerous innovative art projects, raised funds and has continued to support independent projects in the community
• Kenji Imura, s/y PAPALAGI,  music teacher and provider of  quality recorders to OCS students.
• Fraser and Karin Petrie, s/y LUNA—loyal sponsors of consecutive scholarships for two student’s college living expenses.
• Hadley and Junko Dykes’ generous donation made possible not only a long-term feeding program for both Learning Centers, but also a three-day Team Building Ropes Course Camp for twenty students.
• Gena Dayon, with Martin at DIVE HUB Resort, hosted over sixty children for a day of snorkeling, a spaghetti lunch and Marine Conservation slide show, as well as tirelessly introducing new sponsors to us from their visiting guests.
• A host of Bay Area friends—Maura and Michael, Larry and Theresa, Ingo and Espie, Al Wasserman, his son, Harvey, my sisters Denise and Donalie, to name only a few who donated funds or materials towards livelihood trainings, high school and college scholarships, school supplies, workshops and field trips, computers, even hearing aids.
• Lei Parker, Australian Business Volunteer Extraordinaire who, in six weeks last year, not only did a massive job of creating an organizational structure for the two Learning Centers, but then organized a donation of four months budget from his community of Tuross, in Australia to add to his own financial contributions. 

…these are just some of the names  of friends who, along with pictures of how their donations were used, will soon have their own pages within this blog.  I am eager to assemble each one as there are so many wonderful memories to document, so much joy to share.  G.B. Shaw's conclusion, “Life is no mere ‘brief candle’...it is a sort of bright torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations” expresses well the ‘Why' of continually making this effort.

"This is the true joy..."

"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailment and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.  

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can...I rejoice in life for its own sake.  Life is no mere "brief candle" to me.  It is a sort of bright torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

-George Bernard Shaw-

"Whatever you dream...BEGIN"

 

 

 

 

Today is the launching of Kelly Sullivan's MIGHTY FINGERS--FACING CHANGE project, and right now, half-way around the world from where I sit typing these words in the Philippines, her kick-off party has begun...

I woke early to not only be able to receive and post the news release below, but to donate funds.  There was a lovely, momentarily dazzling choice of whose name to make it in and, suddenly, I was faced with such an array of friends who have supported my own work that I almost gave up and clicked the anonymous button. 

In the end, I chose the woman whose own generosity has been an inspiring example for me to follow, but who is so modest that when Kelly also gave the option to upload a photo next to the donor's name, I laughed and chose a collaged artwork of my own to symbolize and share with her the pleasure of supporting this project.  My friend is featured more than once in this blog (and not as often as deserved), so will be known to long-time followers.

Because I have already emailed to my many friends and supporters the news of this ambitious project, I am adding to this post a letter of support for Kelly's Mighty Fingers--Facing Change, further elaboration of the project's goals, for people to read over the next few months of the fund-raising campaign:

 

"Mighty Fingers Facing Change is a global collaborative art project that will empower adolescent girls around the world to build stronger communities.  Originated by my friend and renown artist, Kelly Sullivan, Mighty Fingers Facing Change will travel to a minimum of 14 locations in six continents to work with with adolescent girls to create a giant global community mural and a series of the girls' self portraits.  We have partnered with many non-profit organizations throughout the world that support women and girls day in and day out, and at each location, Kelly and her Mighty Fingers team will work with one of the non-profits and a large group of adolescent girls to show them how to create art with their "Mighty Fingers."  They will encourage and celebrate individuality as they help the girls create their own self-portraits using visualization exercises and their very own fingers to paint instead of paint brushes!  Then they will work together with the girls to design and paint a portion of the 16' x 5' Mighty Fingers global community FingerSmear mural.  The girls will use their mighty fingers to add their own indelible mark to the mural and sign their name to it.

Young women are the largest underserved and at-risk population worldwide.  By bringing young women together to paint and freely express themselves through the creativity, collaboration and honesty of art, we will show girls everywhere that they have the power to dream big and succeed, to create stronger communities, and to build a better future.

