Dedicated to my family

Dedicated to my family

The wee soft gentle touch of Daniel makes me forget all my worries
His “janu” smile is adorable
Its fun to play hide and seek with him.

Erin the “star”, making a beautiful drawing that wins my heart,
It’s worth keeping it safe forever. I was worried when she was ill. I could not see her quiet. I wish her good health forever.

A day never passed by when Simon does not ask me whether I am “o.k.” simply love it .He is very caring; I really enjoyed talking to him about religion.

Claire is a beauty with a brain. I wish I could spend more time with her .I remember the sunny day me, suz and claire chatted a lot about our own cultures, xchanges our beliefs and cultural practices ,it was very relaxing.

I am going to miss every bit I spend with you all.

Kiki
24.06.09

Some of the wishes from our amazing tree...

Just some of the amazing and moving wishes we had on our tree - click the picture to see them clearly. =]

VIEWS OF PUSHPA KODIKARA (HOST)GX

ABOUT GLOBAL XCHANGE

i think its very useful,well desighned project.i belive these sort of organizations are very good for youth good for forighn contries its very nice programe i always promote global xchange. i hope in future this program keep going .i hope all volunteers adopt positive changes adn hope that they spread this knowledge in their own contries for betterment.in starting days of GX i learned a lot in meetings about hosting Peppy UK SUPERVISOR she helped me a lot.its realy brilliant course.i envolved in this group and i met with lots of new people and made a good freindship with other host famlies now we have a freindship network because of Global Xcahnge. i wish this program run for ever because it connects different peoples together as a chain for such a good work.

ABOUT RABAIL & DEBORAH

I am hosting 2 girls one from Pakistan and other one is from UK.i am glad to be their host here in Glasgow i realy pleased to met them.i have three sons but no daughter but now i found my two daughter i am quite happy on that.they both are realy very nice and sincere with their work so hardworking girls.both are very easy to adopted i have no problem with them they are so caring and loving i found them like my own daugters Rabail and Deborah are like my family members now i am realy worried about that when they left me i will again feel myself alone without them my house is so quite no one to make noice and i will loose my two daughter they everyday call me MUMA i love this word when they both cal me muma.i never told them to do any work but they do without telling them like their own home.i will miss them too much.they are learning a lot and adopting positive things me too learning from them i have learned a lot about their culture their relegion and their life styles in their country.
wish u best of luck i want to see u on peek of world .

FOR SADIA AND PEPPY

I found both supervisors of GX very nice doing very good job they are so carring about their volunteers and also about us host homes.

FOR ALL TEAM OF GX

All the volunteers from UK and Pakistan u are all doing well,i realy love u all u are like my kids.all of you are as good as Rabail & Deborah for me.wish u all the best for your future.

Thank you:
Pushpa Kodikara

CAD number 1 - Glasgow Mela!

On Sunday 21st June, the team attended the Glasgow Mela, where we helped on the Oxfam stall, and staged our own activities to engage the community and raise awareness of the current crisis in Pakistan.

During the Mela, we held a balloon release for peace, and created a wish tree for those affected by the current crisis in Pakistan. People were invited to write their personal wishes and display them on the tree, and we were delighted with the inspiring and emotional response we got from people of all ages and nationalities.

Wishes ranged from ‘I wish for a labradoodle’ to ‘peace for Pakistan’ to ‘I wish my sister would realise she is beautiful.’

Each balloon had a card attached saying, 'Balloon Release for Peace, Oxfam Pakistan Crisis Appeal, Visit http://www.oxfam.org.uk/, with some Urdu script on, also.

I think the day was amazing. I particularly enjoyed the wish tree, and found myself with tears in my eyes at some points whilst reading the wishes of some of the participants. Hopefully we achieved a real fun and inspiring event for everyone involved, and have really shown how little actions (writing a card and sending it away on a balloon, or expressing your wishes and hanging them on a tree) can really make a big difference, both on a personal and wider level; I think the smiles and exclamations from around our stall proves that beyond any publicity we could have! I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated.

The whole team were inspired to hear that their efforts were appreciated by those attending the Multi-Cultural Festival ‘This tree is a milestone for love, and will have a great influence’ Syed Ansar Ul Hassan.

