Editorial Contents:

December 2013/No. 7
Editorial
Dear readers,
We would like to thank all the active schools, teachers and pupils,
who participated in 2013 in the La Ngonpo project and helped us
to create it. In the past year we have witnessed many school and
public events. We are continuing to support the schools in their
activities and are looking forward to continued cooperation in the
year 2014.
Contents:
What happened
information about past events
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Let us know
Pleasant reading and best wishes for the La Ngonpo project,
Anna Fischerová
Events at schoolselů
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From Nepal
Chhath
Go to section
The program that has volunteers from India and Nepal involves some henna painting. In this
picture you can see the hands of pupils of an elementary school in Pečky after the workshop in
Kaprálův Mlýn.
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La Ngonpo Newsletter / No. 7
What happened
Intercultural excursion, Kaprálův Mlýn, November 7–8, 2013
The Multicultural Center prepared a day full of debates and workshops for pupils of an elementary
school in Pečky. The whole program took place at Kaprálův Mlýn, an environmental center near
Brno. This program was attended by graduating pupils who were accompanied by their teacher,
Věra Křížová. Having participated in the project La Ngonpo, Věra Křížová wanted other students to
have the opportunity to participate. The program started with a presentation in English about life
and travel possibilities in India. The pupils could try on the traditional sari, taste Masala tea, and get
painted with henna. In an eventful afternoon the pupils also saw pictures and videos depicting the
schools in Ladakh. Thanks to the presence of U.S. intern cooperating with the MCC, the students
also learned something about California and had the opportunity to practice English conversation.
The first day was closed by an intercultural experiential workshop on prejudices and stereotypes.
The following day, the students took a tour in the nearby cave, and saw the newly renovated Kapral
mill, which is a textbook example of an environmentally friendly facility. Students also interviewed
the American intern on camera. The program ended the second day after lunch and a farewell, when
the attendants set off on their way home.
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La Ngonpo Newsletter / No. 7
Lecture on the project La Ngonpo at the elementary school of Edvard Beneš, Praha-Čakovice,
November 8, 2013
As volunteers in 2012, Jiří Benda and Markéta Černá gave a lecture to eighth grade pupils about
their voluntary work, experience with the program La Ngonpo, and about the work that MCC and
La Ngonpo have done in Ladakh. They also presented photos of their partner school, Delhi Public
School Birgunj, and photos of several other schools and places in the area and in Nepal. The lecture
was then followed by a debate. Pupils were interested in particularities such as distribution of classes
to boys and girls, how long it takes to attend school, and what subjects are taught. A number of questions were related to the program itself and to the issues often associated with Nepal and India such
as poverty, religion, caste, and the role of women in society. Pupils were also interested in photos of
nature and people in Ladakh and Nepal. Some of the greatest interest was shown for the unusual
image of the desert in the Himalayas as well as for ethnic facts about Ladakhi and Nepalese.
Indian afternoon at the elementary school in Nový Rychnov, November 29, 2013
A big public event was organized by pupils from Nový Rychnov. Their families and the general public
were invited to see what the pupils learned in 2013 about India and were shown the results of the
pupil’s work from the project La Ngonpo, which took the form of student presentations and a beautiful exhibition.
Naturally, the MCC was there. Thanks to Alice Koudelková, who had volunteered in India several
times, the girls could try on a sari or get decorated with
henna. Indian culture could be enjoyed in the form of
several food dishes as well.
The children, together with their teacher, Mrs. Martina Dvořáková prepared the program very precisely.
They were in charge of leading and moderating the
whole event themselves. Their roles and tasks were
divided among the collective group. We appreciate
the pro-active approach and initiative of the school in
Nový Rychnov!
The successful event was publicized twice in the local press.
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The event was conceived by the pupils of Rychnov. The picture shows girls wearing typical dress sari.
La Ngonpo Newsletter / No. 7
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La Ngonpo Newsletter / No. 7
Doors-open day with La Ngonpo at Trivis High School, December 4, 2013
During the doors-open day, the 2nd grade students of High School Trivis prepared a programme
with Indian themes in order to highlight the school‘s participation in international projects.
Having visited Ladakh as volunteers, Alice Koudelková and Ondřej Strava told the attendants
about the way of life in Ladakh, such as the local way of alimentation, dressing, Buddhism, and about
their experience with volunteering. The students and teacher, Mrs. Blanka Novotná, all had an opportunity to try on a sari. They also painted their hands in a henna painting workshop. The students
accompanied the guests through the school and showed them the ways in which they had been
cooperating with the Indian schools. A variety of Indian dishes were prepared for the guests and a
thematic board game was created. The panel exhibition La Ngonpo was lent by the Multicultural
Center Prague for this event. Generally, the students showed a great enthusiasm and pride for being
members of the La Ngonpo project.
