The Jongieux house ...

I have never been particularly attached to material things ... and especially houses, unless there  are eventually some strong memories or special moments associated to them. This might therefore be the most probable reason as to why I have grown attached to the Jongieux house.

Foto taken on the 1st January 2011

Tributes are to be paid to humans, but because I will unfortunately not be able to continue using its premises and moving freely about it as I have in the last six years, I feel I need to praise its "characteristics" for future record.

I have known it throughout the inclemency of all sorts of meteorological conditions, and there it stood always proud, whether surrounded by centimetres of snow or embellished by rose buds and little yellow wild flowers.

It harboured a few of my  most intense feelings and witnessed many of my intimate moments, having always been discreet about  them.

Some of my best cooking moments were experienced in it and I almost felt that it did (passively) enjoy the  "creative" flavours, which literally took over the whole rooms as I  pationately strolled round the kitchen.

Photo taken on the 2nd  September 2010

I had never imagined that I would have to do without it as part of  my life and a "home" to come to, when being in France, but I  do believe that the next house, though naturally different, will be as equally friendly, allowing me to establish the same sort of "relationship" I developed with the Jongieux house ... the house I will remember ... forever.

Annecy lake ... or the beauty in the eye of every beholder ...

Annecy lake has this kind of harmonious beauty that draws our attention and virtually takes our breath away, irrespective of which season of the year it is.

I remember having visited it for the first time  five years ago during Spring and being overwhelmed by its images, but the ones taken on the first day of the year have had a similar effect on me.

Being the second largest in France, it is also known as Europe's cleanest lake. It is said to have been formed about 18,000 years ago following the melting of large alpine glaciers, but no encyclopedia has accounted for its beauty, and although it is often said that being a subjective "experience" is't but in the eye of the beholder, how many (if any) would not be touched by the incomparable "beauty" of these images?...

Under the perspective of my past experiences as a child ...

I would lie if I were to say that I have not been influenced by my past experiences as a child in regards to the way I organise my workshops for the children of Calheta.

Having been to Escola João de Deus kindergarten in Figueira da Foz strongly influenced me artistically and although I left at the age of six I still remember when we used to fold those strongly vibrant coloured fine square papers into beautiful origami figures ...  to paint some tiny glazed tiles (all of which my mother has proudly kept all these years) ... or  even to sculpt amazing figures out of clay ... or ...  or still ... (I can go on forever) ...

We were assigned projects of upgrading degrees of dificulty ... and in no time would be doing things which seemed almost impossible to be successful and thoroughly done by 4 and 5 year olds ... 

The enthusiasm I used to grab the pencils with ... brushes or whatever was needed to bring to life those incredibly beautiful "pieces of Art" is the same enthusiasm I have seen in the children's eyes, as I open boxes with lifeless sketches they have to colour, cover with coloured sand or even stitch tiny shining stones onto ...

I have got to know the taste ... the artistic skills and even the "mood"  of every child I have been working with in Cape Verde for the last two years ... I feel I  almost instinctively know how to encourage them to bring to life their "pieces of Art"  (the ones they now have hanging on the walls of their relativelly small houses ... as if to brighten up the dullness of their daily rotines) ...

Jardim escola João de Deus, Figueira da Foz (December 2010)

I have virtually become a fan of DJECO ... they have just about everything I need to make those children happy, whilst doing their artistic projects ... and then there is always something the African children can relate to, be it the designs themselves or even their bright colours ...

The material I'll be taking with me for the next "Arts and Crafts" project in March is almost exclusivelly Djeco ... and so are the puzzles.

I can't ignore the fact that  I sometimes wish I could go be a child again and do a few of these (though I must confess I have done one sand picture, just to get to know how the whole thing worked) ...

DJECO material bought for the forthcoming "Arts and Crafts" project in Calheta, Cape Verde.

I am really looking forward to going to Calheta, where there will be a significantly bigger number of children attending the workshop this time ... but I feel confident  that by the end of those six days, we will all have created beauty ... the beauty that goes beyond the one the eyes can see ...

The happiness behind a gesture ...

I have just been sent a few photos from Calheta, which (needless to say) convey the happiness of four families who were given some second-hand clothes that had been collected amongst some of  my colleagues and later sent by postal parcel to Cape Verde. 

Benedita holding the postal package (Left) and opening it together with her daughter Djamila (Right).

