tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47415361066607214062024-03-05T17:07:45.339+02:00News from the Children's Village of Graši in LatviaThis blog is written by the English-speaking volunteers who visit Grasi and includes their own photos and stories.Sandra Stadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848945342346918508noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741536106660721406.post-10137087824303946262014-10-21T15:44:00.001+03:002014-10-21T15:44:19.468+03:00New video: “Citādā Bērnība”<p align="center"><object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/LQqdl4uZk78?version=3&hl=fr_FR"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/LQqdl4uZk78?version=3&hl=fr_FR" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></p> Sandra Stadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848945342346918508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741536106660721406.post-52088450045935903932014-04-03T09:35:00.000+03:002014-04-03T09:35:33.255+03:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Matisse Valette</span></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> A bit about myself first. I am an
Australian who volunteered a Grasi for a month between January and February
2014. My name is Matisse Valette and first of all I want to answer the unspoken
question, why would I volunteer in Latvia, of all places? Well, to me it was a
natural thing. My grandparents were Latvian, my mother could speak Latvian, why
not try to relearn the language of half of my heritage? </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEE1ZrA_Nc46m-LiaWuBVlBXgL4Q8HUXKTKtvMdrsGO0RwyjPc9Z1gGLzaK6lxbSIaiiorsxqN5zhfjbXrcUlbHrU6XpGz8xLVZoAMrZAobltmD45evoe55PyWqwh8ArQLughD17ml0jl/s1600/Picture+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEE1ZrA_Nc46m-LiaWuBVlBXgL4Q8HUXKTKtvMdrsGO0RwyjPc9Z1gGLzaK6lxbSIaiiorsxqN5zhfjbXrcUlbHrU6XpGz8xLVZoAMrZAobltmD45evoe55PyWqwh8ArQLughD17ml0jl/s1600/Picture+017.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-AU"> I arrived at the children’s village of
Grasi during the last week of January, ready to begin my four week stay. The
first couple days were spent getting to know Grasu Pils, its children and the
work I would be doing. Speaking to Sandra prior had given me some idea of what
I was supposed to do; “clearing snow and chopping wood”. I found that the sun
and the warm temperatures (0-3</span><span lang="EN-AU">*C) did most of the first job for me leaving me mostly the second job to
focus on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not to
say it didn’t snow! We had some pretty good snow fights! I also spent a lot of
time on the ice pulling the little ones around and around and around! Each
house had their own favourite game, in one, a board game of ice hockey, in
another, UNO and in yet another, spinning tops. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It must
have been halfway through the second week when I made a large breakthrough in
how to live in Latvia. Milk (‘piens’) comes in bags, not plastic or cardboard
cartons like elsewhere in the world. I also have to mention the tea. I have
never before been to such a tea-adoring country.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-toF4y15kXOYk0ICzgZw3wmPSu27ZTwi7tbSaG2eS0XZwyEQC9VNuzyB2_yd8BDCF2NlzukBmk_aUF_NZ2aEhhviVS69eL3ghUMOPxqC9FjRUpkjdZ1jaMm1O7p3bIWJAclIN4C8vGTsC/s1600/Picture+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-toF4y15kXOYk0ICzgZw3wmPSu27ZTwi7tbSaG2eS0XZwyEQC9VNuzyB2_yd8BDCF2NlzukBmk_aUF_NZ2aEhhviVS69eL3ghUMOPxqC9FjRUpkjdZ1jaMm1O7p3bIWJAclIN4C8vGTsC/s1600/Picture+019.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally,
I have to thank the wonderful community of Grasi for the wonderful time I had.
A big thank you to Sandra for organising this unique opportunity and also for
dropping me off and picking me up from the apartment I was staying at. I also
have to thank Maris for picking me up and dropping me off to my apartment. This
saved me the trudge through the snow each day. Thirdly, I have to thank the
educators for the kindness in which they treated me day in, day out. Last, but
never in the whole world least, I have to say ‘paldies’ to the children who
readily (and patiently) let me into their homes. All in all, I had great time
and I hope to return in the future.</span></span></div>
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Sandra Stadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848945342346918508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741536106660721406.post-57984165161159003762012-03-07T19:26:00.001+02:002012-03-07T19:51:53.848+02:00I am an Australian who volunteered at Grasi for a month in July 2010. By Genevieve RICHARDS.<p align="justify"><font size="3">My name is Genevieve Richards. I am an Australian who volunteered at Grasi for a month in July 2010. After seeing that Grasi has started up an English-language blog, I jumped at the opportunity to tell my story!</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><img src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/40466_1540407188356_1180220445_3296566_2221038_n.jpg" width="500" height="375"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Volunteering at Grasi was such an enriching experience – it gave me the chance to learn about a whole new culture, history and language, see the world through someone else’s eyes, and I hope, helped all the children at Grasi have a great summer, and gave their carers at least a little breathing space!</font> <p align="justify"><img src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/41071_1574403878252_1180220445_3389799_4462950_n.jpg" width="500" height="375"><img src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/45750_1574405318288_1180220445_3389802_5104077_n.jpg" width="320" height="242"><img src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/45750_1574405358289_1180220445_3389803_5054614_n.jpg" width="181" height="242"> <p align="justify"><font size="3">I was provided a cozy bedroom in a large and well equipped apartment in the nearby village Cesvaine. I shared the apartment with Marilyn, a French student undertaking an internship at Grasi. Cesvaine is a great little town, boasting a beautiful castle built in the Tudor Neo-Renaissance style and set in large gardens.</font> <p align="justify"><img src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/39187_1545030223929_1180220445_3308138_7471858_n.jpg" width="500" height="375"> <p align="justify"><font size="3">I was kindly lent a pushbike for my stay, which I rode to the village every morning down a beautiful country road. I loved watching the stalks in their nests, admiring the hand-made haystacks dotting the landscape, and waving to the friendly locals. Sandra and the gang made me feel at home straight away, and soon I was learning basic Latvian vocabulary for all the important sentences, such as “es krāsoju !” (“I’m colouring in!”) and “Nikita, ko tu dari?! (“What are you doing, Nikita?!).