To make donations or find out more about the Pakistan Crisis Appeal from Oxfam, visit http://www.oxfam.org.uk/ or visit any Oxfam shop. We'll also be running the fun run next Sunday in Tollcross Park in aid of this appeal, and you can donate to the cause on www.justgiving.com/gxteam85 - please be generous!

We also helped Oxfam to collect over 230 signatures for their current petition, appealing to Gordon Brown to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. Oxfam are pushing for the UK to lead the way in negotiating an international treaty that will deliver a safe, sustainable future for poor people around the world, millions of whom are already suffering the effects of climate change.

This is a list of all the wishes put onto the tree;;

I wish my sister would realise she is beautiful

I wish for peace, happiness and for all diseases to be cured for all the sick people Fraser

I wish my mum and dad would let me have a hamster

Long Live Pakistan Ryan

I wish Natasha would come back

I wish Olivia embraces and enjoys India

We wish for peace, love to all

I wish my Aunty Anne goes up to heaven well

I wish for a better day

I wish all dads a happy fathers day

I wish for peace and happiness and forgiveness in my family FOREVER

I want Peace Niamh and Aiden

I wish I could live in Pakistan Ibrahim Ahmad

I wish for peace and happiness for all the world

We wish all the women in the UN shelters courage and perseverance

We wish all families would have enough food and water to live for the best of their lives

I wish for peace and love for the world

I wish for a helicopter and world peace

I wish to win the lottery

Sunshine!

I wish I owned a mansion

I wish that people accepted each other - regardless!

Peace in Pakistan

I wish for no more fighting

I wish for a dog

I wish I was a millionaire

I wish Pakistan won the final today

For Peace Worldwide!

I wish for better health and good fortune

I wish I could pass my driving test DW

I wish Dad has a nice day

I wish for all wars to stop

I wish for all my dreams to come true!

I wish for an end to world poverty in my lifetime

I wish I had a big house

I wish every wish came true

Peace, health and happiness for all people

World Peace, Food, Shelter for everyone in the world

I wish for everyone to be happy again

I wish for the war to stop

We want peace Vinay

I wish for a puppy to love and for peace in the world Isla

PEACE IN PAKISTAN

:-) Sarah

I wish for all these wishes to come true =)

I wish for good health and ultimately happiness

Peace and Happiness for everyone!

I wish I could have a real dinosaur (a T-Rex)

I wish Celtic would win the league

I wish upon a star MR

To Pass my driving test first time

I wish that everyone lived happily ever after

I wish that the sun shines in the sky! Coral

I wish I had a sister

I wish for Pakistan to win the match Joe

I want Pakistan to win Twenty20 Cricket 2009

I wish my sister was happy

I wish to be the biggest in my family

We Want a Peaceful Pakistan

Good health to Gina and Wealth for Julia

I wish for epic Lulz

I wish to be a singer

I wish everyone health and happiness

Peace in Pakistan

I wish for Emma to stay in remission from cancer

I wish I could meet Zac and Vanessa from High School Musical

I wish I could have a horsey

I wish that all the wars would STOP!

I wish for Pakistan to be a better place Kaitlin

I wish for Harmony between different cultures! Peace for all!

All the best wishes for PAKISTAN

I love Pakistan. Peace there and everywhere.

Peace and Only Peace! I love Pakistan.

I wish for peace! One World, One Love!

I wish to meet our friends today

I wish happiness to ALL people. Love you all.

I wish for a dog, a labradoodle for me Caitlin

Love and Peace for Glasgow

I wish that Pakistan gets peace and prosperity

I with that the world gets peace and love

I wish I could live in my country forever

I wish for all wishes to come true

I wish that everyone would make the most of every moment

I wish I had my own world where people don't die

I wish for love and happiness in the world Jaimee

I wish animal cruelty would stop Aimee

I wish for RFC to win the league

Pakistan - may there be peace there

I wish that I will go to heaven

I wish for a mansion

I wish my dad did not shout at me

I wish for £52m

I wish I had a nintendo wii

I wish I could find my mam

I wish for this to be the best GX ever.

...And that's not even all of them, as some were blown away in the wind to be found by some lucky wanderer!

=]

The end of life as I knew it! By Maggi

May 8th. Maggi's flat. Smiles for Gwen. Taken by Altaf with love.



I should have realised, as I looked at two brightly coloured butterflies dancing down the middle of Paisley Road West at 9 O'clock on a May evening, that a cosmic shift had occured in my life.

