Γράμμα από το Ramana's Garden, Tapovan, Rishikesh

Αγαπητοί φίλοι, οικογένεια και συνάδελφοι,


Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ για τη συμβολή σας σε αυτό το πρότζεκτ!

Είμαι στην ευχάριστη θέση να σας ανακοινώσω, ότι το έργο έχει βρει σπίτι εδώ και ένα μήνα περίπου σε ένα 'σπίτι για παιδιά' στο Tapovan, Rishikesh. Λέγεται Ramana's Garden Children's Home και παρέχει σπίτι, τροφή και εκπαίδευση σε περισσότερα από 60 παιδιά, που βρέθηκαν/ βρίσκονταν σε κίνδυνο. Προσφέρει ακόμα, δωρεάν εκπαίδευση σε περισσότερους από 130 μαθητές από τοπικές, μη-προνομιούχες οικογένειες. Διαβάστε περισσότερα για αυτό το καταπληκτικό έργο στη σελίδα τους. Kέρδισε την καρδιά μου με την πρώτη ματιά, ίσως θα συμβεί το ίδιο και σε εσάς. Yπάρχουν τόσοι πολλοί τρόποι που μπορείτε να φανείτε χρήσιμοι σ' αυτούς! http://sayyesnow.org/about/ramanas-garden-chilrens-home/

Το πρότζεκτ είναι ανοιχτό σε όλα τα παιδιά, εθελοντές και μέλη του προσωπικού του Ramana's Garden, που θέλουν να συμμετάσχουν. Υπάρχουν τρεις ομάδες και τέσσερεις ένα-προς-ένα συνεδρίες, από αγόρια και κορίτσια μεταξύ 7 και 19 ετών, που τρέχουν σε εβδομαδιαία βάση. Διανύουμε τώρα την πέμπτη εβδομάδα συνεδριών, και θα συνεχίσουμε μέχρι τα μέσα Μαΐου, όπου και το σχολείο κλείνει. Τα παιδιά τότε για να αποφύγουν την ανυπόφορη ζεστή μετακομίζουν περαιτέρω σε υψόμετρο στα Ιμαλάια στο καλοκαιρινό σπίτι του Ramana's Garden.

H δραματοθεραπεία εδώ επικεντρώνεται στην παροχή ενός μη επικριτικού, αποδεκτικού, ασφαλούς και εμπιστευτικού χώρου όπου οι συμμετέχοντες μπορούν να εκφράσουν μέσω δημιουργικων τρόπων, τα συναισθήματα και τις σκέψεις τους, να χαλαρώσουν από ανησυχίες και άγχος, καλλιεργώντας αυτο - εκτίμηση και επικτίνοντας τις δυνατοτήτες τους για προσωπική ανάπτυξη. Μέχρι τώρα, τα παιδιά φαίνεται να απολαμβάνουν το χρόνο και το χώρο αυτό, όπου συνεχίζουν να έρχονται και να εκφράζονται δημιουργικά, τόσο με λεκτικούς όσο και με μη λεκτικους τρόπους. Αυτό που είναι πολύ πολύτιμο είναι πως εχει δημιουργηθεί μια συνέχεια στις συνεδρίες μας και rapport, με αποτέλεσμα να βαθαίνει η θεραπευτική σχέση και διαδικασία.

Βιώνω μια πολύ ιδιαίτερη εμπειρία ζώντας στην Ινδία αυτούς τους μήνες. Tο ταξίδι αυτό μου έστειλε υπέροχους ανθρώπους στον δρόμο μου (από την προετοιμασία και μέχρι τώρα). Είσαστε όλοι μέρος αυτού του ταξιδιού. Κάποιους συνάντησα σε αυτό το συγκεκριμένο 'σπίτι' και κάποιοι άλλοι με έφεραν σε αυτό (ακόμα κι αν δεν το ξέρουν). Αυτό που έμαθα μέχρι τώρα είναι πως όταν απαντάς στο 'κάλεσμα', η ζωή κυλάει με ευκολία. Θα ήθελα να εκφράσω την ευγνωμοσύνη μου στο Ramana's Garden, γιατί είναι το μέρος στο οποίο αυτό το πρότζεκτ υλοποιείται.

Θα ήθελα επίσης να ευχαριστήσω την όμορφη Aditi Prakash από «Pure Ghee Collections», η οποία χορήγησε σε αυτό το έργο διάφορα κομμάτια υφάσματος σε υπέροχα χρώματα, προσφέροντας με αυτόν τον τρόπο ένα υποστηρικτικό στήριγμα για απεριόριστες ώρες παιχνιδιού! Στο «Pure Ghee Collections» της Aditi, το οποίο βρίσκεται στο Ayanagar Village Δελχί, μπορείτε να βρείτε όμορφες, μοναδικές τσάντες και αξεσουάρ που είναι μοντέρνα αλλά διατηρούν ταυτόχρονα ινδικό χαρακτήρα. Ρίξτε μια ματιά εδώ! Puregheedesigns.blogspot.com

Τέλος, ένα τεράστιο ευχαριστώ στους αγαπημένους μου φίλους, Vidya και Ruda, και τα υπέροχα μέλη της οικογένειάς τους: Mona, Prableen, Diya και Vidyun για τη θερμή φιλοξενία τους και για την παροχή βοήθειας με τόσους πολλούς τρόπους!

