Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000100A
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00:14 Child Impact International is an organization giving hope,
00:18 previously called Asian Aid. 00:20 Child Impact International is an organization fostering 00:23 permanent positive change 00:25 in the lives of disadvantaged children 00:27 and their communities. 00:28 Child Impact is committed to making a difference 00:31 in the lives of children and those who are in need, 00:34 serving communities in India, 00:35 Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, 00:39 and will soon expand to other countries. 00:41 For the last 50 years, 00:43 Child Impact has invested in the futures of people 00:46 and their investment has proven infinite returns, 00:49 driven by the dedication 00:50 to helping those who have the least. 00:52 Child Impact is an organization focused 00:55 on the welfare of children 00:56 implementing diverse development projects 00:59 and sponsoring thousands of children. 01:01 Their outreach expands from child rescue operations 01:04 to providing an education for orphans, deaf, 01:07 and the blind children, 01:08 giving them a sense of place, a home. 01:11 But above all, Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 01:15 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 01:18 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 01:21 This is Hope in Motion. 01:25 Hi, my name is Jaime Jorge, 01:28 and I'm excited to be an honorary ambassador 01:30 for Child Impact International. 01:33 I've had the privilege of visiting India 01:36 and Myanmar with Child Impact 01:38 and I'm here to share with you 01:40 some very exciting stories 01:42 as well as some important information. 01:45 Now I have with me Jim, 01:47 the CEO of what used to be Asian Aid. 01:50 Jim, how long have you been with this organization 01:53 and why the change to Child Impact International? 01:58 Well, Jaime, I've been in the role of CEO 02:00 for just over 10 years now. 02:03 And this was a big decision for us. 02:07 But the key reasons 02:09 why, is, a lot of people don't realize 02:12 that India and Bangladesh or Asia, 02:15 there's a lot of confusion as to what Asia is. 02:18 And a lot of the Asian countries 02:20 are indoor countries we don't operate in. 02:25 Secondly, we want to show a difference between Asian Aid, 02:29 Australia and Child Impact, 02:31 because we are two 02:33 totally separate organizations. 02:37 We also believe 02:39 that we should grow outside Asia. 02:42 So the name change gives us the ability 02:45 that when we're ready to grow into other countries. 02:49 But most important, the name reflects what we do. 02:53 The name reflects 02:54 that we're impacting on the lives of children. 02:57 So we think it's far more relevant 02:59 and will support our growth strategy. 03:02 Now I've had the privilege of knowing you 03:04 and working with you now for a number of years, 03:07 and I have seen 03:09 how much this organization has grown in that time. 03:13 Can you tell me where you're from originally? 03:15 You have kind of a different accent 03:17 and what you use to do 03:18 before coming to now Child Impact International? 03:21 Well, I'm a New Zealander and I married an American lady 03:26 from Tennessee. 03:28 And originally she was to move to New Zealand, which she did. 03:32 But just somehow, we ended up back in Tennessee. 03:35 But prior to that for 30 years, 03:37 I own the largest promotional 03:40 marketing company in New Zealand. 03:43 So although I had a wee bit to do 03:44 with promoting organizations and companies, 03:48 and also marketing. 03:50 So that was my background. 03:52 And then when I came to the States, 03:54 I got asked to be put on the board 03:56 of what was then Asian Aid. 03:59 And so I took a six-month contract 04:01 to restructure Asian Aid at the time. 04:04 Well, I'm 10 years into that six-month contract. 04:08 Well, and it's made a huge difference 04:10 for this organization. 04:11 Can you tell me what some of your future plans are? 04:16 Well, I think the key plan 04:17 is to grow our sponsorship program. 04:20 As you know we sponsor children in a number of countries, 04:25 very large in India, Bangladesh, and now Myanmar. 04:29 And Myanmar is the old Burma. 04:32 We're also in Nepal and Sri Lanka. 04:34 And that sponsorship program takes a child 04:37 based on need and puts them in an Adventist Mission School. 04:42 And I have to be honest with you, 04:43 the need is overwhelming. 04:45 The churches continually coming to us and saying, 04:49 "Can you help us with more children?" 04:51 And so the growth of that sponsorship program 04:55 is key for us moving forward. 04:57 Yes. 04:58 Because it not only impacts on the life of the child, 05:02 it impacts on their family, but it's also key funding 05:06 for these Adventist Mission Schools. 