Shanti Bhavan

Volunteer Spotlight: Michael Lunder

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This week, our Volunteer Spotlight is on Michael Lunder!

Why do you volunteer with ASTEP?
I volunteer with ASTEP because volunteer work has always been a very important part of my life and I love the ASTEP approach to supplying volunteers that can help serve all kinds of local missions in various locations.

Why is arts education important?
Arts education is so important because it inspires creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork, self expression, and shows people the power of stepping out of their comfort zone and embracing new experiences and challenges!

What is your favorite memory from an ASTEP program?
Picking a favorite memory is nearly impossible, but I think one major highlight of my Shanti Bhagwan experience was watching the graduating class trying to learn how to waltz. We got to watch them grow from awkward and uncomfortable teenagers that were stumbling over each other’s feet into these blossoming, confident, young adults that held their chins high ready for anything the world had in store for them!

How has art impacted/inspired you?
Art impacted me as a teenager by giving me an outlet to express all of the feelings I was too shy to speak up about to anybody. It inspires me everyday to chase impossible dreams and follow my heart in every day situations, and it keeps the passionate fire burning inside of me.

What do you hope your students gain from your time with them?
I would truly hope my students feel empowered to find passion and happiness, gain self acceptance and feel self-worth from their time with me.

What have you learned from your students?
Every day as a teacher reminds me to embrace imperfection. It also reminds me how powerful love and kindness are, and reminds me that there’s always room for fun.

Is there any advice you would like to share for new ASTEP Volunteers?
I don’t think I’m in a place to give any advice, but I guess I’d just say to leave your mind and your heart open and embrace every moment!

Thank you, Michael, for making magic happen in our programs!
We could not do this work without you!

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Stephanie Hyde

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This week, our Volunteer Spotlight is on Stephanie Hyde!

Why do you volunteer with ASTEP?
I believe everyone deserves access to arts education. ASTEP brings arts education to underprivileged communities, and we, as a team, strive to teach kids how to express themselves through the arts. We give students a creative outlet, and we teach them that it is accessible 365 days a year, not just when ASTEP is present.

What is your favorite memory from an ASTEP program?
Every single time we had even a moment of free time, I would have several students come up to me and say, “Miss Stephanie, can you please, please, please play your bassoon? *Air bassoon*” I love playing my bassoon, but there has been no performance that beats playing for the kids in the music room. Their enthusiasm was amazing. Practicing isn’t the same in the U.S. I miss my audience of amazing kids while I practice.

Why is arts education important?
Arts education teaches you more than facts and figures. The three C’s: collaboration, cooperation, communication are vital to the arts. The three C’s are naturally taught through doing, and they are never explicitly explained, but almost like a positive side effect to the arts. While the classes like math, English, science, etc. are important, the premise of these courses are rooted in facts, theorems, rules, and figures. While there is a technical side to the arts, it is rooted in expressionism.

How has art impacted/inspired you?
Most people within the arts communities just want to see their friends and colleagues succeed. I love being a part of a community full of kindness. There is no room in the world to bring people down, because bringing someone down does not make you any better. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing my friends and kids perform. It is so beautiful to see someone doing what they love, and it is amazing to be able to hear someone’s growth. I love being a part of a community where we love to see each other grow, progress, and succeed.

What do you hope your students gain from your time with them?
I want my students to know they should always, always perform. I firmly believe that music should be performed no matter what the level is. Music should not just be performed if it’s absolutely perfect. Music is beautiful at all stages of development and sharing your music is important. I also want my kids to know the emotional impact music can have. At the beginning of my time at SB, my kids thought the only way for music to have meaning was if the music had words. As a bassoonist, I knew that this was not true, and it was my job to collaborate with my co-teacher, Mr. Michael, to figure out how to lead the students to this conclusion on their own. By the end of camp, the students (!!) composed their own instrumental piece about what SB means to them. It was beautiful and amazing, and they made Mr. Michael and I SO proud.

What have you learned from your students?
First of all, I learned that I am terrible at riddles. The kids of SB are riddle masters. Every single student taught me something important and valuable. For every one thing I taught the students, they taught me five. Teaching and learning is an exchange, and as a teacher, you must be willing to adapt and be pushed out of your comfort zone. Going to SB, I had a huge fear of singing and playing piano in front of people. By the end of camp, I was singing in front of the class, and I was TEACHING piano lessons. The kids pushed me five miles outside of my comfort zone, and I loved every second of it.

Any advice to share for new ASTEP volunteers?
Do not go in with any expectations. Do not worry about not having anything planned beforehand. The kids will inspire you, and they will amaze you. Let your heart and your kids guide your work. (Also pack more snacks than just protein bars…I still can’t even look at one 5 months later).

 

 

Volunteer with us at Shanti Bhavan!

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This Spring, we are sending a team of 12 Volunteer Teaching Artists to Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in Southern India to deliver a multi-week arts camp that focuses on Music, Filmmaking, Dance, Visual Art, Storytelling, and Musical Theatre!

