The Asian Aid School
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for Speech and
Hearing in Kollegal,
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India is very
special for Asian Aid.
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Here,
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these special needs children
are given opportunities,
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opportunities to
learn, acquire skills,
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and are given a chance
to transform their lives.
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In this episode
of Hope in Motion,
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we see how Asia Aid sponsors
are helping this special school
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transform the lives
of disables children
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like Lakshmi and Seetaraju.
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I wish the
sponsors could be here,
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I wish the
sponsors could really see
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beyond the
difference they're making.
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Without the sponsors,
this simply wouldn't happen.
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It's bigger
than their education.
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It's bigger than
the child at the desk.
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It's giving these
kids a delight in life,
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and that's what I
see when I come here.
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We meet Jacob
and his wife, Shiny,
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and see how
working with these children
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has been a life
changing experience for them.
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I myself was Asian Aid
child, a sponsored child.
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And Asian Aid gave me
laugh and gave me hope.
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If it is not for Asian
Aid, I would have not been here.
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It's because of
the Asian Aid help,
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I'm here as a teacher
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for these special children here.
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And we travel with Carl
Ginger as he discovers firsthand
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how Asian Aid is
spreading hope and light
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to these disables children
and a community at large.
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Asian Aid is an
organization giving hope,
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an organization fostering
permanent positive change
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in the lives of
disadvantaged children
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and their communities.
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An organization
that is committed
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to making a difference
in the lives of children
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and those who are in need,
serving communities in Nepal,
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Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, Myanmar, and India.
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For the last 40 years,
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Asian Aid has invested
in the futures of people
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and their investment
has proven infinite returns.
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Driven by their
dedication to helping those
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who have the least,
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Asian Aid is an
organization focused
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on the welfare of children,
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implementing diverse
development projects,
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and sponsoring
thousands of children.
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Their outreach expands
from child rescue operations
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to providing an
education for orphans, deaf,
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and the blind children,
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giving them a
sense of place, a home,
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but above all, Asian Aid is
an organization giving hope,
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giving hope to children,
giving hope to communities,
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giving hope to the
ones who needed the most.
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This is Hope in Motion.
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Carl Ginger's
involvement with Asian Aid
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as one of its board members
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has taken him to
India many times.
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The vibrancy of life in India
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is something that
has captivated him,
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and that's a place to experience
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and appreciate life.
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For Carl, this was
one such opportunity.
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He is traveling with Jim Rennie,
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CEO of Asian Aid, USA
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and his fellow board
member and friend Dittu Abraham
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to the Asian Aid
School for Speech and Hearing
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in Kollegal.
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As they drive
down into the campus,
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the children appear from nowhere
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to greet them.
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Their smiling faces
and their warm welcome
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was rewarding for the visitors.
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The children were well
groomed and ready for church.
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I'm here at a church
service with these children
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and getting their
responses toward the questions
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we ask about Jesus Christ,
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the energy they have,
the commitment they have,
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the pleasure in being
part of a church service.
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It truly is amazing.
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This is something
we can give these kids
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that they would never have,
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never have had the opportunity
of knowing Jesus Christ,
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and we are going to
see results for eternity.
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For Carl,
attending church service
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with these children
with hearing disability
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was an opportunity to grow
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and expand his understanding
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of the
differences between people,
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the gift of communication
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and the
privilege of being human.
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Being created in
the image of God,
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binds us as one,
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multiplies our
understanding of being human
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and the many gifts we have.
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These children
were demonstrating
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that gift on this
beautiful Sabbath day.
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This school has
a far wider impact
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for the church in this country.
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Asian Aid is very
excited to partner
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with the church of the school,
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and so when we see
the children singing songs
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and learning about Jesus,
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it not only has an
impact on their life,
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but it has as an
impact on the community
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that they return to,
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and has an
impact on where they go
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but also the community see
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the work that
this school is doing
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and it really lifts
the presence of the church
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in a very unique way.
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The church service
was an amazing experience
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that changed
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some of Carl's
unconscious preconceptions.
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These disabled children
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clearly demonstrated
their ability to praise God,
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albeit in their own way
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but it also
demonstrated the role
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we play as an
institution and a church
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in reaching out
to this community.
