Participants: Jean Boonstra
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000026
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00:04 A little over a year ago when my husband Shaun
00:06 and I decided to sponsor a child through Asian Aid, 00:10 I never would have imagined 00:11 that I would end up meeting our sponsored child in India. 00:15 I'm thinking I want to become nurse. 00:17 All right. 00:19 It was an experience made more incredible and exciting, 00:22 because this was also our daughter's first trip 00:25 outside of North America. 00:27 Well, I was super excited about coming 00:29 and I knew it would be a life changing experience 00:31 and it has been so far. 00:33 Together we discovered a land full of color and contrast. 00:37 We met Sheela our sponsor daughter, 00:40 rode on a school bus with her 00:41 and in doing all this came across people 00:44 who put their lives in danger 00:46 to rescue girls in parole imperil. 00:49 The risk is huge. 00:50 I am always known that there is a risk 00:52 in this of being involved. 00:54 But I think, I don't think 00:56 we can sit quite about it either. 00:58 And witness the wondrous work 01:00 being carried out in the slums. 01:03 We experienced first hand 01:05 the transformation Asian Aid is making 01:07 for lives of thousands of children across India. 01:21 India is a land full of contrast. 01:26 It's a land of great mystery and beauty. 01:29 It's a land of unspeakable despair. 01:33 By traveling through India one thing is for sure, 01:36 it's a land filled with people 01:38 who should never be underestimated. 01:41 For the last 40 years Asian Aid has invested 01:44 in the futures of people 01:46 who had never been given such a chance 01:48 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 01:53 Driven by the vision of Helen Eager 01:55 dedicated to helping those who have the least, 01:58 Asian Aid is an organization 01:59 implementing diverse development projects 02:02 and sponsoring thousands of children. 02:05 Their out reach spans from Bangladesh to Nepal, 02:08 Sri Lanka and beyond 02:11 from remote villages in empty fields 02:13 to sprawling centers of education 02:16 from nothing to the unimaginable. 02:20 Now, Asian Aid decided to document the work 02:22 it has been doing all these years 02:24 with the desire to show the world 02:26 what is possible by digging wells 02:29 in remote villages for clean drinking water 02:31 and bringing much needed healthcare 02:33 to the woman of Nepal, 02:35 by providing an education for orphans, 02:38 deaf, and blind children, giving them a sense of place, a home. 02:42 But what we really discovered was being given was hope. 02:46 Giving hope to children, giving hope to women, 02:50 giving hope to the ones who needed the most, 02:54 this is Hope in Motion. 03:17 We arrive in Bangalore, India, 03:19 late at night on the 2nd of July. 03:22 The days rest in some shopping did us good 03:25 and rejuvenates us for the long trip ahead. 03:28 We are ready for our Indian adventure. 03:33 Is this city always been busy like this? 03:36 No, the city has changed. 03:38 I've lived in this city now for 17 years 03:41 and the last 10 years I would say, 03:43 this city has really changed. 03:45 I think there's been an influx of people. 03:48 This city is the IT hub of India 03:51 and I think in the last 10 years 03:54 every major multinational has moved an office to Bangalore. 03:59 The following day we meet with Anita at Oasis. 04:02 Now Oasis's office is tucked behind the gate 04:05 with only a small nondescript sign indicating its presence. 04:10 We slip upstairs and meet Anita and her team 04:13 a group of about 10 people. 04:19 Oasis is a rescue operation, 04:21 rescuing girls from human trafficking. 04:24 Young girls are trafficked, confined and raped 04:27 then forced into the prostitution trade. 04:30 Jim and I meet Anita in her office. 04:33 She tells us that corruption and lack of manpower 04:36 in the enforcement agencies 04:38 has made this a rampant problem 04:40 in big cites like Bangalore. 04:43 You know, the huge problem in India 04:45 I think the US puts the figures at about a 100 million 04:48 but the actual figures will be much, much higher 04:51 because these figures, 04:52 yeah, these figures are from about four years ago. 04:56 I think the people on the ground 04:58 see for themselves the number of people being rescued. 05:01 So in this last six months 05:03 we've had 42 girls from Bangladesh alone 05:06 rescued in one district in Bangalore. 05:10 So you can imagine the numbers 05:12 that are coming in from Bangladesh from Nepal 05:15 but the numbers trafficked within India are huge as well. 05:19 The primary motive at Oasis 05:21 is to rescue these trafficked girls, 05:24 but it is not as easy as it sounds. 