Universal Language

One rainy days in KDM. Two boys from KDM just sat quietly together, silently observed a group of young boys who volunteered for art & craft activities. The volunteer boys only knew how to communicate in English while the KDM boys only speak Bahasa Indonesia. KDM boys just shook their heads every time the volunteer boys asked them questions. Then one volunteer boy broke the language barrier between them by showing an origami dragon. Things changed instantly. They started making origami things together and spoke a new kind of language that all understood: Art. 

Talula

I usually run into former students either in a mall or a Sunday service of a church. This was the first time I bumped into one of them in a volunteer event in KDM. She gave me the biggest hug ever. She was almost as tall as me. Last time I saw her, she was in grade four. She was very attentive to the little ones in art & craft activity. She used origami paper to create clothing items. I was mesmerised by a girl with a we-attitude instead of Me-attiude. I was in awe of her creativity. A very heartwarming rainy day.

It's Nuts!

What is it about performing art that gives one such a self-assurance and a can-do attitude? Two awesome ladies from Chance To Dance shared their passion and talents with KDM children. Within two and a half months I witnessed a shy and nervous child blossom into a self-confident person. She was beaming with pride when she performed in The Nutcracker. I hardly recognized her. I should have more drama and dance in life. 

Learning Muse

Fourteen years old. Lived on the street half of his life. Just start to learn to read in KDM. Never seen anyone so enthusiastic about learning something. It's like he discovers a new world. So eager and thirsty to learn more. His eyes are beaming with delight every time he is able to recognize a letter or correctly sound out letters in a word. And his smile! I'm swept by waves of smiles. It's contagious. And he isn't deterred by mistakes. He just laughs it off and tries again and again and again. When was the last time I was so passionate about learning something new?

The Giving Tree

This week in computer lab I helped my little brothers and sisters in KDM making blank notebooks and paper dolls. When I was told that these items are going to be sold in an exhibition at the end of March I thought they are doing a fundraising for themselves. It turned out that they are doing this to support a foundation for handicapped children. What a lesson in giving. I'm blessed to have plenty but I mostly give what I don't need; small change, secondhand clothing item, toys or books. KDM children don't have much but they give all they have. :'-)

What A Difference!

Lunch time. A five year old girl, a guest at KDM birthday, spoon fed by her mom while she was busy playing. She occasionally bossed her mom around to give her drink and demanded this and that. When lunch was over her mom packed things up for her. A five year old boy, lives in KDM, no parents, sat quietly in front of me and ate his meal. He asked me nicely to watch his plate while he went to get a drink. When he finished he put his plate and spoon back and threw his plastic cup in a recycle bin. I couldn't help but wonder which child is more fortunate. 

Peace!

I was uploading pictures from KDM swimming outing to my Facebook album when I noticed there were a lot of children posing with a peace sign. No matter where or what they were doing when someone took a picture most of them made the peace sign.  For someone like me who probably take peace for granted for all my life my first reaction was a little bit annoyed. What's up with the peace sign? Next time I take their pictures I'll ask them to make a new sign or pose a different way. But wait a second! Maybe for someone who has been through a lot and often can't afford peace posing a peace sign is meant to be a statement, a wish, a prayer, a reminder for others to share a little of peace of mind with them. So go ahead my little brothers & sisters. Make a peace sign. I hear you!

Colorful Birthday

What is it about drawing on a forbidden surface that makes it so exciting? Is it the fact that we normally don't draw on it or is it the fact that we are allowed to break the rule that makes it so delightful? For its 41st birthday KDM, a non profit organization for street kids in Jakarta, let guests and children painted walls of their houses. It just brought out the kid in everyone! Especially the adults. It was written all over their faces. On some face it was literally painted. I repeatedly asked the person in charge before I painted because I just couldn't believe it. Really? I'm allowed to draw on those walls? Are you sure? She just grinned and gave me a brush. I felt giddy like a kid in a candy store.

I'm @KDM Art Space

I'm speechless to see the painting by KDM children considering that they never take art classes before. I'm in awe with their colors, their whimsical lines & dancing pattern. I'm amazed at Fitrajaya Nusananta who took these kids under his wings and spread his joy of painting. I'm overjoyed Love is mine.

