INSIDE OUT CHANGE RETREAT

Kehi Garoun has been working for the last ten years towards self-empowerment.  Yet, somehow we are seen as yet another charity organization, adding to the very culture of dependence that we are trying to change.  In our attempt to rethink our work, Nabin, Pravendra and Umanga attended a 3 day retreat on Reimaging Education in Ahmedabad, organized by movedbylove.org. The retreat was an experience of generosity, connection and learning.   It was truly rewarding experience for our 'hands, hearts and heads.' Details of the retreat is here. 

Inspired by our experience, we replicated a similar retreat for Kehi Garoun volunteers from January 27-29 to explore the potential of "inside-out change" - the social change that results from personal change.  We did not have a rigid agenda, yet we had a prayer that each of us will get some clarity for oneself, and kindle heart-connections with others.
                    "EACH OF US GUARDS A GATE OF CHANGE, 
      THAT CAN BE UNLOCKED ONLY FROM THE INSIDE."

The retreat, thanks too all participants and volunteers, happened to emerge with a framework of how we can co-create possibilities of Inside-Out Change at the level of schools and colleges.  There were many moments of inspiration  and connections.  Our first evening was rainy and cold but was made peaceful and warm by the volunteers who sat around, in the distant glow of a heater, to share their stories of inner change.  Saturday was a busy day of breakout sessions and prayers and laughter.  Many of us left at the end of the day with a piece of an inner sun shine.  Sunday morning, a small group took a long walk through the flower-fields to Ichangu temple before saying goodbye to the inspiring location of Whitefield Residential School.

We believe that the retreat was meaningful for each of the participants. For Kehi Garoun, the retreat was a collective articulation of the model of change it has been exploring.  We were reminded of how joyful yet difficult is the journey of self-care, social-empathy and humility.  And in that spirit, we share this email with you to highlight:

1. Our gratitude to the many hands that helped - Aparimita gifted us the beautiful envelopes, key rings, quotations etc. that touched us all. Ram Shrestha provided us 5 Sleeping bags without which we could not have imagined a warm sleep. Monica worked for many days before the event, and tirelessly during the retreat, to ensure we all felt welcomed and taken care of.  Pratishtha specifically worked behind the scene to ensure we had yummy food and regular tea.  Kanchan provided her vehicle and driver to take volunteers and materials from THE office to the retreat, not to mention, her treat of momos to us all on the first evening.  And finally, to Paras Shrestha who gifted us the use of the venue, and all the logistical help, including full use of the kitchen and his housekeeping staff.  All this would clearly not be possible without their help, and the help from so many others who have supported us so that we could provide the free retreat as a gift to us all.
2. Open sharing of resources so that our collective work may ripple out.  This folder in Google Drive has the material we used and generated in the retreat.  MovedByLove shared their retreat music on line so teams like us could spread the love.  The list of our email addresses are shared there so you can continue building on the connections you have already made. 
3. The photos are here in Google Photos Album; which you can view here.  

We hope to continue host these retreats as part of our program "Dialogues," as one way of sharing the experience of self-empowerment.  If you would like to volunteer for these retreats in future, please contact us.  And once again, here is A final "HUG" to you all, from us all.