| Dear Subud members around the world,
We send you our last Susila Dharma eNews for 2007 with thanks for the developments during the passing year and with love and good wishes for the year ahead. It has been a very busy year for us and we thank you, dear reader, for your interest in the activities of the twenty-three national Susila Dharma organizations and fifty-three projects that make up the SD Network!
In this issue we send you:
I. Tribute to beloved Wilbert Verheyen
II. News from the Network
A. Albadi School new building nearly complete
B. Puppeteers without Borders collaborates with ICDP
C. YTS expands its program in Kalimantan
D. Five New SD Chairs!
E. Colombian Project closes its program
III. Illene Pevec's Project Journal from Brazil continues
IV. Development Resources
V. From the Office
I. Memories of Wilbert Verheyen SDIA Chairman 1983-1993
 Much loved and respected Wilbert Verheyen, who was Chairman of SDIA from 1983 to 1993 and a Board Member of the International Child Development Program (ICDP), died in England November 30, 2007 at the age of 84. Wilbert was originally from the Netherlands and was a Franciscan Friar who he worked as a missionary among the stone age Dani in the highlands of Irian Jaya (now West Papua). He joined Subud in 1971 after reading about the World Congress in Cilandak . He was given a Papal Dispensation to leave the Fransican order, but continued to devote his energies to supporting the poor and needy as a founding member of YUM (Yayasan Usaha Mulia) and continuing work for Susila Dharma. He is survived by his wife Rosanti (Suwartini) , their three children, a baby granddaughter and two adopted children .
Rukman Hundeide (Norway) writes:
Dear Wilbert...When I think back on you and on our work together in Susila Dharma and ICDP, what strikes me is your generosity of feeling, your compassion for those in need, your modesty and faith, your optimism, humour and courage. Whatever difficulties we faced you never gave in; you accepted the situation and looked for better solutions, other opportunities. You always looked for what was positive, and if anything was negative you tended to joke about it.
To read the complete letter by Rukman to Wilbert which was read at his funeral go to: http://susiladharma.org/secure/members_personal_stories.html
From Mardijah Simpson (Australia)
The first time I met Wilbert was around 1980 when we visited Cilandak with Ramdhan and our five young children. We were taken up to visit the Children's Village at Cipanas in a minibus accompanied by Wilbert. On the journey I recall he told us a story about his time as a missionary in Papua New Guinea. He said that his father had sent him a packet of cabbage seeds from Holland (a strange and exotic plant up in the Highlands, I guess) and he and the local villagers had planted them, tended them and eventually a bumper crop of cabbages had resulted. There were too many for their needs so they took them to a market and sold the surplus to other people. Then he organised a village meeting to discuss how to use the cash from their enterprise and it was agreed that this profit should go towards more joint enterprises. It is a long time since I was told the story but I think it went on that the cabbage money was the start of a whole lot more community development.
Another thing he said on that bus trip-which I always recall and which was so useful when I too started to work on community projects -- he said something to the effect that everyone thinks that lack of it money is the problem when developing social projects; but, actually, the important thing is people. You need caring and skilled people to make things happen.
II. News from the SD Network
A. Albadi School's new building nearly finished
Earlier this year The Albadi Project in Inkisi, DR Congo, found support to assist the staff and children to construct a new school. Albert Diluambanzila reports:
We were able to complete the construction of three classrooms, the office and the four toilets with septic tanks. We have not yet been able to complete the floor of the seven classrooms or the office, and the four new rooms have not yet had their walls plastered. Neither has the electricity yet been installed.
One problem we have experienced has been very the high instability if the currency during this period. The second problem has been that the new toilets require running water all the time. Our wish is to have a cistern with two chambers to gather the rainwater, which would permit us to have a reserve of water until the new season.
We send our profound thanks to SD International, SD Norway, the Blond Trust and all the donors for their support, thanks to which the Albadi children have a useful place for their studies.
http://susiladharma.org/members_africa_drcongo.html
B. Puppeteers without Borders collaborates with ICDP
Erica Sapir from Puppeteers without Borders the most recent project to join SDIA, sent us news since her trip to Norway:
My colleague Pilar and I have been to Oslo to participate the first part of the International Child Development Program (ICDP) training and it has been very good and interesting for us with possible repercussions for the future. One is that the next part of the ICDP training will be in my home in France, probably in March 2008. Another is that we shall probably join ICDP in Mozambique in April to do a workshop on puppetry for local trainers, plus a film documenting the process.