Love

 

Story Starter

Eight KDM boys sat in a circle. It started with "Once upon a time there lived a witch in the tallest icy mountain in the world.." Each boy gave life to the story by adding one or two sentences on each turn. First round most didn't know what to say, second round a prince, a battle, birds & dragons showed up, by third round they were unstoppable!  

{Thank you grade 3 for inspiring us with your cool comic. Can't wait to learn KidPix to illustrate the story and make a comic like yours!}
  

Art & Craft Kit

One premade blank card + left over weekly digest from IES South, a blank sketchbook, an assortments of fabrics/buttons/cut up straws/paper, a round sticker sheets & a marker. I thought it was enough to keep 18 kids under 7yr old busy at Awe Fun Day in Deutsche Internationale Schule. So much for the plan! The Art & Craft team had to compete with trees, mini hills, pirate ship, plastic house, many kind of toys on wheels, swings, mini merry go round, slides and vast grass area! A note to myself, 3 things to do when things unfold not according to plan; improvise, go with the flow and laugh.

Awe Fun Day was organized by IES South  Orphanage Ministry for 150 kids from two orphanages {Pintu Elok, PNIEL} + KDM, a non profit organization for street children. A day filled with team building games, sports, music workshop, art & craft, food and laughter. A day in which everyone's heart grew a tad larger :-)

Reckless Giving

I can not help but giving every time a street kid begging for money. I actually thought giving is better than not giving at all. Until I learn that by giving I am actually rewarding and encouraging them to stay on the street. Turn out I am part of the problem. {*sigh}

Outtitude

Give any 2-5yr old child a blank paper to draw, and most of them will fearlessly start drawing without missing a blink, completely unaware of the imperfection of their drawing. Give any 6-12yr old child a blank paper to draw, and most of them will be intimidated by the brightness & the cleanness of the paper, they will stare at the paper for quite some time, approach it cautiously and start to draw, very much aware of the imperfection of their drawing.

Take any child outside with color chalks and ask them to draw on a hard surface, they run with excitement and start drawing without missing a blink, completely embrace the imperfection of their drawing. What is it about the outdoor that boost such attitude?

Drawing by KDM children

Monster Inc

Drawing is not considered a crucial skill in most schools here in Indonesia, a typical Indonesian child would draw two mountains with a sun in the middle, a road leading right to the middle of the mountain, rice paddy on one side and a house on the other side. Because that's how they are taught to draw in school. That's how I was taught when I was small and the tradition continues. There aren't much room reserved for imagination. The best way to let imagination loose is to draw a monster! Because there is no rule in drawing monsters! ....there should not be any rule in drawing! Period! Drawing is not about how to draw, is all about how to see. 

Monsters by KDM children

The Power of One

I used to think that to make a change I need to do something big in order to make an impact. I justified my ignorant by making excuses: I don't have the capital to start & I just don't have the time. Until I read these excerpt from Rick Warren's devotional:

"You are a manager of the gifts God has given to you. They may be great or small in your eyes, but they matter to God. “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV). When God made you, he made an investment in you, and he expects a return on that investment. Are you using what He’s given you for the benefit of others to make the world a better place? Or are you just using those talents to benefit yourself?"

Last Saturday I met a photographer, a graphic designer, singers & musicians, a chef, teachers, an architect, a banker, an artist, a naval base commander who all have something in common: they share their talents to benefit street children of Jakarta. They use what they have to make a change in someone's world. Happy 40th birthday KDM!

One Fine Saturday

Never say to a child who loves to draw these instructions: to color within the line, to color things in certain color, or to draw things in a certain way. You will kill the artist in them. Let them explore lines & color in their own unique way and admire them for what they are even if you don't know what is it that they are drawing. Just say something in the line of "I like the way you draw your line", "I love your choice of color". Or use my favorite line: "Tell me about your lovely drawing". Then send those drawings and doodles my way, I'll turn them into a handmade journal, I'll capture your kid's innocence and freeze them into a handmade journal :-)

Imagine Nation

21 enthusiastic boys and 2 energetic girls from KDM shared their passion for drawing with me. Drawing is a universal language that breaks barrier between people. Every Saturday morning we speak in language of lines, shape, color, and dream. No translation required, no limitation, just us and our imagination.