Each May, ASTEP Volunteer Teaching Artists travel to Shanti Bhavan Children’s project, a residential school for children in India’s lowest castes leading art-based classes and activities with students from 4th to 12th grade. The camp is full of community building activities, focusing on enhancing personal development and leadership skills. Camp activities range from shadow puppet shows of Shakespeare to face painting…and everything in between!  

ASTEP Arts Camp at Shanti Bhavan works to empower students to build life skills, share and experience various art forms and activities, and creating lifelong memories that will stay with them as they transition through life!

APPLY NOW!

Dates: Mid-May – Early June 2020

APPLICATION DATE: February 15th, 2020

LOCATION: Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project (just outside of Bangalore)

WHO: You! All artists with a passion for making a difference!

People of color, LGBTQ+, those with disabilities, and anyone excited to work with us are STRONGLY encouraged to apply. 

Training Provided.

Room and board is provided by ASTEP and all Volunteer Artists

Email Monique Letamendi at monique@asteponline.org or give us a ring at (212)921-1227 to learn more!

Thank you to our 2019 Summer Volunteer Teaching Artists!

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We are so grateful for our team of Volunteer Teaching Artists, who work endlessly to bring transformative arts experiences to the children we serve. Thank you for making our programs possible this summer!

ASTEP on STAGE! (June 1-July 10):
– Marcus Crawford Guy
– Will Thomason
– Mariana Fresno
– Maria Kowalski
– Angela Joy Morgan
– Ali Dachis
– Susanna Stahlmann
– Tiffany Ramos
– Grace Canahuati
– Becky Baumwoll
– Gabby Serrano
– Esme Lytle

– Kaveh Haghtalab

Shanti Bhavan:
– Marcus Crawford Guy
– Rosco Spears
– Lindsay Roberts
– Morgan McGhee
– Emily Kindred
– Evangel McVicker
– Caity Gwin
– Austen Bohmer
– Stephanie Hyde
– Michael Lunder

RYSA:
– Marissa Palley Aron
– Brigid Transon
– Jordana Rubenstein-Edberg
– Tyrone Osborne-Brown
– Leila Mire
– Kretel Krah
– Tiffany Ramos
– Ruhi Radke
– Meg Smith
– Juanita Castro-Ochoa
– Aaron Rossini
– Jasmeene Francios
– Anna Falvey
– Catt Melendez
– Maya Sokolow
– Raymundo Gutierrez
– Rachel Keteyian

Arts-in-Action:
– Adriana Ochoa
– Kelly Burns

Arkansas Pilot Program:
– Nate Rothermel
– Susanna Stahlmann
– Morgan McGhee

artsINSIDEOUT:
– Yazmany Arboleda
– Thembile Tshuma
– Stella Boonshoft
– Ryan Kim
– Violet Mmbidi
– Stompie Selibe
– Victor Geraldo Colon
– Roelf Daling
– Will Macadams
– Mosoeu Ketlele
– Kedren Spencer
– Thapelo Keorapetse Pule
– Lizzi Gee
– Shawn Mothupi
– Thembeka Mavuso
– Dumisani Khanyi
– Elia Monte-Brown
– Lorraine Ketlele
– Alannah O’Hagan
– Danny Mefford

Volunteer Spotlight: Karina Sindicich

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This week, our Volunteer Spotlight is on Karina Sindicich! Why do you volunteer with ASTEP? I volunteer with ASTEP for so many reasons!! ASTEP is such an incredible organization, and with the many groups that they reach out to, you can really feel the actual effect and benefit of our time together. But it isn’t just the youth I’ve worked with, (in Brooklyn, India, Harlem) but the other volunteers and staff create such a warm and loving community for each other!! You feel valued and loved as an artist and human, and you’re fully encouraged and supported to share the best of yourself in every moment!! ASTEP cares wholeheartedly about each community they work with and work hard on bringing artists that serve each community’s needs in the best way possible!! How long have you been volunteering with ASTEP? I have been lucky enough to be volunteering with ASTEP since April of [last] year! And I don’t think I’m ever gonna stop! 🙂 What programs have you been a part of with ASTEP? I have volunteered as a part of the WIN shelter programs, CASES program and I was honored to be a part of the Shanti Bhavan program in India of June [last] year! We were in SB for nearly a month, teaching all different kinds of arts programs for the graduation showcase! It was and always will be, one of the most treasured and life changing moments of my life! What is your favorite memory from an ASTEP program? There are so many!!! But I think one of the major highlights for me would have to be watching the graduation showcase in Shanti Bhavan [last] year. Watching the children perform in front of Dr. George, their teachers, family and friends was incredibly emotional for me! You see all these exceptionally bright, talented and beautiful children whom you’ve gotten to know so well over the last few weeks, and seen work so hard, be able to own their talent and shine so brightly in front of all their peers! It was truly something so special and I hold the experience very dear to my heart. I will never forget it! I hope to watch many more graduation showcases in the future 🙂

Thank you, Karina, for volunteering with us at ASTEP! Your warm, generous and positive energy makes everyone smile! We cannot do this work without you.