05:26 There is a lot of planning, networking 05:29 and in almost all cases this involves undercover operations. 05:40 The risk is huge and the situation 05:43 is delicate and complicated. 05:45 Anita and her team have been threatened physically. 05:48 There are tremendous sums of money involved. 05:52 The risk is huge I'm always known that 05:53 there is a risk in this of being involved. 05:57 But I think, I don't think we can sit quiet about it either 06:01 being an Indian woman myself 06:03 and having seen what happens and having seen the fact 06:06 that people do not want to get involved 06:08 in really higher risk things. 06:12 When the girls are rescued, 06:14 it does not necessarily mean freedom, 06:17 they face a lot of emotional and physical challenges. 06:21 They are understandably afraid and ashamed. 06:24 They're cutoff from any support from family. 06:28 The physical abuse these girls undergo 06:30 during captivity is appalling. 06:33 I think if I have to speak about the worst kind of cases 06:38 I've seen I saw two and a half year old girl 06:41 who had been slashed, 06:43 many times around her waist and her bottom, 06:48 and had been burned with cigarette butts all around, 06:52 yeah, all around her private parts. 06:55 So I think that was one of the worst, 06:57 the level of abuse sometimes is just huge and horrid. 07:01 When they're first brought in and they're broken, 07:04 you know their will to do this is broken. 07:07 They're abused very, very badly by the pimps. 07:09 And so during that time they're chained, 07:11 they're beaten, they're starved 07:14 and physically very badly abused. 07:21 Asian Aid with its operation Child Rescue program 07:24 has joined hands with Oasis supporting them 07:27 with funds necessary to facilitate this rescue effort 07:30 in the crucial rehabilitation for the children. 07:35 Sitting and talking to Anita, 07:36 I made aware of the huge risk 07:39 that she is taking and the dedication and courage 07:42 she has to undertake this dangerous mission. 07:46 I think if I wasn't doing this 07:48 and if I wasn't being involved in this, 07:52 I don't think my heart would be silent on this. 07:56 Yeah, I think I choose to have the courage to do this. 08:01 Anita's motives are purely Christian. 08:03 She knows that the only hope for these girls 08:06 to recover from the abuse they've suffered is the hope 08:09 that Christ can give. 08:12 Oasis doesn't have its own rehab home 08:14 and currently relies on government facilities. 08:17 Anita's goal is to have a home of their own. 08:20 Sadly many of the girls rescued 08:22 cannot overcome the pain or the shame. 08:26 Some are turned to the lifestyle willingly 08:28 and rehabilitation is a crucial step. 08:33 Coming out of the meeting with Anita, 08:34 I am full of hope and encouragement 08:37 for what she and her team are doing. 08:39 At the same time my heart is troubled 08:42 as I tried to comprehend the problems faced 08:45 by innocent young girls in India 08:47 and this is not the sort of beginning 08:50 I had in mind when I have first set out for India. 08:59 On the plane ride from Bangalore to Vishakhapatnam 09:02 on the east coast of the Indian peninsula, 09:05 I have enough time to reflect on my meeting with Anita. 09:09 I wonder what we will experience on the rests of our journey. 09:13 Slowly the unsettled feeling fades 09:15 and I focus on the exciting next step. 09:26 Vishakhapatnam or Vizag as it's commonly known is hot and humid. 09:32 From the airport are driven straight to a slum settlement 09:35 in the centre of the city. 09:37 Just walking through its narrow alley 09:40 is an experience in itself. 09:43 We're guided to a freshly painted building. 09:46 It's an Adventist school in the heart of the slum 09:49 and this was unexpected. 09:51 We are introduced to Naomi the school principal 09:54 and we get to meet the kids in her classrooms. 10:07 Gathered on the rooftop 10:09 the pleasant breeze is a welcome relief. 10:16 We're here in Vizag 10:17 and we've just visited the slum school 10:19 that's been recently renovated. 10:22 They've done a lot of renovations 10:23 particularly up here, where we gathered 10:26 with the children here on the roof. 10:28 This is an amazing experience to see the area 10:31 that these kids live in surrounds this school here. 10:35 It's been great to be here, 10:36 we get to come back in a few days, 10:37 we're gonna have the dedication 10:39 for this newly renovated slum school. 10:45 After spending a couple of hours at the slum school 10:48 we head out to Bobbili. 11:01 Arriving at the Asian Aid School for the Blind in Bobbili 11:05 we received a warm welcome. 