It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, isn’t it?
Toys in every store? Check.
Michael Buble burbling away on Spotify? Check.
Grittibanz? Also, check.
And, as a special treat from us to you, we have a bumper issue of Young Voices for you this month. Jam-packed with everything from craft concepts to stories, to art by children of a wide range of ages, we have something for everyone. So, I hope that you will curl up tight, as snug as a bug in a rug, and settle down with the latest issue.
There’s a spectacularly spooky tale from Ioli Chakraborty, a continuation of Grimcodile’s misadventures by Ishaan Parameshwar…
Our travelogue, this month, is by Avik Shrivastav who takes you into a quintessential Zurich Christmas through his eyes.
Ishaan also guides you through the process of decorating Advent windows. ‘Tis the season, after all! And, while we look back a little – only to look forwards- Adrita Sanyal has written about her memories of Durga Puja, during the ongoing pandemic.
Dhriti Muralikrishnan returns us to the topic at hand with her tutorial about how to make festive bookmarks. It’s a trick which is going to come in handy if you participate in the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod otherwise known as the Christmas Book Flood. Each year, in Iceland, people gift each other books ahead of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, they settle down with their books and a bar of chocolate and proceed to nibble and read away into the night. Sounds like bliss, doesn’t it?
Speaking of books, Itee and Shivee Balajee have created word searches and quizzes on Dr Seuss’ famous story, ‘The Grinch Who Stole Christmas’. Our art gallery is well-stocked this issue with entries from children of all ages. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
And now, dear readers and writers, it is high time for me to thank you again. We have completed one year of Young Voices here at Namaste Switzerland.
As you might know, I came up with the idea of a newsletter created for and by young people of diverse voices back in 2019. Together with a group of like-minded individuals from all walks of Swiss life, the newsletter, in its earliest iteration, was known as ‘The IndoSwiss Kids’ Chronicles’. It was incredible to put together and I was awed by the talent that we have here. It ran like that for about ten months before I was forced to go on hiatus, returning once more in 2020 with the full support and guidance of the Namaste Switzerland editorial team.
I am so grateful to you all for taking it forward in the way that you have. Every month, I have this little worry – will anyone write? Will anyone want to create? Will they want to share it with me? But, month after month, you have put my worries to rest and by hook, or by crook, you do. You keep writing, keep creating and keep sharing. Our world needs young voices. It’s been another bleak year but this space that we have created here is special. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Onwards and upwards, eh?
I know this year has been hard. After 2020, we were hoping that 2021 would be better. It hasn’t quite worked out that way. Life is rarely so simple. Sometimes it’s hard to be strong, hard to be resilient.
I see you and I hold you in my thoughts. Here’s to you: the person who has had a difficult year. Here’s to you: the person who has had an awesome year. Here’s to you: the person who did something truly revolutionary. Here’s to you: the person who took a small step. Here’s to you: the person who took time to rest. Here’s to you: the person who burst into tears. Here’s to you: the person who gave into your fears.
I see you all and I am giving you all a very big, virtual hug. Give yourself a pat on the back.
Here’s to a lot of hope in 2022!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Disclaimer: Namaste Switzerland does not undertake any financial, reputational, legal, misrepresentational or other obligation or liability which may arise from the content of this article.