To learn more about ways YOU can get involved with ASTEP at Shanti Bhavan, click here.

For all Volunteer Inquiries, email ASTEP’S Manager of Programs, Sami Manfredi, at sami@asteponline.org

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September in Shanti Bhavan!

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Join us! ASTEP is getting ready to send a team of 12 artists next month to deliver an arts intensive camp to the students of Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project – a residential school for economically and socially disadvantaged children outside Bangalore, India.

“You have a choice about how to see the world. There is no limit to what you can do.”

We are looking for artists to lead Musical Theatre, Filmmaking, Dance, Music, Visual Arts, and Storytelling classes to help this camp thrive. Be a part of our team that brings the beauty and power of the arts to this very special community! 

Email Sami Manfredi at sami@asteponline.org or give us a ring at 212.921.1227 to learn more!

Dates: September 5th – 17th, with an optional retreat September 3-5th

Location: Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project, just outside of Bangalore, India

*Room and board is provided by ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan for all Volunteer Artists.

 

 

Spend your spring at a Haven of Peace

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Help us make a difference! This Spring, we are sending a team of Volunteer Artists to Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in Southern India to deliver a multi-week arts camp that focuses on visual and performing arts including music, filmmaking, dance, and musical theatre.

Shanti Bhavan translates from Hindi to English to mean “Haven of Peace”, and we believe the work of our teaching artists will help to create just that. Join us in bringing arts education and application to these students from India’s lowest castes, where we are able to provide them with the space and time to practice communication, collaboration, empathy, and creativity. With ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan, your work will foster a symbol of hope, providing the students with the skills necessary to create and thrive in a brighter, better tomorrow.

Dates: May 23 – June 10, 2018
Application deadline: February 15, 2018
Location: Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project just outside of Bangalore
Who: You! All artists with a passion for making a difference!

** Room and board is provided by ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan for all Volunteer Artists
** Email Sami Manfredi at sami@asteponline.org or give us a ring at 212.921.1227 to learn more!

Guest Blogger: Rockstar Volunteer Rosco Spears, Visual Artist

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roscoLast September, I had the opportunity to join the ASTEP team headed to Shanti Bhavan in India as a visual arts teacher during a two week arts camp. Those weeks on the ground changed my life! I had no idea that it was even possible to fall in love with so many different souls in just a week. I also didn’t go into teaching at SB thinking that I would learn so much from my students. They taught me how to be joyful, grateful, considerate, open, innovative and so much more.

The students were so driven, well-behaved, and willing to try new things. These students are a part of a completely different culture than mine, but they had the biggest hearts and were some of the coolest kids I’ve ever hung out with. This was my first time visiting India, and the staff and students of SB made me feel right at home.

Aside from working with the brilliant students of SB and their kind staff, I learned so much from my co-teachers and volunteers that lead the program with me. We participated in a plethora of different team building exercises including meditation, group lesson planning, photo challenges, writing exercises, and more that enhanced my teaching and leadership skills a great deal. Spending time at SB has made me a better teacher, a better mentor, a better team-player and a better student.

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If there are any artists looking to impact a beautiful group of students while learning just as much as you are teaching, SB is a haven of peace that will love you as much as you will love it.

Rosco was part of ASTEP’s Fall Arts Camp at Shanti Bhavan in September 2016.

** Email Aaron Rossini at aaron@asteponline.org or give us a ring at 212.921.1227 to learn more about the volunteer experience.




Be the Change You Want to See in 2017

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Step outside of your comfort zone and make a difference in the world this year with ASTEP. This spring, we are sending a team of Volunteer Artists to Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in Southern India to deliver a multi-week arts camp that focuses on visual and performing arts including music, filmmaking, dance, and musical theatre.

ASTEP believes poverty is defined by a lack of choice. Our team of Teaching Artists, along with the faculty and staff at Shanti Bhavan, use their art, their passion, and their talents to teach students that they have the power to make choices in their lives.

We will show our students that their ideas have value and that they are capable of making positive transformations in their country, their communities, and their world. By bringing arts education and application to these students from India’s lowest castes, we are able to provide them with the space and time to practice communication, collaboration, empathy, and creativity: all skills necessary to live and thrive in a world where their voices matter.

Dates: May 24 – June 12
Application deadline: February 25, 2017 (EXTENDED)
Location: Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project just outside of Bangalore
Who: All artists! We need a diverse team and hope that you are a part of it!

** Room and board is provided by ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan for all Volunteer Artists
** Email Aaron Rossini at aaron@asteponline.org or give us a ring at 212.921.1227 to learn more!

 

“One of the best things about volunteering at SB was waking up every morning and starting my day with the preschoolers. They are so playful, smart, and filled with smiles; they overwhelmed me with joy every single day. ”
–Kaila Galinat, ASTEP Volunteer Teaching Artist