Storybook

Lyrics to an Original Composition!
by Isabel Villar
Manila, Philippines

You and me will never have chemistry, maybe just a tragedy, knowing this is killing me.

I, don't know what to say, cause you're to far away

But i want you to stay, cause the pain won't go away.

Cause we're just people in a storybook you took what you wanted.

Now i'm stranded on page 10..when will i reach the end?

all i want is a hand to hold someone to love, no it's never enough.

You're too far away, i'd get on a jetplane to fly to your page

The author, wrote another story when you left the book.

Yeah, i've reached the end but i've lost a friend.

You're not in...any of the pages, all i see are faces, unfamiliar.

(chorus)

Where are you?! I'm here all alone... with no hand to hold..

I've read the end.. It said...

There's a next chapter, and that's where i'll find my happily ever after.

My first CISV camp

It all started during the last few weeks of school. I was online in facebook when suddenly a friend of mine messaged me and said that I should join this camp called Camp Fiesta. As I  was opening the Infopack i suddenly felt the need to go to the camp. Haha! I know it sounds desperate but hey, kids just wanna have fun! Anyways, I ran to my parents, and asked them if I could go. At first they thought it was a bad idea because they thought I wouldn't be able to take care of myself which was kind of true. Hehe! But eventually after days of nagging and convincing, they finally said yes. The day after, that I got an email from one of the facilitators that there were no more slots for kids. I was sad of course cause I really wanted to go.

A few days passed and I totally forgot about it, then suddenly my phone rang and I got an email. My face brightened up as I read the message saying that there was room for a few more kids! I was the happiest person in the world. I was jumping up and down my bed, and yes, I fell off. So school was over and I began crossing out the days left before Camp fiesta. After days and days of waiting it finally came! I was all packed up and ready to go.  When I to the waiting station I noticed all the other bags were small compared to mine. Then I felt embarrassed cause it looked like I packed clothes good enough for me to move out! So them I said my goodbyes to my mother and I boarded the bus. At first I sat alone because I didn't know anyone there. Minutes passed then suddenly the girls beside me start telling their friend to accompany me. I must thank them for that because if it weren't for them I would have died of boredom on the bus. We shared jokes and smiles and random stories to keep us busy. We finally arrive at this beautiful resort and I was so excited, it's like I wanted to run around and do cartwheels even if I had no idea how to. We had a lot of activities on the first day and I was able to meet a lot of new friends and believe me it was hard trying to memorize their names. As recall there were four of us girls with almost the same name but eventually I was able to remember all.


 I loved all the activities but the one I loved most was Dead bodies. It was probably the funniest of them all.  My favorite part of the day would probably be the Lullabies because hearing the sound of everyone's voices singing in harmony gave me butterflies. Hehe! On the third day, we had a fiesta! It was a blast! It was probably the most fun i've had in a long time. Of all the days, this was my favorite because it made me realize something. After I singing for the talent show, I was given many compliments for my voice. But in the past, I was told differently. That's why I'd like to thank my camp mates and facilitators because they taught me to reach for my dream and never give up until I've finally got a hold of it. Because of them I continued something I thought I'd never be able to do. Because of them I believed in myself. That someone like me can be Someone and do Something. Thank you guys, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

On the last day, it was quite sad because we knew we had to part ways and go back to our daily lives. I'll admit I even cried. Not because I was sad, but because I was happy  and thankful it happened. It was a pleasure being a part of Camp Fiesta. I was able to meet new friends and it changed my way of thinking and it changed me as a person. It changed me for the better. Camp Fiesta truly was the best four days of my life. Believe me when I say I'd give anything to have it back, for words cannot describe the joy this camp has given me.  

- Isabel Villar
Manila, Philippines 

Not-so-mini camp

When my sister first asked me if I wanted to try a CISV minicamp ( Camp Kaleidoscope) , I said “sure, why not.” Little did I know that I was part of an amazing experience that I would never forget.

The fun immediately started in the bus on the way to the camp venue. There were many activities in store for us, campers, in the beach resort where it was held. All the games and activities were fun filled, plus I learned a lesson after. I really enjoyed the energizers. But asides from all the planned activities the parts I enjoyed the most were the free times where I met new people and just hung out with them, played cards and swam in the beach. The late night talks with my roommates were also unforgettable memories. CISV really opened my eyes to new ideas and game new insights on different people. This camp also gave me a whole new bunch of friends that I will never forget.


I really hope that more people have a chance to get to join this camp cause it will surely make them grow and be more open.

-   Paulo Deluria
Manila, Philippines

Auckland second minicamp

JB Auckland just had its second mini camp for the year. We had lots of new younger members join the junior branch, they fit in seamlessly and had a great time. This minicamp was all about Sustainable Development. Our activities a great forum for the junior branch to learn about and discuss Sustainable Development. Overall the minicamp was a great success and a great time was had by all.


