October 2011 Newsletter

Welcome

Welcome to the October newsletter of Centru Tbexbix.

New Beginning...

October is the month when our center becomes again full of children’s play and joy. Our regular winter afternoon programs resumed, together with two new programs.

English is Fun

Brand new volunteers Alice and Sonja took over the task of planning innovative English Club activities.
They write:
“The children continue to learn English in a fun way , for example sticking the vocabulary labels of a football field and the players on a drawn field, and acting the different roles for the children to guess. The elder children wrote letters to one of the former volunteers. They are also enjoying building a “partnership” with a German school. Giving the children a purpose for writing as well as learning by doing are more motivating than listening to the teacher.”

Art for Integration and Social Skills

Arts and craf ts activities are David's and Sonja's responsibility:
“In Arts and Crafts we started focussing on coordinating psychomotor
skills, improving creativity and reinforcing children's fant asy and
imaginatiion. Collectively we painted our happiest holiday experiences,
made magical hats as well as jack-o-lanterns.”

Teamwork, Sportsmanship... and Values

Niky, David and Sophie are in charge of Yoga, sport and games,
combining movement s, yoga, recreational and social games..
“Team spirit is also an important aspect of this program. We are
teaching yoga through drama, stories and songs, highlighting also
neohumanistic values like respect, non-harming, truthfulness
etc. …”

Still Going Strong, Three Years Later

The athletics club, conducted by professional trainer Leandros Calleja and sponsored by Woman 2000, continues. Warm ups, running round the Marsa track, long jump, high jump... the children are all excited and quite a handful! More children are asking to register for this activity and unfortunately some of them have to stay on the waiting list for the time being.

Dirty Little Fingers

Experimenting with clay is a new activity a good exercise for manual dexterity, as well as an amazing tool for strengthening our little ones’ creative potential.. Every Wednesday at 4pm, 15 children enjoy creating pots, small animals and decorations, guided by expert volunteer Arthur Taliana.

An Honorable Award

At the end of this month we inaugurated the project BIS-SENS, fo which we were awarded the President’s Award for Creativity for 2011. This is a project which combines the development of creativity in children with a focus on the social needs of the local community. The children started attending our special art class every Friday, conducted by professional artist Caroline Said Lawrence, assisted by three other volunteers, George, Damayanti and Leta. A neohumanistic theme will feature every month in a display of the children’s art installed in 4 places in Cottonera. The cost of the project, spanning over nine months, is €9000, sixty per cent of which are funded by the Office of the President.

Ha-Ha-Hello-Halloween

During the last two weeks of October our children were entertained by professional singer Deborah Harrison from USA. The children had so much fun dressing up as ghosts, zombies, etc, and learning songs and movement created by Deborah. Thank you Deborah for bringing so much fun and good energy, which even all volunteers were drawn into. Of course pumpkins featured also. Not only did Deborah donate her time and expertise, but she is also organizing a concert where she and her students will sing for the benefit of our project. (see flyer sent in a separate email)

Another Goodbye…

With the new scholastic year we had to say goodbye to our dear volunteer Corinna. We will miss her benevolent spirit and serene character. We are very grateful to her for her contributions in many different aspects of our project, including yoga, gardening, music and creativity.

She writes:
 “Wow, like most people who enter the Sunrise Centre for the first time I felt
something special about it. Bettina, one of the previous volunteers showed the place to Jana and me on our first evening in Malt a. I remember recognizing the tiny green doors from the website and “surprise!” behind it a whole small wonderful world: the pomegranate tree rich with fruit s, the ancient walls built and restored stone by stone, the yoga room, the roof under the stars, the classrooms decorated with so much fun and love of children and volunteers and this feeling of being home is floating above it all.
I spent so many happy days with the other volunteers, with Kamala and the children and during this year I grew a lot. I am remembering for example the time when Kamala was working in the school and we were alone with the kids and we managed ;-)
I’m so happy and grateful for all these little moments every day that touched my heart: another volunteer helping you plan your lessons, a smile from a child, if you see a small positive change or the yoga shoot s program that the children (and me) enjoyed so much.
The cherry on the cake for me was the Summer Club which challenged us all and which helped us all (children and volunteers) to become a team. I especially like to remember when I was making a list with the mangoes asking them to write down things that were difficult for them to live without (like friends, family,…) All of them wrote “Sunrise Centre” on their list.
I also thought it would be difficult to live without Centru Tbexbix (family) and I’m glad that everyone helped me to leave by filling my days with so many wonderful experiences, surprises and love that my supply will last until I come back to see if there is still a magic world hidden behind green doors”.

Hoping to see you again and may you have lot s of beautiful happy experiences in your future.

There are many different ways how to contribute to the success of Centru Tbexbix. Through volunteering (in classes, administration, odd jobs, maintenance), donations in kind or financially, etc. The opportunities are endless.

One way to support the efforts of Centru Tbexbix is through the "Friends of Centru Tbexbix" scheme with a small monthly contribution by standing order. Centru Tbexbix holds the following accounts: HSBC 013-085675-001 and BoV 400-1705136-1.

For more information on how you can help, call us on 21/27 805130 or send an email to tbexbix@gmail.com.

This newsletter will be coming to you every end of the month, with the intention of keeping regular contact with the growing circle of friends of Centru Tbexbix, keeping everyone informed of what is happening as well as sharing the inspiration of this blossoming community project. The intention is to keep it brief and factual. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

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