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When I look at this place,
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I'm convinced
that this is exactly
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what God wants us
to be doing as a church
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that working with the children
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who otherwise in
society would be rejected,
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and caste aside,
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and not provided the
means to an education.
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I think this is what
the church would be doing
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as part of this gospel outreach.
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This is a testimony to
the love of Jesus Christ,
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or the most rejected,
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or the most
ignored part of society.
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And these children are just
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the type of people
we should be serving.
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Children like this are
often seen as a liability
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by the family
and by the community.
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This school changes that,
this school gives them hope,
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this school
gives them an education
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which, in most cases,
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enables them to have a
job and to have a future.
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And then many of these children
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assist in funding or supporting
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their family or village.
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This school makes a difference
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far beyond the
child that attends here.
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This type of disability
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where children are born deaf
is quite common in this area,
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and Carl was determined
to know the reason behind it.
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He was disturbed to
learn some social practices
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that is prevalent here
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that results in
children being born deaf.
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One of the reasons he discovered
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is that people in
villages around here
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marry within close relations.
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Here, in this
village, it's a custom
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that they marry
within the relation,
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you know, to say sometimes
when they are small itself,
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they say, "Okay,
this child should marry
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that uncle's son,
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or that child
should marry this."
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So it's more of relation here,
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it's a custom and tradition
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that we are
following for many years.
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But when they
get a disabled child,
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they bring them here.
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And we cannot
change the community,
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we cannot go there and tell them
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because it's their tradition
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that they're
following for many years.
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But when the children come here,
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we give them a
lending hand to help them
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so the children
get good education.
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And the children here
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are all aware of
the relation marriage
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and the problems that
comes along with that.
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However, unconventional
and disturbing it may seem,
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we cannot change
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society's customs and traditions
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nor change their ways of living.
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Traditions are deep rooted,
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but what we can do
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is to sow the
seed of opportunities
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for people affected
by society's actions,
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especially the children.
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How many... sisters, sisters?
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How many sisters?
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Carl was introduced to
Seetaraju, a cheerful boy
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who is teaching him
how to sign his name.
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He was born deaf.
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Seetaraju's mother passed
away when he was still a child.
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And soon after her
death, his father remarried.
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His new wife didn't
take kindly to Seetaraju
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and despised his
very presence at home.
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Him being deaf
only made matters worse.
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But his father loved him
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and wanted the best
for his disabled son.
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With the help of
local school teacher,
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Seetaraju was brought
to the Asian Aid School
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for Speech and Hearing.
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So when the children
come here, we as a team here,
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we encourage the
child to be independent,
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and we give
them a second chance.
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We try to tell
the children that,
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just because they are disabled,
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it doesn't mean they
are lower than the normal,
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they are very smart
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that they can move
forward in their life.
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So that's what we
are training them.
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We are giving
them the second chance.
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They may not, you know, as...
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We may not say that
they can become a doctor
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or they can be an engineer,
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but they can become
someone great in future
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like, we have a girl who
is expert in electronics.
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That child, if she
would have been at home,
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she would have been
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taking care of house activities,
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maybe marriage, had
kids, washing the vessels,
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taking care of
the child, that's it.
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But because she was here,
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now she is an
expert in electronics,
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she's working in a company
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where they all
appreciate her work.
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So it's a same hope
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we are giving the children here,
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a second chance in their life.
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And they say this
is their second home.
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I like the slogan of
Asian Aid, "Give hope today."
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And for the past 40 years,
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Asian Aid has been involved
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with giving a hope
and a great education
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for the less fortunate ones.
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And I think Asian
Aid's work with the deaf
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and with the blind
in these last 40 years
00:10:40.64\00:10:43.57
has been a blessing
and a meaningful one,
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giving hope and
giving a future and a life
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for the less fortunate ones.
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If it was not for these schools,
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I'm sure these deaf children
would be back in their homes,
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working along with the parents
and maybe even being abused.
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The school for
speech and hearing
00:11:02.46\00:11:03.89
is what Asian Aid is all about,
00:11:03.93\00:11:05.89
helping children in need
and giving them an opportunity
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to look beyond
their disabilities.
00:11:08.63\00:11:10.97
Rejected by their
family and society,
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they would have lost all hope.
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But this school
has given them hope.