</font> <p align="justify"><img src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/47510_1574403998255_1180220445_3389800_1032281_n.jpg" width="500" height="375"> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The Russian fires across the border led to a heat wave in Latvia (which suited me, an Australian, just fine!). The children were on school holidays, and the hot weather meant they couldn’t do as much playing outside as they would have liked. Instead, I read them stories (in English and French, and sometimes in Latvian!), brushed their hair, played the piano with them, played cards, and with Alina, lots and lots of colouring in. We coudl also go outside to play on the equipment and fed the donkey and goats, if we wore our hats! </font> <p align="justify"><img src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/45643_1574400038156_4274382_n.jpg" width="250" height="188"> <img src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/46768_1574400238161_1180220445_3389790_5264369_n.jpg" width="250" height="188"><img src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/38776_1540440589191_1180220445_3296624_7807348_n.jpg" width="500" height="375"> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Marilyn and I supervised some berry-picking and consequent jam-making, which was appreciated by all.</font> <p align="justify"><img src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/40237_1545029663915_1180220445_3308136_3118222_n.jpg" width="250" height="188"> <img src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/40519_1548705995821_1180220445_3320628_1452423_n.jpg" width="250" height="188"> <p align="justify"><font size="3">I had such a fantastic, informative and heart-warming experience at Grasi, and I hope to return in the near future to see how everyone has grown!</font> <p align="justify"><img src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/38700_1540407428362_1180220445_3296569_7160072_n.jpg" width="500" height="375"></p> Sandra Stadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848945342346918508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741536106660721406.post-55819395782022279012012-02-16T13:28:00.001+02:002012-02-16T13:49:59.462+02:00Valentines day and my final day here… By Cassandra GLEADHILL<p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">Well firstly- this week the kids celebrated Valentines Day! It surprised me how big it is here.. At school the children handed out Valentines Day cards, and in the afternoon the children had a Valentines Day themed afternoon tea. It was super cute and a really nice touch. </font> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qn7kA0DHCF8/TzzoLVqRp3I/AAAAAAAAAIY/82Oohv_Jlm8/s1600-h/IMG_1292%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1292" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="188" alt="IMG_1292" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P8vrV2Q9BBA/TzzoNcDqiBI/AAAAAAAAAIc/OZPuiMs2R-g/IMG_1292_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff" size="3"> </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DVh_A6rb_2Q/TzzoOjG6ACI/AAAAAAAAAIo/2Ir0psxH9hU/s1600-h/IMG_1284%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1284" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="188" alt="IMG_1284" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rCJ-AQLqZhU/TzzoPap79nI/AAAAAAAAAIw/XfxyUMI2npI/IMG_1284_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">All the kids came home from school very happy that day and the older kids have a Valentines Day themed dance on Friday night.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SuKjEriO7hA/TzzoQjNvTvI/AAAAAAAAAI4/9Q8nC5eBBcA/s1600-h/IMG_1288%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1288" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="188" alt="IMG_1288" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Lw35dRwflIw/TzzoRXSuqgI/AAAAAAAAAI8/5U4AkoK8D1Q/IMG_1288_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff" size="3"> </font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yTxQ1BDeHXM/TzzqnyNSVxI/AAAAAAAAAJI/MrEPiyEKR34/s1600-h/IMG_1279%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1279" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="188" alt="IMG_1279" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Oq6V_qoE3S8/TzzqoVAA7bI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/2mfC_WaRLtI/IMG_1279_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff" size="3"> </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uA7MXCcKUc0/TzzqqTQ7LkI/AAAAAAAAAJY/Wu50aI7bbUc/s1600-h/IMG_1273%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1273" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_1273" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A7HBguVplSE/TzzqsYqxFgI/AAAAAAAAAJg/n9iXasTBqd4/IMG_1273_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff" size="3"> </font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-e1vABWtO1jM/TzzqtX_cyXI/AAAAAAAAAJo/LStT5SrvzVU/s1600-h/IMG_1282%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1282" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_1282" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UQY1z9u-yi4/Tzzqumrs6mI/AAAAAAAAAJs/RMVJ7_SW2_Y/IMG_1282_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff" size="3"> </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-z-wkxSq7C_8/TzzqvwBCBlI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/zod4zdPl0J8/s1600-h/IMG_1311%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1311" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="379" alt="IMG_1311" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pBU4qmB2S_Q/TzzqyjUmWsI/AAAAAAAAAKA/IHpjRnXySPY/IMG_1311_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff" size="3"> </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">My visit at Grasi for this year is almost over and sadly it is my last day here. I would like to thank everyone so much for once again been so welcoming during my stay. The children have been wonderful.