Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000047A
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00:01 In this episode of Hope in Motion,
00:02 during the height of religious tensions 00:04 between Hindus and Christians, 00:06 the girls' dean of the Immanuel Seventh-day Adventist School 00:09 ushers her students 00:10 into one room of the girls' dorm 00:12 while the sounds of banging and broken glass 00:14 fill the campus. 00:16 All the children knelt down in the rooms 00:18 and they started to pray. 00:20 Then those people came. They started from the gate. 00:24 They started to bang the windows. 00:26 They broke the windows. 00:28 Having the responsibility of over 800 students 00:30 on his shoulder, 00:32 Arun Ponda, 00:33 the school principal felt the edge of sword on his neck. 00:36 I just saw a man who was holding a sword 00:39 and he was breaking all glass 00:41 and I was so scared that I got back in my room 00:45 and didn't come out again. 00:47 And armed with gallons of diesel fuel and a match, 00:50 the attackers are set on burning 00:52 the school to the ground. 00:53 They took all the mattresses, and put fire, 00:56 and they burn the mattresses and blankets, 00:59 sewing machine and cupboards. 01:01 They pulled the gas stove and cylinder on the floor, 01:04 and they tried to light fire. 01:21 Asian Aid is an organization giving hope, 01:24 an organization fostering permanent 01:26 positive change in the lives of disadvantaged children 01:29 and their communities. 01:31 An organization that is committed 01:33 to making a difference in the lives of children 01:35 and those who are in need, 01:37 serving communities in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, 01:41 Myanmar, and India. 01:51 For the last 40 years, 01:53 Asian Aid has invested in the futures of people 01:55 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 02:00 Driven by their dedication to helping those 02:02 who have the least, 02:04 Asian Aid is an organization 02:06 focused on the welfare of children, 02:08 implementing diverse development projects, 02:11 and sponsoring thousands of children. 02:14 Their outreach expands from child rescue operations 02:17 to providing an education for orphans, deaf, 02:20 and the blind children, 02:22 giving them a sense of place, a home, 02:25 but above all, 02:26 Asian Aid is an organization giving hope, 02:29 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 02:33 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 02:37 This is Hope in Motion. 03:09 Nature has showered its bounty on the landscape of Jeypore 03:11 in the state of Orissa. 03:14 This land of abundance is home 03:16 to Orissa's vast tribal population. 03:33 Built specifically for the tribal children, 03:36 the Immanuel Seventh-day Adventist School 03:38 is an abode of peace. 03:40 It houses children from kindergarten 03:42 through 12th grade. 03:47 Built in 2005, 03:49 this school quickly gained a reputation 03:51 for being a well kept campus with high academics standards. 03:55 Going to Jeypore campus is so impressive. 03:58 It's in the middle of nowhere 03:59 but it's just this bright shining white campus 04:02 that stands out from the community, 04:04 and it's a success. 04:05 There are hundreds and hundreds of children boarding there, 04:08 studying each day. 04:10 They've got quite good academic standards. 04:13 They're fed well. 04:15 It's just something that, 04:16 you know, warms my heart when I go there to see. 04:19 But how does this school in a country often known 04:21 for its impoverish conditions 04:23 maintain such an impeccable campus? 04:26 Arun Ponda, the school principal 04:28 explains the secrets to their success. 04:31 Actually, I belong to this area, 04:35 this local area. 04:36 And since 75 years of existence 04:39 of the Adventist presence here, 04:43 literally, there were no Adventist schools. 04:47 And this area was the most backward area 04:51 where the primitive tribals live. 04:53 And they live just 04:55 how people live before 3,000, 4,000 years, 04:59 the same way. 05:01 And they lack education, and so I thought I'll do... 05:06 I'll work for the children of this area. 05:09 And then Mrs. Helen Eager was the one 05:12 who came forward 05:13 and started a school here for 50 children. 05:17 It just sort of amazes me when I think of, 05:20 you know, what we started from with absolutely nothing 05:24 to see what is there today is just... 05:26 It's just mind boggling, really. 05:30 In 2004, this school was a mere 50 students 05:33 gathering in a rundown building in the middle of nowhere. 05:36 Then in 2005, Garwin Mcneilus, 05:39 an American entrepreneur 05:41 with a tender spot for the students 05:42 in Jeypore funded a project 05:44 that quickly grew the campus to 200 students. 