00:11:15.10\00:11:17.51
It is given them a future.
00:11:17.54\00:11:19.04
And for boys like Seetaraju,
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it has given them a
place they can call home.
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This is also having an
impact on their family.
00:11:24.25\00:11:26.92
Their immediate
family can now be proud,
00:11:26.95\00:11:29.12
proud that their
child can achieve something
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and have a job.
00:11:31.19\00:11:32.52
This school is
making a difference
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far beyond the education
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the child
receives at the school.
00:11:35.36\00:11:37.99
When we say,
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reaching out to
the least of these,
00:11:39.39\00:11:41.50
this is what we mean.
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This school and
what happens here
00:11:43.20\00:11:46.10
is reaching out
to the least of these
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who would have been
rejected by their society,
00:11:48.34\00:11:51.84
their family had no hope,
00:11:51.87\00:11:53.84
this school has
made a difference,
00:11:53.88\00:11:55.98
and so they've gone from being
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the least of these
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to being something
to having a career,
00:11:58.81\00:12:01.52
and then actually impacting
00:12:01.55\00:12:03.49
on their village
or with their family.
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This Asian Aid School
for Speech and Hearing
00:12:07.36\00:12:09.49
in Kollegal
00:12:09.52\00:12:10.86
is standing as a
testimony for Christ
00:12:10.89\00:12:12.96
in what He represented
while He was on this earth.
00:12:12.99\00:12:16.43
When we come back,
00:12:16.46\00:12:17.80
we meet with Jacob and Shiny
00:12:17.83\00:12:19.20
and see how they're being used
00:12:19.23\00:12:20.57
as an instrument
in God's service,
00:12:20.60\00:12:22.67
and meet Lakshmi and her family,
00:12:22.70\00:12:24.64
and witness how
Asian Aid is helping them
00:12:24.67\00:12:26.68
overcome their difficulties.
00:12:26.71\00:12:29.94
Lakshmi's mother
was also got married
00:12:29.98\00:12:34.45
at a very young age
00:12:34.48\00:12:35.82
and that's the
same thing that she did
00:12:35.85\00:12:37.19
with her elder daughter.
00:12:37.22\00:12:39.65
And we are hoping
that that same thing
00:12:39.69\00:12:41.12
doesn't happen to Lakshmi
00:12:41.16\00:12:43.53
that she would be
able to finish her studies,
00:12:43.56\00:12:45.36
her college, and
then get into a good job,
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and then look for
getting married to someone.
00:12:47.36\00:12:50.23
We're hoping that
that'll happen to her.
00:12:50.27\00:12:51.67
One of the huge problems
00:12:59.01\00:13:00.34
that is existing
in the world today
00:13:00.38\00:13:02.71
is that of human trafficking.
00:13:02.74\00:13:05.38
Of course, it is a global thing
00:13:05.41\00:13:07.25
but because I have
worked a lot in India and Nepal,
00:13:07.28\00:13:10.09
I know that it is
huge in these countries.
00:13:10.12\00:13:13.56
And why these
children are treated
00:13:13.59\00:13:15.32
is just unbelievable
and what they suffer,
00:13:15.36\00:13:19.09
you just could not believe.
00:13:19.13\00:13:21.16
And so with your help,
00:13:21.20\00:13:23.73
and we're so excited
00:13:23.77\00:13:25.13
that Asian Aid has
now got the project
00:13:25.17\00:13:27.97
called Operation Child Rescue,
00:13:28.00\00:13:30.57
we can make a difference
00:13:30.61\00:13:32.01
and do something
for these children
00:13:32.04\00:13:34.54
before this happens to
them, and for some of them,
00:13:34.58\00:13:37.68
they can be rescued
from this situation.
00:13:37.71\00:13:40.82
If you would like
to become involved,
00:13:40.85\00:13:42.58
we would just be so
very, very grateful.
00:13:42.62\00:13:44.95
A few years ago,
00:13:59.33\00:14:00.67
I had the
privilege of visiting India
00:14:00.70\00:14:03.14
to see how the
Asian Aid projects
00:14:03.17\00:14:04.81
are making a
difference in that country,
00:14:04.84\00:14:07.18
how lives are being transformed,
00:14:07.21\00:14:09.64
lives of abandoned children,
00:14:09.68\00:14:11.81
tribal
children, orphan children,
00:14:11.85\00:14:14.22
children that are being raised
00:14:14.25\00:14:15.92
without the advantages
we have here in America.
