Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Durham Christmas Workshop - 2016
In 2016, the Group 3 and 4 SSE students of the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Durham (SSSCD) were pleased to put together a special Sai Christmas Workshop for the SSE children along with their parents. The objective of the team was to provide the audience with a fun Xmas experience and to raise awareness about serving the community with the motto: “Service to man is service to God”- Sai Baba.
The children had successfully put together a similar project in 2015 which was unanimously approved by the President and active members of the Centre. This project was part of their leadership learning strategy. It allowed them to practice the values they learned in class, namely: loving, giving and sharing while applying the 5Ds – dedication, devotion, discipline, discrimination and determination.
Similar to last year, they brainstormed ideas in class and effectively came with a consensus. They learned how to streamline feasible projects, to manage time and resources and to work in a team respecting different views and ideas. They planned activities that included the group two and the pre-SSE children as well.
There were more than 30 children who participated and some of the parents attended as well.
The activities consisted of collecting nonperishable goods for homeless youth at the Joanne’s House and gifts for a women’s shelter. Both are in the Durham region. For the Christmas festivities, they decorated a Christmas tree, gingerbread cookies which were backed by one SSE child; they played trivia games such as ‘pass the parcel’, ‘bomb diffuser’ which they mostly enjoyed. They participated in charades, Xmas carol singing, drawing, painting and story-telling.
It is to be noted that they did not raise any funds for these projects, but had some minor support from their parents and used their own money. The Christmas workshop was culminated by vegetarian pizza kindly offered by the President of the (SSSCD) and his wife who hosted the whole event at their house.
The laughter, joy and fun and display of talents were testimony to the success of the Xmas workshop.
The children had successfully put together a similar project in 2015 which was unanimously approved by the President and active members of the Centre. This project was part of their leadership learning strategy. It allowed them to practice the values they learned in class, namely: loving, giving and sharing while applying the 5Ds – dedication, devotion, discipline, discrimination and determination.
Similar to last year, they brainstormed ideas in class and effectively came with a consensus. They learned how to streamline feasible projects, to manage time and resources and to work in a team respecting different views and ideas. They planned activities that included the group two and the pre-SSE children as well.
There were more than 30 children who participated and some of the parents attended as well.
The activities consisted of collecting nonperishable goods for homeless youth at the Joanne’s House and gifts for a women’s shelter. Both are in the Durham region. For the Christmas festivities, they decorated a Christmas tree, gingerbread cookies which were backed by one SSE child; they played trivia games such as ‘pass the parcel’, ‘bomb diffuser’ which they mostly enjoyed. They participated in charades, Xmas carol singing, drawing, painting and story-telling.
It is to be noted that they did not raise any funds for these projects, but had some minor support from their parents and used their own money. The Christmas workshop was culminated by vegetarian pizza kindly offered by the President of the (SSSCD) and his wife who hosted the whole event at their house.
The laughter, joy and fun and display of talents were testimony to the success of the Xmas workshop.
SRI SATHYA SAI BABA CENTRE OF DURHAM AND DURHAM TAMIL ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN DIWALI - 2016
The joint celebration of Diwali and Halloween by the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Durham (SSSBSD) and Durham Tamil Association(DTA) took place on October 30, 2016 in the auditorium of the Pickering Public Library whose vision is to “connect residents to build a community”.
The aim of the joint venture is to build a strong community for today’s children in the Durham region and for generations to come. This event allowed the children, parents and guests to connect, to share knowledge and to have fun. More than 50 children from ages 5 to 12 from both Durham (SSSBSD) and (DTA) participated in these celebrations. They came all dressed up in their favourite Halloween costumes; took part in games, painting of earthen lamps, also called ‘diya’. Lighting of the ‘diyas’ is a key to Diwali.
It was a joy to see the children from both groups mingling and enjoying themselves as if they knew each other from a long time. Besides, the occasion allowed the participants to take an active role in multicultural programs that reflect the Canadian social and cultural fabric.
Canada, being a multicultural country, encourages its citizens to take pride in their ancestry. Both Diwali and Halloween festivals originated from different cultures from various parts of the world. While Diwali originated from an ancient Indian cultural heritage to celebrate good over evil, Halloween originated from ancient Celtic tradition to honour the dead.
This joint venture by both the (SSSBSD) and the (DTA) successfully achieved a common vision of unifying and building communities. They look forward to working together on similar projects with shared values.
The aim of the joint venture is to build a strong community for today’s children in the Durham region and for generations to come. This event allowed the children, parents and guests to connect, to share knowledge and to have fun. More than 50 children from ages 5 to 12 from both Durham (SSSBSD) and (DTA) participated in these celebrations. They came all dressed up in their favourite Halloween costumes; took part in games, painting of earthen lamps, also called ‘diya’. Lighting of the ‘diyas’ is a key to Diwali.
It was a joy to see the children from both groups mingling and enjoying themselves as if they knew each other from a long time. Besides, the occasion allowed the participants to take an active role in multicultural programs that reflect the Canadian social and cultural fabric.
Canada, being a multicultural country, encourages its citizens to take pride in their ancestry. Both Diwali and Halloween festivals originated from different cultures from various parts of the world. While Diwali originated from an ancient Indian cultural heritage to celebrate good over evil, Halloween originated from ancient Celtic tradition to honour the dead.
This joint venture by both the (SSSBSD) and the (DTA) successfully achieved a common vision of unifying and building communities. They look forward to working together on similar projects with shared values.