Σας ευχαριστώ όλους και πάλι τόσο πολύ και θα είμαι μαζί σας με περισσότερες ενημερώσεις!

Σας παρακαλώ να συνεχίσετε να υποστηρίζετε το έργο αυτό, προωθώντας το και σε άλλους που μπορεί να ενδιαφέρονται να το υποστηρίξουν.

Συζητάμε την επιστροφή του πρότζεκτ το φθινόπωρο στο Ramana's Garden. Συνάδελφοι δραματοθεραπευτές είναι επίσης ευπρόσδεκτοι να έρθουν μαζί μου ώστε να βοηθήσουν στην εγκαθίδρυση της δραματοθεραπείας ως τακτική πρακτική στο Ramana's!


Κωνστάντζα Μανιατοπούλου
(Satdeep Kaur)


PS: Η σύνδεση με το διαδίκτυο είναι εξαιρετικά υποτονική εδώ, γι 'αυτό παρακαλώ αναμένετε για περισσότερες ενημερώσεις...

Letter from Ramana's Garden in Tapovan, Rishikesh

Dear friends, family and colleagues,

Thank you so much for your input in this project!

I am glad to announce to you, that the project have found home about a month ago at a children's home in Tapovan, Rishikesh. It is called Ramana's Garden Children's Home and provides home, food and education to over 60 - at risk - children, as well as free education to over 130 students from local underprivileged families. Please check this amazing project out. It won my heart from the first glimpse, it might do the same with yours and there are so many ways you can be of use for them!http://sayyesnow.org/about/ramanas-garden-chilrens-home/

The practice is open to all the children, volunteers and staff members of Ramana's Garden. There are three groups and four one-to-one sessions running on a weekly basis. Attendants are both girls and boys between 7 and 19 years old. We are now on our fifth week of the project, and the service will carry on until mid May, when the school closes. The kids then will escape the heat by moving further up to the Himalayas in another Ramana's Garden home.

Dramatherapy here focuses in providing a non-judgmental, accepting, safe and confidential space for individuals to express through a creative way, feelings & thoughts, release from stress, nurturing self - esteem and expanding potential for growth. The kids seem to enjoy having this time and space, where they can express creatively in both verbal and non-verbal ways, and they keep coming back for it. What is very precious to have been established is consistency of the sessions and rapport.

It has been a very special experience being in India so far, with all the wonderful people I have met. They are all part of this journey. Many of them I met at this particular home or have in some way parts of linking me with it (even if they do not consciously know it). When you answer your 'calling', life just flows. I would like to express my gratitude to Ramana's project for being such an inspiring place to channel this dream into realisation.

I would also to thank the beautiful Aditi Prakash from 'Pure Ghee Collections', who has donated to this project several pieces of cloth in wonderful colours, offering in this way a supportive prop for unlimited hours of play and movement!

In Aditi's 'Pure Ghee Collections', which is located in Delhi's Ayanagar Village, you can find beautiful and unique bags and accessorises that are modern and yet pure Indian. Check them out here!: puregheedesigns.blogspot.com

Finally, a massive THANK YOU to my dear friends, Vidya and Ruda, and their wonderful family members: Mona, Prableen, Diya and Vidyun for their warm hospitality, and for helping out in so many ways!

Thank you again so much and I will be back to you with more updates!

Please continue to support this project by clicking on the Donate link on the right side, or promote it to others that might be willing to support it. We are discussing on resuming it in Autumn! Other dramatherapists are also welcome to join me into helping in establishing this as a regular practice at Ramana's!

Konstantza Maniatopoulou
(Satdeep Kaur)

P.S: Internet connection is exceptionally sluggish here, so please bare with me when it comes to updates...

What is Sesame Dramatherapy then?

Namaste dear ones!

You probably already know what dramatherapy is about. 

However you might not know what 'Sesame' dramatherapy is...

This video is meant to answer your questions about it!

'Open Sesame' to your hearts and minds!

'Open Sesame' to your inner treasures, your right for happiness and for reaching your full potential!

Love to all,
Konstantza

Little by little...a dream takes a physical form

Dear friends,

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU who have supported this project so far! The collection of material has grown because of your support!!! Along with things I got from London, now on the magic parachute of dramatherapy, lay local fairytales I got from Yodakin. (Such a nice book shop in Hauz Khas, New Delhi!)

Apart from these fairytales, the props include: Finger paints, colour pencils and markers, watercolours, Saga cards and themed postcards, finger-puppets, papers to draw and paint on, and a couple of percussions-rattles!

What needs to be added to complete this collection is some meters of white fabric to paint on, a few more percussions or simple music instruments, and a few mono-coloured pieces of cloth for supporting role-play & enactment of stories!

I am anticipating meeting all the children and starting the sessions very soon now!

