Thinking day at any world centre must be a pretty cool experience, but I'm glad I was able to experience it at Sangam in particular. World thinking day was actually Feb 22, but since that was a Sunday, the Bharat Scouts and Guides held their celebrations on the 21. Sangam played a significant role in the event, Donna garlanded the photo of Lord and Lady Baden Powel, and did a speech. As well, there were participants here for the thinking day program, so they planned activities to be done with the guide and scout troops. Myself and Muriel (Lindsay was sick) attended as well, and got to jump in on some of the activities. We joined a guide group and had a lot of fun playing games and teaching them this weaving thing. The actual ceremony itself was also very nice. There was even a marching band! (to my delight..)

On actual World thinking Day (Sunday) We had a candlelit evening ceremony in the Thinking day courtyard at Sangam. The local guides came to help, and of course, the participants were there. There was a song, and a poem, and some little speechy things. We garlanded the portraits again (the garlands are still hanging on the portraits). There was a lot of messages sent to Sangam with thinking day messages, so they hung them from the branches of the tree in the middle of the courtyard. Overall, it was lovely. And the biggest thinking day treat? We ticked out for supper that night and made our own - chicken nuggets and REAL whipped potatoes. They were really good. lol.

Last week, on our wednesday "cultural activity" we went to visit one of Sangams community partners - Ishwari - and a place called Anand Gram. Ishwari is a school and home for young women learning skills such as cooking, craft, needlepoint, etc. They even have a nursing program. It was really nice to check it out. It's a fair distance out of town, so it was very quiet and peaceful.

Afterwards, on the way back to Sangam we visited Anand Gram which is a community for Leprosy patients (/people cured of leprosy). It was originally established as a place for treatment, and a place to live once cured. They would all work in the fields, or the kitchen, or the mill, or making shoes, etc... Now, since Leprosy is almost eradicated, it's mostly a home for the elderly people and their families who have lived there for a long time. They are mostly too old to work now, so instead they're taken care of by staff. There was a school established on site back in the day for the children of the patients, and it has been recognised by the government, and now takes registrations from outside Anand Gram, even having a residence for students to come and live there.

You can check out photos here: Click Me!!!!

Today, we only had work for a half day and then we went to the Mobile Creche office to have lunch with the head and the supervisors. It was wierd because our first day we went to visit the office, and when we walked in it felt like we had been there yesterday - not two months ago. It's so hard to believe that we only have 2.5 weeks left in the creche and then the last week and then that's it! The last week, we're having the kids from our creche's come to visit Sangam to go swimming, play games, etc. Should be fun!

There's also more creche photos here: Click Me!!!

And now I'm off to bed! I'll update next time i have interesting things to talk about!!! lol

Holly