</font> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s1aMw_vQntE/Tzzqz3gAq8I/AAAAAAAAAKI/tDPyn5pPeyg/s1600-h/IMG_1255%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1255" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="239" alt="IMG_1255" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uJ1UFjl-dBQ/Tzzq13_oETI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/dg_AkrftgQg/IMG_1255_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff" size="3"> </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9ZcCgRNhc58/Tzzq2_FBedI/AAAAAAAAAKY/gfs0YJAP_LE/s1600-h/IMG_1265%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1265" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="238" alt="IMG_1265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6uYj4sNn-Tst-dmChG5JSK-jF4duxRGqMAaDXoLaDqozAvtoZ0qdNaOyI9lYUcwgYlrZLQObT23wAX-KfuDfcvhOG3DWWTGZF88A2X0a42Y1drq6zU-cdUsVi83Q8LXV2uzLkQZvSJUz/?imgmax=800" width="316" border="0"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J8NLi2BD3JI/Tzzq5Xyp-0I/AAAAAAAAAKo/fkI-XR_4NTE/s1600-h/IMG_1301%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1301" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_1301" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z_4a9Af9Sro/Tzzq6KRkb-I/AAAAAAAAAKw/FjrMjQr3JK4/IMG_1301_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff" size="3"> </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5jC4Z4rsGLU/Tzzq7uxebsI/AAAAAAAAAK4/a4YIOYwCUHI/s1600-h/IMG_1299%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1299" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_1299" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bw0wGbLytNY/Tzzq8RdDSEI/AAAAAAAAALA/WfY2qa_JhEI/IMG_1299_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff" size="3"> </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">Thanks again! </font> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">Cassandra Gleadhill</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3qPCi4o7GO4/Tzzq9UIvp-I/AAAAAAAAALY/-YPLdAKeFmI/s1600-h/IMG_1261%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_1261" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="375" alt="IMG_1261" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0g7aRXIWT-0/Tzzq-ciTMrI/AAAAAAAAALc/eTlO32GXiwQ/IMG_1261_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" border="0"></font></a></p> Sandra Stadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848945342346918508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741536106660721406.post-31080118489227716832012-02-14T16:18:00.004+02:002012-02-16T14:00:48.686+02:00Now it’s not so cold. By Cassandra GLEADHILL<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US">The weather has finally got a littlewarmer, (it is only -6</span><span lang="EN-US">°</span><span lang="EN-US">C at the moment) and you can really feel the difference. </span></font></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify">It seems tobe snowing a lot more again, and it is so nice to sit and watch it snow.</span></font></div> <p><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifH3ak28GM8PwLzjFCZ6cLQhg_TL95hVshjbh-jyqIH2P-ihFkJ3uM-U_DKzNNM_4l8e6kF5NN4eMlWel__IYjioh1IcHUMRrK3UYAADvVMzgm5WAvAXN6c1fil-k4kCP4dGy1nJwvw89e/s1600/IMG_1228.JPG" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifH3ak28GM8PwLzjFCZ6cLQhg_TL95hVshjbh-jyqIH2P-ihFkJ3uM-U_DKzNNM_4l8e6kF5NN4eMlWel__IYjioh1IcHUMRrK3UYAADvVMzgm5WAvAXN6c1fil-k4kCP4dGy1nJwvw89e/s400/IMG_1228.JPG" width="500" align="left" border="0"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify"></span></font> </p> <p><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify"></span></font> </p> <p><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify"></span></font> </p> <p><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify"></span></font> </p> <p><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify"></span> </p> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left" trbidi="on"><br></font><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify"><br></div></span> <div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: center" trbidi="on"> </div> <div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: center" trbidi="on"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnT8fO6DszvCbIWpheWvIIAUXZHkAHALygyu9dFkzp3k_pwqwaTIMvfXjp_Un6wtTYwSdWy4fptj0agv8iYqZfaEvjU47DcMcBgjROeUQLrNax50p81qT4Nb7aGTbvscqJyhyphenhyphen9yiGoY2g/s1600/IMG_1229.JPG" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnT8fO6DszvCbIWpheWvIIAUXZHkAHALygyu9dFkzp3k_pwqwaTIMvfXjp_Un6wtTYwSdWy4fptj0agv8iYqZfaEvjU47DcMcBgjROeUQLrNax50p81qT4Nb7aGTbvscqJyhyphenhyphen9yiGoY2g/s640/IMG_1229.JPG" width="251" align="left" border="0"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPR6sDlzf5HU3MTCeO0I6kJU7HYbHjEkzaPW4BLlQb6l8PdH1H1d4BSGUxTBkBzA5mLSj2WQhwbcN5sw82sx-pEpMy9G0n63lVEYucG_h8-fUcifpSvyqI3vTQ_5R7WB-x7FJujxgi5Rky/s1600/IMG_1238.JPG" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPR6sDlzf5HU3MTCeO0I6kJU7HYbHjEkzaPW4BLlQb6l8PdH1H1d4BSGUxTBkBzA5mLSj2WQhwbcN5sw82sx-pEpMy9G0n63lVEYucG_h8-fUcifpSvyqI3vTQ_5R7WB-x7FJujxgi5Rky/s640/IMG_1238.JPG" width="251" align="left" border="0"></font></a></font></a></div> <div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: center" trbidi="on"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPR6sDlzf5HU3MTCeO0I6kJU7HYbHjEkzaPW4BLlQb6l8PdH1H1d4BSGUxTBkBzA5mLSj2WQhwbcN5sw82sx-pEpMy9G0n63lVEYucG_h8-fUcifpSvyqI3vTQ_5R7WB-x7FJujxgi5Rky/s1600/IMG_1238.JPG" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></a> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Year ones have this week off as school holidaysso little Renars has been enjoying his time off. </span></span><br></font><span lang="EN-US"><font size="3"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">So far this week he has spenta lot of time playing in the snow (I lost count as to how many times he sleddown the hill yesterday), climbing trees, helping on the farm, drawing and watchingmovies.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></font></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><span lang="EN-US"><font size="3"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: center" trbidi="on"><span lang="EN-US"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJBwjYQfzWZNkgJdaMKzXH5wUiIPh3i9aHc827BBMkSAeio738le8zQ4UafaO5u7kcq4mo-GSdwVbkhZDj8X5NNMUtVInlOWDtX-h8hmUDsQADOkFUJmt8qdfL4kBo6MvzbP_GL51OQjD/s1600/IMG_1243.JPG" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJBwjYQfzWZNkgJdaMKzXH5wUiIPh3i9aHc827BBMkSAeio738le8zQ4UafaO5u7kcq4mo-GSdwVbkhZDj8X5NNMUtVInlOWDtX-h8hmUDsQADOkFUJmt8qdfL4kBo6MvzbP_GL51OQjD/s640/IMG_1243.JPG" width="500" align="left" border="0"></font></a></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><span lang="EN-US"><font size="3"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></span></div> <div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: center" trbidi="on"> </div> <div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: center" trbidi="on"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDilG9EWWP9jtLdzLgJ75oTrT-awCNkkxBt2vYZ8B7ZOJ0xyyW-WpR5CnbYJn6lHG51Lv7zhLZfzLaOfuHh9mCyFpZY8TTlNdghmLwoujodc2UCO20Pzgz4iugam7V1b0-G8V5cLT8f8TA/s1600/P1010063.JPG" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDilG9EWWP9jtLdzLgJ75oTrT-awCNkkxBt2vYZ8B7ZOJ0xyyW-WpR5CnbYJn6lHG51Lv7zhLZfzLaOfuHh9mCyFpZY8TTlNdghmLwoujodc2UCO20Pzgz4iugam7V1b0-G8V5cLT8f8TA/s400/P1010063.JPG" width="500" align="left" border="0"></font></a></div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></span></div><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><br></span><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div><font size="3"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">You would think he would betired of playing outside by the time the other children get home from school,but instead he spends most of that time outside too.