Little Aniza holding two "new dresses" (Left). Nha Francisca and Nelsinha (her great grand daughter) wearing the "new" blouses (Right).





Benedita and her daughter wearing the "new" blouses.



Benedita's two sons, Vivi  (Left) and Mito (Right) holding and wearing their "new" T-shirts and hats respectively.

 



Nate (Left) and her daughter Lou (Right) wearing the "new" clothes.

How a little gesture can turn some of people's moments into "moments of happiness" ...

The solidarity gestures that came from France ...

I  am touched  by the latest events and must  therefore confess I  now know I had  the privilege of meeting some very special people whilst recently travelling to Turkey with Christian (Marie Helène and Noelle). Christian I knew I could count on to help me out with the project of Cape Verde, (as he always has in the past) but these new "trip companions" I shared some of my experiences in Africa with, have now come forward with additional contributions. 

I have today received a postal pack  from Marie Helène with 6 thoroughly sellected games and puzzles for the children of Calheta (each of them allowing them to further develop a wide variety of skills, amongst which are quick thinking,  reasoning and association of ideas).

The postal parcel (Left) and its contents (Right).










Noelle has also let me know today that she wants to pay for the schol fees of one of the children of Calheta, as well as anything that child might need, and because so far there has been no definite decision as to whether Erica will be "looked after" by Sandra's mother I have decided that the best solution is to have Noele become Erica's "godmother". These are the things I have taken the liberty to buy  and sellect for her, trusting Noelle will agree with my choice.

A two piece outfit (a striped shirt and blue trousers), a book to colour and put stickers on, a decorated pencil, as well as a soft toy cat provided by the Gymn and a little bag provided by Cristina Igreja (Left) for Erica (Right).








May they be blessed (... I am sure they will).

Christmas presents for the children of Calheta ... (cont.)

Some more presents have been handed out to me for the children of Calheta. The book on pirates with stickers for Eduardo is adequate enough for him, taking into account the fact that Cape Verde was several times invaded by these "predators".

Maria João, his "godmother" will be sending money as well (in accordance with a previous agreement), to pay for his new uniform (which has already been bought) and for his gymn outfit and half of the second-hand bicycle to be bought locally (which I will pay half of).

Lurdes has bought (for her "protegée" Diva) a two piece outfit (a pair of violet colour trousers and a colourful T-shirt); a  vanilla scented baby doll; a reading book with stickers; a decorated pencil and a small pencil case.

One of Eduardo's presents (Left). Diva's presents (Right).














 

The shipping of the three cardboard boxes to Calheta ... or gestures of solidarity (still) ...

The three cardboard boxes with second-hand clothes and toys have been "shipped" today, because of the generosity of someone, whom the children of Calheta will  be forever thankful to.

The storing of the boxes at the company warehouse prior to being shipped.

This has come to me as a relief, not only because I know these clothes will be adequate and fairly distributed to those who need the most, but also because after a few futile attempts at shipping them off, I finally came across a "special" person who helped me out, without expecting anything in return.

Because genuine solidarity gestures are becoming rare, I would like to mention two sisters-in-law residing in Moscavide (Manuela Reduto and Cristina Marques) who having heard there was an 11 year old girl in need of urgent support (Artemisa), joined forces to help her  in what I would consider one of the promptest responses I have ever seen. This little girl has now got herself two "godmothers".


Salomé had been wanting a "protegé" for a few days, but the moment she saw the photo of a particular little boy in need, fell for his tender look and  also in a very prompt way decided to become his "godmother".

Salomé (Right) and "her" little boy (Left).











Marie Helène (the "godmother" of Joceline Elena) having known that most of the games and Art material I use with the children of Calheta are from Djeco (a French Company), bought me a few  children' s games ... and I have today been told they are already coming my way (sent by postal service from France).

As if the the "Christmas" presents I have received lately (in all of these solidarity gestures) were not enough, yesterday night, as I and Carla (Rosana's "godmother") were training at the gymn, the "coach trainers" having collected a few bags of games and toys to hand out to schools and associations, decided to hand me out two of those for the children of Calheta.

We could barely hold them, let alone walk to my place carrying them, but in a further generous gesture one of the coach trainers (Claudia) drove by and offered to help us.


What can I say?...
... I am touched by this sequence of "gestures" ... , but  above all I am immensely grateful ...