Global developmental education workshop at the High School in Lipník, December 9, 2013
The workshop at the High School in Lipník Called „What do I know about the GRV?“ was lead by Martina Pavlíčková, the chief of the methodologists La Ngonpo project. The workshop was very unique
considering the involvement of both graduating students and teachers. Interestingly, the opinions of
the respective groups were very similar. The participants learned about the concept of GRV and experienced one sample lesson. In the end, they got acquainted with the available topic-related learning materials. It can be said that Martina‘s leadership was consistent with the motto, Think Globally,
Act Locally.
Lecture on volunteering at the High School Trivis Prostějov, December 12, 2013
Following the successful „Indian“ workshop, there was a separate lecture about volunteer opportunities for two 4 grades classes (about 50 students) from TRIVIS high school in Prostějov. Lecturer from
the MKC, Alice Koudelková, reported to the students about opportunities for volunteers in the Czech
Republic and abroad. She illustrated her presentation with videos of her trip.
The European Voluntary Service, INEX -SDA, Youth in Action, La Ngonpo, Multicultural Centre
Prague, and Brontosaurus in the Himalayas, and other organizations were mentioned. Other opportunities for high school graduates were mentioned as well, such as au-pair stays, work and travel opportunities in the U.S., and opportunities to work on farms or by Erasmus study and freemover stays.
Schooling the world?
In December, two public projections of the critical documentary film, Schooling the World were held:
December, 4 in Brno and December, 17 in Prague. The movie deals with the topic of how the last traditional world cultures are influenced by the
modern ways of education. The film is shot
in Ladakh and shows two schools involved in
the project La Ngonpo. The objective of the
projections was to open discussion on the importance of education in the contemporary
world, especially in the field of development
and developmental cooperation. Both projections stimulated a brisk discussion. There
was strong participation among experts in
education and development cooperation,
teachers, and the general public. Due to the
significant interest in this event, this activity
will be continued in the year 2014.
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La Ngonpo Newsletter / No. 7
Let us know
Excursion to the Kaprálův Mlýn
Our trip started on Thursday, 7th November. We travelled by bus, train, tram and then on foot. For some of us
this travel wasn’t so good because of inconviently chosen
shoes (…). Alice Koudelková, who worked in India for a
few months as a volunteer, introduced us to India through
a presentation and games. Romana Vylitová showed us
a short film from the project La Ngonpo, which was shot
in India. At the end, Lucie Bilderová led us in a workshop
about how the media influences us and our opinions (…).
Our experiences will stay in our memories, articles and in
presentations. I´m sure all of us would take part in a similar
excursion again (…).
Elementary school in Pečky
M.Marková
Lecture and workshop in India and Nepal
When you work with someone on a project, it is always
good to know something about him or her. We kept this
motto in mind also in the moment, when our students
started to cooperate within the La Ngonpo with a Nepalese school. Therefore, we invited Alice Koudelková, who
had been in Nepal and India several times as a volunteer, to
tell to us and our visitors something about these countries.
Her lecture was very interesting, and the students learned
a lot of things about travelling, local food and education.
The narration was accompanied with a demonstration of
nice henna painting and the possibility to try on a sari. Everyone expressed high satisfaction and the children used
their newly-gained knowledge in the following La Ngonpo
project event.
Mgr. Svatava Hrdá
Lipník nad Bečvou – high school
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La Ngonpo Newsletter / No. 7
From Nepal
This time, we are reporting about another important feast, celebrated in a large
part of Nepal in the first half of November.
Chhath is an ancient Vedic Hindu festival dedicated to the sun god Surya and
his wife Mai Chhath, an ancient goddess
in the Vedas known as Usha. Festival of
Chhath Puja is performed in order to
thank Surya for sustaining life on earth
and to ask for the granting of certain
wishes.
The Sun, which is considered the
god of energy and of the life-force, is
worshiped during the Chhath festival to
promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and
helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders.
The rituals of the festival are observed over a period of four days and include holy bathing, fasting, abstaining from drinking water, standing in water for long periods of time and offering prayers
to the setting and rising sun.
The festival this year was celebrated from the 7th of November until the 10th of November and
is observed mostly in Northern India and Nepal, but also in Kathmandu. It is celebrated in Mauritius,
Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname or Jamaica as well.
The women wait for the Sun to appear in the 4th day of Chhath Puja. They fast for
two days and once the sun comes up on the fourth day, they break their fast.
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La Ngonpo Newsletter / No. 7
Did you know that...?
• MCC has moved. From January 2014, you can find us at the address Náplavní 1, 120 00 Praha 2
(opposite the Dancing House). Invoice address (Prokopova 9, 130 00 Praha 3) does not change.
Would you like to write us about how is La Ngonpo project implemented at your school? Didn’t you
find what you wanted in this issue? Send us a short article about the events at your school and attach a
photo! We will be happy to publish your contributions in the next issue of La Ngonpo Newsletter.contact:
[email protected]
We wish you
a dancing year 2014!