05:48 Asian Aid can't take the credit 05:49 for all the work that happens in India. 05:51 We rely highly on the schools that we work within. 05:53 Jeypore in particularly, 05:55 we've got some excellent administration. 05:57 We got Arun Ponda as the principal there, 05:59 and he just runs a really good ship. 06:01 He currently tie the ship with his wife 06:04 by his side helping him to lead the school. 06:07 It just creates a really good environment 06:08 where the school is leading the charge 06:11 for the children there. 06:13 And through Asian Aid, 06:14 we feel privileged to be able to support children 06:16 in the school environment like that. 06:18 This is the dining hall, 06:20 and the front potion is the kitchen. 06:24 And here, you can see the girls working. 06:29 This is part of their work program? 06:31 Yes, this is part of the work program. 06:33 They had classes in the morning 06:36 between 7:30 to 1:00. 06:39 And after that, they had the study hour, 06:41 and now they will help for about one and half hour 06:46 in the kitchen cutting vegetables. 06:48 Other girls, they clean up the hostels 06:51 and other buildings, 06:52 boys clean up the lawns 06:53 and they work in the garden and so on. 06:56 The big difference between the students here and elsewhere 06:59 is that these kids both go to school 07:01 and work on campus. 07:03 With the students personally invested in their school, 07:06 they take great pride in keeping their facilities 07:08 in pristine condition. 07:09 I think that one of the reasons 07:11 why Jeypore has become something so successful 07:15 and so wonderful is that... 07:18 Well, first of all, I think it's God's blessing 07:20 because a lot of, 07:21 you know, most of the children come from very humble, 07:24 you know, tribal villages that are... 07:26 Many of them are very, very primitive, 07:28 and a lot of people have helped 07:32 and donated and sponsored through the years. 07:35 And of course, 07:37 God has blessed us with really amazing, 07:39 you know, staff and teachers that have also been a blessing. 07:44 Nilima Ponda, 07:45 Principal Ponda's wife and a teacher explains 07:48 why she's so passionate about this school. 07:52 I too belong to this local area 07:54 and I am happy, very, very, happy 07:55 to serve my local children. 08:00 I feel this is a little heaven for me 08:03 where I'm peaceful 08:04 with all the children studying in the school 08:07 and with the staff. 08:10 Success reflects leadership. 08:12 The Immanuel Seventh-day Adventist School in Jeypore 08:15 is a shining light to hundreds of children today 08:17 because of dedicated people serving at the school, 08:20 people like Nilmani Dalpati. 08:23 Asian Aid had helped me to be what I'm today 08:28 and I come from very poor background 08:31 and Asian Aid helped me 08:34 and they requested me to come and help my local people 08:38 because I'm from this area. 08:40 So I decided instead of going to abroad, 08:43 I decided to come to my area and serve my people. 08:47 Nilmani was one of our sponsored girl. 08:49 She's an orphan girl 08:51 from one of the villages there in Orissa. 08:53 And we supported her through her education 08:57 and also through her nurses training 08:59 that she did 09:01 at the Adventist hospital in Surat. 09:03 Now, many of her classmates are in the UK 09:06 or other places earning a lot of money, 09:09 but she was determined 09:11 that she was going to work for the Lord and not for money, 09:14 and she has been there now for a number of years. 09:17 She is a really committed girl, and I love her a lot. 09:22 She is not just the dean of the girls, 09:25 she is the nurse. 09:27 So since we have 871 students, 09:30 we find so many children getting sick. 09:35 And when the children are here, they are not... 09:38 Most of them are not sick. 09:40 But when the children come home from vacation, 09:43 from their homes, at that time, the first one month, 09:47 there is lot of sickness 09:49 which they're bringing from their homes. 09:51 And she's the one who takes care of them. 09:56 Nilmani is now the beloved girls' dean 09:58 but like many of the staff, 10:00 she takes on many extra responsibilities 10:02 in order to keep the campus going. 10:04 When the children go to their villages, 10:06 they do not have drinking water facility, 10:10 and the environment not clean, so they drink water from river. 10:16 So when they come back, 10:18 they don't have good diet at their homes, 10:22 so when they come back to the school, 10:24 they have got some sickness, they bring it here, 10:28 and in the month of June, July, and August, 10:32 they suffer from sickness 10:33 because they had been to their homes. 10:37 I have heard that in other hostels, 10:39 they don't give nice foods and all, 10:41 but I like the food and all. 10:43 I'm healthy, I don't become sick much here. 10:46 Many of the children studying at the school come 10:48 from impoverish backgrounds. 