00:14:15.95\00:14:17.99
And sometimes we
take for granted.
00:14:18.02\00:14:19.95
And I discovered one
very important thing,
00:14:19.99\00:14:22.09
because of sponsors like you,
00:14:22.12\00:14:24.03
these lives are
being transformed,
00:14:24.06\00:14:25.59
the future is made brighter
00:14:25.63\00:14:28.06
because of your prayers
and your financial support.
00:14:28.10\00:14:31.07
Because of what you do,
they now have nutritious food,
00:14:31.10\00:14:34.37
clothing, and they are
able now to propel themselves
00:14:34.40\00:14:37.44
with education to
look to the future
00:14:37.47\00:14:40.48
with hope and courage.
00:14:40.51\00:14:42.34
And so on behalf of Asian Aid,
00:14:42.38\00:14:43.78
I want to thank
you for all you do,
00:14:43.81\00:14:45.81
your sponsorship.
00:14:45.85\00:14:47.32
And now because of you,
00:14:47.35\00:14:48.68
they have hope,
hope for brighter future.
00:14:48.72\00:14:51.42
That morning, Carl drove
back to the Asian Aid School
00:15:26.86\00:15:29.99
for Speech and Hearing
00:15:30.03\00:15:31.36
and found the children
00:15:31.39\00:15:32.73
spread out on the
verandas doing their homework.
00:15:32.76\00:15:35.10
Later, he learnt they
were actually studying
00:15:35.13\00:15:37.17
for their final
exams the next day.
00:15:37.20\00:15:39.37
This was critical
in his understanding
00:15:39.40\00:15:41.14
of Asian Aid's
work here for the deaf.
00:15:41.17\00:15:43.47
Asian Aid has not just
given them three meals a day
00:15:43.51\00:15:46.44
or given them shelter,
00:15:46.47\00:15:47.98
but it is giving
them an opportunity
00:15:48.01\00:15:49.84
to prepare for
the world outside.
00:15:49.88\00:15:53.62
Asian Aid has provided
00:15:53.65\00:15:55.65
the support here
to these children,
00:15:55.68\00:15:59.25
and I think
there's a lot of lessons
00:15:59.29\00:16:00.62
that people can learn
from what is happening here.
00:16:00.66\00:16:03.53
There must be so many
places around the world
00:16:03.56\00:16:05.73
where children
need an education,
00:16:05.76\00:16:08.96
and the governments
don't have the funds
00:16:09.00\00:16:11.03
but the people can come together
00:16:11.07\00:16:12.40
and support the work that we do.
00:16:12.43\00:16:14.57
It's not just the
regular kids in society
00:16:14.60\00:16:16.24
who should be
getting an education.
00:16:16.27\00:16:18.11
I think it is even those
00:16:18.14\00:16:19.47
who are marginalized,
or ignored, or set aside,
00:16:19.51\00:16:22.38
or just where children
cannot get into a school
00:16:22.41\00:16:26.25
because they can't
hear, they can't speak.
00:16:26.28\00:16:28.55
But this is where I
see them finding an outlet
00:16:28.58\00:16:32.65
for their talents,
00:16:32.69\00:16:34.02
their emotions and their skills.
00:16:34.06\00:16:36.49
And even though you
don't hear what they're saying,
00:16:36.52\00:16:39.66
they hear you loud
and clear from your face,
00:16:39.69\00:16:42.06
from your gestures,
00:16:42.10\00:16:43.47
and that is
turning their lives around.
00:16:43.50\00:16:47.94
The education that
this school provides here
00:16:47.97\00:16:50.34
through qualified teachers,
skilled teachers, teachers
00:16:50.37\00:16:53.31
who know exactly how
to impact their lives
00:16:53.34\00:16:55.14
through sign language
00:16:55.18\00:16:56.51
and other methods helps
them to contribute to society
00:16:56.54\00:16:59.28
just like any one of us can,
00:16:59.31\00:17:00.98
and not be a liability or burden
00:17:01.02\00:17:02.88
to their parents and society.