- Rowan Presland
Auckland, Australia

Camp Fiesta!

Camp Fiesta was held in the beach from April 28- May 1. It was for 11-13 year old kids and the theme was THE PHILIPPINES!! This was because we wanted to educate our youths about the Filipino culture. The camp was filled with filipino games like "Agawan Buko" which means "Fight for the Coconut". This was a very very physical game because the kids would ram into each other and try to score by inserting the buko into the center of a wheel. Although no matter how rough it got it was still a game we all loved to play! On the last night we had a "Fiesta" which means "Feast or Festival" We all ate with our hands on a banana leaf and stuffed our bellies to the max.Then we played filipino party games and had a talent show to end the night.

Although the camp was only three days the kids all started to cry when it was time to say good bye which was a sign that as staffers we did good! :)

The opposing teams disturb each other during the blanket game

Cassidy makes a run for it in an intense game of "Agawan buko" The kids play ha-hi-ho!

A group presents their own advertisement for the Philippines

Having fun with a game of Pinoy Henyo whilst eating lunch

The kids run around the beach, rushing to win the game of Chaos

A chair takes the weight of 6 people in the card game.

Ate Enia, Kuya Joaquin, Lyla, and Cassidy eat dinner the traditional filipino way; on a large banana leaf and with their hands, or "Kamayan".

Bela hits the palayok which is a filipino pinata!

The last lullabies session of camp, on the shore

- Patrick Casabuena & Enia Mapa
Manila, Philippines

CISV Vietnam's Game day

Updates from Vietnam! 

On Sunday, 13^th May 2012, JBVN successfully organised an event called ‘Game Day’, a day for all Vietnamese JBers and leaders to enjoy truly unique and fascinating games that they had experienced when they were kids. It was also for the newbies to get the best chance getting to learn about CISV and JB.

At first, we had Name games followed by a few cooperation games. After lunch came the best part of the day: we absolutely blew them off with various exciting games such as Mini Banana, Blinking game, Honey I love you and even Card game.

In addition, we had a CISV 101 section in the late afternoon, which targeted the newbies and their parents. Besides the familiar presentation of our NJR and Mr. Huynh Mui, the CISV Vietnam President, we also set booths for international delegations around the hall, in which they displayed what they had exchanged during the camp and shared their experiences as well.

Seeing the smiles on our JBers' faces, we believed that ‘Game Day’ had left them with many memories and unforgettable moments.

The dragon’s tail game

- Pham Hoang Minh & Le Khanh Chi
Vietnam

APJB Challenges, EJB Answers!

EJB has responded to our challenge! Now let's wait for ARM :)

Camp S.O.S

Updates from JB Bacolod, Philippines!

(Sam Banas, Joash Agustin, Axa Yao ,Danielle De Asis Millanes , and Cocoy Feliciano.)

Well we've just finished our first 'JB-ran' Mini-camp! Well there was one adult.. But ONLY ONE! The camp was tiring, it was filled with sleepless nights, hard-work and lots of mosquito bites. But thankfully we survived! Though merv had to be rushed to the hospital due to dengue scare.

Our theme was S.O.S. and we had medical training here in camp. So if you have an emergency.... Don't call us, Call 161. we'd probably screw things up, the heart-saver licenses are just for show.

- Sam Banas 

Bacolod, Philippines

Sustainable Development: A Cultural Perspective

Sustainable Development by definition means:  “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future generation”.[1] But each country and culture can derive a sub- meaning according to their point of view.

Is Sustainable development just being aware about our surroundings? Does it include helping the poor in our country? Is it saving economic or environmental resources?  These are the numerous questions that bombard everyone’s head when you talk or think about sustainable development.

In our houses if we do not clean the house daily, the house will become a mess and as a result health and hygiene may suffer. To sustain our houses, we need to keep it clean just as our atmosphere which needs to be clean and carbon free, this would help reduce the scenario for global warming and other natural disasters. The same concept is also helpful in relationships, we cannot take anyone for granted otherwise that relationship will not sustain. We have to nurture it and allow it to grow and to blossom just as we have start nurturing Mother Nature before it starts withering away.

In India Sustainable Development is a very important issue that is being spoken and written about, with the rapid development and globalization taking place in the cities and big towns, the villages are being left behind and find it difficult to cope up with the fast growing pace of development. In villages with the old customs, rituals and ideologies it is difficult to persuade the villagers to leave their old notions about modernization and hence to convince them to imbibe new ideas and come to par with the ongoing development of the country and to take it in their stride and improve their life style for the betterment of the economy and country. Due to large disparity it is very difficult in India to spread the word about Sustainable Development; this is also due to the lack of education in the rural areas.  India has made and is making a lot attempts to become sustainable in its own ways, by launching different schemes that would cut down on using certain resources. Solar and wind energy is being developed in India in the rural areas as well as the urban areas so that we can cut down on the use of thermal and other non-renewable energy resources. 