</span><br></font> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify" trbidi="on"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6vh4_ZHlnIaG_j9DW8TwGJ0DaJsJq6q5N-i_3RBBKJ6Q1dZolLmNyLdXftmOawRginCNdS62zMlIpbFhbv6GA5_qypJGb3VMesr7mlwgTaDZa4S_gJAgjyuZ2vGzpG3EOuHoLYBUd6eP/s640/IMG_1247.JPG" width="500" border="0"></font></span></div> Sandra Stadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848945342346918508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741536106660721406.post-17558523164780038212012-02-13T14:14:00.000+02:002012-02-16T14:53:28.703+02:00Help us build a fourth children’s house!<div style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">Plans are well and truly continuing on the construction of the fourth children’s house. The architects have now finished the drafting of the design and a local building company has been contracted. The house will be wooden and built using traditional Latvian construction techniques. Depending on finances the construction of the house will occur in two steps over a period of two years. In the coming summer the first part will take place, which involves laying the foundation and construction of the main building. The next step, which will hopefully run from April to August 2013 concerns the interior of the house. Heating, electricity, water, furnishings, equipment, the garden and construction of a road will ideally occur during this stage.</font></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></div> <div style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><br><font color="#0000ff"></font></font></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTNdh0fhtrvZC4sVdbo7VqFoWbfNHMYsHERc5chsAj0ld1KwXv1xz69yP74raADXS28nssO9ILqm82a3AOeOcFffrGrIkyV8akMq75PTL8jrEeuyLPNldHKvVemo_vTlM2tFU3r3WFi6u/s1600/plan_facade_sudraba-vitoli.jpg" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTNdh0fhtrvZC4sVdbo7VqFoWbfNHMYsHERc5chsAj0ld1KwXv1xz69yP74raADXS28nssO9ILqm82a3AOeOcFffrGrIkyV8akMq75PTL8jrEeuyLPNldHKvVemo_vTlM2tFU3r3WFi6u/s400/plan_facade_sudraba-vitoli.jpg" width="500" border="0"></font></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLRp2bwqYOP7CqOh4owgjGzaoA3zEBu7AO1laBKRq-T89ZqUJWgo51M7pB53YIdfK_3uIXggW7fp3jrdDyrnTBneV2eyQaL3L1dZwoNjyVfmMxEXitQ3th4QVTNMVPRBSk3-7d_6NFmJX/s1600/plan_coupe_sudraba-vitoli.jpg" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLRp2bwqYOP7CqOh4owgjGzaoA3zEBu7AO1laBKRq-T89ZqUJWgo51M7pB53YIdfK_3uIXggW7fp3jrdDyrnTBneV2eyQaL3L1dZwoNjyVfmMxEXitQ3th4QVTNMVPRBSk3-7d_6NFmJX/s400/plan_coupe_sudraba-vitoli.jpg" width="500" border="0"></font></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></div> <div style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">The house will be 280m<sup>2</sup> which is large enough to comfortably accommodate 8 children, three educators, and have enough space for a guest room if older children, parents or friends of the children wish to stay (this way the kids will be able to have sleepovers with their school friends). The children will sleep in four bedrooms, with two children per bedroom, and two shower rooms for the children. There will also be a room with an en suite for the educators, a guest room, dining room, kitchen and garage. </font></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><br><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV73eHEaA0w_K7RvepFPTy27fR6EVjYtkHD-276CTdncz5roP3kMyY5l8oxgEsLr5VyqOCimJqohXAJ9zdM4QAQ3I7s32RvObwGPjxaHXFMVMJvYzSt5-nMrC4U4G5YAGV0pPYsx-LVWy/s1600/plan_vitols1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV73eHEaA0w_K7RvepFPTy27fR6EVjYtkHD-276CTdncz5roP3kMyY5l8oxgEsLr5VyqOCimJqohXAJ9zdM4QAQ3I7s32RvObwGPjxaHXFMVMJvYzSt5-nMrC4U4G5YAGV0pPYsx-LVWy/s400/plan_vitols1.jpg" width="500" border="0"></font></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgFA8erjpUbnpxou5H2SsDCs8CAmum-tBuWHdWgK7nZV_AKyCxihJ4mmsPGEGrrlnprQVf2A7IVXihDDpxkPfszA3ygNH7PtxLuEzYqO84PHY2kzPVmXFYv-OBmwwhlKNQbKy3Ju6LjxF/s1600/plan_vitols2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgFA8erjpUbnpxou5H2SsDCs8CAmum-tBuWHdWgK7nZV_AKyCxihJ4mmsPGEGrrlnprQVf2A7IVXihDDpxkPfszA3ygNH7PtxLuEzYqO84PHY2kzPVmXFYv-OBmwwhlKNQbKy3Ju6LjxF/s400/plan_vitols2.jpg" width="500" border="0"></font></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></div> <div style="text-align: justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></div> <div style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">This project is financed entirely through donations to Grasi Children’s Village, with one substantially generous donation helping to finance the exterior of the house, allowing construction to commence this year. However we are still looking for sponsorship to help finance the interior of the house, as this will enable us to open the house up for children in 2013. Any offers of help towards this project are gratefully appreciated and if you could help in anyway you can contact us at </font></span><a href="mailto:grasi@apollo.lv"><span style="color: #6aa84f"><font color="#808000" size="3"><strong>grasi@apollo.lv</strong></font></span></a><font size="3"><font color="#808000"><strong><span style="color: blue">.</span><br></strong></font></font><span style="color: blue"><br></span><br><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">Translation: Cassandra GLEADHILL</font></span></div> Sandra Stadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848945342346918508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741536106660721406.post-3805718825088660932012-02-12T11:08:00.000+02:002012-02-16T15:01:03.440+02:00This week at Grasi, by Cassandra Gleadhill<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">Thisweek Grasi welcomed two new children, two and four year old brothers. Thelittle boys arrived from a town near Riga called Salaspils and have alreadybeen adopted by the children of Klavas house. They arrived late on Thursday andhave already spent time settling in and getting to know the other children. Itis great to be able to have more children at Grasi.