As a board member of the Ann Foundation and the founder of Aiki Healing, a practice of Chinese medicine focusing on stress reduction, Kay Hutchinson created for the Ann Foundation, a series of audio relaxation meditations specifically designed to empower people who have disabilities with the ability to detoxify and relax their bodies deeply, and also increase energy when faced with stress and fatigue.

Kay shared, “We wanted to give people with special needs some affordable tools to help manage stress effectively, while allowing donations, made through the purchase of the tracks, to fund our educational and health care mission programs that Ann Foundation provides to children with special needs in India, Africa and other countries.  Thus, people can access a way to improve their health and also contribute to the health of other people by funding our other programs. Everyone wins as a healing wave is created.”

“Also, when people are able to engage in positive thoughts and deepen their breath, a significant change occurs, shifting brain wave frequencies to more alpha or meditative states, and calming the adrenalin rush that usually accompanies the experience of stress and can result in panic attacks and anxiety.  Meditative breaks throughout the day can also help nourish brain chemistry to help manage physical discomfort and pain, improve mental clarity, and create calmer emotional states.  So, these audio tracks can create empowerment for anyone facing stress but especially for people who have the unique challenge of navigating life with special needs.”

To experience the deeply relaxing and energizing tracks that Kay Hutchinson has created, take a moment to visit our stress reduction page.

Kay looks forward to adding more tracks to our library and welcomes your feedback and input.  If there are certain types of meditations that you are interested in that do not exist in our audio library, let us know as Kay enjoys custom designing tracks based on the feedback from people.

Deepa Padmanabhan is an ESL Volunteer for Vellore Project. She joined the Ann foundation in 2010. During her trip to India, she had the opportunity to visit students at the IELC School for the Blind.

She recalled her interaction with the children and teachers of IELC to us with enthusiasm saying that it was a truly motivating experience. During their meeting, she was pleasantly surprised when the children welcomed her by introducing themselves in English. They spoke to her at length about their hobbies and their ambitions. Many students included learning English among their favorite activities, and some even expressed their desire to become English Professors. In fact, she says that two students from the school, Anbu and Sandini, have chosen to major in English Literature at the undergraduate level. She quotes a student who said to her, “English classes are very useful to me, they are great”. It was heartening for her to see their eagerness and motivation to learn.

The visit was also an educational experience for Deepa. The students gave a tour of the vocational training center where students learned skills like weaving and envelope-making that prepared them to join the workforce and become independent, productive citizens. A good knowledge of the English language will expand job opportunities for these young students. She gives credit to the dedicated school teachers who gave their guidance and support to ensure children develop their skills in the English language. She was moved by the respect that the children displayed to her and the other teachers. Please visit our website to learn more about IELC project.

Meeting with the children in their environment helped her understand how effective ESL classes have been for students to use the language in conversation. Deepa’s experience bolsters our commitment to the cause and provides reassurance to all our volunteers who work toward bringing a positive change in the lives of their students. We, at Ann Foundation, hope that all our volunteers get the opportunity to visit a project site and see for themselves the impact of volunteerism.

Sundarbans is located is a remote part of West Bengal with limited access to good schools and scarcity for teachers. Most of the teachers do not want to teach due to its location; however, with the power of technology, Ann Foundation opens a world of opportunities to children in the rural areas.

Nilanjana’s team started the ESL classes in July 2011. Currently with four volunteers they are teaching 50 boys and girls.

The children are attending local schools and are well behaved. They are excited about the new concept of learning via Skype. Their parents are very excited about these classes, sometimes out of curiosity they participate in the class.

In the next five years, the Sundarban team plan to set up a computer lab which will help the children in learning computer basics.

Plans are underway to improve the infrastructure so that the volunteers will be able to provide classes for an additional fifty students.

Currently, the volunteers are teaching the children conversational English. The Sundarban curriculum will continue to develop further in order to improve the children’s English in school.

There is a lot of potential in this very ambitious project. Please feel free to leave any comments and let us know what else you would like to see featured on this blog. 

* Samaj Unnayan Kendra is an NGO based in West Bengal. For more information please visit: http://www.aidprojects.org/ngos-edit.aspx?cmd=0&login=guest&id=313

Sunderbans is located on the southern tip of West Bengal, India. Sundarban has a population of over 4 million. It is the single largest source of forest produce in India. The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve has the highest tiger population in the world. The major attractions of Sundarban are the wildlife. For more information on Sunderban please visit the Sunderban project page on the Ann Foundation website.

