This year we like to support people in Zimbabwe. The country has been deteriorated in the 28 years regime under Robert Mugabe and brought about massive suffering to its population. Read more further down.
On Sunday the 8th of February 2009 Heather George organised two workshops at River Bourne Health Club in Chertsey, Surrey with four other teachers: Garry Freer, Brenda Twigger, Alex Imbastari and Becky Lennox. 55 people took part and others made donations, which raised over £600.
We joined yoga teachers and schools all over the world donating their time and space to a two hour yoga session devoted to human rights. The classes were held from 11AM - 1PM, local time in each time zone, which lead to 24 hours of continuous yoga practice around the world.
This year World Yoga Day is supporting people in Zimbabwe. The country has deteriorated in the 28 years regime under Robert Mugabe and brought about massive suffering to its population.WYD 2009 efforts will be awarded to the people living in the Matshiya Community, a rural based community of Lupane District in Matebeleland North Province of Zimbabwe. It has a population of about 19,500 people staying in 1,080 households in 5 villages. The money will be used directly for the people living in the Matshiya Community to improve their lives.
As for WYD 2008 and more recently a class on behalf of the CRISIS charity for the homeless, Frank Bennett, Studio Coordinator at River Bourne Health Club offered us their two studios for the event. Adam Spinks from the Café Bar organized refreshments which raised extra money.
I provided an introduction to the day explaining the background to the situation in Zimbabwe and the specific initiative that money raised would go to support. Then two teachers shared the class in each studio. Garry and Brenda taught a dynamic flow yoga class whilst Alex and Becky taught a gentle Hatha yoga one. In each, one taught the warm up, sun salutations and standing postures. This was followed by the other teacher with seated postures, balances, twists and relaxation. We supported each other by adjusting students as necessary. After the classes we all joined in the lounge to relax over coffee and nibbles and share our experiences. Everyone agreed it was worth doing again.
I would like to thank the generosity of all who took part or donated money; the staff of River Bourne Health Club for their time and support; Garry, Brenda, Alex and Becky for their inspirational teaching and generosity, Linda Lowe and my partner Tony Davis for helping with the organisation and Frank & Adam for their belief and enthusiastic help.
Heather George,
Yoga & Pilates teacher and Life Coach based in Surrey
The World Yoga Day in Yogacenter Ganesha, Vienna, Austria was very successful! Inspired by the leading motto for the World Yoga Day "all styles – all nations – all people" we extended the offer of the Yogacenter for the 8th of February and tried to integrate the 4 main paths of Yoga (Bhakti: Yoga of devotion, Karma: Yoga of selfless action, Jnana: Yoga of knowledge and wisdom and Raja Yoga: the king path - physical and mental control also known as Ashtanga Yoga):
09.30 - 11.00 Chanting Mantras, Meditation (Bhakti Yoga & Jnana Yoga) - 30 Yogis joined
11.00 - 13.00 Ashtanga Yoga led class with Boris and Nadja (Ashtanga Yoga) - 33 Yogis joined
13.00 - 15.00 Yoga Acrobatics - Also suitable for beginners! - 18 Yogis joined
And where is the Karma Yoga part? The whole event was for all of us on act of Karma Yoga! We offered this day, our yoga practice and the collected donations for the human rights in Zimbabwe. It was so nice to see all of the Yogis joining this very special event and I really didn't expect that so much will respond.
This day will remain special for us also because one of our Yogateachers Veronika get her daughter RONJA in the evening on that day! So we are happy to welcome Ronja as a "World Yoga Day" baby to the earth and send our greetings to Veronika and Evgeni the happy parents.
Additionally to the wonderful and magical energy we collected a donation from: 621,5€ for our friends in Zimbabwe... In the coming week additional donations of 65Euro came and the team of the Yogacenter rounded the donation so we transfered the amount of 800 Euro!
Thank you for organizing this very special day! When I think back, my heart feel so warm....
And yes, no picture, sorry... It is sometimes so nice to stay in the present moment, there is no time and thought to hold the moment in a picture! But our friends who joined from the Austrian mountains send me a picture, so this we can look and enjoy ;-)
Om Namah Shivaya,
Boris & the team of Yogacenter Ganesha
With World Yoga Day coming up I was nervous that no-one would attend my outdoor event, as the week before Britain had come to a complete standstill due to a small flurry of snow.
On the day however, we were blessed with beautiful sunshine bouncing off the calm sea and warming the sands of Bournemouth beach.
