Boarding House residents join
The Sydney Street Choir
In April last year Boarding House Residents from the suburb of Marrickville
started jamming with the Sydney Street Choir once a week.
Weekly choir rehearsals are a highlight and
something that these residents look forward to... "this is better than having a
party!".. "this is the best hobby I've ever found in my
life!"..
Three residents have gone out and purchased guitars
to keep the music going in their own back yards. Some residents who barely
talked are now singing whole songs solo in the rehearsals!
The opportunity to be
'heard' and also 'valued' for their input doesn't come to our folk much,
so this is a tremendous new experience for them - and the benefits of it
extend into soooooooo many areas of their life. It's not just that their
self esteem is improving "a bit". Their esteem and confidence
have improved so much that we have seen complete transformations in some
of our clients. People who have been fairly quiet or introverted, or
those reliant on highly structured routines and schedules, or those with
the compulsion to always be active, to always be talking are ALL OF THEM
learning to become more adventurous, more flexible and more open to
silence and stillness. They are learning to LISTEN to each other and to
themselves. They are becoming more actively involved in the creation of
their own lives and they are loving it! It's a pleasure to watch and a
privilege to be involved with.
Leigh Connell & Jodie Catherine
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
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