00:17:02.92\00:17:05.05
This education
is crucial for them
00:17:05.09\00:17:06.86
to go out into
society, get a job,
00:17:06.89\00:17:09.09
and be able to
impact other children
00:17:09.12\00:17:10.83
just like them.
00:17:10.86\00:17:13.09
Teaching to a group of children
00:17:13.13\00:17:14.46
with hearing
disabilities is not easy.
00:17:14.50\00:17:16.90
Even though all
of these children
00:17:16.93\00:17:18.27
are so eager to learn
00:17:18.30\00:17:19.63
and grasp everything
that is being taught to them.
00:17:19.67\00:17:21.70
It takes an extra effort
from the part of teachers
00:17:21.74\00:17:24.21
and those who care for them.
00:17:24.24\00:17:28.84
Jacob Bhaggien is the
principal of the school.
00:17:28.88\00:17:31.45
He, along with his wife Shiny,
00:17:31.48\00:17:33.42
look after these
children like they're their own.
00:17:33.45\00:17:37.49
When I joined work
here in the year 2008,
00:17:37.52\00:17:40.69
I came to work
here as a chaplain
00:17:40.72\00:17:42.79
and I enjoy doing that even now
00:17:42.82\00:17:46.39
taking the weekend services,
sitting with the children
00:17:46.43\00:17:49.96
in their morning
and evening worship,
00:17:50.00\00:17:51.40
singing along with
them, and listening to them,
00:17:51.43\00:17:54.00
tell stories and
sometimes involving myself
00:17:54.04\00:17:56.20
in telling them some stories.
00:17:56.24\00:17:58.54
It's been a great experience
not only for the children
00:17:58.57\00:18:02.58
but for me equally,
00:18:02.61\00:18:03.95
a spiritual
growth for me as well.
00:18:03.98\00:18:06.72
After being here
for past 10 years,
00:18:06.75\00:18:09.85
it's not
difficult for me to be here.
00:18:09.88\00:18:14.59
Simply because
everyday, you wake up,
00:18:14.62\00:18:17.73
you know that
there are so many kids
00:18:17.76\00:18:21.13
who are ready to give you love.
00:18:21.16\00:18:24.03
And these children's
love are very, very genuine.
00:18:24.07\00:18:27.50
I don't know where
will I find this love,
00:18:27.54\00:18:31.31
you cannot get 70, 80
children love at one time,
00:18:31.34\00:18:36.31
and this is a
wonderful place to really work.
00:18:36.34\00:18:40.98
Of course, we may face
problem from the outside source,
00:18:41.02\00:18:45.95
but the children love
just make you stand firm.
00:18:45.99\00:18:50.69
And everyday you wake up,
you wake up with the energy,
00:18:50.73\00:18:54.56
you go to them,
00:18:54.60\00:18:55.93
and you feel you
need to teach them more,
00:18:55.96\00:18:57.87
and they give you more love.
00:18:57.90\00:18:59.53
That's what you need,
and you get it from them.
00:18:59.57\00:19:03.91
Shiny has a special
attachment to these children,
00:19:03.94\00:19:06.57
and the children
are very fond of her.
00:19:06.61\00:19:08.58
Shiny was an Asian
Aid sponsored child.
00:19:08.61\00:19:11.61
I myself was Asian Aid
child, a sponsored child.
00:19:11.65\00:19:15.92
And Asian Aid gave me
laugh and gave me hope.
00:19:15.95\00:19:20.99
If it is not for Asian
Aid, I would have not been here.
00:19:21.02\00:19:25.39
It's because of
the Asian Aid help,
00:19:25.43\00:19:28.06
I'm here as a teacher
00:19:28.10\00:19:29.43
for these special children here.
00:19:29.46\00:19:32.30
Shiny owes her success to
becoming a special educator
00:19:32.33\00:19:35.07
to Asian Aid,
00:19:35.10\00:19:36.44
and she hopes that
it will continue to help
00:19:36.47\00:19:38.01
many more
children to be successful
00:19:38.04\00:19:40.11
and continue to spread hope
00:19:40.14\00:19:41.81
especially for
children with disabilities
00:19:41.84\00:19:44.08
who are victims of
neglect and abandonment.
00:19:44.11\00:19:46.25
Lakshmi is a
12-year-old girl at the school.
