Working as a Volunteer

As this part of the amazing journey comes to an end [today], I want to explain to you all briefly what I have been doing as a Volunteer Project Manager for Lalita Shivaram Ubhayaker Foundation for the Arts, where I was very happy:

Ashvasan Foundation (senior citizen welfare) - http://www.ashvasan.org/

• Conception and management of innovative projects; • Fund-raising; • Reporting, optimization and participation in current projects; • Update and management of website and newsletter.

Smriti-Nandan Cultural Centre (art & culture centre and auditorium) - http://www.smritinandan.org/

• Event conception and management; • Communication design and management; • Technical assistance for programming.

22nd Devnandan Ubhayaker Young Music Festival - http://www.smritinandan.org/dusu.html

• Communication design and management; • Merchandising and media management; • Backstage assistance.

Check some pictures below. :)

I am leaving to Thailand today.
I am wishing all of you a lot of peace, faith, tolerance, health, love, ineer and outer discovery, realization, happiness, positive thinking and worthy investment in 2009.

Latest news from the heart

MY CHOICE!

My Choice! has been a life-time experience. Actually building something from scratch especially a social responsible initiative is a great feeling, sharing it with people you love and admire even greater. But then seing the happiness in the children, the actual impact you had on their awareness, the ammount of lives that you touched, the social momentum that you created together with friends just because you'll believed, faught and dedicated... is something out of this world.

Right now we're preparing winning children's trips and the passing of the contents for a company who wants to take our project all over India to as many schools as possible. How incredible is that?

CONCLUSION from 6 months of VOLUNTEER work with Seniors, Art & Culture and Children: IT IS VERY SIMPLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU GENUINELY WANT. It's not a matter of time, but of commitment and belief.

DANCE

Getting back to dancing and teaching was great. I rediscovered my passion for teaching, while the passion for dance was never forgotten. I had decided to leave that part of my professional life aside during this experience, but I guess when you really love something and when that thing and those partaking in it love You in It, it just chases you wherever you go. And that is good. Because WHEN DANCING THAT'S WHEN I FEEL MORE MYSELF.

* By the way: should there be something like I and MYSELF? I am working on this sense of oneness with myself and with all that is.

COUNT-DOWN

The feeling of count-down is in me as my internship is about to finish, my dance classes, my immersion in My Choice!, my basing in Bangalore and with my best friends and myself leaving.

With my Thailand trip coming, meeting Johan in 10 days, Christmas away from family, packing having started, spiritual and natural experiences ahead of me, antecipation of separation from the daily sharing with my new Indian family, strong decisions to be made in face of India's unstable situation, more and more trips being planned and an increasing feeling of SENSE IN LIFE, I am nostalgic about what's about to end but also excited about the new stage about to start.

I am sure to be in the right path and happy to have my parents' support, as always, in whatever I decide. I love you, mãe and pai, for that and for all.

After Mumbai Attacks

AFTER MUMBAI ATTACKS

... shock, sadness, revolt agains those responsible and those in charge...

AND THE LIFE OF THE COUNTRY, AND MINE... CHANGING.

I was going to teach for the biggest Festival here - Bangalore Habba (check the last line of the poster above). It just got cancelled.

THIS WAS THEIR LETTER to the artists:

At the outset, on behalf of the Artistes' Foundation for the Arts (AFFA), we would like to thank you for your support towards Bengaluru Habba.

The Government of Karnataka – the prime stakeholder of the property - has taken a decision in the cabinet to postpone the event due to security reasons. As the Bengaluru Habba is spread over numerous venues and public spaces over a span of 18 days, with a potential audience of over 7 lakh people, we felt that our prime responsibility was to ensure the safety of our audiences.

AFFA, Airtel and the Government of Karnataka have thus decided to unanimously postpone the Bengaluru Habba. We will let you know the probable dates and schedule of events soon.

We hope that you would understand the situation and that we look forward to associating with you in the years to come. Please accept our humblest apologies for any inconvenience caused to you.

Thank you.