"We are just going for a walk" they said,"as it is our tradition". Nearly an hour later, in the pitch black of a Glasgow night in an area where gangs roam and drunks thrive, I stood in my lounge window where I had held anxious vigil since their departure. Every nail had been bitten to the quick as I anticipated the international crisis and social conflict that would follow the loss of two young muslim girls within hours of arriving in my country.Would I be allowed to continue as a social worker in the employ of Glasgow City Council? Would my family ever speak to me again? How would I cope with the media exposure of my neglect of two such innocents? And above all, how could I face their parents with this betrayal of trust on my part?

Just at the point of dialing the last digit to inform the Gex supervisors of this awful tragedy, the butterflies came back into sight, skipping gaily along Paisley Road West with huge smiles on their faces. Was I given an opportunity to express my distress at their prolonged absence? Not a bit of it! I was bombarded with tales of long-lost 'cousins' who had entertained them in their late-opening shops; I was informed of facilities and public buildings, miles away, that they were dying to further explore. My protestations were swept aside by hugs and squeals of excitement at being in "the best host-home" with "the best host-mother" and the proof that I had nothing to worry about was that they were "here"!

The following morning didn't fare much better!

As I dropped them off at the internal carpark in Central Station where they were to meet the Gex group, and told them to follow the commuters coming off a train..........that is just what they did!.....All the way past the concourse, through the station, out into the busy streets of Glasgow, and into the offices of the commuters whom they were tailing! Hopelessly lost on the first day! Did they panic! No! They simply charmed some poor unsuspecting Company Executive into believing that they were the nicest young ladies she had ever met!

And it has been downhill ever since!

Every domestic rule discussed on health, safety and security principles has been earnestly agreed to................... and just as earnestly flouted! Every specific place for kitchen equipment etc, so that I can find it again, has been demonstrated, acknowledged ..............and ignored! I have tried the wagging finger until I now have an athritic joint. I have tried lecturing, demonstrating, sulking and cajoling..... all to no avail. Every serious attempt to establish ground rules has degenerated into giggles and hugs while sweeping aside the promise of dire consequences if they fail to comply.
I have even threatened an arranged marriage to my mystic son as an act of joint revenge.... and was dismayed by the level of enthusiasm for the idea.... by one of them at least!

I have now given in!

I am resigned to living in a home of unchanged beds with food-encrusted dishes in the sink, puddles on the bathroom floor and sticky keys on the lap-top and the cooker knobs and nothing is where it should be! But, hey!.... the food is great; the puddles present a gymnastic challenge to an aging hippy; the sticky keys still annoy and the beds are none of my business! Being of a Buddhist persuation, I know that this too shall pass and be of ultimately little account. I shall once again experience the peace, quiet and order of my previous, boring, older woman's existence of work by day and telly by night. Or, as`Salma has the temerity to describe me, - " A Desperate Housewife with an obsession for Dr Who!"
Huh!

I can't wait for the 4th of July and the sanity which will prevail! ??????????????

Where, then, the overwhelmingly heartening story of Salma overshooting her bus-stop as she entertained the passengers to the score of "The Sound of Music"?

Where, then, the experience of Maria taking a daft domestic turn at 2am and hoovering the entire flat to the consternation of residents and rats alike?

Where, then, the heart-breaking sharing of "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Khuda Kay Liye" until the early hours of the morning.

Where, then, the bewilderment of seeing, and envying, beautiful items of clothing and jewelry on a brightly clad young body........... only to gradually realise that they were mine!

Where, then, the witness of my grandchildren interacting with such ease and pleasure with such a vibrant group of young people who arrived believing that 'people in the west' do not love their children?

Where, then, the joy of seeing my two young guests welcoming, cooking for, and playing with, the children of a bewildered Iraqi family on their first night on Scottish soil and thereby expressing the best of Celtic Hospitality which is sacred to me.

Where, then, the offered cup of tea.... the massage...... the tasty tit-bit........the late-night confidencies sitting at the end of my bed................... the spontaneous hugs and kisses when I am remonstrating with them................

Yes, indeed! Life as I knew it will never be the same.

