Ocean Warriors Plastic in Paradise: Distribution #1 KUKUSAN VILLAGE

We teamed up with Trash Hero Komodo to do a beach clean and distribute the first copies of Ocean Warriors Plastic in Paradise to the kids in Kukusan Village.

And it was awesome.

We gathered the kids of Kukusan Village school (where we made our 3rd library collection) to clean up the area around their school and the village coast line.  The kids do this every week with Trash Hero Komodo and love it.  It creates such a great feeling of team spirit doing this work for their community and there are always a lot of smiles and a lot of excitement!

This week the we gave all the participants of the clean up a copy of Ocean Warriors Plastic in Paradise.  We read it to the kids in both English and Indonesian and then worked with them to write down different ways they can be an Ocean Warrior. (Being a Trash Hero is one fantasic way!!!)

I must say it was quite a buzz seeing the kids reaction to the book first hand and watching them enjoy something that I helped to create.

Thank you so much for all your kids donations that make these book donations possible.  You are SO appreciated!

Distribution 14 : Kukusan Village

Today I remembered the power of a story.

I remembered what it was like to get lost in other lands as a child.

Today I saw children get lost in Neverland.

This is what it looks like to disappear into a fairy tale.

You might remember I brought 50+ books and games back from Melbourne donors in March.  Well, included in the boxes of books were 2 beautiful pop up books - one of which, the story of Peter Pan, came with SOUND.

And oh how the kids were taken in by it.

Watching them take turns to gather around the book and unfold the pictures and listen to the music was really something.  I had forgotten what it feels like to be lost like that - lost in magic.

Before passing the books out to the students we looked at them together.  When we first opened Narnia (the other pop-up book), the children actually cheered.  I wish I had video, but here is a photo of the arms going up and clapping...

While these two particular books were a stand out today the kids loved ALL the books.  Our donors once again made excellent choices of books sending a collection of learning materials, beautiful coffee table books full of colour photos that always impress the kids and gorgeously illustrated stories that the kids LOVE.

These books are such a gift.  They make an incredible difference to these kids!  Exploring these books was a treat for them this morning and they are a resource that the kids can keep coming back to.

They also make a big difference in the life of the teacher who is doing her best to give these kids opportunities with so little support.

You guys rock!  Thank you so much xxx

A Visit from Salila Expeditions

Today Kapal Salila paid us a visit at the Atlas Pearl Farm.  Hearing about the work that we have been doing in the local village the guests had asked if they could bring some donations to be taken to the school at Kukusan.

We thought it would be nice if the guests could meet the recipients of their gifts so we invited the teacher and a few of the students to visit us at the same time and receive the donations in person.

Our friends on the Salila Liveaboard brought with them hundreds of notebooks and pens and pencils and a box full of sporting equipment - rackets and frisbees and balls and skipping ropes.

The kids were thrilled to be there and be a part of it.  They laughed as they tested out the new skipping ropes and tried on hats.  They chattered excitedly as they looked through the stationary and maths kits looking forward to sharing them with the rest of the students at the school.

They waved off the visitors then found a watermelon in the garden that we cut up and ate together - more laughter and excitement and unbridled joy.

It was a most extraordinary day.  My heart fills to bursting when I experience this level of collaboration and caring.

I am so thankful to all the staff at Salila Expeditions for your ongoing support, and to your guests for offering such a beautiful contribution to our local community.

THANK YOU, WINGHAM HIGH

The kids at Wingham High School MADE BOOKS for the kids here in Flores/Komodo and in Raja Ampat.

This is my favourite #100BOOKSproject moment to date.

The daughter of one my dear friends told her Indonesian teacher about my project and the class set to work raising money.  Much to my surprise, though, the project didn’t just get a cash donation, we got a donation of books written and illustrated by the students.

I can’t even begin to express how special this gift was to the students.

When I gave the kids the books that had been made for them they imagined a class in a foreign land making them a gift.  This idea in itself was almost unimaginable for them.  

The books are written in both English and Indonesian and use simple repetitive language so they are a FANTASTIC resource for the students to learn English.

AND it has given the kids a great idea!  They too want to write and illustrate a story!  It looks like the 100BOOKSproject is taking it to the next level!  We’re making books now!!

To all the students at Wingham High, and to your most excellent teacher, a gazillion thank-yous.  

You guys ROCK!

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Book Distribution #10: Kukusan Village (with Trash Hero Komodo)

Happy New Year!!

I hope your 2018 is off to an excellent start!

January has certainly been good to us so far.

We spent the festive season with friends and family and breathed slowly into the New Year.  Last week, upon returning to the office I was thrilled to see that a package had arrived from Australia - books made by the students of Wingham High!!!  You can imagine how excited I am that the very first books this year (that will be distributed among our 4 libraries) have been made with loving care by students at home in Australia.  More about these books in a later post!

Today we caught up on last years final distribution.

(yep, the final 78 books or so were not given to the village due to a combination of holidays, bad weather and busy schedules).  But today we got out there to give the books to the students and support a Trash Hero Komodo clean up at the same time!

We sponsored the clean up by providing notebooks and pencils for the winning team, and then distributed your books and spent some time reading with the kids.

What a great morning and a great way to start 2018!

Thank you all so much for continuing to make this happen.  I look forward to bringing you more good news as the year progresses!