A similar number to last year's dozen turned up, and after we'd all taken off layers of clothing meant to protect us from the wind and cold, we then set of smoothly moving through most of the standing postures that Yoga has to offer.
There was a great atmosphere, and many passers-by stopped to watch, smiling, and possibly a little envious at our little moment in the sun.
After raising our temperatures enough to let us want to stop, we sat for a few moments gazing at and/or listening to the waves. It was a perfect end to a lovely practice.
Within an hour of us finishing it was raining; we really had been in the right place at the right time.
Keith Grant
Liebe Samira
Wir waren von Baden, einem kleinen Städtchen in der Schweiz, aus mit
dabei und hatten in einem kleinen Grüppchen zwei wundervolle Stunden.
(vgl. http://www.mitschi.ch/yoga/?q=node/6175)
Den gesammelten Betrag von €150.00 haben wir soeben auf das angegebene
Bankkonto in Zimbabwe überwiesen.
Vielen herzlichen Dank für deine Arbeit für den Weltyogatag. Wir werden
nächstes Jahr bestimmt wieder mit dabei sein.
Mit lieben Grüssen
Nora
“Today we unite with all yogis and yoginis around the world during this 24 hour relay practice of yoga, holding the people of Zimbabwe in our hearts. In the same way as the ripples in a pond spread when a stone is thrown in the water, our hope is that in a similar way, by joining together the ripples we make here today will spread to Zimbabwe.
With our generosity … in mind, spirit and offerings we trust that these ripples will reach the people of Zimbabwe so that that they may feel supported and know that they are not forgotten by all in the rest of the world.
We shall now light two candles, one for the people in Zimbabwe and one for the many others in the world who too, need our thoughts and compassion as badly.”
With these words we started our two hour Yoga practice – a deepening mixture of Vedic chanting and asanas in Iyengar-, Shivananda- and Viniyoga style. About 20 persons showed up and brought their voices and spirits together in the British International School of Stavanger, Norway, which entrusted us the music loft for free. The donations added up to about 4000 Norwegian Kroner (a little more than 400 €) but further donations are still coming in.
We are very happy to have been able to participate in the WYD again this year,
3 Yoga Teachers in Stavanger
Christel Gibbs, Zigi Houston, Klaudia Achenbach-Wege
Click here for feedback from Japan:
http://www.worldyogaday.jp/2009/02/2009-1430.html
http://www.worldyogaday.jp/2009/02/2009-b68a.html
Hi Samira,
We had a wonderful World Yoga day here in Australia, with much publicity in newspapers as well!
Could you please let us know how we can forward our donations to you, we would prefer to transfer funds directly into you account if that suits you.
Thank you for organising this great idea, we look forward to joining you again next year.
Love and light
Anita Mikedis
We had a lovely day, with our yoga practice being held at Dragon Hall in Covent Garden where I usually teach my group classes. I was pleased to see students making the journey in on a Sunday morning and do the full 2 hours of yoga, which I believe was a first for some of them. The whole group also managed to meditate for quite a long time - tuning into the positive global energy! Many thanks for organizing this day. Om Shanti, Sejel
I have just transferred funds to your paypal acc. We didn't take a pic so I am sending you a nice one of an Om.
Om Shaanti
Sejel
Hi there,
I just wanted to let you know that I held a World Yoga Day yoga session at Lotus Yoga in Dublin, and raised 180 euro for Zimbabwe. I'll transfer it to the account later today. Despite the bad weather (some of those who had planned to attend were snowed in!), nine hardy yogis braved the elements and participated. We had a lovely relaxed morning and were happy to be taking part in the event and raising money for a very worthy cause.
I'll look forward to doing it again next year!
Hari Om
Caoimhe
Hi
Just wanted to confirm that we raised 232.00 euros towards the cause... we enjoyed a fantastic yoga session, where everyone was so focused and yet just enjoying the moment! I believe the energy that was circulating the globe this day was so good!!
I shal be sending the donation tomorrow...
Here is a photo for the record from us at Viva Sports, Mallorca.Very glad to have been a part in 2009...
Sarah
leider waren es dieses jahr nur 2 yogaschulen in ganz chile!!! patagom, in pto.natales (meine) und sivananda in punta arenas, eine freundin
beide schule aus patagonien
wie letztes jahr,war es suuper..voller prana, herze offen...wow
hatten ayurvedamassagekurs intensiv den ganze tag, dazwischen 2 std "geyogelt"
herzlichen dankliebe gruesse
susanne steiger
SarvaYoga and workout-Pforzheim got together.