Therefore, we see that in India there is a progress taking place to improve the lives of the people, as well as make this development sustainable and beneficial to the future generation.  In my view sustainability and consistency go hand in hand; growth, development, relationships, atmosphere; we need to work for it. We need to keep on preserving. Only then we can maintain the balance and harmony of life and the world.

---

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development#cite_note-0

Hindu translation :

"विकास है कि भावी पीढ़ी की जरूरतों को समझौता किए बिना वर्तमान की आवश्यकताओं को पूरा: परिभाषा द्वारा सतत विकास का मतलब है. लेकिन हर देश और संस्कृति के अपने दृष्टिकोण के अनुसार एक अर्थ उप प्राप्त कर सकते हैं.

सतत विकास है बस जा रहा है अपने आसपास के बारे में पता है? क्या यह हमारे देश में गरीबों की मदद करने में शामिल हैं? क्या यह आर्थिक या पर्यावरण संसाधनों को बचाने? ये कई सवाल हैं कि बौछार हर किसी के सिर जब आप बात करते हैं या लगता है कि सतत विकास के बारे में.

अगर हम घर दैनिक साफ नहीं है कि हमारे घरों में, घर में एक गड़बड़ हो जाते हैं और एक परिणाम के स्वास्थ्य और स्वच्छता के रूप में भुगतना सकता है. हमारे घरों को बनाए रखने के लिए, हम रखने के लिए यह बस के रूप में हमारे वातावरण की जरूरत है जो साफ और कार्बन मुक्त साफ करने की जरूरत है, यह ग्लोबल वार्मिंग और अन्य प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के लिए परिदृश्य को कम करने में मदद मिलेगी. उसी अवधारणा को भी उपयोगी है रिश्तों हम किसी को नहीं लेने के लिए अन्यथा दी है कि रिश्ते को बनाए नहीं रख सकते हैं, हम इसे पोषण करते हैं और यह और खिलना करने के लिए विकसित करने के लिए बस के रूप में हम माँ प्रकृति के पोषण शुरू होने से पहले यह कुम्हलाते शुरू होता है की अनुमति है.

भारत में सतत विकास के साथ तेजी से विकास और शहरों और बड़े शहरों में जगह लेने के भूमंडलीकरण एक बहुत महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दा है कि बात की जा रही है और के बारे में लिखा है, गांवों के पीछे छोड़ दिया जाता है और यह तेजी से बढ़ गति के साथ निपटने के लिए मुश्किल लगता है विकास के. पुराने सीमा शुल्क, रस्में और विचारधाराओं के साथ गांवों में यह मुश्किल है के लिए ग्रामीणों को मनाने के लिए आधुनिकीकरण के बारे में अपने पुराने विचार को छोड़ और इसलिए उन्हें मनाने के लिए नए विचारों को आत्मसात करने और देश के चल रहे विकास के साथ बराबर करने के लिए आते हैं और यह अपने में ले प्रगति और उनकी अर्थव्यवस्था और देश की बेहतरी के लिए जीवन शैली में सुधार. बड़ी असमानता के कारण भारत में बहुत मुश्किल है के लिए सतत विकास के बारे में इस शब्द का प्रसार, यह भी ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में शिक्षा की कमी के कारण है. भारत बना है और एक बहुत कुछ करने के लिए अपने स्वयं के तरीके में स्थायी विभिन्न योजनाओं है कि नीचे कुछ संसाधनों का उपयोग कर में कटौती शुरू करने से, हो प्रयास. सौर और पवन ऊर्जा के रूप में अच्छी तरह से ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में शहरी क्षेत्रों में भारत में विकसित किया जा रहा है इतना है कि हम नीचे थर्मल और अन्य गैर नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा संसाधनों के उपयोग में कटौती कर सकते हैं.

इसलिए, हम देखते हैं कि भारत में प्रगति जगह लेने के लोगों के जीवन में सुधार लाने के लिए, के रूप में के रूप में अच्छी तरह से इस विकास टिकाऊ और भावी पीढ़ी के लिए फायदेमंद है. मेरे विचार में स्थिरता और निरंतरता में हाथ में हाथ जाना, विकास, विकास, संबंधों वातावरण,, हम इसके लिए काम करने की जरूरत है. हम संरक्षण पर रखने की जरूरत है. केवल तभी हम जीवन और दुनिया की शेष सद्भाव बनाए रख सकते हैं.

- Dhvani Kothari
NJR - India