Another plan is to participate in a conference in February which is being organized in Mostar- Bosnia, called "OBJECT, PUPPET, MASK - POWERFUL MEANS OF THEATRICAL EXPRESSION". We have been invited to participate, and now we are looking for funds to enable one or two of us to go. I think we could have something valuable to share with a country that is bringing its pieces together. So, in general the future for Puppeteers without Borders looks busy and exciting!
You can read more about this project here http://www.puppeteerswithoutborders.org/
There is also a Powerpoint presentation online at: http://susiladharma.org/news_0711/marsansfron/index.html
C. Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta expands it activities in Kalimantan
Bardolf Paul, Director of Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta (YTS) writes:
One of our objectives is to promote and spread the specific approach and methodology we have developed over the last four years. We feel it has the potential for much broader application beyond the areas where we currently work in Kalimantan.
With this in mind, we recently provided our services to a small coal company working in the upper reaches of the Barito River to the east of us. The company and local government and residents were very happy with the outcome of the participatory planning work we facilitated. We would like to see more extractive companies take up this approach, because it is so well-tailored to the sector, and brings together the sector's two main local partners - communities and government, enabling the company to strengthen its relationships with both parties.
We also would like to see government use this approach to facilitate a more meaningful annual planning process with villages in their area. In our experience it is very effective in linking communities with the government planning process.
To read the latest YTS Newsletter Kabah Itah go here: http://susiladharma.org/documents/Kabar-Itah-15e-0711.pdf
D. New Susila Dharma National Chairs
SD Germany
Welcome to Romina Vianden-Prudent who was elected to be the new chair of SD Germany in October. Romina lives near Munich and has been active on the SD Germany team for some years and a very active participant at the international SD meetings. SD Germany can be contacted at: sd-germany@susiladharma.org
SD Colombia
Last month Subud Colombia had its Congress in Amanecer and Marcela Moreno stepped down after many years as Chair of SD Colombia. Many thanks Marcela for all your hard work! Welcome to Amaliah Giraldo who was tested in as the new SD Colombia Chair. Amaliah is an experienced social worker from Medellin. We look forward to meeting you at the next Annual General Meeting at Amanecer in Colombia. Amalia can be reached at: alavidaproducts@yahoo.com
SD Suriname
Susila Dharma Suriname has a new Chairman, Arvin Jimmy Misran and Committee: Vice Chair, Serena Anita Karijodirono-Kaslan, Secretary, Astrid Zehoer-Soealman, Treasurer, Karmila Clarice Abas-Martotaroeno. In Suriname, the Susila Dharma spirit is very strong! After a recent visit to Suriname, Subud Canada's Grace Hodgson writes:
Subud Suriname struck visitors from North America as being very warm, open and community-minded. They work hard on projects together--everything from building Subud houses, each sharing their particular expertise, to fasting all together for a brother or sister who needs help. They are very friendly with the local non-Subud community: the roll-back doors (like a garage) are literally left open to the street whenever they are present, and non-Subud friends and neighbours are always welcomed with open arms, whenever there is a party, or other social event. Subud is well-integrated into its surroundings. SD Suriname receives a container-load of furniture, building materials and other needed supplies from the Netherlands at the hall in Paramaribo, where it is distributed free-of-charge to community members who need things. Some of the materials have been used in the construction of the Subud hall.
Your can reach SD Suriname at: suriname@susiladharma.org
SD Spain
Luz Guerin was recently elected chair of SD Spain to replace Andrea Muñoz Barrero. Thank you for your work over the past few years Andrea and welcome Luz.
You can reach Luz at: jguerin@teleline.es
SD Netherlands
Sabariah van Beek has stepped down as chair of SD Netherlands. Thank you Sabariah for your work over the last while. The new chair of SD Netherlands has not been selected yet, but the international contact for SD Netherlands is Sabrina Castillo who can be reached at sabri_kus@yahoo.co.uk.
E. Colombian Project Closes its Program
Fundacion Semillas de Amor y Fe (FSAF) in Bucaramanga, Colombia has decided to close its educational programme for now. (This project is not to be confused with either Fundacion Amor in Soacha or the Semillitas project at Amanecer, which are both fully operational.) For more information about FSAF, please contact the office at info@susiladharma.org
III. Illene Pevec's Project Journal: Child's Garden of Peace in Brazil
In the November eNews we brought you the story of Illene Pevec working in a favela of Rio de Janeiro. This issue we follow Illene to Santo Angelo in Southern Brazil where she returns to work with the community project she started, A Child's Garden of Peace. Still working with children and environmental education, Illene is also lobbying politicians to improve the conditions for children. She has started a women's micro-enterprise making purses our of recycled pop-tops from soda cans and has put on a film festival to show the videos the children made with filmmaker Myra Margolin on her previous visit to Santo Angelo.
