Beauty and Blessing Silent Photography Auction

The 2010 Beauty and Blessing Silent Photography Auction is now open.  

Do YOU need a new piece of art for your wall?

We have things for all shoppers and all budgets!  

Where:     SFS Coffee Shop (although it may move venues from time to time ... watch this space ...)

When:      March 2nd - 19th

ALL proceeds will go to support Dongdaewon Care Centre in North Korea.

Here is just a sample of the fabulous work on auction (glass does not photograph too well, so they look even better in life!).  You can double click the image to see it larger ...  

 Johan Greyvensteyn

Sarah Carpenter

Pam Wright

Jeane Frasse

John Hill

Contributing artists include, Pam Wright, John Hill, Johan Greyvensteyn, Jeane Frasse and Sarah Carpenter.  We thank them for their generosity in donating their work to make this happen. 

This auction is now closed.  We made just over 1 million won for Dongdaewon.  Wow.  Thanks for making this happen.  Please pay Ms. Walker and collect your art asap.  Enjoy your beautiful new art.

Reflections on NK - Day 3 & 4 - Meeting the Dongdaewon Patients & MDR TB

Yesterday we went to Sadong. The care centre here is for patients who have multiple drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). Each patient has customised medication and one box with 6 months treatment for one patient costs about the same as a whole sanitariums DOTs medication for the year. Eugene Bell are seeing more and more cases of MDR TB each time they come in and Stephen is really concerned about it.

The day was a production line of gathering patient data - height, weight, sputum samples. We were expecting about 100 patients and were shocked when around 300 turned up. These people are desperate to get onto one of the treatment programs. For many of them, it is their best chance at life. Patients already in treatment were trucked in from around the provinces as it is easier to do them all in a few central locations as opposed to going to each centre. Current patients were presented with their medication and the winter warmer package (which consisted of a warm coat, long johns, socks etc). It was so beautiful to see faces light up with smiles and joy ... and when the medication was presented ... hope.

The magic moment of the day was meeting the Dongdaewon patients who had come over for testing. Someone told me they had arrived and I turned to look for them. Before I saw them, they saw me. I heard someone say the school and teacher in Korean and when I turned to see, I saw a queue of patient people ... their faces breaking into smiles ... eyes intense as they bowed towards me and said "thankyou, thankyou" in Korean. What a humbling thing ... I know that I was honored to stand as a representative of our community and see the fruit of their efforts and hard work in the faces of patients who were living. This past two years we have provided medication for three MDR patients in addition to the resupply kit for Dongdaewon. Two of these patients are now testing negative for TB.

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Today we went out to a very small care centre in a very rural area near the foothills of the mountains.  We had several hours of driving through hills, rice terraces, multiple villages and checkpoints.  If you do not have the right paper work, you cannot travel around in the country.  

The landscape is beautiful, rolling hills and completely uncluttered.  Still gray and hazy, but not pollution.  The harvest was gathered about a month ago so everything looks bare and denuded.  I imagine when the new rice comes in, it must look beautiful.

As we drove we saw many people working in work parties ... stooped old ladies bent double at the waist carrying huge bundles of sticks on their backs ... bullock carts with wheels made of beaten metal, fastened by rope and wood ...

Driving from village to village we saw old women carrying balanced water buckets hanging from either side of a cross beam strapped to their back.  Many of the houses were whitewashed with Korean style eaves and roof ... stacked around or used for fencing were what looked like dried corn plants (stalks and leaves) gathered in large clumps. In many of the towns that we drove through, the corn lay in golden carpets, drying on the roadside.  People were raking and bagging it.  Everywhere I looked there seemed to be bok choi type cabbages drying outside the houses ...

There are a few vehicles on the roads, but not many of them are modern.  We saw many trucks broken down on the road, with people under the hoods working on repairs.  Fields were being plowed, mostly by bullock.  They wear a wooden yoke with wooden traces.  We saw the occasional tractor, but they look to be very old.  Eugene Bell provide small chinese tractors to different care centres to assist them in patient nutrition.

The director and his staff were very kind and the patients were lovely.  We saw some really sad sad cases today.  One man who could barely sit up without help.  Our team doctor examined him and said things weren't looking good.  He was so skinny and his breathing so laboured.  TB is such a cruel disease.  I am constantly impacted by the hope I see in people's eyes when Eugene Bell come in.  The directors, staff and patients are genuinely warm, welcoming and appreciative.  Sometimes, we forget that under all the politics there are real people ... normal people like you and I.  Human beings fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of their creator.  People with a right to kindness and dignity. 

I was really impressed with the greenhouse at this care centre.  In the middle of the freezing cold, they were still growing greens in it and were heating it ondol style ...

One of the saddest things at this care centre was seeing the graves at the back. All those bumps in the picture are the graves of patients and staff who have died.

All in all a good day ... each day we are out, I see more and more the importance of the work Eugene Bell do, and the vital difference they are making in the lives of people up here.  Bono once said, "where you live, should no longer determine IF you live".  We with much, have a responsibility to those with nothing.  Because we can do something, we must.

