Reachable Education

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better education for little kids, children, class rooms, display in class rooms, feel better, feng shui, feng shui master, feng shui steps, feng sui for kids, learning easier, overpowering, pacific island, pacific islands, roseline deleu, Solomon ISlands, sore neck, village schools

I had a peek inside a class room while the school was closed for school holidays. I was not surprised to see no desk nor benches as this can be very common in any of the village schools in the Pacific Islands – but – I was disappointed seeing the placement of some of the little education materials!

As you see on the photo, three posters are displayed under the black board. This is perfect height for little kids till the age of 7 approximately. It is at the level of their eyesight or lower and they are often on the floor level.

Sadly, the orange A4 papers with the drawings and spelled words of their representations are hanging on one of the ceiling beams or too high on the walls. Kids are little people and when they sit on the ground to listen to the class room they are very unlikely to lift their heads up that high, it is uncomfortable and hurts their necks to read what’s on the beams!

Would they be lying on the floor, then it’d be good to display all those on the ceiling itself!

The main classroom blackboard should be placed no higher than at 50 centimeters off the floor. Here it is much too high and we can see that kids need chairs to be able to write on it or clean it!

This is an unnecessary hazard on many physical and emotional levels !

Maybe some kids feel shy to climb on the chairs, could feel awkward or even dizzy – all this and more could easily lead to totally disgust them from very early age to go to school and learning. The consequences of this could quickly and potentially bring unhappiness in their lives too.

The Art of Placement starts from common sense. Making education reachable is essential for the growth of your country.
Please look from kids heights when you decide of the layout and decor of your classrooms. When it is too high, it is always overpowering!

Please, also avoid putting papers and posters too close from open windows where the rain falls could damage them.

Thank you for your attention – by reassessing your classrooms now, you may well be changing many lives today! ❤

Roseline Deleu
International Feng Shui Master & Author
www.fengshuisteps.com.au 

Clearer Wording can change Lives!

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domestic violence, haus violence, pacific islands, roseline deleu, safe haus, save a life

I woke up suddenly to the sound of broken glass, banging on the wall and a man yelling and shouting. It was 3.45 AM and I had been only a few days in this new country. I looked through all my papers for the phone number to call the police but I didn’t have that info and I hadn’t come across phone books here yet. All other rooms in the share accommodation were dark, everyone else seemed either still asleep or trying to ignore what was happening next door. I felt useless. After 45 minutes, all became silent. A strange silence subtly revealing lots of hurt, bruises, broken hearts, sad and traumatic memories emotionally scaring kids for life. I know how it hurts. Many of you know this too.

The house next door was in very poor condition but rather large and hosted three families. The elderly father passed away last year. Family struggled living together and managing their finances – that’s was what the old man did best. They now had sold the property to my landlords and were waiting for the final property exchange. In the meantime, they came and asked them regularly for advanced money that sadly went straight to the too numerous bottle shops around town. Friday nights were the worst.

The next morning I questioned the landlords living on the ground floor on what’s the protocol when domestic violence happens here. Like me, they had heard the noise and fights last night but, as usual, turned around in bed and ignored it. I asked them why they didn’t call the police to report this domestic violence incident? That’s when the penny dropped!

“Oh, no” – said the landlord – “This is only family stuff, not domestic violence!”

I realised that for him the word ‘domestic’ didn’t have a clear meaning. I explained the origin of domestic – ‘domus’ means ‘house’ in Latin – then I thought I must be a little silly talking about Latin on that island in the middle of the Pacific! – So ‘domestic violence’ is of course family stuff but… culturally speaking , in the Pacific Islands, when it comes to family differences, hardly anybody would interfere!

There is a “Safe Haus” around the corner though, locals all know about it. It is a safe place, a refuge for family members suffering from violence at home.

English speakers often assume that everyone understands English. In the Pacific Islands, locals speak their own language and Pidgin English so… lots get lost in translation!

I wonder how deeper impact renaming domestic violence into “Violence blo Haus” or “Haus Violence” or “Family Violence” would have on people reacting and calling for help?

Violence is everyone’s business.

When you witness violence, call the police and you can stay anonymous.
Your call can change lives and even save one!

We see it on the news, violence is everywhere, in your country too.
Think about it, saving a life is only a phone call away.

Thank you!