The highlights of the Gex85 visit are too numerous to mention, and all of them life-changing in a positive way.
Their first weekend marked the seventh anniversary of my daughter Gwen's passing which we marked with a life-enhancing party in her honour and attended by my beloved Indian son, Altaf, one of my first Gex guests. This was his third visit to Scotland which he considers his second home. Following the Gex experience in 2006, he graduated in Peace Studies from Bradford University and is currently living and working in Jordan with the UN where I hope to join him in August. He remarked on the energy and positive vibrancy of the current 85 group and was reluctant to leave, especially after the spontaneous game of cricket in Glasgow Green when Scotland gave Pakistan a thrashing!
BTW (I have footage of Maria, Salma and Altaf dynamically interacting with a giant foot in Bellahouston Park which I am prepared to sell to the highest bidder before I post it on UTube.)

My active involvement with the group has been hampered by a knee injury sustained trying to take photographs of Puffins on Staffa in May during my annual pilgrimage to Iona. But this did not prevent a wonderful weekend at my village home of Penpont with Deborah, Zaake and Raheel as well as Salma and Maria. This included 'hairdressing', rapid-running, pool-jumping, palm-reading and late-night-philosophy discussions against a background of the best of Scottish countryside complete with hills, woods, rivers and castles. The food wasn't bad either with the best of biryannis and home-made chapattis being spun in my wee kitchen. Sadly, none of this impressed my grandchildren who declined to consider Salma as a step-mother, and my sad, dejected son Richard has since joined a monastry!

Those unfamiliar with the irony and sarcasm of the Scottish sense of humour may conclude that the last two months have tested all involved to the limits. And to some extent, this is true. Our shared home has been like a microcosm of the world. A potential clash of generations, values, standards, abilities, principles, cultures, opinions, priorities and perceptions within which I admit to regularly assuming the "advantage" of seniority and ownership. But each time that I won my point, I lost the opportunity to see things anew. As the title of my piece suggests, I was gradually persuaded to let go of my need to keep order of both my household and their activites. They now run rings around me with total aplomb, having demonstrated over and over again that not only can they look after themselves in the wilds of city night-time, but they leave a lasting positive impression on all whom they meet. The bus drivers of Glasgow know Salma by name and Maria's smile could disarm the toughest street ned.

Both of my Pakistani daughters are a positive credit to their homes and families and have been constructive ambassadors for their country and culture in their placements and with the citizens of Glasgow at large. I have been bowled over by their intelligence and insight and know that many of the youth in my own country could learn much from their demeanour, decorum and modesty. The enthusiasm with which they relate the stories of the day, either from their placements, their social activities or street observations leave me both enriched and humbled.

Yes, my tough Scottish heart has to admit that a huge hole will be created when they leave me next week. I may have singularly failed to convert them to the philosophy of "a place for everything and everything in its place"........But I let them go, reluctantly, with the satisfaction that, many years hench, as they each try in vain to instruct offspring and daughters-in-law in the finer nuances of housekeeping, they will be haunted in their dreams by the image of an athritic wagging finger.

So...... go well my two beautiful bright butterflies. May your experience in Africa be as life-enhancing and humanly enriching as it was to me many years ago. May your intelligence, insight, and creativity find value in this troubled world. May your families and home communities recognise the role that you have played, and will continue to play, in the cause of deeper human understanding and reconciliation. May you take with you from Scotland a sense of the universality and interconnectedness of all of humanity, so well expressed by our immortal Bard, Robert Burns.

"Then let us pray, that come it may,

(As come it may, for a' that)

That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the Earth

Shall bear the gree, an a' that.

For a' that, an' a' that,

It's comin' yet, for a' that.

That Man tae Man, the World o'er

Shall brithers be for a' that".


Bless you both, Salma and Maria, as you take your unique giftedness into the World. Enjoy your adventure with an eye on the far horizon, and the step ahead of you, too. May your path be ever illuminated by the one true Light. Know that you will ever occupy a very special place in my home, my heart and my family.

Haste ye back, ma bonny lassies.

Love and Peace..... Your Scottish Mum.....Buma XX

What my Host Home feels about GX by Claire

My experience of Global xchange has been an extremely positive one. My volunteers have enhanced my life greatly both culturally and personally both of my children have loved the experience and my daughter has told everyone about her girls from a different land.

I have learned a lot about a religion which is published in a negative light and is wronged by this. I have found the volunteers to be demonstrative, thoughtful, welcoming and positive.