Dongdaewon School of Photography Launches

This year we are excited to launch the Dongdaewon School of Photography! What's it all about? Click the play button above and check it out!

If you have ever wanted to develop your photographic eye, learn about the settings on your digital camera and capture the magic you see in the world around you ... this is for you!

This is for anyone with any type of digital camera. It is not a class aimed at professionals ... it's for anyone who is keen to better their skills and knowledge.

Check out the video and see Edline for the brochure to sign up TODAY. Please send your payment and registration details to Stephanie Batley in the British School.

Classes start March 8th.
Places are limited.

Cost 50,000 won per workshop (2 nights) or 160,000 won for all 4!

Dongdaewon Fundraising - Week One

Wow!  SFS.  You are amazing.  We are off to a fantastic start.  This week we had Hearts To Serve.  Psalms did an awesome job on singing the New Day theme ... they rocked it out!   Remember that it's all about people.  Why do we do this?  Because our neighbours to the North are people like you and I.  People who love ... people who hope ... people who dream of a new day.  If you did not get a chance to check out the photos outside the cafeteria, they will start rotating in divisions next week.  Take the time to stop and meet some of the people that you help!  Their stories are on the boards.

Okay ... what is happening around school?

T-Shirts
T-Shirt sales are off to a fantastic start in Elementary and British School.  Come on MS and HS ... we have one especially designed for you ... great color, awesome design ... and only 10,000 won!  What a bargain, you not only get an awesome shirt ... you save a life in the process ...  You can download the form on Edline.

Shamograms
Shamogram sales have begun!  Share the luck of the Irish with a friend or two.  The Sham O’ Gram includes a delicious chocolate treat and a personalized message from YOU! Please use the green coupons (brought home on Thursday 18 February by the students, available from Homeroom teachers. Candy has been generously donated by NESTLE Korea – thank you!

Lets visit the divisions and see what is happening ...

British School

BS had an amazingly successful fair last week.  They raised over 5 million won.  1 million of this came from makeup sales of product donated by Estee Lauder.  Many thanks go to the generous donors of goods and food and of course the awesome shopping skills of BS students!  Way to go team ... you are inspirational!

Coming Up ... Soak the teacher!  Who are YOU voting for?!?  Get those votes in ...

Elementary School

Coins For A Cause

Are you sick of all those coins that weigh down your wallet?!?!  Want to find a great use for them ...?

Spare change can go a long way to make a difference in the life of our neighbors in North Korea. Coins for a Cause is a way to empower children to learn about helping others and that their small donations can make a difference. For the next four weeks the children are being encouraged to collect coins to donate to Dongdaewon TB Care Center in North Korea. Each week their coins will be sorted and weighed. Last year we raised over 2 million won and we hope that we can inspire our students to raise more this year through their coin collecting. Lighten your load ... and make someone else's lighter as well ...

Middle School

T-Shirt Style

Lets get going ... what can you do with your tshirt ... buy it ... style it ... customise it and then wear it!  See your teacher about order forms or visit Edline and get yours today!  Watch for T-Shirt days in the MS.

Hair Today ... Gone Tomorrow ...

Have you seen the makeover shows on TV and thought, "I can do that?"  Well ... now you can! Mr Hill is looking for a hair makeover ...

Mr. Hill is looking for a brave Middle School student to give him his next hair cut! Any MS student may submit a proposal (forms available from Mr. Hill) and the top three will get voted on by donations of 100 and 500 won coins. The haircut idea that gets the most money wins and the student who had the idea gets to style Mr. Hill’s hair on March 11. All proceeds go, of course, to the Dongdaewon TB Care Center.

The Art of The i-pod

Want to spice up your art or computer lessons?  You can ... bring in your ipod and pay just 1000 won per class per day. Who would have thought listening to music would save lives ... Wicked!

High School

T-Shirt Style!
Lets get going ... what can you do with your tshirt ... buy it ... style it ... customise it and then wear it! See your teacher about order forms or visit Edline and get yours today!

IB Theatre One
IB Theatre One raised 300,000 won towards Dongdaewon with their drama perfomances this week.  Awesome ...

Coming up ... Empty Bowls

SFS Community
Watch this space ... for these things coming to you ...

Dongdaewon Cooking School
It was a raging success amongst the faculty community last year.  It was so good we thought we would open it to the SFS community... we have some exciting classes coming but are still needing a couple more people to offer classes.  You don't need to be Gordon Ramsey or Jamie Oliver, you just need to know how to cook.  We would love a couple more ethnic classes ... maybe Thai, or Middle Eastern ... or Korean ... let Ms Carpenter or Ms Swanson in the Elementary School know if you could help us out. 

