IF YOUR NOT GIVING - YOU JUST DON'T GET IT!

“The positive effect of kindness on the immune system and on the increased production of serotonin in the brain has been proved on research studies. Serotonin is a naturally occurring substance in the body that makes us feel more comfortable, peaceful, and even blissful. In fact the role of most anti-depressants is to stimulate the serotonin production to alleviate depression. Research has shown that a simple act of kindness directed toward another improves the functioning of the immune system and stimulates production of serotonin in both the recipient of the kindness and the person extending the kindness. Even more amazing is that persons observing the act of kindness have similar beneficial results. Imagine this: kindness extended, received, or observed beneficially impacts the physical health and feelings of everyone involved.” ― Wayne Dyer

If you placed an order for 2 or more packs of covers this year you would have received free scratch & sniff stickers. Why? Because it made me feel good to give them away. Many of you would have received something a little extra when you opened your parcel, why? Because I wanted to. I have always found more joy in giving than receiving. I have even been criticised for giving too much. This quote from Wayne Dyer above explains why. There is a positive physical reaction – a love drug – which is felt by the giver, the receiver and every witness to the act of giving. It makes us feel GREAT ~ literally ~ to give.

A month ago I decided to give an education to Anita, one of the millions of stolen children of Nepal. (My previous blog explains the amazing circumstances in which she came to be 2 Kool 4 Skool’s second sponsor child).  I had wanted to have enough sales to educate her for life before I gave the instruction to find her but I just couldn’t wait that long. I had enough to pay for her education for 3 years and knew that I would find a way to pay for the next 7 years somehow.

So if Serotonin is released by an act of kindness by the giver the receiver, and any witness, be prepared to feel great.  This week I received Anita’s photo in her new school uniform ready to start school for the first time in 3 years.

 

 

This is Anita’s before and after photo. What an amazing difference. Gone is the broken sad little girl and in her place is a little girl with a smile who knows that someone cares!

So thank you to each and every customer who bought covers for back to school this year as each one of you are contributing to this happy little girl’s education. You should feel great. It’s biological!

 

A Girl Called Anita

I have been asked often over the last few months, Why do you choose to pay for the education of girls in Nepal and India? There are so many reasons but hopefully this story will start explain why.

Due to the remoteness of many of the homes of the children who attend Demazong Academy they must board at the school . This means that they say at the school full time for 11 months of the year and would return home for 1 month’s holiday. If it is not possible to return home they may stay at the school all year in the care of the school’s headmaster  Pema and his wife, family and staff.  It is not unusual for a parent to send their child into the care of another,  trusting that they are getting an education without contact for months at a time. To our western way of thinking this is inconceivable but in Nepal and this remote part of India this is the sacrifice a family makes for an education. An educated child has the chance to get a better job and in turn a better life for both them, their family and community.

 

Anita, thanks to the sales of covers for back to school 2013 is our company’s second child to receive her education, board, food, uniforms and books for life. I have the privilege of calling Pema who runs the Demazong Academy in Sikkim, my Nepali Brother. When I wrote to him and said that we had started to set aside funds for a second child and that “I wanted a to find a child who’s life would be truly transformed by our sponsorship” this was his reply.

Myself & Pema

Hello Dear Sister,

I was very happy to hear you. Here we all are fine and well. We are preparing for the session. All the students and teachers are back after vacation. The construction of our new kitchen is done. We now need some plastic chairs for the dining hall.

Here I have the picture of Anita with her parents.  They are originally from Nepal. They came to Sikkim a long time back and were living in one of the remote area of South Sikkim. Two years back Anita was studying in Class one in one of the Government School , living with her parents.  One of the men came from Gangtok to meet her parents. He promised them that he will take Anita to Gangtok and send her to one of the good school there. Once Anita was taken to Gangtok they never came to meet her parents. Recently Anita’s parents have shifted near to our school. Her father often comes to me to help in some construction work.  One day he told me the story about his daughter Anita. Immediately I made a phone call to everyone who I know in Gangtok. After one week we came to know the address of that person. I manage some money for him and send him to Gangtok to bring his daughter back. He could not bring her back on that day. Later we came to know that she was locked inside and both the man and his wife went to work in office.  When her father went he found lock hanging outside the house and came back helplessly.  I felt that on Sunday all the government offices will remain closed and the man and his wife will be at home. So, I send him on Sunday for the second time and finally he met his daughter and brought her back home. Anita was never sent to school. They treated Anita as a servant and let her do all sort of domestic work.
 

 Anita has two younger sisters and one younger brother. Anita is the eldest in their family. Her parents have been requesting me to find sponsor for her. I feel she needs help.  I am very happy that you decided to help her.  In India thousands of such innocent children are being cheated and are send to work in hotels and even sold to brothels every day. I feel very sorry for these children.
 

Today I will call her parents and tell them this good news. I would like to thank you very much for giving hope and opportunity to her.

Looking forward to hear from you. Convey my love and wishes to your kids.

Pema from Sikkim

 

As Pema says, Anita’s story is not unique. This happens every day. But for now Anita is safe and free to go to school like any girl her age should be free to do.

If you’d like to read more or need a good cry, a wonderful book is Little Princes by Conor Grennan about child trafficking in Nepal.  http://conorgrennan.com/little-princes/

 

Why We Rock!

WHY WE ROCK!

The brand 2Kool4Skool is upbeat, fresh and edgy and is targeted at school age children between the ages of 5 – 15. 2Kool4Skool’s core product range is anchored by creatively designed and printed PVC school book covers in 3 sizes with the aim of simplifying “back to school” book covering.

A select number of the cover designs have been used in pencil cases and transport card/identification card holders. Scratch and sniff name labels have been manufactured to round out this range. All of these products have been designed by the owner, Kathy Brooker and manufactured exclusively for 2Kool4Skool in China using non toxic, environmentally friendly PVC and recycled paper.

Ranges of funky school stationery supplies have been sourced to support the above core product range.

Product is sold exclusively through the 2Kool4Skool online store which forms part of the 3 part 2koo4skool.com.au web site. It is envisaged in the future retail outlets will also be created within the traditional shopping centre environment.

The 2Kool4Skool’s web will encompass 3 web sites rolled into one. One site being the online store. The second site is the 2Kool4Skool Kid Zone. The kid zone is designed to be a safe, family friendly environment in which children interact, play games, enter competitions and both children and parents have access to notice boards and information on Kool Kidz activities.

The 3rd site comprises our social conscience and the basis on which our company is built - Kathy’s burning desire to give back. This is a site dedicated to areas of educational need and the ability to assist. Here you will find Kathy’s financial commitment from every pack of covers to educating children in the 3rd world whether by paying for children to attend school, building schools or supplying computers and equipment. It will give access to how others may wish to assist in this contribution by child sponsorship, donation of old laptops or books the ability to email students within the schools that are supported. The first school to receive Kathy’s commitment is the small school Demazong Academy in Sikkim, the smallest Indian State situated on the Nepalese border.

2Kool4Skool‘s aim is to become the largest and most creative children and teenage stationery supplier in Australia with a household recognised brand with international suppliers to be sourced within the coming years.