10:50 At school, they not only receive 10:52 a quality education, 10:53 but it gives them an opportunity 10:55 to escape their life of poverty at home. 10:57 Through sponsorship with Asian Aid, 10:59 their every-day-reality 11:01 and their futures are transformed. 11:03 Presently, 11:05 we are 60 to 70%, 11:11 we are dependent on the sponsorship 11:15 because majority of these children are poor, 11:19 and they don't have any support. 11:24 Without the support of any sponsorship, 11:27 those children would not be here. 11:30 And the parents lack education, and most of them, 11:35 they earn a living, they do some labor work 11:39 but they spend it in drinking, 11:41 and they never take care of their children. 11:45 And so because of this sponsorship, 11:48 we have this number of students. 11:51 The current paying students help greatly 11:54 with the overall finances of the school. 11:56 But the school definitely could use 11:58 some more of these students to help support their needs. 12:01 With a student body of nearly 900, 12:03 the current facilities have exceeded 12:05 their maximum capacity. 12:07 They regularly turn away needed children 12:09 because there's simply no place to accommodate them. 12:12 Here we are in the girls' hostel, 12:15 and this is one of the room for the girls, 12:17 and we have three bunk beds. 12:20 In this room, 69 girls stay, 12:23 and there are two other rooms 12:25 where 129 stay in both the rooms. 12:30 And so total we have four rooms 12:32 for the girls and four dorms for the boys. 12:36 And presently, both the hostels are packed 12:41 but there's demand 12:42 for more students to join the hostel, 12:46 and because the hostels are full, 12:48 we have to say no to the new comers. 12:53 And so there is demand for more space 12:56 and for more rooms. 12:58 In fact, we need one more hostel. 13:03 The school is crowded 13:04 because it has attracted children 13:06 from many different districts in Orissa 13:07 as well as neighboring states. 13:10 Here, we have student coming all the way from Hyderabad 13:14 which is the neighboring state 13:16 that is about 1500 kilometers, 13:20 but he's here to study. 13:22 Despite the lack of space in the school's limitations, 13:25 Arun Ponda has found innovative ways 13:27 to move the school towards self sufficiency. 13:30 Here were are sitting in the tailoring room, 13:34 and here you can see all these boys and girls, 13:37 they are stitching the clothes and materials 13:41 which can be used by them. 13:43 Even the uniforms 13:44 that these girls and boys are wearing, 13:47 they themselves are stitching it, 13:50 and they are stitching for all the children 13:52 who are in the school. 13:55 This vocational training 13:58 was initiated by Mrs. Helen Eager, 14:01 and she had given just one sewing machine. 14:05 And with one machine, it was started. 14:08 I think, you know, if we could teach 14:10 our young people some practical skills, 14:13 I mean, I think everyone 14:14 should have some practical skills 14:16 even if they are highly educated, 14:17 because you don't know what can happen in the future, 14:21 and of course, they can share those skills 14:24 and what they have learned with others 14:26 who especially in the villages, 14:27 where others may not have 14:29 had the opportunity to get an education. 14:32 Our young people can share what they have learned 14:34 and any practical skills 14:36 they can also share with others. 14:39 And previously, we used to give 14:41 all the students uniform and clothes 14:44 to the outside tailors, and we are paying lot of money. 14:48 And now, after we started this training, 14:54 the girls are doing it by themselves 14:55 and so we are able to save the money for the school. 15:00 Taking a tour of the campus, 15:02 one can see the tranquility that prevails. 15:05 You never see a gum wrapper, 15:07 any paper that size on the campus. 15:10 Everywhere you look, it's flowers. 15:12 All the flowers along the wall are so beautiful, 15:15 everything about that campus is beautiful. 15:18 The local community feels that this is the best campus 15:22 that we have, 15:24 and no school has such a campus. 15:27 And there is peaceful atmosphere, 15:31 atmosphere to study, there is no disturbance. 15:35 And everyone feels 15:38 that their child should be educated here. 15:41 Due to its tranquil atmosphere for learning, 15:43 the success of the school resonated far and wide 15:46 until one day when their peace was disturbed, 15:49 and the school's very existence was brought into question. 15:54 On August 23, 2008, 16:00 Hindu priest was the leader 16:03 in the district of Kandhamal, 16:06 he was killed by the naxals at night. 