Dongdaewon Photography School
Do you always have the dial on your camera set to green?  Are you wondering what all the other little pictures on it are for?  Are you keen to get those great travel shots of people and scenery, but what you get is not what you see in your mind?  Next week we will be launching the Dongdaewon Photography School with a fantastic range of guest lecturers who are skilled, passionate photographers and keen to share their expertese with you... watch this space!


Auctions
Dongdaewon Quilt
One of our formal parents has handmade a stunning quilt for Dongdaewon, which we will be auctioning off from next week.  More details and pics coming ...

Dongdaewon Art Gallery
This year we will have our own art gallery with some stunning pieces by local photographers up for auction.  Looking for a special piece of art for that space on your wall?  You won't want to miss this.

 
So as you can see, we have a lot going on ... lots of opportunities for you to be involved in creating a new day for those at Dongdaewon ... stay tuned!

Images from the North ... Day 1 and 2

What to say?  A myriad of images and impressions.  We stopped at the children's hospital yesterday.  I scared a little boy ... he took one look at me looking at him and started screaming! 

We saw a brave 10 year old girl who is not yet testing negative for TB.    She has had 6 months of treatment and they think she is drug resistant.  Things are pretty hard for her ... in her face, as she spoke, I saw a quiet courage and determination ...

I saw several mothers with their children.  I simply can't imagine how they feel holding loved children, knowing that there is little available to assist. 

Nurses and doctors are very caring.  They often put their own lives at risk working in TB centers.  Our American doctor was saying that the TB vaccination is not very effective.  It's old medical technology and doesn't offer a lot of protection any more.

The hospital was interesting. The rooms were long and skinny, slept 6 patients, had no lights and had very little heat.  Patients were wrapped under layers and layers of quilts.  It was so cold that my breath came in clouds. The laboratory was very simple.  Some traditional equipment and then lots of glass bottles and tiny spoons ...

I found this visit to the children's hospital quite difficult.  As a teacher, each day I go to work, surrounded by children who full of energy and health ... hope and wholeness.  If they get sick, they have access to doctors, medicine, warmth and food.  Maybe they curl up in bed or on a sofa and watch a DVD ... read a book and sleep.  For the children in NK, they lie huddled under their quilts, desperately sick, with very little available to alleviate the misery.  Like our children, these children are loved, their parents do all they can, the staff do all they can ... it's just they have so little available to help.  I am seeing how important the work of Eugene Bell is.  They bring hope and medicine and integrity to monitor what they provide and ensure it is used effectively.

Other images from the day ... the roads around Pyongyang are lined with trees, but the hillsides are completely denuded.  Roads are wide and straight, but out of the city they break up ... ruts ... potholes ... makes for a bumpy ride.  We however, have a ride.  The majority of the people I see are walking ... many with handcarts ... there is the occasional bike and an occasional car and truck ... bullock carts abound, pulled by shaggy red bullocks.  Many women carry loads on their heads.

Colors ... khaki ... brown ... beige ... navy ... black, punctuated by a splash of red or pink.

Today was about -8 C.  While at the warehouses I watched a group of ladies weaving thatching ...  They crouched low, next to a big pile of straw.  People grabbed handfuls and beat it ... handing it on to the weavers ... they placed it down on 2 central threads which ran along the ground and then they whipped the threads back and forth ... no pictures allowed!

The GDP here is about $1200 USD a year.  The average worker is more likely to earn $1.00 a day.  One of our team works in poor nations in Africa and says what he saw today would compare ...

Dongdaewon 2010 - A New Day!

Welcome to the Dongdaewon blog.  We are just about to launch into our 5 week intensive campaign to raise funds for Dongdaewon (our care centre that we support through Eugene Bell Foundation in North Korea).  This year our campaign runs from February 16th - March 19th.  We are aiming to raise funds for a 6 month resupply kit.  Each division has a goal of 3,875,000 won.  During the past few years, thanks to the hard work and incredible generosity of our community, we have been able to raise enough funds for a whole years resupply kit!  Now that truly is ... Unity in Action!

So ... what is this blog all about?  It's basically a one stop shop for all you could want to know about our care centre and the fundraising we do to give patients "a new day".  Bookmark us and visit regularly because there will be lots to see.  If you are curious about North Korea, check out Miss Carpenter's photos and impressions.  If you would like to see how we have made a difference at Dongdaewon Care centre click here.  Feel free to use the comments section to ask questions and share your thoughts.  

Why should you come back?  Well ... we will be providing regular updates throughout our fundraising campaign ... Ms Carpenter is going to open her journal and share things she noticed on her trip up North ... and there will be plenty of great pictures!  The best way to not miss any of the action, is to click the "become a follower" link at the top (you need a google account for this) or subscribe with the link to the left.

Do you have your t-shirt yet?  This year we have two fantastic shirts. designed by Hanna and Miyoung in Grade 12.  We would love to see as many as possible at the Hearts to Serve Assemblies on February 17th.  Download the form from Edline and get yours now!

Okay ... that should get you started ... until next week when the fun begins ...

Ms C and the Dongdaewon Committee