05:09 So sponsoring a child has a big impact 05:12 on the number aspects of the child, 05:15 its family and the school. 05:18 And to be honest, the need is overwhelming. 05:20 Yes. 05:22 We also support four orphanages, 05:25 school for the blind, 05:26 and a school for the deaf in India. 05:29 And the other important area 05:31 that we're starting to get involved 05:33 in is a program that we have called 05:36 "Operation Child Rescue," 05:39 trafficking of girls, 05:41 the use of boys in beggary 05:43 and slave labor. 05:45 To be honest, in India, 05:47 it's so huge, it's just overpowering. 05:50 But we're so excited 05:52 that we can be one of the ministries involved 05:55 in this program. 05:56 So we want to build that program also. 05:59 Yes. 06:00 Well, I've been with you to Myanmar, 06:02 where I saw 06:03 that children attend the schools there, 06:07 and then they come back home and share the Gospel 06:09 with their families 06:10 and their families are being baptized. 06:12 And this is in a country 06:13 where you can't do public evangelism. 06:15 So this is truly a number 06:17 of different outreach opportunities 06:19 to get people to learn about Jesus Christ. 06:22 Now what does this mean, this change, this growth, 06:26 this vision for the current donors 06:29 of Child Impact International 06:31 and the perspective new ones 06:32 that maybe thinking about coming on board? 06:35 Well, to begin with the existing donors, 06:38 nothing really changes. 06:41 We're still located in Ottawa, 06:44 in Tennessee near Chattanooga. 06:47 We still retain the same staff, we retain the same policies, 06:51 the same board, 06:53 but we want to do things better. 06:55 We want to represent the children better. 06:58 We want to increase the communication 07:00 between the child and the projects we do 07:03 with the donor. 07:05 So the use of mobile phone technology, 07:07 the use of Facebook, 07:09 and we want to share the stories with those people 07:13 that are supporting us. 07:14 So we want to step up how we support the children, 07:19 but also deliver value to the donors. 07:22 Asian Aid is now Child Impact International. 07:26 And what is going to happen is simply fantastic. 07:30 More young people are going to come to know Jesus Christ. 07:33 They're gonna have hope in the future 07:35 and you have the opportunity to be a part of it. 07:38 Would you join us? 07:40 Imagine with me for a moment 07:42 that you are small child living on the streets of India, 07:45 the sandals on your feet lost their comfort weeks ago, 07:49 your favorite shirt just got another hole. 07:52 It's sad. 07:53 Mummy died last year, 07:55 but what makes you feel even worse 07:57 is that your dad chose not to be your dad anymore? 08:01 Hey, I'm Shawn Boonstra, 08:02 honorary ambassador for Child Impact International, 08:05 an organization that is a supportive ministry 08:08 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 08:10 You know, previously called Asian Aid, 08:12 they are making an exciting change 08:14 to Child Impact International in order to grow. 08:18 Something like 15 to 25 million little girls 08:21 and boys in India 08:22 share similar stories to the one I just told you. 08:26 Many are orphaned at a young age 08:27 with little food to eat and no hope. 08:30 Child Impact serves to bridge 08:32 the gap between hardship and education. 08:36 It's a unique ministry that serves children in poverty 08:39 in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka. 08:44 Over 3,500 children are provided 08:47 an Adventist education and lives are changed 08:50 through the numerous development projects. 08:53 Working in these countries, 08:55 Child Impact has come face to face with issues 08:58 like child slavery, poor or no education, 09:01 child trafficking, 09:03 abandon babies, lack of clean water, 09:07 and a high number of orphans. 09:09 This list is not short on challenges, 09:12 yet the needs are being met. 09:14 You know, my family sponsors Sheela, 09:16 a young lady 09:17 at the Sunrise Orphanage in India. 09:19 For the past couple of years, 09:21 I'm proud of how my family 09:22 has been able to impact her life 09:24 for the better or it has it, she just started college. 09:29 What I've come to understand 09:31 is that the children Child Impact supports 09:35 are more than just names 09:36 or faces on a screen or a flyer. 09:39 They are people with a story, 09:42 a story whose ending has not been written, 09:45 instead another chapter is being composed. 09:49 It reminds me of something that Jesus once said. 09:51 "What ever you do 09:53 for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, 09:55 you do for me." 09:58 Join me and others like me throughout the world 10:01 who are sponsoring a child monthly 10:04 to provide like Jesus did, 10:05 to support like Jesus did, to love like Jesus did. 10:10 You too can make a lifelong impact 10:13 on the life of someone 10:14 who was waiting for you to say yes. 10:16 Yes, today you 10:18 will consider sponsorship right now 10:20 with Child Impact or one of our other projects. 