11:07 Boys and girls on each side of the entrance way 11:10 greet us with flowers and handshakes. 11:13 I am surprised by how many more boys 11:15 there are than girls. 11:17 There are about 50 girls and 120 boys 11:20 that live here at the school. 11:22 Later pastor Paulson the school principal 11:25 takes us on the tour of the campus. 11:28 It's amazing to see 11:29 how the blind children are taught and how they learn 11:32 with their specialized equipment. 11:35 The blind school will be our home 11:36 for the rest of our stay in India. 11:40 So we're staying here at the Asian Aid School 11:42 for the Blind in Bobbili and it's absolutely beautiful, 11:45 everything's green this time of year. 11:47 The flowers are blooming, we even got to eat some guava 11:50 and even more beautiful are the students staying here. 11:54 We have the privilege this morning of going 11:56 through the school pastor Paulson 11:58 showed Natalie and Naomi around 12:00 and the beautiful wide opened hallways 12:03 where the students can easily maneuver their way around. 12:06 We got to see where they live, 12:08 it was an incredible privilege to see the kids 12:11 doing their math using-- writing Braille, 12:14 using the Braille computers, it was amazing. 12:17 And we're so thankful to be able to be here 12:20 we're really close to where Sunrise Home is 12:22 and where Sheela lives and we're looking 12:24 forward to getting to meet her soon 12:25 and just incredibly blessed to be able to see 12:29 and stay at these amazing facilities here 12:33 at the blind school. 12:41 On Sabbath morning we attend church in Bobbili, 12:45 this is Sheela's church. 12:46 It's nice to see children from Sunrise Home there 12:49 and taking part in the Sabbath school program. 12:52 The girls and I greet Sheela warmly. 12:55 We can't talk much on this day 12:58 but it's an incredible experience to worship 13:00 in Sheela's church with her. 13:03 I'm overwhelmed with emotion change is possible. 13:23 In the afternoon we visit the village of Karada. 13:27 The village is not far from Sunrise Home 13:29 and on the edge of town there's a church 13:31 built a few years ago by Maranatha. 13:38 Well, I'm here in the village of Karada 13:40 which is real close to the new Sunrise Home 13:43 that we're just completing. 13:45 The exciting thing about this village is 13:48 that the children and staff from the Sunrise Home 13:51 become involved with this village 13:53 both in Sabbath school and church 13:55 and a church near by that hasn't had any leadership 13:59 and also with community work with health training. 14:03 The great news is that the investment 14:05 that many donors made in Sunrise is now paying off 14:09 in the wider community 14:11 and we are real proud of Asian Aid. 14:15 The next day we go to Sunrise Home 14:18 to spend the day with Sheela, our sponsor daughter 14:20 and to have some dedicated time with her. 14:23 This is the day we've been waiting 14:25 so long for and we are excited. 14:29 We have so many questions about her day to day life. 14:32 We can't wait to spend time at Sunrise Home. 14:47 Reaching Sunrise we are greeted by Lalitha, 14:49 the director and all the kids. 14:52 The girls all wear beautiful matching sarees. 14:56 We enjoy a quick tour of the facility. 14:59 It's a very hot day and so soon all the kids 15:02 go inside to rest and cool off 15:04 and Natalie and Naomi are invited along 15:07 and they gladly joined them. 15:09 This gives me an opportunity to talk with Lalitha. 15:13 So what was the old home like? 15:15 I mean this is beautiful, you've got a lot of open space. 15:18 What was your old home like? 15:20 Old home is like congested. Okay. 15:22 Children eating in same place, 15:24 drinking, eating, sleeping, watching T.V, 15:28 prayer, same in the same room 15:30 they used to conduct everything there only. 15:32 But after we came here, 15:34 children they have a special prayer room, 15:37 children they have special rooms to sleep 15:39 and they have a special dining hall to eat. 15:43 So they have big play ground 15:45 and they are enjoying the facilities what we have. 15:49 Well, our sponsor daughter Sheela, 15:51 we're so happy to meet her. 15:53 She's such a sweet beautiful girl. 15:55 And my husband is so sad 15:57 he wasn't able to come and meet her. 15:59 But my daughters and I have loved meeting her. 16:01 Yeah. 16:02 We've written to her few times 16:03 and we've gotten to know her here 16:04 but we don't know really a lot of her story. 16:07 Can you tell me a little about how she ended up here? 16:10 Do you remember how old was when she arrived? 