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PASSAGES Association for Guidance, Education and Support
92, Lady Ratan Tata Medical Center, Cooperage, Mumbai, 400021
Phone: 022-22047823
/ CANCER HELPLINE : 086524-00000
email : info@epassages.org, website : www.epassages.org
 
 

 
  Editorial
Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
Dalai Lama.

Everyone has one common goal in life - to achieve true happiness. The biggest factor holding us back from achieving our dreams is, simply and sadly, our own selves. We put limitations on ourselves everyday, whether intentionally or unintentionally. There are so many ways we can alleviate these restraints

Managing your expectations is the key to happiness. If you let go of expectations, you will never be disappointed. At the end of the day, the only person you can count on 100 percent of the time is yourself.

Through our PASSAGES workshops, we endeavor to bring to you facilitators and programs that assist you in looking at these restraints and ways to deal with the daily challenges of interactions.

We look forward to your continued participation and support.

Kaya Shewakramani
Forthcoming Events
1) SIBLINGS WITHOUT RIVALRY. Facilitator: Leena Godiwala. Based on the book by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, this workshop will help form collaborative relationships between siblings so that they learn to live together harmoniously even though they are different.
Duration: 6 Sessions, Fridays.
September 13th, 20th, 27th; October 4th, 11th, 18th.
Each session sensitizes parents to what increases hostility between children and the attitude and the language that decreases hostility. Parents learn and practice specific skills that help to reduce friction and make harmony possible. Participants will also have the opportunity to take a fresh look at their own adult sibling relationships.
2) PASSAGES’ Volunteer Training Programme for Cancer Counseling. The Objective of this Programme is to impart training to volunteers who are desirous of devoting time and energy for meaningful work with cancer patients. This programme would facilitate more trained volunteers in the field who would be imparted the requisite information concerning the disease and its treatment as well as sensitized to emotional, financial and other issues faced by cancer patients and their families.
This 1 ½ day programme, supported by medical experts and volunteers already in this field will cover a variety of topics ranging from medical, emotional, financial, management, communication skills, diet and nutrition, etc.
Please contact us for details. The programme is tentatively scheduled for end-2013.
3) The PINK FILLY Project.This year commemorates 15 years of our NGO, PASSAGES, which has worked hard on the issue of Breast Cancer Awareness, striving to make a difference. We hope to raise more funds for the specific purpose of financial assistance for cancer struck women at Cama Hospital and moving them from “illness to wellness”.
We once again appeal to you to support our fight against Breast Cancer through our PINK FILLY Project. Several well know Indian artists have joined us once again to support our cause of supporting lesserprivileged women to complete their cancer treatment. They will each paint on fiberglass horseheads (designed by ARZAN KHAMBATTA) in their signature style.
We hope to have these works of art advocate our cause even further through the PINK FILLY brand. The cause of BREAST CANCER AWARENESS is impelling with the burgeoning numbers of women afflicted every year rising steadily and to alarming proportions.
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
   
  As you know, any social endeavor to raise funds is a daunting task and we hope to have your footsteps match ours in this endeavor once more!
To be scheduled very shortly.
4) MAMMOGRAM (Discounted Rate): October is International Breast Cancer Awareness month. Throughout this month, various organisations provide an opportunity for all of us to focus on Breast Cancer and its impact on the persons as well as the families affected by this disease.
Breast Cancer remains a very common cancer among women and its survival rates continue to improve today…and, this is now possible due to awareness and early detection!
One reasonably easy and very reliable diagnostic test is the Mammogram to detect an early lump in the breast. To this effect, and in keeping with our Association’s Cancer Health Programme, we, at PASSAGES, have tied up with the SRL Diagnostics/Jhankaria Imaging Centre to offer you Mammograms at a discounted rate of Rs. 2,000/- (the actual cost being Rs. 2,500/-)
We encourage you to avail of this offer throughout the month of October. You can call up our office (Snehal 022-22047823; weekdays, 10.30 - 5.30 pm) to get your SRL Diagnostics/PASSAGES Mammo Discount Card.
Please note that prior appointment for your mammography is mandatory and cash payment of Rs. 2,000/- has to be paid for the test.
Past Events
Dance Meditation Workshop
June 27, 2013
As a variation for PASSAGES’ self awareness workshops, we held A DANCE MEDITATION WORKSHOP based on Sufi Whirling & Sacred
Dances - at the Gallery Art & Soul - on June 27, 2013. Ms. Zia Nath facilitated this.
As the whirling experience is very private and serene, the space of the workshop was energized by a tranquility only known to the individual participant.
The Workshop was well attended with 40 participants, many of whom were beginners to Sufi Whirling. (Report & Photos: Kaya Shewakramani)
 