We all enjoyed the day very much. The spirit transferred to each of us when many different styles met and practiced together. We could send 315 € to Cont Mhlanga. All are looking forward to the WYD 2010 and are sure it will be a very special day again.
Thanks a lot to you and your team to make all this happen.
Namasté
Silke
The chaotic implementation of the land reform in Zimbabwe led to a sharp decline in agricultural exports, traditionally the country's leading export producing sector. As a result, Zimbabwe is experiencing a severe hard-currency shortage, which has led to hyperinflation and chronic shortages in imported fuel and consumer goods.
The current economic and food crisis, described by some observers as the country's worst humanitarian crisis since independence, has been attributed in varying degrees, to a drought affecting the entire region, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and the government's price controls and land reforms. A country once so rich in agricultural produce that it was dubbed the "bread basket" of Southern Africa, is now struggling to feed its own population. A staggering 45 percent of the population is considered malnourished.
Life expectancy at birth for males in Zimbabwe has dramatically declined since 1990 from 60 to 37, the lowest in the world. Life expectancy for females is even lower at 34 years. Concurrently, the infant mortality rate has climbed from 53 to 81 deaths per 1,000 live births in the same period. Currently, 1.8 million Zimbabweans live with HIV.
According to human rights organisations the government of Zimbabwe violates the rights to shelter, food, freedom of movement and residence, freedom of assembly and the protection of the law. There are assaults on the media, the political opposition, civil society activists, and human rights defenders.
Cont Mhlanga, an acclaimed playwright and theatre director runs a cultural centre, the Amakhosi Cultural Center in Bulawayo. Through his proflific cultural work he provides a space for artists and audiences to deal with their difficult and repressed living circumstances. He also is a councilor for a small community in the Lupane District. The Matshiya ward community is a rural based community of Lupane District in Matebeleland North Province of Zimbabwe. It has a population of about 19 500 people staying in 1080 house holds.
This community is exmplaire for the country's situation and the peoples living condition. Through his work as a councilor Cont opposes the repressive system and to improve peoples situation.
WYD 2009 efforts will be awarded to the people living in the Matshiya Community. Cont Mhlanga will be our main contact and also administer the donations. The Amakhosi Cultural Center will be our local corresponding organization (for paperwork, accounts, receipts). The money will not be used for any of Amakhosi's Cultural Center activities but only and directly for the people living in the Matshiya Community to improve their lives.
This way we won't go through a big, international organisation this year but rather try to get our help more directly to the people who are suffering.
It brings about that their are no websites or other official posted material to hold on to. Under Ressources you find a few links that will give you furhter information on Cont Mhlanga, his work and Zimbabwe. You can also contact Cont directly if you have any questions contmhlanga@amakhosi.org regarding his work and our project.
To give you a better insight of how people live in Zimbabwe and why we decided to support this cause you will find below a copy of an Email from the 15th of May 2008 in which Cont suggested his project to us:
Thanks for your thoughts. I was looking at Amakhosi as the local corresponding organization that is not being funded and benefiting from the support in any way but just linking WYD with the Matshiya community. This is because the Matshiya community is a rural community that is not connected to the web, no radio, no television and no news papers. It would be very difficult for both the Matshiya community and WYD to link with no urban based organization as a go between.
The Matshiya ward community is a rural based community of Lupane District in Matebeleland North Province of Zimbabwe. It has a population of about 19 500 people staying in 1080 house holds. It has 5 villages led by 36 village heads. Each village head has a number of house holds under them. All these village heads report to a Kraal Head who in turn reports to the Chief. The Chief links to the District Administrator who is a civil servant. This is the traditional leadership structure. It is this structure that Zanu PF manipulates and controls as it is not an elected structure and connects to every house hold. They buy the Chiefs, Kraal Heads and Village Heads with food and beer to mobilize people to all support the ruling party and do not allow any opposition party members to come to the villages to organize meetings. Those that oppose this are reported to the party chefs who work with the police who in turn pick up the person and lock them up with no trial or beat them up and then let them free to go and die at their homes.