16:13 Yeah, I want to show her photo 16:15 when she came here. Okay. 16:17 She was nine years old or like ten years old, 16:20 and her big-- she is having big stomach 16:23 and small thin legs and-- 16:27 Was she malnourished? Is that why? 16:29 Malnutrition. Okay. 16:30 Because she don't have enough of food. 16:32 That's sad. 16:33 So after they come here they will have lot to eat. 16:36 So we will provide them whatever they want. 16:38 Okay. 16:39 So she don't have mother. Mother died. 16:43 Father was there and father again 16:46 he married another woman. Oh, I see. 16:48 So stepmother she won't take care of her. 16:50 She, she didn't take care of Sheela. 16:52 So-- Oh, that breaks my heart. 16:54 Yeah, that time she cam here. 16:55 Father himself and the pastor, 16:58 one of the pastors they recommended here. 17:00 Okay. 17:01 So she was brought here. 17:04 Oh, this is Sheela's file? 17:05 Yeah, this is Sheela when she came to Sunrise Home. 17:08 Oh, wow. 17:09 Here you can see her small very thin hands. 17:13 Oh, she looks like a different person. 17:15 Yeah. 17:16 This is the dress when she came here I have bought her. 17:20 You got a special dress for her? 17:21 Yeah, special dress then this is the uniform. 17:23 Oh, 1990. 17:25 And you can see it here. Oh, beautiful. 17:27 Yeah. 17:29 Yeah, she's changed a lot definitely. 17:31 Yeah, a lot. Yes, yes. 17:35 Sheela does look different from the first time 17:37 she was brought to Sunrise. 17:39 There is a kind of contentment 17:41 that radiates from her face when I talk to her. 17:45 I'm so glad that my daughters 17:46 and I could come and spend a little bit of time 17:48 with you and see where you live. 17:50 This is a beautiful room that you're in. 17:53 Do you like it here at Sunrise Home? 17:54 Yes. 17:56 You're happy? 17:57 Yeah. Good. 17:59 You seem very happy, 18:00 your mommy seems very kind to you 18:02 and all of the children. 18:04 Yes, she is very kind. 18:06 Very good, very nice. 18:07 So you're studying in which standard now? 18:10 Which grade? Ninth, ninth grade. 18:13 What is your subject to study at school? 18:15 Biology. 18:17 Biology? Okay. 18:19 And have you thought yet about 18:20 what you would like to do in the future? 18:24 I'm thinking I want to become nurse. 18:26 Oh, I can see you, good. 18:28 Well, when, do you remember 18:29 when you were young and you first came to Sunrise Home, 18:32 do you remember that very much? 18:34 I remember little only. 18:36 Only little bit. 18:38 Do you feel like your life is very different here 18:40 than it would have been 18:41 if haven't come to Sunrise Home? 18:43 Yeah, it's very different. 18:47 Well, I'm glad. 18:48 I'm so pleased to spend time with you. 18:51 I'm so blessed to be with you. 18:53 I too. 18:55 Well, it's incredible privileged to be here with Sheela. 18:58 It's just a dream come true to meet her. 19:01 It's you know, it's one thing to see a picture, 19:03 but to see her, see her smiling face 19:05 how happy she is with all her sisters and brothers here 19:08 and just the spiritual level in this home is just incredible. 19:13 And I'm so fortunate to be here 19:15 and to see what a difference sponsorship can make. 19:19 Indeed sponsorship is making a difference. 19:23 The more time I spend with Sheela 19:24 and the more time I get to see what's being done at Sunrise 19:28 I'm glad that I have this association with it. 19:31 And that Sheela is an important part of our lives. 19:35 It's incredible to have my daughters 19:37 with me here at Sunrise Home. 19:40 They've been able to play with Sheela, 19:42 get to visit with her 19:43 and just spend some time with other kids, 19:45 doing like kids do. 19:47 I can't tell you 19:48 what a meaningful experience this is for them. 19:52 I'm so thankful that I've been able to have them here 19:55 and to have them share in this experience. 19:58 Well, I was super excited about coming. 20:00 I mean, I knew it would be a life changing experience 20:02 and it has been so far. 20:04 It's a beautiful country 20:05 and I mean, there are very poor areas. 20:08 But it's just the people here they do feel privileged 20:14 when they even get the smallest thing. 20:16 And I think we just need to really keep that 20:19 in our heads as we go through life. 20:34 Wow, it's beautiful up here. 20:36 We're on the top of the water tower 20:38 looking down on Sunrise Home. 20:40 You can see the world beautiful green fields all around us, 20:45 the rainy season has just passed so it's gorgeous and green. 20:48 And from up here it's wonderful. 20:50 You can see the almost brand new Sunrise campus, 20:53 it just dedicated this fall. 20:54 You can see the-- I can see the bus, 20:57 the staff quarters, the boys and girls dorm 21:00 and the new girls dorm that they're building. 21:02 The kids are very excited about that. 21:05 It's been an amazing experience being here. 21:07 There are ducks, there are wild turkeys, 21:10 the kids are so happy. 