I have also learned a lot about a country gripped by a group of thugs hell bent on squashing the creativity, richness and grace of its own people through cowardly archaic and sexist practices.

It is with this in mind that I am extremely humbled and proud of the women from Pakistan who have made this journey and have openly accepted my own culture and behaviour with no sign of distains or prejudice and the men for embarrassing my forward and stubborn attitude.

As for my volunteer from this land I have found her openness, confidence and beautiful nature with both Nature with both myself and my children warming and has completely justified my reasons for sharing on this journey.

Claire (Host Home Member)

What does my Host Home say about GX

My experience to date with Global Xchange has on the whole been one of unexpected welcome surprise.

Both volunteers have integrated themselves into our family and I believe the whole process has been enjoyable with a fantastic opportunity to learn from a culture that is open, honest, creative, and expressive and with an ability to appreciate the moment spiritually and looking away from the materialistic approach to life.

What really hit home was watching my daughter sitting on salma’s knee picking flowers in the middle of Glasgow green. This would never had happened /allowed to happen thirty years ago when I was my daughters age and it was heart warming with a huge sense of pride as watched .Erin play away without any knowledge of racism or prejudice .Although there has been 30 years progression since was a child with cultural integration, it is only one step down the generation line .I am very grateful my children are living and learning in a much more tolerant and enlightened world.

Simon

Be dared
When life is disaster
Then live in tomorrow
When life is contented
Then live in attendance
When life is nostalgic
Then live in precedent
And when life is cruelty
Then live in fantasy

When a child is born
When a child is born
He is charmed with love
Nobody knows the writings
Written beyond his innocent face
Sometimes the time tricks the game
And coach everything strange to his brain
He is then called the mature of his age
The charm of early days lost in a stage
Situations travels him what it wants to teach
Happenings what he will has to be face
After the journey of this whole cycle
Fewer awarded by graceful references
But something beats inertly that ask
For what purpose was it all?
For what purpose was it all?
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Friday February 17, 2006 - 03:25pm (PKT) Edit Delete Permanent Link 0 Comments

More Poetry...

Poetry

Sorry they're not very big on here! You'll have to click on them to see them in a bigger size before you can read the poetry!

A voyage into the colourful world of the unknown poet - open mic night episode one??

[This is posted on behalf of Suze!]

This may be a standard monthly event for Colin and his fellow chums but it struck fear in the hearts of the average team 85 member! It has apparently become a bit of a tradition with GX 'team players' over the past few years and so team 85 was to be no exception. Out of our comfort zones we certainly were!! Fire breathing dragons filled spectator seats - or so it felt. The professionals got us under way setting the bar for the evenings festivities - no pressure then! First to face the monstrous 3 headed beasts was our team supervisor - Go Peppy! The light gleamed in her eyes as she sized up to the terror in order to unravel her beautiful little ditty on GX Glasgow '09. Then came Sabina, a hidden talent and a magical gem - a real challenge for any future volunteer. She delighted the crowd with her loving anecdotes on each volunteer (some lines disputed!) Up next was Sarmad, ever the joker he took us by surprise with his moving thoughts on death. Alex was no exception, revealing an inner poet, masked by his usual witty banter and sarcastic humour. We did however have one poet hidden up our sleeves - Salma, our secret weapon, who dazzled us with her lovely lyrics. David of the poetry world was definitely sizing up Goliath as Debs took gallantly to the stage to read with raw emotion the powerful lines of Kiki's poem, illuminating the current situation in Pakistan. This contrasted, only mildly of course, to the sincere 'Bing Bang Bong, Listen to My Song' that was to be my opener! In this cross cultural exchange Urdu was always going to be in there somewhere and with only ke see ho? to play the UK volunteers left this in the capable hands of Najeeba, Rabi and Maria whose poetry sung like the songs of fairies. Even host home dad Simon joined the shenanigans and recited his feelings on the economic situation ravaging society with so much passion you'd never have thought him a novice. With the night ended, the dragons were disarmed and the poets stood triumphant. We could now sit back, relax, and enjoy Colin's renditions of great Scottish classic songs, my personal favourite and a definite crowd pleaser; "I'm no..."

Onwards to the next open mic night?! Who knows...