00:19:54.69\00:19:57.26
Like Seetaraju,
00:19:57.29\00:19:58.63
she was born deaf and
has been at the school
00:19:58.66\00:20:00.60
when she was just
a two-year-old baby.
00:20:00.63\00:20:02.46
And her mother
was having a hard time
00:20:02.50\00:20:04.07
bringing her up
00:20:04.10\00:20:05.43
along with her
older sister and brother
00:20:05.47\00:20:06.90
who was also deaf.
00:20:06.94\00:20:09.97
Lakshmi is right now
doing fourth standard here,
00:20:10.01\00:20:14.11
and we are hoping
00:20:14.14\00:20:15.48
that she will finish her studies
00:20:15.51\00:20:16.85
from our school,
00:20:16.88\00:20:18.21
go on to do college
just like her brother,
00:20:18.25\00:20:20.22
and be able to earn a living.
00:20:20.25\00:20:22.22
Now the reason why
Lakshmi's mother and father
00:20:22.25\00:20:25.45
were separated is
because of some family issues,
00:20:25.49\00:20:28.32
and they've been separated
for more than 10 years now.
00:20:28.36\00:20:32.36
The father lives with his mother
00:20:32.39\00:20:35.30
in another state,
00:20:35.33\00:20:36.67
and the mother brought
up all these three children
00:20:36.70\00:20:40.77
by working in a
factory that makes noodles.
00:20:40.80\00:20:44.41
And because she's not able
to give them a good education,
00:20:44.44\00:20:47.64
she has put both her,
00:20:47.68\00:20:49.48
heard of hearing children
over here in our school.
00:20:49.51\00:20:53.82
Lakshmi's mother
married when she was just 16.
00:20:53.85\00:20:56.75
Although such
practices exist in rural India
00:20:56.79\00:20:59.35
since ancient times,
00:20:59.39\00:21:00.82
it would be hard for someone
to assimilate this mentality
00:21:00.86\00:21:03.89
especially for a
first time visitor
00:21:03.93\00:21:05.63
to rural India.
00:21:05.66\00:21:07.66
Lakshmi's mother
00:21:07.70\00:21:09.90
was also got
married at a very young age
00:21:09.93\00:21:13.03
and that's the same thing
00:21:13.07\00:21:14.40
that she did with
her elder daughter.
00:21:14.44\00:21:17.27
And we are hoping
that that same thing
00:21:17.31\00:21:18.74
doesn't happen to Lakshmi
00:21:18.77\00:21:21.11
that she would be
able to finish her studies,
00:21:21.14\00:21:22.98
her college, and
then get into a good job,
00:21:23.01\00:21:24.91
and then look for
getting married to someone.
00:21:24.95\00:21:27.98
We're hoping that
that'll happen to her.
00:21:28.02\00:21:30.62
One can only hope
that Lakshmi will have
00:21:30.65\00:21:32.39
the opportunity
to break the shackles
00:21:32.42\00:21:34.16
of their long
observed traditions
00:21:34.19\00:21:35.89
and compulsions,
00:21:35.92\00:21:37.26
and hope that education
will let her have the freedom
00:21:37.29\00:21:39.39
to choose how she wants to live.
00:21:39.43\00:21:41.20
Lakshmi's family
lived in a nearby village,
00:21:51.41\00:21:53.74
and Carl was
anxious to meet them.
00:21:53.78\00:21:56.18
Upon arriving at her village,
00:21:56.21\00:21:57.91
it was clear
that Lakshmi's family
00:21:57.95\00:21:59.48
loved her very much,
and she loved her family.
00:21:59.51\00:22:02.25
The home was
certainly minimalistic,
00:22:02.28\00:22:04.29
but hospitality was evident.
00:22:04.32\00:22:06.42
Seeing how content
they are with what they have
00:22:06.45\00:22:08.92
is such a blessing
and a valuable lesson
00:22:08.96\00:22:10.86
to all addicted to consumerism.
00:22:10.89\00:22:15.63
Carl got to talk to Kalavathi,
00:22:15.66\00:22:17.60
Lakshmi's mother
through the help of Rajkumar
00:22:17.63\00:22:20.10
who is translating for them.
