Im just going to give a short spiel on what Parikrma does so you can understand what I am doing in Bangalore. It is an NGO that aims to meet the needs of street and slum children in every aspect of life, education, health, nutrition and community assimilation. So although, Parikrma operates three schools it does more than providing education. They work alongside local social workers, psychologists, doctors to ensure the children are in good health. There is amazing interaction between the schools and the families/homes of the students. If a teacher or volunteer notices a kid is not feeling well, the kid is taken to a doctor and the teacher would go to the orphanage or to the home of the child and give the medicine to the parents and explain the problem. In terms of providing nutrition, breakfast and lunch is served at school from Mondays to Saturdays (the kids have school on Saturdays). A lot of emphasis is placed on providing community care to the families of these children. Often the child's parents are alcoholics and Parikrma staff would speak with them and encourage to join an de-addiction program. There are also social workers that go into the slums and give talks on basic hygiene in the community. Recently, they had a polio day (which happens twice a year) where the polio vaccine were administered to children in the slum communities.

So while volunteers' focus is predominantly on the schools and giving remedial attention to below average students, Parikrmas focus is a lot larger, one that focuses on the childs *circle of life*.

I came to Parikrma with only a surface understanding on what it does. But having been here a week, I have found out so much more about its work and I believe its philosophy works. I hoped by telling you guys what Parikma does you will understand from my posts why I teach at schools, or visit orphanages, hostels or slum communities on some days or doing some admin work for some awareness campaign. I guess part of the nature of Parikrma means the work I do here is varied and a lot more exciting than I expected.

Having said all that, on Friday, Stephanie and I went to visit Hope Lions Home after school. I am reluctant to say it is an orphanage. because although a fair few of the boys that live there are orphans, most of them have do have a parent. All the kids that live in Hope Home fled from Manipur, a North-eastern state of Indiam, where there has been prolonged armed conflict. There are around 20 children that live in Hope Home and 16 of them go to Sahakaranagar school (one of the three Parikma-run schools) and is the school I work mostly with. The Hope Home boys are adorable. They easily stand out at school because they are a alot fairer than the other children. We (volunteers) arent supposed to have favourites but you cant help it. The boys in Hope Home are so sweet. They are the most well-behaved, perform the best at school and are amazing football players. In fact, the football team consists mostly of the Manipur boys. Its so funny, when they first met me on the first day they thought I was from Manipur (because to them I am fair-skined) hehe.

Oh gotta go! I couldnt talk much about Hope Home!
will continue shortly..

EDIT:
goodness I didnt know I had posted multiple entries of the same thing. Anyways, Im on MG road right now. It is a road where you can find everything Western in Bangalore. When you are on MG road you feel you are transported back home because cafes, restaurants, shops, bookstores line the streets. Im at a trendy cyber cafe. Ive got this steering wheel next to me and brakes on the floor. lols Im in the city because today is one of the volunteers (at another school) birthday, so we are meeting up for dinner in a few hours.

Last night I was describing the boys at Hope Home. Since it was my first visit there, I hadnt known that it was in fact a Christian home until I spoke to Obed, the man who ran the home and found out he was a local pastor! after dinner all 20 children gathered in the living room for worship and reading scripture. Stephanie and I were suprised when they stood up and recited scripture. They did this in groups, even the littlest of the little had to stand up and read a line. The slightly older boys (around 10 years) recited the entire chapter of Ephesians!! Chapter 6 vs. 1-24!! Oh my gosh, I was so amazed. I have difficulty memorizing one verse, and they go reciting the whole chapter. I wonder if they are asked to memorize and recite a chapter a night...? These kids are so obedient and so so bright! I remember Stephanie commenting the next day that these boys at school because they seem so content and dont seem to need hugs or attention from volunteers/teachers at schools. I didnt know how to say it to Stephanie but I could only think of one explanation...Jesus! Just observing them at home and at school, they exemplify the essence of having a relationship with Jesus. I mean these kids in physical terms have nothing, their family is not with them, most of them share beds, they had no electricity when we visited them (we used candles all night), water supply is limited...but at the same time they have everything because they have Jesus. Stephanie and I stayed over at Hope Home camping on the floor. They were thrilled when we took out our cameras. They had so much fun taking photos of themselves and each other. We got up at 6.30am the next day! it was a Saturday too! ahhhHHh.. they have half day school on Saturdays. We got on the school bus with them since our house is very near the school.

Im really excited over the next few weeks. There's going to be so many things happening. Next week we are going to have an International Food Day whereby the volunteers are going to cook up a storm and serve lunch at school. Its great because we are going have French, German, Chinese (me! im going to try hard not to burn down the kitchen), Indian, American (/Canadian) and New Zealand (??! we have a new volunteer from NZ coming tomorrow) food! I really wanted it to be a cultural day where the kids dress up in different cultural outfits, like you know what you did in primary school, but it would be impossible because the children wouldnt have any of such clothes. After that, the following week Ill be organizing a mini-Christmas-olympics. Please help me think of some games guys!! ahh at the moment I have thought of egg and spoon relay, wheelbarrow (when you hold the other persons ankle), sack potato, three-legged race, tug-of-war, pyramids. I need some more non-active games...so far there is trivia, charades/pictionary and skits...hmm?! we are going to have music, face-painting, water refreshments as well! Then the following following week, we want to hold a Christmas party at Hope Home. We need games for that too! so far there is pass the parcel (lollies hidden in each newspaper layer), and the game where you have a balloon tied to one ankle and the aim is to try and pop every one elses balloon while keeping your balloon safe! I remembered that game at a friend birthday party when I was young but I was too scared of balloons to participate! lol. I still am!!

The weekends in December is going to be mad. Us volunteers are trying to organize weekends away from Bangalore as a break to explore and just to relax. This weekend all the volunteers are heading to Pondicherry (just south of Chennai along the Coast), next weekend we will be going to Mysore (south of Bangalore) where we will be staying at a house of one of the Parikrmas staff. Then on the 17th to 19th weekend, Ashok is dropping by Bangalore and I will be going with him up North a bit to Hampi which I have heard is gorgeous. so im really excited. As for Christmas/NY period, I have no concrete plans! ahhh I really want to go to Kerala but its going to be so packed during that period. Plus, Ashok is heading back to Jaipur by then. Im thinking of going to Goa with the other volunteers but im not sure. its going to be crazy there plus I hear accommodation has been booked out months ago.

Well Im going to update soon sometime this week! Oh post any msgs on more games! thanks

*hugsssss*