HEALTH AND GX TEAM SAFETY SESSION IN JOHN WHEATLY COLLEGE

COMMUNITY WELCOME Collage and edited by Maggie

GX TEAM FOR IN COUNTRY ORIENTATION IN JOHN WHEATLY COLLEGE

GX TEAM 85 CELEBRATED ITS 4TH GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP DAY ON ''SLAVERY''

Sessions were conducted by Raheel Ahmad and Zaake Deconink

GX team 85 conducted its 4th GCD on the SLAVERY regarding to human rights; as one of the theme of the GX.
The sessions were conducted by Raheel Ahmad and Zaake Deconink. They discussed the definition of the slavery, the causes and the effects of the slavery. Some of the background history of slavery was also come under discussion. Both of the presenters tried to make it more interactive they shared some of the photographs of the slave ships, the case studies and the shocking facts about slavery. The most interesting part of the GCD was the introduction of new concept of slavery in modern era. Which was termed as MENTAL SLAVERY? They discussed that although the chained slaves are not very obvious in the modern era but slavery have taken another form. They termed the modern era and the influence of so called modernism as the master of modern man. They said man of today is enslaved by the current banking system, matterliastic attitudes, the consumer society and the extravagant approaches which are leading man to very serious psychological illness. They said ‘the current man is not driven by its free will nor by the demands of the should but he is breathing the social approval and more popularity and in return of all this respect and popularity he is giving his free will and his real desires’’.
To refine the concept of MENTAL SLAVERY they have performed a role play in which one of the presenter was the new born indivdual in society and the other presenter acted as society. Basically the theme of the role play was to show that how different beliefs and restrictions hits the mind and the soul of an individual and makes him slave.
At the end of the session a meeting was organized with Andy to talk about the political propaganda of Palestinian and Israeli issue.
Collectively it was a brilliant effort. A true example of team work and well presented GCD.
BEST OF LUCK TO RAHEEL AND ZAAKE

What GX means to me...

After seeing Salma's post on what GX is to her, I thought I'd make a similar one...

It's difficult to explain.

This is probably one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life. Period. I am meeting some of the most inspirational and amazing people I've ever met on this programme, and it's changing some of my ideas and thoughts that I thought wouldn't ever be changed. Seeing and working with people from all walks of life has made me realise how incredibly lucky I am (as cliched as it is!) and not only because I'm able to afford good food, education, new clothes and things that I want etc...I'm lucky in that I have the opportunity to meet these people and to travel halfway across the world to meet more people, to find out more about other cultures and to let that enrich my life and my way of thinking. If every 2 month period was like this one has been, my life would be richer than I can ever imagine. This programme has made me appreciate some of the things that I truly take for granted, from having someone who'd, say, make my bed or cook me meals every day, to the most fundemental things like having a roof over my head and having access to the amazing facilities that this country offers. Working with asylum seekers has made me realise how damned lucky I am to have grown up in the UK and to not have to be scared of persecution - some of the people I've been working with literally would not even leave the house in their original countries because their fear was so great.

Meeting people who have very little or nothing has made me realise how little money and stuff actually contributes to someone's happiness. The people I met at the soup kitchen were some of the most friendly and cheerful people I've ever met, and they have pretty much nothing - at the same time many of the businessmen/women that I meet on the train who obviously have lots of money all seem miserable and not to have time for anyone; and are occasionally just plain rude! I think the less material things you have the more you can truly appreciate simple things that make you more happy more easily! Maggie, a very wise woman, has said that she thinks that this recession is going to be very beneficial to the country - not the usual reaction! - because when people have less, they appreciate more what they have, and when it comes down to it, surely it's better to be satisfied with you you have and be happy than to be consistantly striving for more? I know I'm not the first person to ever have these ideas and certainly not the first person to ever express them, but it's possibly the first time in my life that I've really experienced these things!

Basically, GX is AMAZING. It's all about new experiences, about learning, about cultures, about meeting people, about pushing your boundaries, about helping out, about development, about a common feeling of wanting to help! But above all it's about fun and making the very most of every moment that we have. Who knows what happens after this life?! No-one really knows what's gonna happen so I'm not willing to let any opportunities pass me by, just in case - you've just gotta embrace your every moment, to quote a friends tattoo!

I'm finished my ramblings now, I promise!