While I will not be traveling with the Mighty Fingers team, I am very connected to the project and am excited to remain involved with the journey by watching the video uploads Kelly and her team make along the way and reading about their progress.  Before we can get started with the project, we need to raise $145,000 by December 5^th, 2012.  The funds are vital to pay for airfare, ground transport, art supplies, video equipment and general trip expenses.

Please visit our Indiegogo.com page to learn more about the project and to contribute in any way you can.  It is very easy to contribute and you will be graciously rewarded for your support"

http://www.indiegogo.com/Mighty-Fingers?a=1278781

Together, let's create a better world.

MIGHTY FINGERS

In my last post I wrote of having two goals for this next post:
      First, a determination to complete this blog, a 'body of work' which began as a means to document, thank, and share with supporters the achievements their donations made possible, 
and,
      secondly, a desire to 'give back' by now supporting someone else’s project.  

 
The project that has inspired me is Kelly Sullivan’s

Mighty Fingers--FacingChange.

Similar to my vision for One Candle Schoolhouse and the Bright Lights Learning Centers, of youths creatively exploring their individuality within the community, Kelly Sullivan’s project is much more ambitious and inspiring--it is Global in scope. 

Kelly says this about her project:

     “In this Career Opus, Mighty Fingers--Facing Change, I will use my twenty years of experience and the power of artistic collaboration to stimulate, strengthen and unify the largely under-served adolescent female population. They have the ability to change the world. I want to be a part of the most exciting shift of the 21st century…
bring(ing) a unifying spotlight to the numerous organizations working to improve the lives of women around the world...ultimately leading to strengthened communities on a local and global level.”


I began corresponding with Kelly two years ago, after reading her first blog post titled, Life is Short. It is a galvanizing essay for anyone with dreams yet unfulfilled.  Since then, I have been continually touched by this amazing woman’s fierce dedication to both her family and her Art.  Not easy commitments to balance equally, but I admire the integrity with which she does it.

I believe in Kelly's project, which will be launched this September 15th, 2012.  I have chosen to help Kelly for possibly very selfish reasons:

     First, I want her to visit the Philippines so that Bright Lights can host her Team
and,
     second, I want our students be able to experience what she has to offer.

To help make that happen I have become a Mighty Ambassador for her project.

  What must a Mighty Ambassador do, you ask?

check it out and please consider choosing to support her, too...for myself, it is simply a broader way to continue helping the Learning Centers provide unique growth opportunities for our rural Community.  Perhaps it will be for you, too?

A Host of Angels

"The World isn't about You,

but about you in the World"

--Jane Alexnder

I have to confess that, since last December 29th, 2011, my world shrank to a total focus on myself, my own small world aboard my home, my boat, PILAR.

All my life I have been strong and healthy, seldom ill, and never incapacitated...until the Christmas Party at the beach for the Learning Centers' students. There, foolishly forgetting how old I was amid the heartening calls for me to join them in jumping off a rock into very shallow water, I jumped...and heard three separate CRACK!'s as I landed on my right heel. It was a blow to more than just my calcaneus: It shattered illusions of my ability to stay in control. Succumbing to a helpless, hopelessly narrow focus--one of simply learning how to navigate life on crutches, afloat or ashore--I had no energy for anyone or anything more.

Coinciding with being physically demoralized during the following months, there came the emotionally draining transition of stepping aside as Board President/Executive Director of the two campus' of Bright Lights Community Learning Initiatives, Inc. After six years of sole responsibility for One Candle Schoolhouse and four years of mentoring Volunteers for the Learning Centers, the envisioned goal of BLCLII as a Filipino directed (not foreigner directed) organization, finally became a reality.  Positive as the event was, I knew I would miss the personal gratification that future leaders would rightfully claim.

In March, the annual Board Meeting elected Renato Dela Cruz to be President, and though the new Vice President, Simon Stack, is an American, for the last year, with his Filipina wife, Tata, he has been one-half of a very strong, supportive team for the Learning Centers.