</font></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><br><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4Dt2IZ8dypLIzLbpt3pRQu99JZsFoLdYBpaxI5GrBQO8pBjvhICiLE_1GhdUgkeAYHw23dB4JBzkn6pwXa_bAAnCgGhk-KDNxx8Cz0Ye6mMpevjSFlCW5bCWmpzYnE8Kg6hYUYQRxpfr/s1600/CIMG3027.JPG" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4Dt2IZ8dypLIzLbpt3pRQu99JZsFoLdYBpaxI5GrBQO8pBjvhICiLE_1GhdUgkeAYHw23dB4JBzkn6pwXa_bAAnCgGhk-KDNxx8Cz0Ye6mMpevjSFlCW5bCWmpzYnE8Kg6hYUYQRxpfr/s400/CIMG3027.JPG" width="500" align="left" border="0"></font></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><br><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><br><font color="#0000ff"></font></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"></span></font></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif">On Monday morning it was only minus 22</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: symbol">°</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif">C,so </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif">after four days off thechildren where able to go back to school. The forecast for the next week is nowbeginning to warm up just a little bit (it isn’t expected to reach the minus30’s again).<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><br><font color="#0000ff"></font></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">One of the educators, Dzintra has had to taketime off due to an operation and slowly she is returning back to the children’svillage, much to the delight of the children.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><br><font color="#0000ff"></font></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">Alviscelebrated his 13<sup>th</sup> birthday on Saturday night with a small party inKlavas house. It was a nice sit down dinner with lots of games, screamingchildren, cake and presents.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><br><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gyaMR8L8S8aH5SmB701Xbzya8z8qUcb_D2ntbJZHXmX_JBpr56iJagqbjoRrIk_F6v2tNiCpzOkSJhfoKUGgq34_8_XReMatJjpDYzcgHe6XezQBMUwCCGBKQqxBUQ2SKq4s8QdetknX/s1600/P1010045.JPG" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gyaMR8L8S8aH5SmB701Xbzya8z8qUcb_D2ntbJZHXmX_JBpr56iJagqbjoRrIk_F6v2tNiCpzOkSJhfoKUGgq34_8_XReMatJjpDYzcgHe6XezQBMUwCCGBKQqxBUQ2SKq4s8QdetknX/s400/P1010045.JPG" width="500" align="left" border="0"></font></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><br><font color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><br><font color="#0000ff"></font></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"></span></span></font> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue">Planning is now underway for the building of afourth house for the children. This house will be situated next to Oslejas, sothat there will be two pairs of houses that are neighbors to one another. Atthe moment we are still looking for sponsors to help finance the full house. Howeverit is hoped that this summer the outside of the house can be built and then intime when there is funding available the house can be finished. Having a fourthhouse will allow more children to live at this orphanage and experience the environmentwhich makes Grasi unique and leads to better outcomes for the children here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></font></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEygK_ifqKshBdnUZ743OZb8NGeXYpXJWpEWdbbyaxbXAIuLtOwQ1laOcWUv1JzI2Uap5CCoBNHIYNZtE_8TsRilzfIsAy9BTy-rZxslFJiS2ekYYELnDaKyMLDHy47A_TwGDRdKqvwTsB/s1600/plan_facade_sudraba-vitoli.jpg" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEygK_ifqKshBdnUZ743OZb8NGeXYpXJWpEWdbbyaxbXAIuLtOwQ1laOcWUv1JzI2Uap5CCoBNHIYNZtE_8TsRilzfIsAy9BTy-rZxslFJiS2ekYYELnDaKyMLDHy47A_TwGDRdKqvwTsB/s320/plan_facade_sudraba-vitoli.jpg" width="500" align="left" border="0"></font></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XXNHPEW9ug3MHKIsW5G2GcyAH3CN5DToQhjP_c5Z5sKLYgtbmopG6024TI6p2f6dmeSmRrmBfbdqwIywXGbufvUVLp79YZv4hNgqpocxJxpew6qX7J5BfKZ62IXncCI4HpM2OBsxE1nu/s1600/plan_coupe_sudraba-vitoli.jpg" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XXNHPEW9ug3MHKIsW5G2GcyAH3CN5DToQhjP_c5Z5sKLYgtbmopG6024TI6p2f6dmeSmRrmBfbdqwIywXGbufvUVLp79YZv4hNgqpocxJxpew6qX7J5BfKZ62IXncCI4HpM2OBsxE1nu/s320/plan_coupe_sudraba-vitoli.jpg" width="500" align="left" border="0"></font></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"> </div></span></span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue">Although there isn’t any national statistics,the information that has been gathered so far has found that the children whohave grown up here have a higher rate of reaching higher education then thosefrom traditional orphanages. This is because of the care they receive and theconstant support from a range of donors from around the world who help to fundthe education of individuals who are definitely bright enough, but may not havehad access, simply because of they grew up in an orphanage and don’t have afamily to provide support.<o:p></o:p></span></span></font><br></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike3FxrlYuMTN8Uzz3vbjtR9grq6WXQRs9E1wp9lwdwTpU3GcPnLsMwTtWuVGgkAOPueIc3nsCy0EV3ThOjEOId4VPCu0-_IZWqpf3N2nEtUGiH5pj4FmPaBJqefAaupibMz0afza2lTzR/s1600/P1000126.JPG" imageanchor="1"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike3FxrlYuMTN8Uzz3vbjtR9grq6WXQRs9E1wp9lwdwTpU3GcPnLsMwTtWuVGgkAOPueIc3nsCy0EV3ThOjEOId4VPCu0-_IZWqpf3N2nEtUGiH5pj4FmPaBJqefAaupibMz0afza2lTzR/s400/P1000126.JPG" width="500" align="left" border="0"></font></a></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><br></span></span> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"> </p> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><br></div><font color="#0000ff"></font></font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue">Every year people contact the orphanageoffering to volunteer and help, and of those many make the trip and most stayin touch. Any past volunteers who may be reading this- if you have any stories,photos or memories of your time here that you would like to share- we wouldlove to hear from you. Volunteering in an orphanage is a great experience as itallows the children to meet people from a range of countries, helping todevelop their language skills, but it also encourages the volunteers to reallyexperience a new culture and make a difference. The volunteers normally havelunch and dinner at the orphanage, where traditional Latvian food is eaten (inboth times I’ve been at Grasi there has been Swedish, Spanish, French andAustralian volunteers and the food has always been very different from backhome). The volunteers are also encouraged to take part in the different eventsthe children attend- school concerts and performances, church, chapel andplaying with them outside. In the afternoons the volunteers normally help theolder children with their homework, and by helping read, write and talk in English.