21:11 The kids are just so happy here 21:13 and they love to play in this field, 21:16 they even have the river to go cool off in 21:19 and splash in on a hot day. 21:21 It's just an incredible experience to be here, 21:23 I'm so blessed and so overwhelmed by it. 21:58 Well, its Monday morning 22:00 and we are on the Sunrise Home school bus 22:02 and we are riding with Sheela and the other kids 22:05 to their school this morning. 22:07 I can tell you, you are never too old 22:10 to ride a school bus, this is fun. 22:37 Well, this is Sheela's classroom, 22:39 she's gonna be studying here today. 22:41 I talked to her on the school bus 22:42 she has all subjects today. 22:45 Her favorite subject is biology, 22:47 she's studying, physics, mathematics 22:50 I can't tell you how that makes me feel to see her here 22:53 in her classroom and to know 22:55 that she's getting a good education, 22:57 she's getting an Adventist education. 23:00 She's being well prepared 23:01 to go forward into high school, college. 23:04 She wants to be a nurse 23:06 and I can see here that 23:08 she is getting the preparation that she needs to do that. 23:12 I can't tell you what a difference 23:14 that makes for me to see 23:17 that she is able to receive that through sponsorship. 23:25 While Sheela is at school, 23:27 I want to visit a near by village 23:29 to see how life is for people there. 23:32 Raj Verma, Asian Aid field officer 23:35 takes us to a village a few minutes drive 23:37 from Sunrise Home. 23:39 There we meet a Christian woman Pentamma, 23:41 a gregarious grey haired woman. 23:44 She must be in her early 70s, 23:46 and yet she tells me that she still works in the fields. 23:50 If you have had the chance as a girl 23:52 to go to school would you have liked that? 23:54 ( speaking in foreign language ) 24:08 So I didn't have opportunity those days, 24:11 my mother didn't send me to school 24:13 and those days no school also was here. 24:15 So my mother used to take me to field work, farm work. 24:18 Oh, to field work as a younger. 24:21 Meeting Pentamma at her home 24:23 I am thankful for the opportunity Sheela has. 24:26 What would have happened to her if she was left in her village? 24:30 Would she be working in the fields, 24:32 illiterate and with no hope? 24:34 I dare not to imagine this scenario. 24:42 I've traveled to India 24:43 with my husband Shaun before in 2006, 24:46 but this trip with Asian Aid has opened my eyes 24:50 in a brand new way. 24:52 I'm touched by what Asian Aid is doing 24:54 and the need of the happy beautiful children 24:57 moves me deeply. 24:59 My daughters feel it too 25:01 and for that I feel very thankful. 25:04 In the evening we drive back to Vizag, 25:08 it is hard to leave. 25:09 It is been a life changing week for my daughters and me. 25:14 In Vizag the next morning we returned to the slum school 25:17 for its dedication ceremony. 25:19 Colorful banners are hanging and it's a high day. 25:23 Principle Naomi greets us 25:24 and we enjoy seeing the now familiar faces of the kids. 25:29 At the dedication we meet Ramini, 25:32 she lives just down the narrow alleyway 25:34 a little away from the school 25:36 and she attended this slum school as a child. 25:39 Now she is in a boarding school in Rajahmundry 25:42 and she plans to be a physician. 25:45 I like this school very much. 25:47 This school is like my mother. 25:49 This school will teach me everything, 25:51 teachers also help me so much, 25:53 sponsors and donors also help me so much to learn. 25:57 Because of their grace I am studying now. 25:59 Really, I would like to thank them, 26:01 I don't know who are they also, 26:03 I doesn't see their face also. 26:05 It is an emotional experience to see the wondrous work 26:09 that's being carried out in the slums. 26:11 We see the change that has brought about in the community 26:14 and experience first hand 26:16 the transformation Asian Aid is making 26:19 in the lives of thousands of children across India. 26:23 So, not too long ago Shaun and I 26:25 and our girls got involved with Asian Aid 26:28 and it's been just over a year now 26:29 that we've had Sheela as our sponsor daughter. 26:33 I couldn't have ever imagined 26:34 when we started that process 26:36 that we would end up here in India, 26:38 actually getting to meet Sheela 26:40 and spend time with her, to see where she lives, 26:43 meet the kids she lives with and shares her life with. 26:46 What an incredible experience it's been. 26:49 It's been an incredible privilege to be here 26:51 I'm just so honored to be part of Asian Aid 26:54 and what they're doing 26:56 and I don't think this will be our last trip to India. |
Revised 2014-12-17