Simon and Tata Stack recognized early on that, along with the new Board's authority, came a large financial responsibility in the transition, and had begun preparing for it as early as Fall 2011. Previous posts have not done justice to all their work--nor have I been reliable about posting the generous support of many other friends who have given donations of time, money and materials to our students.  While my personal world shrunk to a citizen of one, for others who continued to live within a world larger than themselves, I will now begin to honor their commitment.

*Angels*

Tata, May Uy, Annabelle Lee Adriano, Clotilde Arzaga, Myrna Balana-Mclean, Josephine Barot, Irma Pal, Engr. Geronica Martinez, Ninotchka Yoldean and Anonymous Donor, THANK YOU for supporting Tata's Fund Raising project.

Due to your help, termite control was made possible for Siit, in addition to the vital, financially costly completion of necessary papers for our SEC/BIR documentation.

*Angel*

Mercy Porras

Manila-based Mercy Porras, sent a huge box to us through her sister-in-law, Annabelle Lee-Adriano, after a visit to Tambobo last year. The photo of Mercy's donation of Livelihood Manuals for numerous handmade soaps, Massage Techniques, Specialty Foods, plus a dazzling array of Cross Stitch and Sewing Patterns, doesn't begin to do justice to enormity of potential industry she has opened the doors to,  for our students and the community at large. We are still overwhelmed by the bounty but will post photos of our progress as we gain expertise.   

*Angel*

Mimi Davis

As a result of an open letter in Dumaguete's newspaper, MetroPost, thanking the many supporters of Irma & Alex Pal's 2009 Christmas Project that brought NINE HUGE BOXES of clothes to One Candle Schoolhouse and the students of Bright Lights, I learned of Mimi Davis' desire to donate money to the children at Sto. Nenio Children's Home*.  With so much abundance from the Pal Family, the BLCLC students shared what they had with several other organizations' children, by hosting a Christmas Party for them, and Mimi resolved to remedy the mention of a need for extra vitamins at Sto. Nenio.  

  

After delivering Mimi's donation to the Sto. Nenio children, we then visited GP Rehab** where Mimi met Gabrielle. 

Seven years old then, Gabrielle was born with Cerebral Palsy. He loves books, loves throwing a ball with his stronger left arm, and is unbelievably smart. Mimi provided the means for doubling Gabrielle and his mother's food allowance by 250Php@week (from less than $5.00 to nearly $10.00), for the next four months.

*Sto. Nino Children’s Home Foundation, Inc. is a non-government and non-profit child institution for abandoned neonates/newborn infants and children needing immediate medical and home care services. The foundation provides shelter and homecare services, psycho-social services, educational support program, assistance for hospitalization and other medical needs and value formation and spiritual services. The Institution aims to create a child responsive health and home care program with integrated and sustainable support services that will promote and enhance children’s growth and development. It was founded by Reverend Father Marcelino “Butch” Malana, a religious missionary (with the help of his friends) who have strong concerns on the plight of unwanted, abandoned and homeless neonates/newborn infants and children especially those with mental or physical defects.

**Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc. (GPRehab) is an organization whose main purpose is to support Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in their struggle for inclusion in society. Its main objective is to provide high-quality physical and occupational therapy services to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. Since September 2004 GPRehab has been implemented Caring Hands to Inspire and Link with Disabled Children (CHILD), a children’s rehabilitation project, in Metro Dumaguete, the province of Oriental Negros. Funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation Noradf) and NDCF, the overall objectives is to provide a better quality of life for children with physical, motor and intellectual disabilities through rehabilitation and education. Implemented with all of the same program components, GPRehab is currently providing free physical therapy, occupational therapy and special education services to 100 children with various disabilities from indigent families. In order to make its work more comprehensive, it has come up with 6 programs: community-based rehabilitation program, holistic functional development program, networking referral and advocacy program, human resource and development program, asset building for sustainability program, and information, communication and educational program. Operating on a very stringent budget for quite period of time, GPRehab has been able to move forward with the
implementation of its programs.

More wonderful Angels in the next posting...