00:22:20.14\00:22:21.60
Her wish is her two children
got educated in this Asian Aid,
00:22:28.18\00:22:31.71
through Asian Aid,
sponsored through Asian Aid.
00:22:31.75\00:22:34.02
And there are many
children in the villages,
00:22:34.05\00:22:35.98
she also want them to
get educated same thing.
00:22:36.02\00:22:39.12
She want more
sponsors to come forward
00:22:39.15\00:22:41.02
so that many children
can come to the light.
00:22:41.06\00:22:45.49
Although the
pain of life struggle
00:22:45.53\00:22:47.03
was deep within her,
00:22:47.06\00:22:48.40
one could sense
how happy she was,
00:22:48.43\00:22:49.86
knowing that her daughter
Lakshmi is well taken care of,
00:22:49.90\00:22:52.83
and she was thankful
00:22:52.87\00:22:54.20
for what we could
do as an organization.
00:22:54.24\00:22:56.84
Rajkumar, we've
just been talking
00:22:56.87\00:22:58.21
to Lakshmi's mother.
00:22:58.24\00:23:00.68
There must be
lots of other children
00:23:00.71\00:23:02.98
in these villages
who have disabilities.
00:23:03.01\00:23:08.15
What would be the
situation if there was no help?
00:23:08.18\00:23:12.85
If there is no outside help,
for example, like Asian Aid,
00:23:12.89\00:23:17.23
the other NGOs in India,
00:23:17.26\00:23:20.16
families like this
will suffer very much.
00:23:20.20\00:23:25.23
And the pathetic situation is,
00:23:25.27\00:23:27.04
if there are no
NGOs coming forward
00:23:27.07\00:23:29.24
to help them like these kids,
00:23:29.27\00:23:32.01
the society will be
dropping them to one corner.
00:23:32.04\00:23:36.14
They'll not come out,
and they can't get exposure.
00:23:36.18\00:23:40.88
If people, the
society from outside,
00:23:40.92\00:23:45.79
comes and helps people
like in these small villages,
00:23:45.82\00:23:49.09
remote villages,
00:23:49.12\00:23:50.73
children like Lakshmi
will come up much brighter.
00:23:50.76\00:23:54.40
Their future, they can read it.
00:23:54.43\00:23:56.77
Otherwise, their
future will be in debris.
00:23:56.80\00:23:59.07
You know, this is an
example of what can happen
00:24:03.07\00:24:06.81
when someone like
Asian Aid gets involved
00:24:06.84\00:24:09.58
and sponsors get
involved in the child's life.
00:24:09.61\00:24:12.51
We can transform the
person, give them a future,
00:24:12.55\00:24:16.89
create opportunities
for them to be themselves,
00:24:16.92\00:24:20.16
be what God intended them to be.
00:24:20.19\00:24:23.09
What a privilege to create,
00:24:23.12\00:24:25.69
and generate, and multiply hope.
00:24:25.73\00:24:28.93
For someone like Lakshmi,
00:24:39.54\00:24:41.21
having a loving
family is a blessing.
00:24:41.24\00:24:43.61
Because her mother
wanted the best for her,
00:24:43.65\00:24:45.55
she was willing to leave her
00:24:45.58\00:24:46.92
in a school's
boarding environment
00:24:46.95\00:24:48.52
just so she could
give her the education,
00:24:48.55\00:24:50.45
she otherwise would
be unable to provide.
00:24:50.49\00:24:53.49
Most of these children
00:24:53.52\00:24:54.86
understand their
difficulties at home,
00:24:54.89\00:24:56.36
and understand the opportunities
00:24:56.39\00:24:57.89
they've been
given by their sponsors,
00:24:57.93\00:24:59.79
and are ever
thankful for the part
00:24:59.83\00:25:01.33
they are playing in their lives.
00:25:01.36\00:25:04.83
I'm sure that these children
00:25:04.87\00:25:07.34
are very
thankful to their sponsors
00:25:07.37\00:25:09.64
and the sponsors should
know this that everyday,
00:25:09.67\00:25:13.54
the children pray for them.
00:25:13.58\00:25:15.04
There's not a day goes
without the child praying
00:25:15.08\00:25:18.15
for their sponsors.
00:25:18.18\00:25:19.61
And we are very
thankful to the sponsors.
