PILGRIMAGE OF GRATITUDE

Raphael Bate, President of Susila Dharma France, is planning to walk the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella in Spain, as a big thank you for his life in Subud and especially for Susila Dharma’s work in the world.
He invites anyone who feels drawn to take time out of lives so busy they may obscure the inner life. It will be a time to reflect on life in the company of other pilgrim walkers who are seeking a deeper meaning for their existence.
The journey will take about five weeks and cover five hundred miles: that is 10 miles for each year of Subud in the west.The walk may be joined for shorter periods, as we will relay news of our progress by email.I will be following the Camino France from St Jean de Pied Port in France to Pamplona and then east through Northern Spain into Galicia and Santiago de Compostella.There are hostels on the way specifically for Pilgrims.

Dates August 23 – September 31
Details of the walk may be found in: A Pilgrims Guide to the Camino de Santiago by John Brierley. Pub. Findhorn Press. For more info: http://www.csj.org.uk/

For Information contact:
Raphael Bate, La Petite Neslerie, 53540, Laubrieres, France
Tel: 0033 243 077345
Email: randhbate@googlemail.com

Here is the first SD Indonesia report on Jakarta Flood Relief. On the second phase, we have planned to make a "Clean-Up Jakarta" programs.
As you may know that thousands of residents of the Jakarta capital city began returning to their homes on this week as flood waters receded, but they faced a huge task clearing up streets and homes caked in stinking garbage and mud.
Nearly 200,000 people were suffering from flood-related illnesses. Most of the displaced suffer from diarrhoea, dengue fever, and severe respiratory problems. Fears lingered that disease could spread as people stay in cramped emergency shelters or move back into houses often lacking clean water, plumbing and power.
Survivors face the monumental task of clearing their homes of debris and mud left behind by the receding water.

Sending love to all,
Ariana Susanti

Click here to see a photo gallery by Prasetya, Executive Director YUM.

Thursday night, February 1st, the rains started… a steady downpour lasting until 3 a.m…. and by then, vast areas of Jakarta were flooded. At Wisma Subud, where Susila Dharma Indonesia and the Foundation for Noble Work (Yayasan Usaha Mulia – “YUM”) have their offices, flood waters invaded; the worst hit was Susila Dharma Indonesia at almost half a meter.
Our first thoughts were, however, not our own situation but that of our beneficiaries at our two Learning Centres (formerly called KUU Prep Schools) which are located in the slum areas of Jakarta.  At about midnight we contacted our Executive Director, Pras, to find out about the situation at out two slum areas.  Unfortunately, communications were disrupted and we only received news the following day.  Luckily, these two areas were not severely affected and we have no reports of deaths or injuries as a result of the massive flooding.  Some homes, however, have been lost, and most were/are flooded to some extent.  Amazingly, our two centres were not flooded, but only experienced some leaking roofs.  Naturally, these centres have been set up as a kind of temporary shelter – as many of our staff have also suffered and all are welcome to seek temporary refuge there.  Susila Dharma Indonesia is presently collecting information and is in contact with SDIA to assist Subud members affected by the floods.
This has been the worst flood in Jakarta history; 70% of Jakarta was under water and some parts still are.  Fifty-nine people have died so far and 340,000 are homeless as a result of these floods.  Disease outbreaks are beginning, including diarrhea, skin afflictions, respiratory problems, and influenza.
We are making an appeal to assist the flood refugees who have lost what little they owned… We feel grateful that we already have a presence in the community and are able to offer assistance as needed.  Everything is required:  drinking water, food, clothing, mattresses, blankets, and medicines:  
• $50 will buy a simple mattress, pillow, and blanket for a child
• $30 will buy fresh, dry clothing and shoes for a child
• $25 will buy water, food, and toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc) for a child for a week
• $15 will buy aspirin, antiseptics, cough syrup, or other necessary over-the-counter medications
 
Please send your funds to:
Via credit card:
Funds may be sent through credit cards via Susila Dharma International Association (SDIA):
To donate by credit card go here
SDIA accepts credit card payments as well as bank transfers, and US tax receipts are available upon request.

To send by bank transfer direct to YUM:
Yayasan Usaha Mulia                                                 
Bank Niaga,  Jakarta Fatmawati Branch                                         
Jl. RS. Fatmawati No. 20, Jakarta 12430 , Indonesia           
In the name of: Yayasan Usaha Mulia – KUU “Relief Aid”              
A/C number: 917.01.00622.00.9                                      
SWIFT code : BNIAIDJA     

YUM website: http://www.yum-irdn.org

BRINGING OUR WORK TO INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES
(January, 2007)
by Illene Pevec
The Alliance for a New Humanity invited A Child's Garden of Peace to attend their conference, The Human Forum: Faces of Courage in San Juan, Puerto Rico December 7 to 10, 2006. This organization, started by Deepak Chopra, exists to bring together people committed to social, spiritual, economic and environmental solutions to the inequities and problems that face the world today. Organizations as large as Care International and as small as us came together with people from many different countries and walks of life to share experiences and resources and the incredible natural beauty of our surroundings while we learned from one another.  
Myra and I participated in a session on the integration of inner spiritual life and community action with people like the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Rigoberta Menchu of Guatemala and Satish Kumar, founder of Schumacher College and the editor of Resurgence Magazine; a session on Participatory Design with Monica Sharma from the UN in charge of AIDS and child and maternal health in the least developed nations; and led a workshop on how to involve children in participatory planning.
Download full report