Love and Light to you All!
Konstantza

Sesame Dramatherapy in India

Dear friends, 

I have a dream. To volunteer as a dramatherapist in India with women and children! Between March and June 2013, I will be working with children and women, in a series of short-term dramatherapy interventions in schools and organisations in New Delhi or RIshikesh.

What is Dramatherapy? Dramatherapy is a psychological therapy focusing on the therapeutic aspects of drama and theatre. Drama, storytelling, play, voice and movement encourage self-expression, build self-esteem, improve our well-being and empower people.

Why am I asking for your support? The idea is to work with children and women in underprivileged areas of India, free of charge and with as many people as possible, without restricting the quality standards of practice. Small organisations usually have limited funding and often do not have the budget to cover a volunteer placement. 

This is where you can help make a difference! Using this website, please donate as much or as little you feel like. Money raised here will be used for buying materials & props, printing, transport, accommodation, food, venue & interpreters fees if needed.

Even a small amount can make a difference! Please refer to the Reward Levels on the side for more information on how the money are being utilised!

Thank you in advance for supporting this soulful project! I will be keeping you updated here about the progress of this project and the positive effects of your giving!

Yours sincerely, 

Konstantza Maniatopoulou 
HCPC-Registered Dramatherapist 
Assistant Psychologist (MBPsS) 

For more information check here: http://www.gofundme.com/Dramatherapy-India
or click on the right hand side to support this project!

The Dream...

As Sesame dramatherapy itself, everything started with a dream. A dream of the energy of receiving and giving flowing freely.

On a summer day in Greece, I was watching the waterfall endlessly falling into the river. At that moment, at that place, in this blissful and peaceful moment, I felt the energy of the waterfall flowing freely inside... Cleansing whatever was stuck there and revealing to me a new way of living.
My life in London was lacking flow. I was feeling rather drowned in it. I decided I can do no less than opening into flow. I have received so many things, I have learned so much from this world - and yes, there is another million of things to experience, but I had to start giving much more than what I was to balance this. A feeling of tremendous urge to let myself, the skills, experiences and the human being I am to be of service for other people conquered every other desire I had.

Sure, there are many ways one can be of service. I chose to do it through dramatherapy; through opening a space for people to come and be with however they are, however they are feeling and whatever their circumstances are. When one is not judged or pushed to change, when one is welcomed to just be, when one feels safe to let go off any mask, one can acknowledge, become aware, accept, respect and begin to love who they are - one's all facets and their True Self. This is the space where with empathy and love, one can heal old traumas and find ways to restore their well-being and let their self-development. A space for nurturing self-esteem, encouraging self-expression and allowing aspirations to blossom.


Why India?
For the past two years, I have been sharing a flat in London with two Indians. This is when I started building a craving for visiting their country. I was invited, but knew that a week or two would be such a little time to really experience this culture. This is why I have decided to plan a volunteer project here and come here for a longer period of time.


Why volunteering?
I want to work for free with women and children in India, cause I know dramatherapy is not widely available there. On the contrary, it is rather rare. Witnessing people open up and flourish through connecting with their own self and others is really precious. I know dramatherapy can be a great way to support that, so why not offer that?


Why not volunteering in the UK then?
Last Spring, I volunteered with a UK-based charity for women and children who are survivors of domestic violence. Being a registered health professional and volunteering for a wide-period of time can raise great issues in these times. A manager once told me: 'Why ever employ someone if I can get it for free?' Although disappointed to hear this, I do see their point.

Let's be realistic, with massive cuts to Welfare, Health and Social Care, the smooth functionality of this country depends greatly on its volunteers. However, we witness volunteering, a selfless service to the community transforming into an exploitation of people, who have found themselves unemployed, but are trying to get more competitive with extra work experience or keep themselves professionally active. This is why I do not wish to continue volunteering for long periods of time as a professional in this country.

I truly however still believe in the spirit and joy of volunteering. This is why I have chosen India.

Or in Greece?
Greece is my first home and is indeed in crisis. Similarly with the UK, the exploitation of the workforce is tremendous at the moment and I do not wish to worsen this with volunteering. However, I would love to run a voluntary or low cost project there at some point in the future.


Disclaimers:

-I do not judge and thus I do not have the desire or attempt in anyway to change people. Change is something that might happen to us naturally if and when it is needed. It usually takes place when we have found old values, habits and situations to fail us. My focus is on acceptance and on opening a space for others to feel safe into their living experience and being able to express freely, without being judged. From this experience, positive change can be supported.

-I do not claim to heal people. I believe in the self-regulating process of the psyche. Healing is something that happens to one by their own selves and on its own time when they are open to it. In the physical body, a wound takes time to be restored by both body and mind's reaction. The application of a treatment can support a healing process by altering the time that it takes, it's effectiveness etc. I find that doctors, therapists and healers of all sorts may support a healing process, but are never in the full power of it; the individual is.

-I do not have the belief that I am better than anyone else and I refuse to sell myself in such ways. Definitely not for the sake of keeping the rules of competitive and dividing societies who continue to value people depending on their age, gender, religion, financial status, race, cast or any other way. On the same time, I neither have the belief that I am worse than anyone else. With this realisation, I witness my fears melting one on top of the other, shuttering barriers, and allowing opening myself to the world.