The Community Welcome

Our Community Welcome was held on Friday 15th May at the PEEK venue. We came together as a group to try to spread the word about GX and what we're doing in Glasgow, inviting Host Families, colleagues at our work placements and other contacts that we have in the city.

The evening was a great success, with everyone dressing up in traditional Pakistani dress and providing much tasty Pakistani food - it was a real celebration of Pakistani culture and the whole team worked together to create a memorable night in a real short space of time!

The evening started with a meet-and-greet session, with everybody admiring the beautiful decorations that had been put up and the fantastic clothes that everyone was wearing, not to mention the delicious food being served! All of the community contacts we had really started to get to know one another and began to network - everybody met a lot of new faces! After the food and the chatting some presentations were given on Global Xchange, on Pakistani culture and each of the work placements in which we are based. There were a lot of proud faces in the crowd as our workplace supervisors heard the glowing reports of their programmes! After the presentation the celebration truly began, with Pakistani dancing and mehandi (decorating peoples hands with henna) available for everyone - even some of the men walked off with new decorations!

Overall, the night was a great success with everyone having an excellent time and learning lots about a different and interesting culture. It was certainly an explosive welcome into the community and set a precendent for a very successful time in Glasgow!

Climate Change: Are you in the Dark?

This weekend the team organised a visit to Edinburgh, for ourselves and some of the young people we've been working with to take part in a day of talks and workshops on the issue of climate change. The day was run by Roars Not Whispers, for 16-25 year olds to learn about the issue and find out what we can do as individuals and within communtities. The day was great fun, and we enjoyed meeting all the young people who attended through various groups all over Scotland, and seering how passionate and involved they are on this topic.












A game to measure our Carbon Footprint! For example: put 2 dots on your face if you buy new clothes, take one off if you buy from charity shops - add 3 dots if you've flown in the last 3 months - add one dot if you drive, none for public transport, take one off if you walk or cycle... then wear your dots with pride for the rest of the event!

In the evening we were invited to a dinner celebrating 10 years of the Scottish Youth Parliament, where we heard about what this organisation for getting the voice of young people heard by decision makers has acheived. There were some really inspiring stories, both from the podium and from the young people we met, about their projects creating change in their local community!

A big thank you to Miki from Roars Not Whispers for organising this great experience for us!

http://www.syp.org.uk/ http://www.rnw.org.uk/ http://www.oxfam.org.uk/

Glasgow University visit

On Friday the team went to Glasgow University, where Azra & Peter Meadows organised a wonderful day for us all! They were so kind and gave us a tour of the beautiful site, including the Hunterian Art Gallery & Museum and MacKintosh House, which both have amazing collections and were great to look around.

Over lunch we met some of the University staff and students, and were really pleased to be able to share our experiences of Global Xchange so far! We were inspired to hear from Mr Shah M.Jamal, the Minister/Consul General of Pakistan to Scotland, Rev. Stuart MacQuarrie, the University of Glasgow Chaplain, and Vivienne Baumfield, the University of Glasgow Regional Champion for Central & South Asia; it was great to hear about all the different ways the University is facilitating cross cultural exchange and inter faith understanding.

In the afternoon we attended a lecture by Professor John McKnight, on ‘Discovering Community Power through Asset Based Neighbourhood Development Strategies’, which was really interesting, particularly for us to learn an academic model for community development, to help us recognise how the organisations we’re working with in Glasgow use these methods, and where they fit in the wider picture of how this leads to development.

We had a brilliant day, so thank you again to everyone who organised it and came to meet us!

Talks on Palestine
Togather with Andy andFaras GX team held a talk on the situation going on in the Palestine.It was a new thing for all the group to see things beyound the propeganda that is being presented by the Media. It was a an intresting a lengthy discussion. Andy and the team tried to cover the whole aspects of the issue. It acted like the jisaw pieces in making the team to think globaly, and expand their horizons. it was also a nice oppertunity for those team members who had little knowledge of the politics and the conflicts that are going on in the modern world.

WHat is GXxxxxxxxxx.....

Its like YOU were pushed on this planet with a hand bag, and you never botherd to check it or take a look inside it, but its simply the GX which is serving as demand to take a look inside the bag and see what do you have, and you will be wonder ''OH I CAN CLIMB A MOUNTAIN''OH I CAN SING IN THE BUS''OH I CAN COOK. there are so many things that I have but I never tried it.And GX is all about that.!!!!!