 
Workshop on Inner Balance & The Power of Intent
July 26, 2013
   

On July 26, 2013, PASSAGES organized a full day enriching and energizing workshop on INNER BALANCE & THE POWER OF INTENT. Ellaeenah JF facilitated this workshop.
She is the Founder of the Ellaeenah Ascension Network, spiritual teacher, speaker and writer, energy healer and intuit. Ellaeenah took us through the day effortlessly. In the morning session, we looked at energy levels and the effect of physical, emotional and mental stress on energy dynamics within an individual’s body. This was concluded by an energy clearance guided meditation.
During the afternoon session, we were introduced to the power of Intention, using the Law of attraction and manifestation.
The workshop experience was extremely fulfilling and thoughtprovoking. We, at PASSAGES, are grateful to Ellaeenah for the time she spent with us. (Report: Kaya Shewakramani; Photos: Coomi B. Singh)

 
 
 
   
 
 
Wood-Carving Workshop by Arzan Khambatta
August 1, 2, 5 & 6.
To see Arzan Khambatta work with a chunk of teak wood and mould it like clay into a sculpture is a wondrous experience. To work with him and try to do the same was attempting the impossible. Or so it seemed to all of us!
This workshop with the master sculptor was an unforgettable experience. Each participant was given a block of teak wood. Thereafter, we had to think of and decide a subject we would like to work on. Arzan introduced us to different sculpting media and the works of international masters, which served as inspiration to us.
At this point, we were awestruck and completely overwhelmed. An important issue was to visualise the work we wanted to create in a 3 dimensional way. We had no idea where to begin. Arzan skillfully guided us to pick up pencil and paper and start to sketch.
As we imagined the sculpture from all aspects, we were astounded at how much spatial sense was needed. We often look at 3 dimensional objects in a 2 dimensional way.
Arzan introduced us to the various chisels, planes and tools that would give us the shapes we needed to create. Initially we chiseled very gingerly, removing little slivers from the hard teak wood. As we developed confidence, we were able to remove larger sections and that's when we realised why carpentry attracts more men than women! Well we built our biceps as we went along and by the end of the workshop; each one of us had a wooden sculpture crafted with little skill, a lot of hard work and the expert guidance of the master sculptor himself.
We share some of the images of budding sculptors at work.
(Report & Photos: Tarana Khubchandani)
 
On-going Cancer Health Programme Activities
 
Distribution of Chemotherapy tablets to patients being treated at the Cama Hospital, Fort, Mumbai.
Our Medicine Bank continues to support women in Government and Municipal Hospitals, as well as several other individual needy patients who apply to us for funds towards chemotherapy and radiation expenses.
Our cancer awareness books, publications and multi lingual literature are distributed free to hospitals and nursing homes all over India.
Our NGO sponsors the cancer screening tests of several persons. The Kasturi Foundation, together with the Lions Club of Sion, organizes this camp. We supported the screening of 6 persons held at an earlier camp; the next camp is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2013 from 9am – 1pm at the Lion Tarachand Bapa Hosp., Jain Society, Sion. The tests are conducted separately for men and women by a team of qualified medical experts. To avail of our sponsoring any deserving, needy person that you know, please call our office for details. Prior registration is mandatory.
PASSAGES has been chosen as the NGO of the month of October by the Breach Candy Club. Throughout the month, our cancer awareness material will be displayed and distributed to Club members to increase awareness.