Saturday, October 22, 2011.
As part of my volunteer work with the Dalai Lama Centre, I was sent to "cover" the Compassion Room events. This was my report:
As I entered the Compassion Room, the air was abuzz, staff in
compassion wings scurrying to finish the set-up, volunteers arriving to man
their stations, fresh coffee brewing, all in readiness for the community to
arrive. Bare gym walls, now beautified
with gorgeous hanging sari cloths in reds, greens and golds, intimate tables
with tea lights, and bulletin boards overflowing with compassionate sayings, set
the inviting tone of the day. Right away
I recognized that incredible cooperation and preparation that had to have taken
place well before this day. Frog Hollow
staff, Lea and Diane, Lynn and Maria from the Dalai Lama Centre, and so many
other committed volunteers and community members together created the seamless
setting and flow of the day.
As the hours passed, the draped walls became ornamented with
cards from the heart, appreciations, and wishes for the community. A huge Dream Wall was built, illustrating the
insightful themes developed by the community earlier in the project:
Sacrifice and Courage
Self-Compassion
Mentorship, Role Modeling and Leadership
Belonging
Two-Way Giving and Receiving, Mutuality
Opening to the
Unexpected
Communication
Action
People placed coloured dots on the six most important theme
posters, the upcoming Dream event to make use of the most popular ones in
envisioning future community plans. Strolling
about the Compassion Room, I saw the sounds and tastes of these themes already
in action.
Meigan, an art therapy student, was encouraging the Dream
Wall drawings. Meigan sees art as a window
of connection and fun through which creative exploration can bring together
differing perspectives leading to new discoveries.
At the Filming Station I met Jacqueline, a volunteer from
the aboriginal community, with a background in dialogue, trust-building, co-op
radio, and tai chi instruction at Frog Hollow.
She invited participants to video-record their stories of giving or
receiving compassion.
Jacinda, in charge of the Soul Sister station, showed all
who gathered there how to make the tiny dolls that she had learned to make with
her mom years before. Having no sisters,
but great friendships with other girls, the Soul Sisters symbolized her strong
connection to women in community.
Jacinda introduced the people around her table to each other, helping
Alberta and her mom choose the colours for their doll.
At the push-pin board, hundreds of definitions of compassion
were on display. These had been brainstormed
by the community and used to help determine the themes of the program. Slips of paper, large and small, with
written, printed and typed definitions were posted, with a call to add
translations in the many languages and voices of the community.
At the video station, two tv screens with earphones were
available for watching and hearing those who had already taped their stories of
compassion. Members of the
neighbourhood, some now volunteers in today’s event, spoke of those who
modelled compassion to them or those to whom they offered compassion. Jagjit, a
woman from India, spoke of her family members and the help and support they
provided to her, setting an inspiring example.
I could see that whoever had filmed these storytellers had made them
feel comfortable and confident enough to see their stories as important to
share.
At the tea and talk table, tea and cookies provided a homey
atmosphere for conversation and sharing!
Tessa and Anna spoke with those stopping to rest, inviting memories of
being touched by compassion, co-operation, and confidence.
Mid-room, a large screen was set up, Maria, from the Dalai
Lama Centre showing ongoing slides of previous events in the project. Most recent was the Frogs in the Park
day. The slides, as a visual way to look
back and remember, gave the community pride in its efforts and achievements.
The Wishing Well, beautifully decorated, was also placed
near the centre of the room, the donations to be sent to Children’s
Hospital. The Girl Guides helped with
this station, serving as compassion ambassadors.
A table with lined paper encouraged people to write their
compassion stories. For many young
children, the volunteer at the table, Katherine, scribed their oral responses. She
asked questions at their own level to draw out their stories. “Do you like to play with your brother? Can you tell me about a time he helped
you?” One mom wrote that her 3-year-old told
her that he saw her thank and hug someone for doing a good deed. She realized that her boy was watching her
every move, filling her with a sense of immense responsibility and a desire to
show him more positive behaviours.
Colourful picture postcards, designed in the community, were
at another station where children and adults could send them to those who had
touched them with compassion. Similarly,
thank-you letters and hearts of appreciation were decorated and written on, and
then hung by clothes pegs onto the wall coverings.
Yet another table had people creating compassion buttons to
wear. I saw old and young people from
many cultures, drawn to this table, voicing in many languages what words or
pictures they were going to put on their buttons. Glittery pens, paper circles and a
button-making machine were at the ready.
I saw buttons with butterflies, rainbows, birds and flowers, and one
with concentric circles of compassion rippling out from the centre.
Grandmothers in the community created the Wishing Tree, where
people recorded their wishes for the community.
One volunteer, Marion, remarked on the popularity of the Compassion Room
and this entire project. “People working
to create a more compassionate community are now becoming mainstream,” she
said, “no longer seen as oddities in the community.”
Compassion passports, stamped at each station, were
deposited to enter the draw for a prize basket from Sweet Obsessions. Each of the first 100 families who came to
the Compassion Room received from Amy a very tasty Hallowe’en treat bag, filled
not only with candies but also compassion quotes contributed by families in the
community.
Part way through the morning, a community choir gathered and
burst into song. Patti, the choir’s
conductor, kept time with her feet, as did many of the children and adults singing
along a capella. They started with Song to the Forest by the Baka people of
Africa. During the afternoon, a VSO violinist
filled the gym with the vibration of classical strings.
“What can people and communities do to encourage compassion,
co-operation, and confidence in children?”
This question reverberated through the day. Conducting an event like this was certainly a
very effective way to fulfil these aims.
People came and went all day, steady streams of community members having
a great time in a very purposeful way.
Some arrived as part of the larger Pumpkin Patch event, curiously
stepping into the Compassion Room to see what was happening. “My wife is the school letter carrier,” said
one man. “Oh, I live in this community,”
said another. “My friend brought me,”
said another. Families were there whose
children go to the school. Baby
strollers and carriages, aunties and cousins were there. People saw flyers in the community, at Frog
Hollow or at the school. Robin, working
in Frog Hollow’s kitchen today, was intently reading the wishes and
appreciations posted on the Compassion Room walls. The Stilt walker, taking part in the outdoor
event, came in because her mom is part of the family program. What stood out for me was the strong sense of
connection in this community. Everyone,
no matter the wide diversity, came because of that connection; they knew someone
involved, they were a volunteer, they lived or worked nearby, or they attended
programs at Frog Hollow Neighborhood House.
By the end of the day, the empty Dream Wall was full with
words and drawings – “Bee” the change, someone had written alongside their
bumble bee drawing. “Speak it, live it,
demonstrate it,” said another contribution.
When it comes to educating the heart, I was very impressed
with the skills of the volunteers, their ability to call in participants to
their stations, strike up conversations, and help people feel comfortable. They, too, came from various backgrounds,
bringing with them their own expertise that was honoured here, often matching
so well with the station they were working at.
They exhibited and embodied the confidence, cooperation and compassion
that they are trying to encourage in the children of their own community,
modelling it, leading the way. Many
stations today connected the arts, the written word and oral communication to
compassion and social responsibility.
Listening skills were very evident, particularly at the various
storytelling stations. There was a noticeable involvement with photographic,
videographic, and sound media, and a strong connection to music. What the kids created or wrote was put on
display and valued, to be kept and used for future endeavours. The themes of the program as developed by the
community were not only displayed prominently, a constant reminder of why we
were there, but seen, heard and enacted everywhere I turned. One child’s hanging note summed up the day so
aptly:
“This communty is goood because pepole or nice.” Yes, they
are!
