Empowerment

Breath Water Sound at Mary Kihn School for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

We are for the first time in Cape Town teaching 45 deaf children at Mary Kihn School, a Special Needs School.

We have done some research after having meetings with the school and the WCED and shall modify some aspects as the deaf don’t close their eyes as their eyes become their ears and eyes.

We focussed on the yoga, breathing and sound aspect in terms of bringing African drums and using this vibration to calm them, and an added fun element for the children. The Principal has communicated and said that deaf children need more practical lessons such as yoga and sound vibration and of course the breathing. They are foundation phase as well as older children.

We had incredible feedback from the teachers with regards to the energy levels and concentration of the children. The Western Cape Education Department is monitoring the program and are very happy with the children’s response even after just 2 days.

Well done to to our team volunteers, Francois, Elizabeth and Nomvuyo.

Read more

A day at the Vaal river with 50 “Liggies”

IAHV Vaal held a party for Lewenslig Centre  for Mentally Disabled Adults – a day at the Vaal river with 50 “Liggies” filled with music, sun, food and gifts!

Cynthia from Mimi Fourie Hof who knitted 50 teddy bears for the Liggies.

Livingston from Malawi offering his support for a Liggie.

Anita Hanekom from DCS Groenpunt joined in the festivities of the day.

 

Read more

Breath Water Sound at 22 Barrington Street

It was lovely to teach a Breath Water Sound course over this auspicious time of Navratri and I was blessed to be assisted by Deanne for the sessions and Martina who came to help with the handing out the certificates on the last day which is always special – to have a new face making everyone feel very important!

22 Barrington street is a special place of recovery before that very next step back into “normal” life for many
dealing with addictions and trauma, the BWS course came at a special time as the house councillor
Suzanne mentioned to me at the Obs Pasta Kitchen (a community dinner that happens every Wednesday in Observatory)  that there were many new members to the house making it challenging. I offered the BWS course and she was thrilled asking to start asap!

A few visible changes that we noticed was definitely the focus of the group, especially in one participant who on the first session was unable to remain seated for more than 10min and by the last day never left the session once!
A big everlasting smile landed on the face of another participant on the last day (who was very distant throughout the course) every photo we have she is smiling brightly with such light in her eyes! As Deanne mentioned every single participant  was a very powerful person, from walking into a room of what seemed like broken spirits we left to a chorus of laughs and tremendous gratitude for the knowledge.

We have planned to follow up every ten days as the participants took the forty one day challenge to keep up
their breathing techniques and promises to themselves. The Breath Water Sound course is an amazing opportunity
for everyone to change their lives in a positive healthy way!

Read more

Comfort with Dignity for Girls – Mandela Day

As part of IAHV’s Dignity For Girls Campaign we distributed  Subz Packs to 120 girls in Grade 6 and Grade 7 at Duffs Road Primary School, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 18th  July 2018 – for Mandela Day.

The 2-hour programme was very interactive and included the following:

  1. Principal – Address and Purpose of Programme
  2. Prayer and Introduction – IAHV & the Art of Living Foundation
  3. Art  of  Living  Team  –  Breathing  Exercises/Simple  Yoga,  Pamphlet  with  Simple  Steps  to  alleviate stomach cramps during menstruation.
  4. Sue Barnes & Team – Demonstration, Talk, includes information in pamphlet
  5. Distribution of Packs and Pamphlets
  6. Refreshments
Read more

Alpha Trauma Centre – Mandela Day 2018

Alpha Trauma Centre is a non-profit organisation based in Vereeniging, Gauteng. They provide free trauma counselling and support for women and children who have fallen victim to sexual assault, rape, abuse or domestic violence. Also provide assistance to older persons.

Thanks to Gavin and Melissa from The International Association for Human Values … who so kindly donated 20 food parcels to Alpha Trauma Centre. In the photo is Gavin (IAHV) on the left with Brahm van der Merwe Centre Manager / Chief Social Worker in the middle and on the right is Mr Dube. Many thanks to the kind donors who contributed towards the food parcels. You make a difference!

Read more

Happy Women’s Day in Soweto

Today we made an 88 year old Gogo Miriam Mariti from Orlando West in Soweto very happy. She’s been bed bound for several months and had developed bedsores as a result. The wheelchair will allow her some mobility. Gogo Miriam also has a caregiver and now she is doing so much better. Her bedsores are getting better and was so grateful for the wheelchair.

The wheelchair initiative was started from the Johannesburg DSN program. Wheelchairs were acquired through donations and from the collection of plastic bottle-tops and tags. The initiative was well supported and for every 450kgs of bottle-tops we obtained one wheelchair.

Aneshree Naidoo, an Art of Living teacher who heads the Youth Village Project in Soweto, and though her networks the wheelchair was successfully handed over in the pictures below though a combined effort of the various Art of Living  chapters.

Read more

Mandela Day at Groenpunt Department of Correctional Services

The IAHV in conjunction with Groenpunt Department of Correctional Services joined forces in honour of Mandela Day and the 67 blankets initiative. The inmates of Groenpunt prison, under the care of Anita Hanekom, knitted 67 amazing blankets with 20 of these handed over to IAHV Vaal for their Leeuhof Service Project.

See below “Thank You letter” for the amazing donation of 20 hand-knitted blankets… certainly a lot of incredible effort and love went into producing these and I have no doubt that each blanket will find a special place in the hearts and lives of those that will receive them on Thursday Mandela Day!!

The ability to persevere in the face of challenges and to still succeed is the quality of a true leader and an inspiration to all… thank you for continuing to be your amazing self!!!

Read more

Mandela Day 2018

Mandela Day calls on us all, every day, to make the world a better place. Each year on 18 July we look back on what has been done, and forward to what will be done.

Making every day a Mandela Day celebrates Madiba’s life and legacy in a sustainable way that will bring about enduring change.

In celebration of Mandela Day, IAHV in partnership with United Technical Equipment Company (Pty) Ltd (Utec) together with volunteers assisted in packaging 1000 hampers which were distributed to the needy. Approximately 6000 people benefited from receiving the hampers.

Read more

WINTER WARMER – 2018

Helping the needy this cold winter as the mid-winter freeze deepens by donating blankets, scarves and beanies to various disadvantaged communities, street kids and shelters.

On the morning of 23rd June 2018 volunteers from Lenasia donated ± 130 blankets to the elderly in the community of Newclare, Johannesburg. We started with some lovely short yoga warm-ups and ended with a peace prayer in the warm, open sunshine.

Blankets were also donated to the homeless in the Lenasia CBD area. The homeless sleep in the open at night using cardboard and plastic to keep themselves warm. Speaking to a few of them, that work as car guards and car washers during the day and at times hire a blanket for R10.00 a night if they have collected enough money, including for food during the day.

Blankets donated in Lenasia South, Kingfisher Street together with the Sai Group to the needy families.

 

On 27th June blankets, beanies, scarves and goodie bags were donated to underprivileged kids in Leeuhof Community, Vaal Region, who really needed them.

Read more