00:25:19.65\00:25:22.68
And they know the
importance of sponsorship.
00:25:22.72\00:25:25.25
It's because of that sponsorship
00:25:25.29\00:25:27.52
that they are here,
00:25:27.56\00:25:29.02
and they are
having a new friends,
00:25:29.06\00:25:32.26
a new life given to them.
00:25:32.29\00:25:34.03
Well, when I come to the school,
00:25:37.13\00:25:39.63
it's just touching.
00:25:39.67\00:25:41.37
I wish the
sponsors could be here.
00:25:41.40\00:25:43.30
I wish the
sponsors could really see
00:25:43.34\00:25:46.07
beyond the
difference they're making.
00:25:46.11\00:25:48.14
The kids are so happy.
00:25:48.18\00:25:49.81
The kids want to touch you,
00:25:49.84\00:25:51.18
they want to
communicate with you.
00:25:51.21\00:25:53.15
And without the sponsors,
this simply wouldn't happen.
00:25:53.18\00:25:57.25
It's bigger
than their education.
00:25:57.29\00:25:59.09
It's bigger than
the child at the desk.
00:25:59.12\00:26:01.26
It's giving these
kids a delight in life,
00:26:01.29\00:26:04.09
and that's what I
see when I come here.
00:26:04.13\00:26:08.06
When Jesus was on the earth,
00:26:08.10\00:26:09.70
He invited the
poor, the blind, the lame,
00:26:09.73\00:26:12.67
and the deaf into the temple
and had fellowship with them.
00:26:12.70\00:26:15.74
Jesus mentioned
00:26:15.77\00:26:17.11
that when we do
service to the least of these,
00:26:17.14\00:26:19.31
we are doing service to Him,
00:26:19.34\00:26:21.21
and He commissioned us
to take care of the ones
00:26:21.24\00:26:23.51
who are less fortunate than us.
00:26:23.55\00:26:25.78
What a blessing it is
for us to be in His service.
00:26:25.81\00:26:29.38
Many times I
question myself asking,
00:26:29.42\00:26:32.32
"Am I doing the
preaching work here,
00:26:32.35\00:26:36.26
or am I doing
some kind of service?"
00:26:36.29\00:26:38.09
But then I
realize what Jesus told,
00:26:38.13\00:26:40.16
the true religion is to
take care of the orphans,
00:26:40.20\00:26:44.73
the widows, and the
less fortunate ones.
00:26:44.77\00:26:47.87
And then by seeing the lives
of these children transforming,
00:26:47.90\00:26:51.61
it gives me hope and courage,
00:26:51.64\00:26:53.74
Yes, what we are doing here is,
00:26:53.78\00:26:56.31
any day, the best
thing that we must be doing.
00:26:56.34\00:26:58.85
It's important that the church
00:26:58.88\00:27:00.35
has these services going on.
00:27:00.38\00:27:05.95
Today, this Asian Aid
School for Speech and Hearing
00:27:05.99\00:27:09.49
is a beacon for
Christ in this area.
00:27:09.52\00:27:12.39
With this school in Kollegal,
00:27:12.43\00:27:14.46
Asian Aid is not
only bringing hope
00:27:14.50\00:27:16.23
to the children,
00:27:16.26\00:27:17.60
but also to the community
00:27:17.63\00:27:18.97
as it sees practical
Christianity in action.
00:27:19.00\00:27:21.80
The church could not have
scripted a better outcome,
00:27:21.84\00:27:24.44
just being there
and demonstrating love
00:27:24.47\00:27:26.34
on a consistent basis
reflects the image of God.
00:27:26.37\00:27:31.21
These children are preparing
for their final exams tomorrow.
00:27:31.25\00:27:35.55
And it's clear
that these children
00:27:35.58\00:27:39.65
are being prepared
not just to survive,
00:27:39.69\00:27:42.02
but for a future tomorrow
and a future for eternity.
00:27:42.06\00:27:46.16
And for Asian Aid to be involved
00:27:46.19\00:27:48.46
in creating these opportunities
really warms my heart.
00:27:48.50\00:27:52.20
It's helping me see what
it is really to be human.
00:27:52.23\00:27:56.64
And I'm so glad
to be part of that.
00:27:56.67\00:27:59.47