Wear it pink to support Breast Cancer Campaign

Pestalozzi girls wearing pink to support breast cancer campaign!

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all. 

 ~Emily Dickinson

Here is what you can do to support cancer patients:

wear it pink

The place where I met the most wonderful people

 BRAIN CHALLENGE CLASS

It was in year 2009, when I first came across Ngoenga Lobda, an institute where children with special need are looked after. I was mesmerized at how happy those children looked, rejoicing  at the good things that life has to give, rather than complaining about what they lack.  I thought I could definitely help them in small ways and that’s when I decided to go back again.

Throughout last year, I kept reminding someone who works there and who used to be my home-matron that I wanted to work there as a volunteer and she also talked of promising things. I made a huge mistake of not directly contacting the head there, which brought a huge disappointment to me. I was turned down at the last minute, when I have already bought the one- night bus ticket to that place. Since I can’t just waste the money that I spent for the ticket, I paused for a moment and a wonderful idea popped into my mind; why not visit my school to meet my teachers and my friends. Meeting them was a joyous moment. Our school principal was surprised, not at how physically I have changed, but at how intellectually I have changed. The exams were in progress, so I decided to come some other time, to share the enriching experiences I had in UK  particularly in Pestalozzi.

I know that there is an institute called Nyingtobl Ling which also looks after physically and mentally challenged people so I contacted them and that’s how a new opportunity opened for me. Though I intended to work for one month, I was able to work for only three weeks. However, the experience that I had there during my volunteering was something that I could carry on for a lifetime.  I was given one class to look after starting from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and consisting of people, whom the staffs believe cannot learn, or be taught anything, labelled as ‘BRAIN CHALLENGE CLASS’. Their age ranges from 10 to 60s. Initially I was bit afraid of dealing with them, because of how some staff described them. Soon, I found out that they are no different from me. They seem to react based on environment and the people they see. They too have feelings and understanding. No matter what, I tried to stay positive and strong all the time. I would take them to toilet for around ten times and even then, sometimes, they end up dirtying their pants. That’s when they have to be ready for a beating from their home-matron. I guess I can blame neither the home-matron nor the disable people.  The home-matrons are kind enough to be looking after them and the disable people don’t have a control over even the voluntary functions of their body. My job was to look after them throughout the day. I was given the full choice to do whatever I want with them, so each day, I tried to come up with new ideas and games for enjoyment. It was indeed, hard for me to put my ideas into action, because of their physical and mental ability. And indeed hard to control my own emotions by their difficulties, and yet how wonderfully, they all look complacent.

Fascinatingly, most of them, even those can’t walk properly like dancing. So for their enjoyment as well as for their exercise, dancing became one of the most famous activities I arranged for them during my volunteering. Others include modelling, footballing and car-racing. Sometimes, I would let them draw so that they can express their thoughts and feelings in a way they can. At other times, I would show them videos ranging from Aladin and Tom and Jerry to Tibetan traditional dances. Luckily, there are no blinds.  At other times, I would knit head-bands and gift them. Throughout my stay, I was able to make eight of them. I would teach how to take wrist band, even if it’s only one person who can learn.  At tea times, I would give them some snacks to enjoy. Eating is the second thing that they love the most.

In the end, I didn't even feel like leaving them. There are some people who won’t go for lunch without holding my hand, and won’t stop crying unless I ask them to. However, I thought it is not about knowing whether they feel my love towards them or not, but rather about giving the unconditional help that they need. I also felt that I gained more from them than what I gave to them. I learned to appreciate the difference in each individual which changed my way of looking at life. They, who could otherwise have done great good for the betterment of the world, made me into a girl of more responsibility.

Note: Throughout my writing, I used the word ‘people’ to refer to them, because most of them are quite old aged, though they think and act like children. Indeed, they are people! 