</span></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><font size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br></font><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfMAv2awfA04Lww1h7Z3vUkez1by_UsJpClg-jsNJ1g5HF1fJ5BOh_yk94gtO4GdIihrusU02Lljiz2qfHmSHl8151BPJCxKww1S_1kCDNhRnmBZzQ5_0DLc2dOZs2wjjsp0ebTZcYThX/s400/P1000082.JPG" width="500" border="0"></font></span></span><br></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">Ps.just as I said would happen- Grasi went from having 3 houses full of healthy childrento a few sick coughing children during the week.</font></span></span></div> Sandra Stadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848945342346918508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741536106660721406.post-56986962754937616222012-02-06T13:45:00.001+02:002012-02-06T13:45:57.864+02:00A freezing cold week at Grasi! by Cassandra Gleadhill<p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">The last week at Grasi has brought with it freezing cold weather, but amazingly the children are yet to get sick with the typical winter colds and coughs (I bet now that has been said, this time next week they will all be sick).</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LELFvF7-j24/Ty-9CRtxKDI/AAAAAAAAAA4/rql8fnKpw-g/s1600-h/IMG_0940%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_0940" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_0940" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-R-Viqi36X6k/Ty-9DNXW7WI/AAAAAAAAAA8/Upz_qSrHWJk/IMG_0940_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xA7hApjfsGI/Ty-9DyPUzFI/AAAAAAAAABE/1Ai2ZmpozQA/s1600-h/IMG_0950%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_0950" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_0950" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_7N63rj5_HQ/Ty-9EpnM2gI/AAAAAAAAABQ/ujELSR9zHpQ/IMG_0950_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff"> </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">On Thursday and Friday it was too cold for the children to go to school because the temperature fell below minus 25°C. It turns out they have a rule in Latvia that states if the temperature is below 20°C the younger children (under 13’s) don’t have to go to school, and below 25°C none of the children go to school. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NgBwUNWkJ-A/Ty-9GAR_DOI/AAAAAAAAABY/JwZELONf29g/s1600-h/IMG_1032%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_1032" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="379" alt="IMG_1032" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Bhmx9lsR4E8/Ty-9Hf6lZsI/AAAAAAAAABg/2N5jjrqIw6s/IMG_1032_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff"> </font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">Early on Thursday morning the temperature fell to minus 34°C, and the novelty of it being so cold definitely hasn’t being lost on me. It is looking like it may stay this cold for a little while longer however as it is still very cold in Russia, and Latvia often has similar weather to Russia just a little bit later.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OLKpj9iP8_k/Ty-9IosHvHI/AAAAAAAAABo/VS8KRXIXQYY/s1600-h/IMG_0967%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_0967" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_0967" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZOruXJZSl_0/Ty-9JYHsdnI/AAAAAAAAABw/H34io6yuKDI/IMG_0967_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ic5d8eoZEQ0/Ty-9Kx7PfcI/AAAAAAAAAB4/ExObU9ShmKQ/s1600-h/IMG_0992%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_0992" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_0992" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pyOApY5ABc4/Ty-9LQyiZAI/AAAAAAAAACA/MX700XLkOVc/IMG_0992_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff"> </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">There has been photos all over the Australian and British news about the cold snap in Europe at the moment and back home (in Perth, Australia) my parents even saw a special mention of Latvia on the news- it was something about a very high rate of amputations due to the cold. Which was interesting to hear as Latvia rarely gets a mention in Australian news.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O15K8HWfwum39aFIbYMki6pWeVL3kNXZHIrYcXQgXU-AeDhc3T6Jz1yhGeH2WpP9KajANdXqiqE-OB9EFY2wtxevB9x-c-D77s4wHC4Mbg4HI-QSoAOZ9Wyjb_I9YciPaIyj5z0W9ALh/s1600-h/IMG_1029%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_1029" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_1029" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DiPKMZNnzq8/Ty-9NlrNKWI/AAAAAAAAACM/-lj8wfs16RA/IMG_1029_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS62nc0RwcoiaAOa7YRgTGaQd1oAYnaU1-XKunV4T_2UGtB2CxINOftRH4QttSrLSGVg3bSY7l0GXVC-enNr41ldG4Rvj4gk72hwQzU_B6EmWZSzdW9u8hyphenhyphenTTbtQbcE_sayYT93QGgDt-K/s1600-h/IMG_1036%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_1036" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_1036" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7bA_sKQF8mU/Ty-9Pr3PduI/AAAAAAAAACg/VXmu3l4d39U/IMG_1036_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff"> </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">The children have spent most of their extra time off inside the houses, playing cards, listening to music and cooking. On Thursday afternoon I taught the children in Oslejas how to make a butter cake with chocolate icing and on Friday we made a banana cake in Ozolini. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nL5AtQJfANg/Ty-9RPvV55I/AAAAAAAAACo/lGAHfKT_L-0/s1600-h/IMG_1038%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_1038" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="379" alt="IMG_1038" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JJmcU8_17sU/Ty-9SqxTHBI/AAAAAAAAACw/rSd4QB3iqcE/IMG_1038_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff"> </font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">On Friday the children from Ozolini and Klavas house spent the day together as Klavas house got a little bit to cold. The lakes near Grasi have now completely frozen over so the older children have been busy cleaning the ice so they can ice skate. Over the weekend the children spent most of the time indoors and were occupied with playing board games, doing chores, going to church/chapel and watching the occasional movie. </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OETZgBUeC3U/Ty-9T9p9qYI/AAAAAAAAAC4/0dk2zzfLZK4/s1600-h/IMG_0986%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_0986" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="379" alt="IMG_0986" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F2lnrKcYluE/Ty-9V3SJEmI/AAAAAAAAADA/9fj2OkI1aGI/IMG_0986_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff"> </font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8gBCbP1NJk0/Ty-9W7qBX1I/AAAAAAAAADI/r4QBNwcZsl0/s1600-h/IMG_1028%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_1028" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="379" alt="IMG_1028" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zEg2WPPkAiU/Ty-9ZELBWtI/AAAAAAAAADQ/zD07f1r0e7k/IMG_1028_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" border="0"></font></a><font color="#0000ff"> </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff" size="3">On Saturday Viktorija went to Riga for her big music concert. By the time she arrived home on Saturday night she seemed very happy with the outcome, so hopefully everything went well!