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Philippine Elementary School Launches Vorfeld Toy & Book Library!

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Philippine Elementary School Launches Vorfeld Toy & Book Library!

Far away from the United States is an amazing island in the Philippines: Mindanao. Tucked away in the mountains is a tiny community known as Pacuhan.

It is in the Pacuhan Elementary School that you will find the Vorfeld Toy/Book Library, a room that I had built to honor the memory of five of the most incredible men I’ve ever known: my husband, Jack Vorfeld, his brother Bob Vorfeld, Jack’s sons, Peter Vorfeld and Ted Vorfeld, and Peter’s son, John C. Vorfeld.

When it was time, I contacted the co-founder of “I Can Make A Difference, Inc.,” Meryl Grace Agudelo. At that time, Grace was employed as a nurse by the Philippine Air Force, and an enthusiastic volunteer for her own NGO and others, including The Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation. She has since moved to London, England to continue in her profession, but she still volunteers with I Can Make a Difference and endorses and encourages others.

With the encouragement of her grandmother, Cresencia Nantes Pabatao,  Grace envisioned a special way for us to honor memories of the five Vorfeld men: A Toy & Book Library in the somewhat isolated but special elementary school in the barangay of Pacuhan. Pictures to follow. Grace will be adding more toys and books (as of February 2019).

Pacuhan is a barangay in the municipality of Salug, in the province of Zamboange Del Norte, with a population of less than 1,000. The elevation is about 377 feet above mean sea level. I have included a photo of some of the Pacuhan school children.

Salug falls within the third type of climate wherein the seasons are not very pronounced. Rain is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. Because of its tropical location the municipality does not experience cold weather. Neither does it experience strong weather disturbances due to its geographical location (being outside the typhoon belt) and also because of the mountains that are surrounding the Municipality.

All of the Vorfelds are strong believers in the value of education, and it seemed like a good idea to honor these five men by doing something to encourage school children to read and play in a colorful, specially designed library.

Mission of I Can Make a Difference

 Raise awareness of and help solve the problematic situations involving children, women, indigenous people and other marginalized members of a community, especially problems concerning health, education, and the environment; and address these problems through the mobilization of people, social institutions, and social entities of the community.

I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, Inc

June 16, 2018Happy Anniversary I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Seven years and counting! What started an initiative to create a solar reflector for water disinfection has become a movement to develop young innovators to make a difference in their communities. Almost a decade ago, we envisioned a generation of youth who do not only have the power to mobilise resources & communities through social media, but also possess the power to create innovations to transform the socioeconomic landscape of their communities.

In the advent of the challenge possessed by artificial Intelligence, the vision of I CAN is ever more relevant, as it endeavours to make small but passionate contributions to make the Philippines a center of the sciences. One thing that time or technology can never replace is the heart and soul of a creative. Imagine a Filipino youth with the knowledge of innovation and the enabling experience to make their innovation happen. We will become a country of creatives, a vision so wonderful! To more years of innovations.

You may want to visit these websites:

https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Salug,_Zamboanga_del_Norte

https://schools.trokis.com/pacuhan-elementary-school.html

https://www.facebook.com/icanteam/

Special thanks to Meryl Grace Agudelo

What To Change To Sleep Better

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What To Change To Sleep Better

The three main factors affecting sleep are:

  • Routine — When you sleep, and what you do immediately before that.
  • The Sleep Environment — Where you’re sleeping, and what you’re sleeping on.
  • Diet & Exercise — What you eat, and how often you move.

We’ll take a look at each factor — what it means, and how to set it for maximum effectiveness.

Routine

Sleep researchers believe that the more consistent your evening routine is, the better your sleep will be. You surely have some form of sleep routine already — brushing your teeth, putting on your pajamas, stalking the grandkids on Facebook.

If you’re having trouble getting to sleep, or staying asleep, try making this routine more regimented. Turn it into a schedule.

a chart showing a sample bedtime routine

These are just guidelines. There is no “best time to sleep” for everyone, just one that works for you. Your sleep routine should include whatever you feel will put you in a relaxed frame of mind — and on the express train to Dreamtown.

One suggestion that isn’t in everyone’s toolkit — some sort of mindfulness practice. If you do a nightly prayer, that’s a form of mindfulness. If that’s not your thing, mindfulness could take the form of meditation, listening to calming music, or writing letters of advice to your less successful grandkids. Dr. Andrew Weil, the Harvard-trained doctor and author, promotes a breathing technique, the 4-7-8. Here he shows you how to do it:

YouTube video thumbnail

Here’s the link to Dr. Weil’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=gz4G31LGyog 

The Sleep Environment

Most of us only think about our sleep environment when it gets disrupted. An extremely hot night. A partner with a persistent cough. A neighbor learning the trombone. But what about the basics: Is your room a place of peace? Is your bed comfortable? If you aren’t sleeping well, it might be time to experiment.

Temperature

Our bodies are used to sleeping at night, as the temperature cools down. If your bedroom is too hot, your body may simply be confused. One simple step to getting better sleep? Try setting the thermostat a tick or two lower. If you can’t control the temperature of your bedroom, fans can make you feel cooler. It’s okay to trick your body for its own good.

Light

The whole sleeping at night thing also means our bodies expect darkness. Fewer and fewer of us have it. Modern bedrooms often have larger windows. And, because the heavy curtains of the English country house are so expensive, we tend to cover them with thin paper or metal blinds. Cities and suburbs are brighter at night than they used to be. To sum up, everyone before you in the family tree probably slept in a darker bedroom than you do.

We’re not suggesting you go sleep in a cave, but you might benefit from a room that’s lit like one. Blackout curtains are inexpensive and easy to install. Figure out how to dim any electronics that toss light at night. Or, invest in an eye mask.

Important: If your bedroom is too dark, you might be risking a fall if you need to get up in the middle of the night. Keep light within arm’s reach of your bed at all times, whether that’s a lamp, a flashlight, or your iPhone.

Noise

Persistent noise during sleep not only prevents you from sleeping, but it might lead to something even more dangerous. Trying to sleep when the noise level is 55 decibels or above, or about what a busy street sounds like, can cause higher blood pressure and heart attacks.

Unexpected sounds from passing cars, night-owl neighbors, or clumsy partners can drop you straight out of your dream cloud. If outside noises are disturbing your sleep, heavy curtains can help block them out. A white noise machine or “soothing sounds” recordings may help relax you. Finally, the brute force method — ear plugs.

a chart showing the optimal noise level for sleeping
This post is published with the permission of purple.com and is part of a lengthy, fascinating article on sleep.
 Disclaimer: the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author.

Home Made Weighted Blankets for Comfort

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Home Made Weighted Blankets for Comfort

adi-goldstein-339959What is a weighted blanket and why would you need one? In short, it is a normal blanket with added stuffing to add some weight to the body while you sleep. Many people do not realize that weighted blankets offer many benefits to those with trouble sleeping. The evenly distributed weight of the blanket over the body acts as a comforter making it ideal for those with insomnia, restless leg syndrome, anxiety and even autism. So what do you need to make your own? Gather up some:

  • Fabric or an old blanket

  • Needle and thread

  • Poly pellets

  • Measuring tape

  • Scissors

  • Pins

  • Wash away craft tape

  • Sewing machine

Should you be making your blanket for a child with autism, ensure that one side is plain as patterns can distract from sleep. The following article provides full instructions on making your own weighted blankets and provides more facts on their benefits.

Contributed by Lucy Wyndham.

Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash

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