“With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world.”
~Dalai Lama~
Oku Damashi Karma Kids
Mission Statement: “The objective of Karma Kids is to make our home, community and earth a better place to live by learning about local and international issues and working as a group to find innovative and positive ways to fundraise and raise awareness for these causes.”
The Karma Kids will come up with innovative ideas as a group on how to protect our environment, enhance our local and global community and promote positive change towards them. As a group they will work together to brainstorm, organize, plan and fundraise for these causes. They will also find different topics that they are passionate about that they would like to support individually. The Karma Kids will learn valuable life skills in this process as they will learn to create project proposals, as well as figure out how to finance their projects by budgeting money. Participating in Karma Kids will expose youth to issues on a local and global scale. Finding and developing new skills and passions as a team (and individually) will introduce youth to new areas of interests and possibilities.
By educating the youth of today about current and future issues of tomorrow, they will have a greater appreciation for the planet and will continue to work to protect it. Focus of projects by the Karma Kids will be centered on: the environment, education, community, as well as health care, empathy, animals, disadvantaged youth and positive social movements.
If you are interested in helping out with Karma Kids: talk to Sensei ASAP!
Update from the Karma Kids! May 30th, 2011
UPDATE FROM THE KARMA KIDS 2012
As everyone knows we put on a play entitled "A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE OCEAN" it was a play designed by the Karma Kids, they had full control on the content and the play was entirely their views on what is happening with Shark Finning in the Oceans. They also did an adaptation of Susanna Dufts book called "I LIVE IN THE OCEAN" it is about Dolphin captivity. All proceeds were going to Sea Shepherd and their endeavors to help Oceanic life. We raised $450 for Sea Shepherd. A big thank you to all who contributed and especially to Prairie Grounds Coffee House for their generous donation.
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The kids did spectacular, we had the local newspaper come out, The Anchor and they did a full write up on us on page 2! This created some real cool stuff, a friend of a few of the Sea Shepherd Crew members saw the article and called The Anchor wanting to let us know that the Sea Shepherd Crew (Shannon Mann and Tommy Knowles) would like to come out and meet the kids and do a presentation for them, and talk about the show Whale Wars and what it's like to be on the ship doing incredible things to help. This was a BIG hit! The kids have worked so hard and for them to be recognized was inspiring. We have made some great new friends with Shannon and Tommy and look forward to working with them on future endeavours. They were so inspired and happy that they want to come back to the dojo in September (before they go out to Sea again on the next campaign), they'd like to see the play, and do another presentation, so don't miss this one! A big thank you to our new friends on Whale Wars and the Sea Shepherd Crew, it was an honor to have you at the dojo!
As everyone knows we put on a play entitled "A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE OCEAN" it was a play designed by the Karma Kids, they had full control on the content and the play was entirely their views on what is happening with Shark Finning in the Oceans. They also did an adaptation of Susanna Dufts book called "I LIVE IN THE OCEAN" it is about Dolphin captivity. All proceeds were going to Sea Shepherd and their endeavors to help Oceanic life. We raised $450 for Sea Shepherd. A big thank you to all who contributed and especially to Prairie Grounds Coffee House for their generous donation.
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UPDATE FROM THE KARMA KIDS! JUNE 28th 2011
Summer is finally here and the Oku Damashi Martial Arts Karma Kids are looking forward to finding new ways to get involved in their community! The theme for summer 2011 is: Action for Happiness! Action for Happiness is a movement recently started out of the United Kingdom by scholars, scientist and everyday people who are trying to change society’s perception of happiness.
“Action for Happiness is a movement for positive social change. We're bringing together people from all walks of life who want to play a part in creating a happier society for everyone. For fifty years we've aimed relentlessly at higher incomes. But despite being much wealthier, we're no happier than we were five decades ago. At the same time we've seen an increase in wider social issues, including a worrying rise in anxiety and depression in young people. It's time for a positive change in what we mean by progress.”
Each Karma Kid has been given a writing journal, and has been encouraged to capture all the good deeds that they see and participate in during the summer. They will log their good deeds by writing stories, creating poems, drawing or painting pictures in their books. This journal will travel with them wherever they may go during the summer and will act as a reminder to how they can improve their happiness, as well as the happiness of others in their day to day adventures.
Using the “GREAT DREAM” as the foundation of the Karma Kids Journal, they will pick three things to work on during the summer, as well as keep track of their good deeds. By the end of the summer, their books will be filled with all the activities they have participated in!
For more information on Action for Happiness, please visit: http://www.actionforhappiness.org/
Update from the Karma Kids! May 30th, 2011
The Oku Damashi Martial Arts Karma Kids wrapped up the Karma Kids Blanket Drive for the Calgary Humane Society. Over the past four months the Karma Kids have been collecting donations of blankets, towels and other linens from family, friends and of students of Oku Damashi Martial Arts. In total, the Karma Kids were able to fill six black garbage bags with all of their donations! Way to go Karma Kids!
The Karma Kids have started a whole new project this month. From May 20 to the end of June the Karma Kids will be fundraising for the Harp Seals and for Slave Lake. So far the Karma Kids have raised money by selling their unwanted toys at the Langdon Parade of Garage Sales and by selling Seal Cookies at the CMAC West Black Belt Grading! They have also designed donation tins to place in their school classrooms to spread awareness and raise money. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far for your support. Check back at the end of June to see how money much the Oku Damashi Martial Arts Karma Kids were able to raise for these causes!