16:10 Suddenly, the naxals came and they killed him 16:13 along with few others. 16:15 And then all the communal riots started 16:21 and all the Hindu people 16:23 thought it is Christians who killed the priest. 16:34 The naxals are a notorious communist militant group 16:37 with strongholds in the jungles in remote areas of Orissa. 16:40 In 2008, riots broke out across the state of Orissa 16:44 and Andhra Pradesh, 16:45 and tensions rose between the Hindus and Christians. 16:48 The communal riots spread all across the region 16:51 and soon reached Jeypore, 16:52 and the Immanuel Seventh-day Adventist School. 16:55 It was Sabbath afternoon, 16:57 and everyone was resting in their hostel. 17:00 And all of a sudden, 17:01 we could hear the sound outside the gate. 17:04 Some of my friends, 17:05 they started running here and there, here and there. 17:08 And we all, all the children knelt down in the rooms 17:11 and they started to pray. 17:13 The mob broke through the gates and the faculty and students 17:16 braced themselves for an attack. 17:28 A few years ago, 17:29 I had the privilege of visiting India 17:32 to see how the Asian Aid projects 17:34 are making a difference in that country, 17:36 how lives are being transformed, 17:38 lives of abandoned children, tribal children, 17:42 orphan children, 17:43 children that are being raised 17:45 without the advantages we have here in America. 17:47 And sometimes we take for granted. 17:49 And I discovered one very important thing, 17:51 because of sponsors like you, 17:53 these lives are being transformed, 17:54 the future is made brighter 17:57 because of your prayers and your financial support. 18:00 Because of what you do, they now have nutritious food, 18:03 clothing, and they are able now to propel themselves 18:06 with education to look to the future 18:09 with hope and courage. 18:11 And so on behalf of Asian Aid, 18:13 I want to thank you for all you do, 18:15 your sponsorship. 18:16 And now because of you, they have hope, 18:19 hope for brighter future. 18:35 I just got a letter 18:36 from our sponsor's daughter, Sheila. 18:38 And I've got to tell you, 18:39 there is nothing like getting one of these letters. 18:41 Our family is been able to sponsor her 18:44 through Asian Aid, and because of that, 18:46 she's got a great place to live, 18:47 she's got great meals, she's got great clothing. 18:50 And best of all, I found out, 18:52 she's now in college, she's in nursing school. 18:55 There is nothing like getting a letter like this. 18:58 You need to start getting these letters too. 18:59 Listen, through Asian Aid, 19:01 you can make a huge difference in the life of a child. 19:05 And I promise you, 19:07 it's gonna make a huge difference 19:09 in your life too. 19:28 It was Sabbath afternoon, 19:29 and everyone was resting in their hostel. 19:32 And all of a sudden, 19:33 we could hear the sound outside the gate, 19:36 and there was even noise, 19:39 breaking noise of the lock that was at the gate. 19:42 And all of a sudden, 19:43 we came to know that these people, 19:45 some unexpected group has come. 19:48 And suddenly, we saw all these people 19:50 breaking open the gate, 19:52 they broke open the gate, and the gate was wide open, 19:56 and all these people, they jumped in, 19:57 and they came about 60, around 60 people. 20:01 They entered inside, 20:03 and they started throwing stones 20:06 and breaking the doors and windows, 20:08 and they entered inside the campus. 20:10 They took all the mattresses, and put fire, 20:13 and they burn the mattresses and blankets, 20:16 sewing machine and cupboards. 20:18 They broke open the cupboards to find if anything is inside. 20:22 And so they damaged, they damaged it completely. 20:28 And then after that, they came to the staff house. 20:32 In the staff house, 20:33 there was 40 liters of diesel kept 20:36 for the generator. 20:38 And the family was inside in the kitchen, 20:42 and the people just came with the swords, 20:44 they pulled the gas stove and cylinder on the floor, 20:48 and they tried to light fire. 20:51 Meanwhile, on the other side of the campus, 20:53 chaos has erupted. 20:55 They first rushed towards the girls' hostel, 20:59 damaging all the buildings, windows that were on their way, 21:04 and the girls all were inside taking rest. 21:08 And after hearing the noise, 21:09 they all started to scream and shout. 21:12 And the dean 21:13 who is living adjacent to the hostel, she came out. 21:17 And she could see all the breakings, 21:19 and all the children, they were filled with fear, 21:22 and they started crying, literally crying. 21:26 I just saw a man who was holding a sword 21:28 and he was breaking all glass, 21:31 and I was so scared 21:33 that I got back in my room and didn't come out again. 