Access to this school by the blind population of Cameroon, is through admission. Talking to the Delegate of the Bulu Blind Centre, he says admissions have already started, and is still going on. So far 20 students have been registered, and they carry on various activities. However, these are not all the blind people around that area, there are a lot more of them. Since entering into this centre means paying some fees, most of these blind kids are not able to pay and thus, cannot attend. They stay at home and help themselves with the other senses God has given them. Some go about begging in the streets, while others are condemned in their houses. They are afraid to be knocked about by passing objects, since they are not educated, to walk in the streets like those who complete from such centers.

We asked the delegate if the school would like assistance and he came up with this list:

-       JAWS Computers;

-       Perkins Braille Machines;

-       Braille Books;

-       Adopted benches

He also said “I wish our library be updated”, as most things inside there are old fashioned and dilapidated.

You’ll find pictures of the pupils of the Bulu Blind Centre, their sign post, and some parts of the institution.

• www.ubchoir.com/events (Humanitarian visit to Bulu Blind Center)

Join us as we add another potential collaboration, this time in Cameroon to do what we do best and love most, help children with disabilities!

Susan Dione Epiepang

Special correspondent, Cameroon

Here at the Ann Foundation HQ we’re very excited to unveil our new website. We have been working hard on improving our online home for a few months, and we are still making a few changes and additions, so we hope you like it.

Please visit at www.annfoundation.org

]]> http://annfoundation.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/the-new-and-improved-annfoundation-org/feed/ 0 photo gird-620_380 annfoundation Ann Foundation Web Page http://annfoundation.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/new-af-project-in-vellore-india/ http://annfoundation.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/new-af-project-in-vellore-india/#comments Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:20:56 +0000 annfoundation http://annfoundation.wordpress.com/?p=200 Read more]]> The Ann Foundation is always looking for ways to make all of your generous donations reach more people and meet the needs of more children. This time we’re doing it with a new project in Vellore, India.

Ann Foundation has already sent a trusted volunteer to Vellore, a city in southern India, to set up the infrastructure for this new project. She will soon be sending us the pictures and information from the field, which will be uploaded on the site.

We are excited to start this new centre and build on other successful English and technology courses that empower and educate young people, giving them
new chances for their futures.

Image via: World Touch 24

Currently I am pursuing a Masters Degree in Computer Science at the University of Mysore. Although I have a physical disability, I am satisfied and proud of what I am. As a scholar and a leader, I enjoy learning, helping and sharing experiences with not only my friends but with other persons with disabilities who
hold a special place in my heart and plans.

I had spoken with Ann Moideen often online, but in March of 2009, I was privileged to finally meet Ann Moideen in Bangalore city. My life dream has been to help the physically challenged and as I spoke with Ann she showed me how people under the Ann Foundation umbrella have raised their standard of living in India. She showed managerial, social, economic and religious ways and skills that have made her a flag bearer on both the local and International scene. This was the same who woman who had donated computers to an NGO in Luweereo District in Uganda.

Ann has a natural charisma and personal style that attracts others to her. She can comfort without sacrificing authority. I decided after this meeting to join hands and we now work together to help physically challenged persons. Her willingness to listen underlines the whole story and I pray to God that she
continues her work and inspire others to help persons with disabilities.

–Moses

I recently gave up a successful career in Information Technology to pursue what now seems like a lifelong passion – to work on nonprofit projects that make quality education accessible to everyone. I met Ann Moideen, head of the Ann Foundation, through the United Nations Volunteers program and was absolutely inspired by her passion, compassion, kindness and helping spirit. Her
dedication to the cause echoed my personal
sentiments.

I joined Ann Foundation and, for more than a year now, I’ve taught children how to communicate better in English at the Maheshwari School for the Blind in Belgaum, India. I feel immense satisfaction making a difference, no matter how small, in the lives of these children. Their brilliant, inquisitive minds, full of hope and dreams, inspire me.

I have Ann to thank for helping me discover this passion. She has been a beacon – an inspiration to me and to the other Ann Foundation volunteers who want to bring better education to underprivileged children.

–Alok Rai

We hope you enjoy our blog, we are currently working very hard in order to bring you new content and information on the foundation.

Please take a minute to find out HOW TO HELP.

Come back soon!

-The AF Team