Roseline Deleu
International Feng Shui Master & Author
www.fengshuisteps.com.au

Mother’s Day Bilum Display

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bilum, Kamusie, martyne, mother's day present, mothers day idea, Papua New Guinea, PNG, remote self funded project, roseline deleu, stories, western province, women in business in remote PNG

Martyne, a happy mum helping spread the Bilum Stories of remote PNG mothers –

I am very happy to announce that the Kamusie bilums will be on display for mother’s day celebrations at The Dear Delicious in Dulwich Hill (Sydney) from today onwards.

Your mum will love a bilum, it contributes to tell the stories of those women living in Kamusie, a remote area of Papua New Guinea Western Province.

It all started in 2015, read more about Bilum Stories.

Roseline Deleu
Feng Shui Master, Author and instigator of the self funded Bilum Stories Project
www.fengshuisteps.com.au

Bilum Stories

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art & craft in PNG, bilum, Bilum Stories, crafted with love, empowering women in PNG, Papua New Guinea, remote PNG, roseline deleu, western province

Ladies of the Western Province wanting to share their stories to the World

When I stretched my legs 5 minutes at a small airstrip in one of the numerous remote areas in the Western Province in Papua New Guinea, I never thought this short plane stop would change lives!

We had stopped there in the morning during the many stops of the Gulf run and we had to go back in the afternoon to refuel. The villagers knew that well, being used to see the good looking blond blue eyed pilot on a regular basis – they liked him, he had a kind soul and always has a thoughtful word when locals greeted him.

While the morning stop was rather unattended, when we approached in the afternoon, most of the villagers were waiting at the other side of the small barrier. They knew someone different was on the plane, a ‘white’ woman. They were curious. As I came out of the plane, the pilot directed me to a safe area while the refueling was happening. A lady bravely approached me for a chat. Amy is one of the local teachers and explained briefly life in the village. Then, the plane was ready. I bid her farewell. All eyes were directed to me, I smiled and waved without knowing that something was about to change lives.

This brief encounter stayed in my mind and three weeks later, I asked the pilot to deliver a letter to Amy for me. I thought that this isolated village may need some items for school or for ladies. That’s how the “Bilum Stories” Project was born. Empower, educate women living remotely and share their life stories to the world.

They needed items for school and some clothes. I managed to collect those items among my friends in Australia and Europe and forwarded them to the village. Each bag delivered was in exchange of a natural fiber bilum. Why a swap are you going to ask me? Well, I believe that when you give something for free, often those objects have not much value to the recipient. On the other hand, an exchange with something that those ladies could craft with local fibers is showing them respect and interest!

What is a bilum? It’s a bag, a friendship bag. Each Papua New Guinean has a bilum. Each bilum has its own characteristics depending on the area where they are crafted, then each family has its own pattern. Since each person owns and wears a bilum, each person also has a its own story!

Natural fibres + recycling plastic, what a great idea!

Ladies were keen to get this idea started and got together to craft. They wondered what was coming with the next delivery and were all happy to discover pencils, games, pens, clothes and accessories – each and every item was a real treat!

Sharing their delicious papaya

I visited them again in January when they had gathered all the bilums for me to take to Australia and show other women. I had a wonderful welcome and spent a few hours with them sharing food and their traditional sago. That was a very special treat for all of us! I am not easily overwhelmed but I must admit that day I felt very humble. Each wanted to show me their craft, wanted to talk to me, wanted to touch me. Kids surrounded me, some even were scared seeing my white skin. Then, the group walked me back to the airplane and confessed that I was the first woman coming to visit them just for the pleasure to pay them a visit – not as a missionary – not to take anything from the land!

Today, we are creating their local Health & Well-Being Newsletter covering community news, natural medicine recipes with fruits and vegetables that are grown locally and recyclable ideas so they keep a tidy village with the lowest possible dump.

“Bilum Stories” & Roseline Deleu @ the Belgian Embassy in Canberra

Early March, I presented “Bilum Stories” for the first time to a Social Scientists Event organised by the Belgian Embassy in Canberra and the idea and topic were very well received. Next week, the bilums are going with me to Sydney to where I will show them to another audience and raise awareness of lives and stories of the ladies who crafted them.

Each bilum is precious, each bilum was created with LOVE
to connect with ladies around the world.

The ladies of the Western Province are all looking forward to hearing about the travels of their bilums!

It is amazing how a few minutes can change lives isn’t it!

Roseline Deleu
www.fengshuisteps.com.au