</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aCiyuMka54M/Ty-9Zk5WnKI/AAAAAAAAADY/F2ds89arAJk/s1600-h/IMG_1048%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_1048" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_1048" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AC43DE1N3fg/Ty-9azylr4I/AAAAAAAAADc/k5XobXzU4M0/IMG_1048_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DTNiFk567WU/Ty-9cHRf8yI/AAAAAAAAADo/283Ih6iYqlc/s1600-h/IMG_1052%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#0000ff"><img title="IMG_1052" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="331" alt="IMG_1052" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s8qIT7MkR50/Ty-9dHNEduI/AAAAAAAAADw/4mrijSb1A1w/IMG_1052_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0"></font></a></p> Sandra Stadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848945342346918508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741536106660721406.post-74661883086976890112012-02-04T13:35:00.000+02:002012-02-06T13:48:27.562+02:00Back at Graši: one year on! By Cassandra Gleadhill<div style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; background-color: white"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">I am an Australian volunteer who first visited Grasi Children Village (Grasi) in December 2010, now just over a year later I have been fortunate enough to come back and see how things have changed. All of the children have grown up a little (well for starters they are all now a year older, and most are quite a bit taller as well) with some changing more then others. It was a nice to return to so many smiling and familiar faces, as well as some smiling and curious looking new faces. Sadly in the time I’ve been gone a few of the children have left Grasi.</font></span></span></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="background-color: white"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"> </font></span><a href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66af985970c-pi"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><img title="IMG_0878" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="379" alt="IMG_0878" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01630073e0e2970d-pi" width="504" border="0"></font></span></a><span style="color: blue"></span></span></div></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: small; background-color: white"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">Grasi is situated about 10 minutes drive from Cesvaine in rural Latvia. Cesvaine is a two and a half hour drive east of Riga, the capital of Latvia. Grasi was the first privately run children’s orphanage in Latvia and was officially opened in 1995. Grasi is home to three houses for the children, an office, chapel, farm and a manor house which was restored and is now a small hotel (</font></span><a href="http://www.hotelgrasupils.lv/"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">www.hotelgrasupils.lv</font></span></a><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">).</font></span></span></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"><br> <div style="text-align: center"><a style="background-color: white" href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01630073e0f0970d-pi"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><img title="IMG_0901" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="379" alt="IMG_0901" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66af9b5970c-pi" width="504" border="0"></font></span></a></div><span style="background-color: white"><span style="font-size: small; color: blue"><font size="3">Ozlini and Klavas house are located next door to each other, while Oslejas is a 500m walk away. At the moment the farm is home to a horse, pony, donkey, goat and about 30 sheep. The farm is run with the help of the children. Allowing the children to have contact with animals helps them appreciate animals and understand that they have responsibilities including feeding the animals.</font></span></span></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="background-color: white"><a href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66af9c4970c-pi"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><img title="IMG_0921" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="379" alt="IMG_0921" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01676169ba88970b-pi" width="504" border="0"></font></span></a><span style="color: blue"></span></span></div></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: small; color: blue; background-color: white"><font size="3">The hotel allows the older children to gain work experience and training in hospitality if they wish, and many of the staff employed there are adults who spent parts of there childhood at Grasi and may have struggled to find employment elsewhere. The hotel has a big kitchen where the meals for the children are cooked before they are driven over to the houses.</font></span></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"><br> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="color: blue"><span style="font-size: small; background-color: white"><a href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66aff20970c-pi"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_0864" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="234" alt="IMG_0864" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66aff2b970c-pi" width="311" border="0"></font></a></span><a style="font-size: medium; background-color: white" href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66afa51970c-pi"></a><span style="font-size: small; background-color: white"><a href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66aff45970c-pi"><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><img title="IMG_0877" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="234" alt="IMG_0877" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01630073e616970d-pi" width="176" border="0"></font></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small; background-color: white"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">The children live in three houses – Klavas (which means maple leaf), Ozolini (which means little oak) and Oslejas (which means ash tree). Each house has three “educators” whose job it is to look after the children, help with meals, homework and parenting. At the moment the educators in Klavas are Regina, Liene and Liga, in Ozolini there are Evita, Dzintra and Kristiana, and Oslejas has Gundega, Maris and Ilga.