21:38 And that time, there was no shutter also. 21:40 So we are so scared, only glass doors. 21:41 So we were thinking that they might get in. 21:44 So we were so frightened. 21:46 And at that time, our dean, she gave us some chilli powder, 21:49 so she told us to throw on them. 21:52 But we were so scared, we didn't do that. 21:56 And they were coming 21:57 and they were just hitting the glasses. 21:59 We were so scared they'll get inside. 22:01 Small kids were there. 22:02 They were crying and all in the rooms. 22:04 And we all, all the children knelt down in the rooms 22:07 and they started to pray. 22:09 Then those people came, started from the gate. 22:13 They started to bang the windows. 22:16 They broke the windows, everything they came. 22:19 Some of my friends, 22:20 they started running here and there, here and there. 22:23 All the boys and girls... 22:25 All the girls started to cry 22:27 when the glass of girls' hostel was broken. 22:30 They were attacking the principal, sirs, 22:33 and all the staff. 22:35 Mostly, the staff, they were attacking. 22:38 And so I went, and I just pleaded, 22:40 "Please don't damage all these things. 22:42 Why are you doing this? We didn't harm anybody." 22:45 And they thought 22:46 that I'm trying to do something. 22:48 And then, other people came 22:50 and two of them were keeping the sword on my neck. 22:54 And then suddenly, 22:55 one known person also was in the group, 22:57 a known businessman. 22:59 So he saw me and recognized me, 23:02 and he said, "Don't do anything to him." 23:05 And then those people left and went away. 23:09 They would have done anything to him at that moment, 23:11 but it was only God's angels that were there. 23:14 Perhaps the most inexplicable moment 23:16 of the day came 23:17 when the intruders attempted to burn the staff quarters. 23:21 After pouring 40 liters of gasoline on the floor 23:23 and around propane tanks in the kitchen 23:25 of the staff quarters, the intruders lit a match. 23:29 The whole house would be burnt within minutes, 23:32 whole house along with the family, 23:34 and the house would also been... 23:35 I mean, a big blast would have taken place. 23:38 So they tried to burn with the matches, 23:41 it did not burn. 23:42 Then they tried with lighter, it did not burn. 23:44 And so they left and went. 23:47 But just remember, 23:49 the whole room is full of fuel and gas cylinder and gas stove. 23:53 But it was God who protected the lives. 23:57 In the days to follow, 23:59 fear engulfed the peaceful campus, 24:01 and both the staff and children 24:02 were haunted by the memory of the attack. 24:05 At night, at evening, all the girls started fearing, 24:10 and the boys hostel was little bit safe. 24:13 So all the girls were transferred 24:15 to our rooms. 24:17 We feel we are staying like brothers and sisters. 24:20 We didn't have food also that time. 24:24 We were not able to cook for two days. 24:26 We are eating flat rice for two days. 24:30 It really took them a long time to remove the fear 24:34 from their mind 24:36 because they had themselves eye-witnessed 24:38 how the incident took place. 24:40 And after the shutters were installed, 24:43 they felt that still anybody comes 24:44 like that directly, 24:46 we won't be exposed because shutters are there, 24:50 that security they felt. 24:55 It was like... 24:58 When you know that you're going to die, 25:01 what you will feel? 25:02 The situation was such. 25:04 I mean, we lost complete hope, we thought that anytime, 25:10 anything can happen to us. 25:12 It was the most difficult 25:17 and like a dangerous situation that I faced in my life. 25:21 Concerned parents would remove their children from the school. 25:25 Helen Eager made an emergency visit shortly 25:27 after the incident occurred. 25:29 She was shocked to discover the students refused to go 25:32 with their parents. 25:33 Parents came there and said to their children, 25:35 you know, "We've come to take you home," 25:37 and they said, 25:38 "No, we won't go 25:39 because we know that God protected us 25:41 and that God will be with us here on this compound." 25:43 And I thought that was really special testimony. 25:47 But now, everything is cooled down, 25:49 and everything is normal. 25:51 And I think, sometimes, 25:53 God allows certain things to happen for good. 25:57 And after that took place, 25:59 the town is now more peaceful and people are more friendly. 26:08 Peace had returned to Jeypore 26:10 and Immanuel Seventh-day Adventist School. 26:13 Arun Ponda and his dedicated faculty continued 26:15 to lead the school down the path of success. 26:19 More and more children stream into the campus 26:21 each passing day. 26:22 And today, there's a break in their tranquility, 26:26 because today is a time for celebration. |
Revised 2018-02-07