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AHAN
Rio de Janeiro, Nippon Kan Brazil Awareness and Support Raising
Seminar.
Phase I of the Brazil Okaeri Dojo Japanese
Garden Project Begins.
AHAN IISA (Instructors in Support of
AHAN) Education, Exploration and Training Tour of Japan.
First Shipment of Thirty Computers Shipped
to Mongolia.
Updates from the School Named Hope in
Mongolia
14th Annual Put the Beds to Bed Community
Volunteer Project
October-November Homeless Food Service
Out
of Country Seminar Reports
AHAN Rio de Janeiro, Nippon Kan Brazil Awareness and Support Raising
Seminar.
October 8-10, 2004
Gaku Homma, Nippon Kan Kancho and Rudy Landry, Nippon Kan Instructor
traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this past October to teach at
an AHAN Rio de Janeiro Nippon Kan Brazil awareness and support
raising seminar organized by AHAN Rio de Janeiro, Nippon Kan Brazil
IISA Instructor, Luc Leoni Sensei.
The seminar was held at the Forte Sao Jao, Ursa Brazilian Army
sports training facility where over eighty Aikidoka of different
styles and organizations attended.
Practice. |
At the seminar closing ceremonies, Luc Leoni Sensei gave a report
on current AHAN Rio de Janeiro activities. Special presentations
were given to Brazilian organizations and individuals who have
been involved with AHAN Rio de Janeiro in 2004. The seminar was
attended by special guest representatives of the LAR Beneficiente
AMAR Orphanage, the Elizanngera Barreto family, and Mr. Akiyoshi
Shikada President of the Japanese-Brazilian Cultural and Sports
Association of Rio de Janeiro. Mr Shikada was present to accept
a maintenance donation from AHAN on behalf of the Rio Botanical
Gardens.
Practicing at this seminar was Mr. Ikeda, Consul-General of Japan
at Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Ikeda began his practice of Aikido in college
in Japan and has practiced since as his schedule as Consul-General
has allowed. Mr. Ikeda practiced well with his Brazilian partners
at the seminar. It was refreshing to see a man of his position
join members of his community so readily. Everyone was happy to
have him there and were quite respectful of his open attitude.
We appreciate him being there as well and thank him very much for
joining us.
The Elizaagera Barreto family
at the seminar.
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Orphanage representatives. |
Donation to the Japanese-Brazilian Cultural
and Sports Association.
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Consul-General Ikeda
gives a closing speech. |
After the seminar, Homma Kancho, Luc Leoni Sensei, Rudy Landry
Shidoin and other AHAN members drove from Rio about thirty minutes
over the Niteroi Bridge to Sao Gonzal. It was in this area that
we found the Barreto family home. The Barreto family had come to
the attention of Luc Leoni Sensei who found out that some of the
Barreto family members were having trouble with allergies to dust,
especially the baby of the family who had developed a sever allergic
reaction in the form of a skin disease. AHAN Rio de Janeiro, under
the leadership of Luc Leoni Sensei had taken the Barreto house
on as a remodeling project last summer to make the environment
more comfortable for the family members. Volunteers resurfaced
the outside of the house with stucco, and laid tiles on the floors
and walls on the inside. The remodeling helped to control the dust,
and the health of the Barreto family, especially the littlest one
improved! AHAN Rio de Janeiro plans to help other families in need
in the future. AHAN is already becoming a familiar word in this
neighborhood.
 Outside
the Elizzangera Barreto family home.
The kitchen before reformation. |
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The Barretos in the kitchen
after reformation. |
Unemployment is an all too common problem in
the neighborhood where the Barreto family lives. There are many
children living there
whose families do not have enough resources for basic needs. While
in the area, Homma Kancho and AHAN Rio de Janeiro members paid
a visit to some of these children, bringing to them fifty soccer
balls for the boys and about 300 hair decorations for the girls.
AHAN has a policy for giving gifts. We have found through experience
that it is best to make sure that the gifts are given directly
to the recipients and are not something that adult supervisors
can keep and sell for money. It is important to make sure that
the gifts are used for the children as intended.
Neighborhood children wait
for the soccer
balls. |
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The children are delighted! |
Giving
out hair decorations to the girls. |
AHAN Rio de Janeiro members have been very active in their communities
in other ways as well this year. They have been actively supporting
two orphanages in Rio de Janeiro with monthly donations of baby
formula and other supplies. Members also planted over one hundred
Bougainvillier trees and twenty Clusias trees at the future site
of AHAN Rio de Janeiro Cultural Center in Buzios. The idea behind
this planting is to have a nature trails park in the future of
fruit trees and medicinal plants. It will be a place for people
to gather and enjoy the natural scenery and learn about the botanicals
at the same time.
In the Rio de Janeiro area there were six dojos of different styles
and affiliations that have joined together to participate in AHAN
Rio de Janeiro projects and seminars. It was wonderful to see so
many different Aikidoists finding a time and place to share, communicate
and do something positive for their community at the same time.