To view about my visit to the school, Dechen Yangkyi (Alumnus)Shared Her Experiences & Concerns…

Visit to Isle of Man (20th June - 23rd June)

Never did I ever think that the visit to Isle of Man would change me so much as a person. I used to think myself incapable of making a difference in people’s life, and hold myself lower than other people.

Katy Moore, a staff from Pestalozzi accompanied me to Isle of Man on a chilly Wednesday evening. We reached there at around 9:00 pm to be received by Paula. She had a warm smile. It was funny to be sleeping in someone’s bed. My thoughts started wondering, ‘These people must be lucky to be living in big grand house’. And then they went on, ‘Would I be able to manage well on the stage? Will they listen to my speech at all?’

I couldn't believe how well it went the next morning and how everything came so naturally. Then I was taken to a newsletter writer. She is a friendly woman. The interview was quite an intensive one. I basically told them everything about me: my village life in Tibet, the life-threatening obstacle that I had to cross when I was just eight years old, the lonely days in boarding school and the wonderful opportunity given by Pestalozzi. The Manx Radio interview was a pretty jiffy one, and same goes with the meeting of the governor of Isle of Man. I felt great.

I started gaining more confidence. I wasn't nervous on the second day. I visited two different primary schools. The kids had bewildered faces. Then I broke their thread of curiosity more or less. I introduced myself and they looked satisfied. When I told my age, I think their jaw dropped. Even more bewildered!

The third day was quite a hectic one and even exciting as well. The school that I visited is an IB school, and it was quite a big one. The staffs were friendly and they approached me to say how well I did on my short speech. The reception in the evening was one of the most important events for Friends of Pestalozzi to collect donation. It was a huge success. I got to know so many new people. My speech has drawn five more committee members and earned a donation that they never earned before.

I was again in someone’s bed thinking, ‘How lucky I am! There are people well off than me, but there are also millions who still couldn't receive an education. What more do I need!’

The next morning when I woke up, I knew I am not the same person that I used to be once. I felt more confident. More enriched. And more happy.

Refugee tells her story about fleeing Tibet

BEATLE'S DAY-27TH MARCH

performers on the day- Pestlalozzi

It’s Beatles Day today! And we were to put up a song. Our performance was to start at 11:00 am and I could see the nervousness in each performer’s face.

The audience wasn’t that big as expected, but still I shouldn’t forget that I am representing Pestalozzi. I was one of the guitarists, though I am not good at playing guitar. Luckily, the codes for the song that we chose are so easy to remember and pick up with fingers. The song that we presented is ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ by the Beatles. Within few seconds, I was on stage playing guitar. The song finished in a jiffy and I didn’t even realize how the minutes went by on stage until I heard the loud applause from the audience. It was quite a show. Our Pestalozzi chief executive, Sue Walton and our volunteer remarked how well we did! I too enjoyed being on stage and also watching the different performances shown by other people. Quite a day to end with!

Hastings Half-Marathon Day-25th March, 2012

Before the finishing line

I remembered how I used to be a ‘loser’. I used to the best athlete among junior girls in our house, but the worst among my adversaries. My class mates would comment, ‘you are kind even on an athletic field!’  Nevertheless, I participated in a number of events with running being my weakness. And today quite astonishingly, I completed the Hastings half-marathon within two hours and few minutes. It is quite an achievement for me. There wasn't a single girl from the whole Pestalozzi to have participated in it for years. This time, there is at least one girl who wants to participate. She has been a good athlete in her school, unlike me. When I asked my senior boys about it, they all said I am mad. I got many discouraging comments from my mates, because I am short and plus I am vegetarian! Regardless all of all their comments, I took the courage with a positive attitude. I said to myself, ‘if I don’t participate, I might regret later. If I participate and succeed in completing within three hours, it’s a lifetime achievement. Even if I don’t succeed, I can say I at least tried.’ As expected, half-marathon wasn't easy, but I managed. I was able to go on running until I completed. As I reached the finishing line, I heard my name being called out loud. I proudly accepted the medal presented to me. I would never forget that moment.