<br>By having the children divided up into three houses it allows them to have a better environment, that is somewhat similar to that of a family. At present there are 6 children in each house, meaning each child has more one-on-one time with adults, allowing for improvements in education and social development. At the moment both Klavas and Ozlini have a cat each and mylo the dog, allowing the children to spend time playing and feeding.</font></span></span></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="background-color: white"><a href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66afa6a970c-pi"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><img title="IMG_0896" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="379" alt="IMG_0896" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01676169baff970b-pi" width="504" border="0"></font></span></a><span style="color: blue"></span></span></div></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: small; color: blue; background-color: white"><font size="3">Over the summer some renovations have taken place, in particular the office. Renovations where needed due to a badly leaking roof, which meant water was leaking into the bathroom and corridors, and poor insulation made heating the building a problem. As a result of the leaking, the roof was replaced over the summer, while work is still continuing in the bathroom to fix the water damage. There is now improved insulation that is helping to control the temperatures inside the office, so it isn’t nearly as cold as it used to be. By improving the insulation there has been a reduction in the costs of heating the building.</font></span></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"><br> <div style="text-align: center"><a style="font-size: medium; background-color: white" href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66afafe970c-pi"><span style="color: blue"><img title="IMG_0895" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="379" alt="IMG_0895" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01676169bb36970b-pi" width="504" border="0"></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small; background-color: white"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">This week Viktorija has been busy competing in two music competitions. First she had a guitar competition Tuesday night and then a singing competition on Wednesday night. In the last year Viktorija has taught herself to play the guitar and continues to play the violin, piano and sing.</font></span></span></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="background-color: white"><a href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01630073e1f0970d-pi"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><img title="IMG_0874" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="217" alt="IMG_0874" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01676169bb54970b-pi" width="164" border="0"></font></span></a><a href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66afb4a970c-pi"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><img title="IMG_0860" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="217" alt="IMG_0860" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01676169bb67970b-pi" width="164" border="0"></font></span></a><a href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01630073e21c970d-pi"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3"><img title="IMG_0913" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="217" alt="IMG_0913" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01630073e222970d-pi" width="164" border="0"></font></span></a><span style="color: blue"></span></span></div></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: small; color: blue; background-color: white"><font size="3">Surprisingly there was no snow at Grasi for Christmas this year with the weather staying much warmer then it usually would for winter. That was until about two weeks ago and now Grasi is covered in a thick layer of snow. The temperatures have also started to drop and next week they are expected to hit -20. All the kids have been enjoying the snow, and have been spending lots of time sledding down the hills, skiing and playing in the snow. The older kids in particular are enjoying skiing most afternoons after school, while the littler kids enjoy rolling around the snow and playing in it!!.</font></span></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"><br> <div style="text-align: center"><a style="font-size: medium; background-color: white" href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66afbb3970c-pi"><span style="color: blue"><img title="IMG_0904" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="217" alt="IMG_0904" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66afbbd970c-pi" width="164" border="0"></span></a><a style="font-size: medium; background-color: white" href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef0168e66afbcd970c-pi"><span style="color: blue"><img title="IMG_0907" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="217" alt="IMG_0907" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01676169bc1b970b-pi" width="164" border="0"></span></a><a style="font-size: medium; background-color: white" href="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01676169bc30970b-pi"><span style="color: blue"><img title="IMG_0863" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-image: initial" height="217" alt="IMG_0863" src="http://capesperance.ublog.com/.a/6a00d8341d49f053ef01630073e274970d-pi" width="164" border="0"></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small; background-color: white"><span style="color: blue"><font size="3">A new wooden tree house has also popped up in the trees near Ozolini and Klavas house! It was built by one of the children over the summer and is situated in an ideal location near the houses and at the top of the hill. The older children are encouraged to build and design things like this as it helps them to develop hobbies and learn skills in a way that they enjoy doing.</font></span></span></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: small; color: blue; background-color: white"><font size="3">Cassandra Gleadhill</font></span></div> <p><font face="Trebuchet MS" color="#0000ff" size="3"></font></p> Sandra Stadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848945342346918508noreply@blogger.com0P38, Cesvaines lauku teritorija, Cesvaines novads, LV-4880, Lettonie56.990638464103249 26.2765502929687556.956029964103251 26.197586292968751 57.025246964103246 26.355514292968749