On April 15-17th, 2005 AHAN Nippon Kan headquarters in Denver and
AHAN Rio de Janeiro will be coordinating a seminar to be held in
Rio de Janeiro. This seminar will be guest instructed by IISA Instructor
and Advisor, Shin Shin Aikishuren Juku, Hitohiro Saito Sensei of
Iwama, Japan. Details coming soon!
Written by
Rudy Landry
Nippon Kan Staff Instructor
AHAN International Activity Report.
Phase I of the Brazil Okaeri Dojo Japanese Garden Project Begins.
Oct 10-18th, 2004
After the completion of phase I, the
crew poses in the new pond.
After the AHAN Rio de Janeiro awareness and fundraising seminar
in Rio came to a close, Homma Kancho set out for the village
of Santo Aleixo; home of Okaeri dojo. The project at hand was
the building of a Japanese garden and expanded retreat facility
for Okaeri dojo. The date for completion has been set for 2007
with the goal being the development of an economic and cultural
base for Okaeri dojo.
In the village of Santo Aleixo, Homma Kancho organized and led
the massive construction project. He, along with AHAN Rio de
Janeiro Nippon Kan leader Luc Leoni Sensei, other Brazilian Aikido
instructors and local young people worked around the clock to
get the project off the ground. Everyone slept and ate together
at the dojo between exhausting shifts of hard labor. It is the
dream that in the future this facility will become a practice
retreat for Aikidoists from all over Brazil and beyond regardless
of style or affiliation.
Homma Kancho has written an accompanying article “Development
of Dojo and Community in Brazil; A Garden in the Village of Santo
Aleixo” click here.
Accompanying article by Luc Leoni Sensei click here
Statements by Okaeri crew click here
AHAN IISA (Instructors in Support of AHAN) Education, Exploration
and Training Tour of Japan.
Oct 25-Nov 5th 2004.
Iwama dojo, monument to the Founder. Center:
Fernando right: Jose left: Ed. |
AHAN Instructors in support of AHAN, (IISA) are
instructors of many different styles and affiliations who support
the AHAN’s
philosophy of service to the community through projects in their
own towns and cities. The only requirement for becoming an AHAN
IISA Instructor is to be involved with one’s students
in any service project of their choosing in their community
at home.
Fernando Roman Sensei and his wife Rocio Aguero Sensei of Mexico
Aikido, Take Musu Aiki in Mexico City are the official AHAN representatives
for Mexico. AHAN Mexico has an important role in organizing AHAN
activities in Mexico and in the future, will have an important
role in organizing AHAN activities in Central America.
For these IISA leaders, direct experience and education about
Japan is an important tool for developing a wider point of view
and greater level of understanding of Aikido and its place in
the world. This AHAN IISA education, exploration and training
tour of Japan was attended by Fernando Roman Sensei, Instructor
Jose Alvarez, both of Mexico Aikido and from Milwaulkee, Instructor
Edward Deiro. All three were accompanied and guided by Gaku Homma,
Nippon Kan Kancho.
AHAN allocates a portion of the yearly budget for educational
tours to Japan and projected tours for 2005 and beyond are now
under consideration.
Please read the accompanying article written by Fernando Roman
Sensei about his experiences on this trip. IISA (Instructors
in Support of AHAN) Education, Exploration and Training Tour
of Japan Oct 2004. Click here.
First Shipment of Thirty Computers Shipped to Mongolia.
November 5th, 2004
Wait just a little longer, they’re
on their way!
AHAN Nippon Kan’s used computer distribution campaign
began officially earlier this year. In less than a year, over
230 computers,
printers, and other computer accessories have been donated.
Out of these donated computers, not all were in working order,
and
our staff has worked diligently to clean, reprogram and consolidate
the computers into sets ready to ship to where they are needed
most. This November the first set of thirty out of one hundred
computer sets designated for Mongolia were packed and readied
for shipping.
The computers will be received in Mongolia by the Zorig Foundation,
and the AHAN Mongolia Nippon Kan staff will be on duty to monitor
distribution. The School named Hope is one specific destination
for these donated computers. This school has become a destination
project of AHAN and Nippon Kan since Homma Kancho visited the
school personally last February. As a private school, it does
not receive government support and is severely lacking in basic
school supplies and operating funds. Homma Kancho determined
in his February visit that AHAN and Nippon Kan would be able
to assist the children and teachers in this school by supplying
computers, school supplies, funds for an adequate lunch program,
phone lines, and even musical instruments for a traditional
music program. Last February Homma Kancho commissioned the
making of
ten Morin Hur string instruments to begin this program, and
an update from the School named Hope can be found later in
this
article. A shipment of basic school supplies have already been
distributed, and after the five computers designated for the
School named Hope have been installed, donated portable sewing
machines are scheduled for shipment to begin a vocational skills
course.
