On Tuesday, August 24th, the Blueberry Summer Enrichment Program, run by Mr. Amit Guha and Dr. Smita Guha, welcomed an international team from the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run.
Santiva from Mexico led us through an exercise where we focused on finding peace in our heart.
The Guha’s have a 15-year history of hosting afterschool and summer programs for grades K-8 in New York City, based on a foundation of high quality enrichment programs that include educational activities, outdoor sports activities, character-building, and other social-emotional learning activities.
Teachers showed us which country they were from.
Students guessed our country and even found it on our big map.
Gabriele is from Italy and to say love in Italian you sat "Amore!"
Lunthita is from Haiti.
Gesiane is from Brazil.
Where's Brazil on our map?
Anandita Guha demonstrated some Indian dance poses.
As an exchange of cultural activities, the Blueberry K-1st graders learned and performed Sri Chinmoy’s song, “Your heart is as beautiful as a rainbow”, and older children learned Indian iconic musician Bappi Lahiri’s “World Peace Love Harmony” song (lead by musician Dr. Guha).
Purnakama taught us how to sing the World Harmony Run song along with actions.
The students had created beautiful artwork for our visit.
We practiced feeling peace in our heart.
This year’s summer program highlighted several Peace Run activities, where the Blueberry children composed poetry and essays, and created short books and peace and friendship crafts.
In preparation for the first 2021 New York City Peace Run program, Peace Runners Lunthita Duthely and Sutushti Lang visited Blueberry and worked with teachers Ananya Cathyanne, Elana, Freddie, Stephanie, Tatiana, Jasmine, Lauren, Patrick and. Runners Marina Pak (Tai Chi and financial literacy) and Nilpushpi White (story telling) shared with Blueberry students several times this summer, as well.
Millie and Anna created a book with stories, poetry and artwork.
During the ceremony, Mr. Guha and Dr. Guha (professor, St. John’s University) were awarded the Torch Bearer Award, to honor their lifetime service to the education of students and teachers in New York, and their 100-day service during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Together, the Guha’s coordinated and delivered 10,000 meals to nurses, aides, doctors and other front-line workers in New York City.
We were very grateful to receive a beautiful Rosewood plaque to commemorate our visit.
Salil with the teachers from the summer program.
The teachers pose for a photograph.
Of course no Peace Run is complete without some running.
Mr. Guha led the students around the school yard as part of the Peace Train which was lots of fun.