The community is led by a councilor on the political front who connects to the District Administrator. Below the councilor is an elected Ward Development Board and below it is the Village Development Committee. The Ward Assembly is the open community meeting by all interested villagers who come to this meeting to make and influence policy decisions that affect them. These Committees and meeting are lawfully provided for by the Rural District Act. They even have a legal mandate by law and through this Act of Parliament to develop their own Ward and District Annually Development Plans that government should follow and give priorities to. It is how ever sad that government undermines these democratic community structures so that the community is unable to hold it accountable on its actions. These are the political structures that political parties contest to control. Because they are people elected structures the government always undermines them by not using them and not educating the villagers on legal frameworks that empower then as it is aware that then people will become empowered and will not allow corruption and human rights abuse. They instead use their illegal dictatorship structures like the War Veterans Association who will threaten people and not allow the people’s voices to be heard. This is the fertile ground for massive human rights abuse in Matshiya ward and Zimbabwe generally and more venerable is these rural communities. This community like all the rural communities have no access to legal support with all human rights organizations concentrating in cities because of the very reason mentioned above of Village Heads who are manipulated by Mugabe’s government to isolate their communities.
This community has been so undermined that they are not even able now to grow their own food! Fields lie idle year in and year out with government promising them that if they vote for it, government will give them food.
The Matshiya community has 5 primary schools one Secondary School and one High School. These are schools by name especially the primary schools as they do not have any reading books or writing exercise books. Some class rooms have no doors while most of them have no desks for kids to sit on while government is just politicking and not doing anything about it. It’s really sad. There is no kinder garden for little kids and there is no technical college the whole district that has a population of about 350 000 people.
Way Forward
A week ago after government sent solders and war veterans to camp in the ward because of the coming presidential elections run off the villagers came to me with a request of how they can be protected from abuse. We agreed that the community should rent a Matshiya Ward Office where any one whose rights are violated should come and report and the community office will intern instruct human rights layers to take action against the perpetrators. I contributed a deposit and the first rent of the community office. There is how ever no furniture or any thing. The most crucial office tool here would be a photocopying machine and bond paper so that awareness papers on human rights abuse could be copied and given to all the 1080 house holds. Tell the members of the community what to do should any one violet them. I then met with the law firm Cheda and Partners in Bulawayo a city that is 170km away who welcomed the community initiative and agreed to provide legal services to the community any time they are called upon by the community office to do so. All they needed was a deposit of equivalent to US$450.00 This is the first ever such rural community initiative in the country and its success will show other communities that it is possible to collectively stand up against any human rights abuse especially by the state. And more such initiatives will mushroom across the village communities. How ever as you can imagine this service and community awareness program comes at a cost which the community and myself cannot afford alone for the start of the program. I am how ever sure that once it’s set up and it proves to be useful to villagers they will contribute to building this legal fund as a community per house hold. I am sure this is where the WYD network can come in.
Just three days ago four young boys in the next ward to Matshiya were picked up by the police and locked up for four days beaten and tortured on cooked up charges that they went into a farm occupied by a Zanu PF businessman who lost elections and vandalized a dam wall were game animals drink!!! They are being forced to admit that they were sent by the former
white owner of the farm who was chased away by the war veterans and lost all his property and investment working with a local opposition politician. And I am sure they are targeting me here and trying to build a case. The boys have no money for medical care, no legal representation and continue to be threatened on these false charges were the Zanu Pf official is clearly working with the police to victimize these young people for political reasons other than anything else. It is such cases that are many in the rural communities and they do so because they have been able to isolate these communities from the rest of the country and the world out there. It desperate!We are just starting on building a website for Matshiya ward community and Lupane district. It is still just a discussion forum meant to bring together those born in Lupane and Matshiya who are now working out of the country together to discuss the challenges faced by their community back home and encourage them to do something in what ever little way they can. I set this up 2 months ago. It’s on www.lupanedistrict.com
It’s good we have made contact and lets keep in touch.
Cont Mhlanga
Director Amakhosi
Councilor Matshiya Ward 15
Lupane District.
Here you will find the account details to which you can send the donations you collected on World Yoga Day.
Account name: Amakhosi Trust
Account number: 2157-6507992
Swift Code: BARCZWHXAXXX
Name of Bank: Barclays Bank Of Zimbabwe
Branch: Main Street/ 8th Avenue
Town: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Reference: World Yoga Day
Or you can use our paypal account samira@world-yoga-day.net.
Please use whatever is easier or cheaper for you. If you need receipts please write directly
to Cont Mhlanga (contmhlanga@amakhosi.org), stating the name of your school and address and the amount.