To ship the computers, space was reserved on a previously scheduled
container from Denver. It helps to save shipping expenses to
reserve partial space on a container than to try to ship the
computers individually. The travel time for the computer shipment
is about forty days which means the container should arrive
before Christmas. Our AHAN Mongolia team is standing by to
take inventory
or the shipment when it arrives in Ulaanbaatar.
This used computer distribution campaign is also being developed
in other countries AHAN is currently involved with. Many thanks
to all who have donated computers, their time and expertise
to make this project possible.
Packing the computers for shipping at Nippon Kan dojo.
UPDATE. Computers arrive safely in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Dec
16th! More news coming soon!
For more information on donating used computers, see:
100 New -Used Computer Set Donation.
Sept 9, 2004
Updates from the School Named Hope in Mongolia.
Nov 2, 2004
On November 2nd, we received an update report from the School
named Hope in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and AHAN Mongolia staff coordinator
Alimansar Namjildorj and staff member Bold Tumenjargal.
The School named Hope was built with funds donated by a non-profit
organization in Japan. This generous donation allowed for the
building of the school, but did not leave much left over for
operational costs. Since 2001, AHAN Nipppon Kan headquarters
has been supporting orphanages in Ulaanbaatar. At the beginning
of 2004, we assessed that the orphanages we had been supporting
now had sufficient government support to warrant us in looking
for a child welfare organization that was not well funded and
in need. That was when Homma Kancho found the School named Hope.
The President of Mongolia and First Lady visited Nippon Kan
in Denver last July and commended AHAN and Homma Kancho for
works
with Mongolia’s children. (Click here to view an
article on the President of Mongolia’s visit to Denver
and to Homma Kanchos visit to the School named Hope in February
2004.) In
Mongolia
there are many reasons for children to miss normal school cycles.
Many families live a nomadic life-style for example which takes
the children away from the schools for extended periods of
time. The School named Hope is a private school that focuses
on these
special children and their needs. Private schools in the United
States have a connotation of wealth. In Mongolia it means that
they do not receive any government support which leaves them
in desperate need of textbooks, school supplies and operating
funds. When Homma Kancho visited the School named Hope, the
books that were being used for texts were worn and tattered.
Pencils
were shared until they wore down to nothing. Exam papers, hundreds
at times were written out by hand as there were no copy machines
available. The only lunch that the school could afford for
the children was a cookie and a cup of salty tea.
Since February 2004, basic school supplies have been delivered,
and the musical program featuring the ten Morih Hur instruments
commissioned by Homma Kancho has begun. This coming December
a shipment of refurbished computers, printers and portable sewing
machines are due to arrive at the school as well.
AHAN Domestic Activity Report
14th Annual Put the Beds to Bed Community Volunteer Project
Oct 16th, 2004
Fall comes to Denver with the annual “Put the Beds to
Bed Project”. Today this project is administrated by
the Denver Parks Department as a city-wide effort to turn the
city park flower beds for winter. Fourteen years ago, Nippon
Kan started this project. Back then, no one would have guessed
that the project would become a yearly Denver Parks Department
event.
When visitors come to the city of Denver, a favorite downtown
destination is Civic Center Park which is located between the
State Capitol and the City and County Building. This particular
park has been cared for by the “Nippon Kan Army” for
over a decade. The Nippon Kan Army is the name that the Denver
Parks Department Staff Coordinators have given Nippon Kan volunteers
for their enthusiasm and hard work.
This year Homma Kancho was teaching a seminar and working on
other AHAN projects in Brazil, so the project way organized
by Emily Busch, Nippon Kan Vice President and Nippon Kan Instructor
Mary Powell. Over seventy Nippon Kan volunteers joined in to
turn the beds and under Mary Powell’s direction the beds
were turned by noon.
This year Nippon Kan has adopted two perennial beds year round
that a smaller volunteer staff takes care of on a bi-monthly
basis. Thank you to all of the volunteers for donating your
time and energy to this yearly fall project.
October-November Homeless Food Service.
Oct 17, Nov 21, 2004
Next year Nippon Kan will pass a milestone with fifteen years
of service to the homeless in Denver with meals served monthly
by Nippon Kan volunteers and students. The meals are served
every third Sunday of the month, and to date over 37,500 meals
have been served. Homma Kancho has been there to serve almost
every one of them.
Usually when Homma Kancho is traveling to teach, the meal service
is rescheduled to a different Sunday of the month so that he
is able to attend. This fall was a little different in that
Homma Kancho had a busy travel schedule to Brazil and Japan.
For the first time in fifteen years Nippon Kan volunteers,
with the help of Domo kitchen chefs served the meals without
him. The service went smoothly for both October and November
with the exception of inquiries by the mission staff and regular
guests as to the whereabouts of Homma Kancho. Special thanks
to all of the volunteers who took over in his absence. Everyone
did an outstanding job.
In keeping with mission policy no photos were taken at these
events.
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