Illene writes about one aspect of her far reaching project:
I am in a child's heaven, the place in Brazil I can relax and simply enjoy the beauty of children playing and learning in a safe, happy, healthy environment, the half day program that the nuns of the Teresa Verzeri offer in Sao Borja, (on the border of Argentina). I want to publicly thank my friend Judy Schmidt in Canada who has made donations to help this wonderful program continue to provide year round activities for children at risk. Seeing this haven gives me great hope for the children and the future of Brazil, and UNICEF feels likewise because they have awarded this program one of the 30 best in the country.
The morning program progressed to the grade 2 vegetable garden, the grade 3 flower garden and the grade 4 medicinal plant garden. Each group shared their challenges of torrential rains and burning sun that destroyed seedlings,. Grade 3 told me they learned persistence. Grade 4, after showing me what they learned about the medicinal plants (a project I started with them last year), showed me how they play when they finish the work, climbing the mango tree, and using the huge pile of rice husks as a gymnastics safe landing place for their flips and somersaults.
The average passing rate for children in public schools in Sao Borja is 70 percent each year. They take a test in very subject every year and must pass all to move on to the next grade. The children who come here for half a day have a 96 percent passing rate. One of the little girls brought me a dandelion to make a wish, and I wished for every child in Brazil to have such a wonderful place to come and play and learn.
Read Illene's detailed and lively field reports here: http://susiladharma.org/eNews07/enews0712-cgp-journal.htm
IV. Development Resources
People send us interesting information about development from the cyber world - here are two:
A. New Booklet on e-tools for NGOs: I collaborate, e-collaborate, we collaborate
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/ict/rc/ItemDetail.do?itemId=1114991
PSO and IICD stimulate the use of e-tools for development through a publication. What e-tools do development workers use and what are their experiences and insights? This PDF booklet contains 14 stories of Dutch-based Non-Governmental Organisations...
B. One Laptop Per Child: Give 1 Get 1
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/ict/rc/ItemDetail.do?itemId=1115499
Starting November 12, One Laptop Per Child will be offering a Give 1 Get 1 Program for a brief window of time. For $399, you will be purchasing two XO laptops-one that will be sent to empower a child to learn in a developing nation, and one that will...
V. From the Office
A. SDIA has launched the third Notes from the Field
Our intention with Notes from the Field is to share the learning experiences of project practitioners associated with Susila Dharma. Issue #1 was about Indigenous Medicine in an urban slum by the Samy from the Center for Culture and Development in Madurai, India; issue #2 was on Sustainable Development in Central Kalimantan written by Bardolf Paul of YTS; issue #3 is on the work in Human Rights done by the Mithra Foundation in Bangalore, India, written by Joe Rosario.
You can read all Notes from the Field on the website here http://susiladharma.org/notesfromfield/
B. Conference in Colombia 2008
The dates for the Pan American Gathering, during which the SDIA AGM will be held, have been tentatively set for July 25th through August 5th at Amanecer. The date for our AGM has not yet been finalised, but we expect that it will on the July 30th. We are looking forward to seeing many of you there!
C. Directors Travel
Both Paloma de la Viña (Spain) and Lawrence Leetz (Holland) have spent time this fall visiting the projects in Argentina. Reports about the projects will be coming out in the spring.
D. SDIA Fundraising update
The SDIA general fundraising campaign has generated $7,200 since its launch in October. SDIA is delighted to welcome our new DOLLAR-A-DAY CLUB members; but we still have a long way to go. You can help us reach our goal of 500 people, each donating one dollar a day. A dollar a day is less than the price of a daily cup of coffee, yet it can have a huge effect for good in the world. Please JOIN THE CLUB!
Happy Hanukah, Eid Mubarak, Merry Christmas
and a Blessed New Year
to all our friends and members!
As this year full of changes comes to a close, it is a good time to reflect with gratitude about how much we have and how much we have to share.
SDI's Board, staff and volunteers wish you all many blessings in this holiday season. We thank you for your support and involvement in Susila Dharma in your groups, projects, countries and internationally. We wish you peace and continued success in 2008.
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