Teeming with talent

It's our job as educators to help foster our students' abilities, building their confidence and positive self identities.

¿Cual es tu habilidad?

In a bid to build student confidence I adapted the lyrics of the popular song - 'Do your thing', by Basement Jaxx. In doing so I aimed to encourage our primary students to think about their talents and abilities.

No me importa lo que digan

Voy a hacer lo a mi forma

Do your thing

What is your thing?

Do your thing?

Cual es tu habilidad?

While singing this song together I ask individual students what their 'thing' is, to which they chant back their special ability. 

This proved to be a really fun and energetic way of highlighting to the kids the importance of identifying their strengths and having confidence.

The song was such a hit that now we sing it at least once a week. I added percussion instruments made from recycled bottles and rice to the mix which just adds another dynamic and gives another way that kids can get involved.

Nothing makes me happier than when we are walking together to the park of an afternoon and one of the niños starts singing this song and we break out in chorus all together.

Quote of the Day - 30 August

"Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement". - C. S. Lewis 

Could these kids be anymore gorgeous?

I was very touched yesterday when I saw what our primary school students had made for me for my Birthday. Muchas gracias xo

Healthy or not healthy? (¿saludable or no saludable?)

Education not just more protein rich food is going to help our kids kick malnutrition to the kerb.

 

Come be part of the Seeds of Hope team

We have an exciting opportunity valued up to $2260 US for 6 months - VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR. Starting October 2 or earlier. Please share this link with your family & friends.

http://www.idealist.org/view/volop/ZMkCtsnPnw8d/

Quote of the Day - 10 July

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek". - Barack Obama.

Who knew toilet rolls were so handy

Environmental Educator Tracy Sutton from the UK delivered an interactive and engaging workshop aimed at teaching our students where particular types of rubbish belong and how to responsibly dispose of waste to help make sure Huaraz is a healthy and welcoming place to live. It worked a treat!

In supporting these key messages I highlighted to students the importance of recycling and showed them how to make kazoos using toilet paper rolls.

Interactive activity developed by Tracy to teach kids where different types of rubbish belong. Photo courtsey of Tracy Sutton @tracesutton

Flash mobs make for happy little frogs

 But once the music started playing it was a completely different story, the transformation was miraculous.

The catchy tune that featured in our Flash Mob for our nutrition project was called 'Sapito' which means little frog. In the anticipation  that some of our little dancing 'sapitos' would get a little stage fright before their public debut, we whipped together some frog masks to make the whole experience a little less daunting. 

As we approached our Flash Mob location there was a chorus of 'Professora..professora, no puedo', I can't do it, I can't do it,' they said. After suggesting to put on their frog masks, they seemed a little more at ease but once the music started playing it was a completely different story, the transformation was miraculous. At the end of our performance we received a warm applause from onlookers, then to our delight the kids shouted 'oltra vece, oltra vece - again, again.' So I asked the local crowd gathered round if they wanted us to repeat the dance to which they responded 'si, si!'. So we did the dance again. Despite being quite puffed out by the end of the second time around, the kids still wanted to perform another time but we decided to pull the plug and go back to school.

Overall it was a really energising and satisfying experience. To see the children conquer their fears of performing in public, watching them have so much fun jumping and boogieing about. Definitely something I would like to repeat again in the future, next time even bigger and better.

Moving for Malnutrition

As promised after raising over $4000 US for our nutrition project, here for your viewing pleasure is our flash mob. We performed this with some of our primary school students and volunteers in Plaza De Armas, Huaraz, Peru.

With these funds we will now be able to purchase a years worth of protein rich food for our students.

Muchas gracias for all those who supported this very worthy cause, helping our students fight malnutrition - making their future that much brighter!

We hope you enjoy watching this video as much as we did making it. Disfruta!

We recommend viewing this video in 1080 HD. You can change this setting by clicking on the gear icon in the bottom right hand corner of the viewing screen. 

Quote of the Day - 21 May

"Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate." - Anonymous

Song time

There is nothing I enjoy better than having a sing song with the little niños of an afternoon.

Not only is it loads of fun but it's a great way to help the kids with their English - exposing them to new vocabulary and becoming actively engaged in learning another language.

There are plenty of complimentary games you can play as well, especially when you are teaching them songs like 'Heads, shoulders, knees and toes'. For example 'Simon says' - they really took to this game. We also had a go at a vocal orchestra where each group of kids had a different body part mentioned in 'Heads, shoulders, knees and toes'. The vocal orchestra conductor (either myself or another student) stands out the front and uses hand gestures to prompt the different groups to start/stop singing their word or sing softer or louder. This is a great activity to emphasis turn taking and give students practice at exercising self control and working together as a team.

Due to its popularity with the kids we've decided to make 'Song time' a regular event.

Move for Malnutrition - Flash mob in Plaza de Armas

Some new developments on the Flash mob front. I have managed to recruit some more volunteers to join me and on Friday we showed the kids the Flash mob dance and they are keen to join us as well. The more the merrier I say!

Quote of the Day - 12 April

"Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it" - We Bought a Zoo

Our piñata was a smash hit!

This week Seeds of Hope celebrated its 7th Birthday and in order to celebrate among other party games and food we made a Piñata. It was a smash hit! 

More photos..

Hot new merchandise just in time for fundraiser

Today I picked up our new 'Seeds of Hope' keys rings, just in time for our 'St Patrick's Day' fundraiser this Sunday. With a complimentary bottle opener these are an absolute steal for only 5 soles.

Quote of the Day - 15 March

“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.” – Les Brown

Quote of the Day - 8 March

"Take pride in how far you have come and have faith in how far you can go" - Christian Larson

We're going to raise $4000 to be sure to be sure

Next Sunday 17 March is St Patrick' Day and what better way to 'party for a cause' and get closer to our target of $4000 so we can kick start our nutrition project pronto.

California Cafe a popular establishment for foreigners here in Huaraz, has generously offered to host an afternoon of all things Irish including pin the hat on the leprechaun, Irish tunes, drinks, food and a raffle with some Irish inspired goodies.

Come and help us raise money so we can provide our 50 impoverished students with the protein rich food they need to reach their full potential.

For more info go to our facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/152193578274352/?fref=ts

HOT OFF THE PRESS - Sally to do a FLASH MOB

In my experience when fundraising you have to give donors something for their money, besides the warm fuzzy feeling of helping people. With this in mind I have decided that if we are able to raise $2,440 US I will do a flash mob yes that's right a flash mob in the middle of Plaza de Armas a very busy park in the centre of Huaraz as my poco embarrassing way of saying thankyou for your very kind and generous support. For those of you who are not familiar with flash mobs this is an impromptu performance, performed in a public place much to the surprise of onlookers. 

So if you want to see me dance around like an absolute muppet in public then kindly forward your donations to the paypal widget on the 'fight malnutrition' page