10:23 Yes, to give hope to a precious child today. 10:30 Our television series, 10:31 Hope in Motion has been a big success. 10:34 And we want to continue to share with you 10:37 some of the field stories 10:39 that we have filmed over the years. 10:41 So just from time to time, it may refer to Asian Aid 10:45 as we reflect on these great stories 10:48 as we share them with you. 10:58 The beautiful landscapes, 11:00 its people, the colors and customs, 11:03 that's India in a nutshell. 11:14 Child Impact International 11:16 has been working in this vast land 11:18 since its very beginning, which is over 50 years now. 11:22 Primarily focused on child sponsorship, 11:24 Child Impact also has been instrumental 11:27 in building many children's homes and schools 11:29 to complement its sponsorship program. 11:32 The Immanuel English School in Jeypore 11:34 in the state of Orissa is one such school 11:37 that has undergone a transformation. 11:40 We just feel surprised how the things have changed. 11:45 Everything was just like the hill that you see behind, 11:51 full of bushes and unwanted plants. 11:54 So nobody from town ever thought 11:57 that there can be something here, 12:00 but God has blessed this place 12:02 and we can see a great change. 12:07 Starting with around 50 children 12:09 and few staff, all under just one building, 12:12 the school has now developed into an expansive campus. 12:16 The larger facility made it possible to bring 12:18 in more children from the tribal communities 12:21 as well as nearby villages. 12:23 As the news of the new facility spread, 12:25 many more children from Adventist 12:27 and non-Adventist families desire 12:29 to be educated at the new school. 12:36 Many in rural India, struggle to earn $2 a day. 12:39 Their only way of earning 12:41 a living is grazing their livestock 12:43 or working in the fields. 12:44 Here poverty passes 12:46 on from generation to generation 12:48 and education is not an option. 12:51 I mean, some parts of India 12:52 really seem to be growing and really, 12:54 you know, India seems to be really coming up 12:56 as I say, 12:57 but when you go to the villages and the slums, 13:00 they have not improved in all the years 13:03 that, you know, that I've been coming to India 13:04 which is now more than 30 years. 13:07 You know, when you go to the villages, 13:08 and you see into some of the slums 13:10 and you see how bad, 13:12 you know, the conditions are that the people 13:14 and the children are living under. 13:15 Because often, 13:17 it's not that they don't want to work, 13:18 but there's just not enough work available. 13:22 Although, a majority of them 13:23 can not afford to send their children to school, 13:26 they do view education as a catalyst for change. 13:29 Sixty to seventy percent, 13:31 we are dependent on the sponsorship 13:36 because majority of this children are poor 13:39 and they don't have any support. 13:44 Without the support of any sponsorship, 13:48 those children would not be here. 13:51 Today, about 2600 children in India 13:53 are sponsored by Child Impact 13:55 and because of their commitment to the welfare of children, 13:58 especially children from tribal communities 14:01 and villages, these children are reaping 14:03 the benefits of an Adventist education. 14:07 Devoki Moharia, 14:08 a science teacher at the Immanuel English School 14:10 was a former student here. 14:13 I finished my BSc degree in college 14:16 and I'm very much interested in science 14:19 because I was good at science. 14:22 In this school, I teach mostly 8th, 9th, 10th. 14:26 I teach them chemistry and biology. 14:29 Devoki was one among the first batch of children 14:32 to be brought to the school from neighboring villages 14:34 when Helen Eager and some of the staff 14:36 from the school visited these villages. 14:39 I sent messages to the church pastors, 14:43 if there are any children from poverty level 14:47 and wherever there are no schools. 14:50 So many names came from different churches, 14:55 then first I went to some orphan children, 14:59 then I came to know that there are two girls, 15:03 very small girls nearby Kotpat town, 15:06 so I went there and I met 15:09 with her father, Devoki. 15:13 Then her father 15:15 was not willing to send the girl here 15:18 because there was no boundary around, 15:21 and there was only one building built 15:23 by Asian Aid. 15:25 Then when I went, 15:26 she was the smallest among the two. 15:30 Then she started crying not to take photo. 15:33 I carried her, I gave her a chocolate. 15:37 Then I made her to stand, 15:39 then I took a photograph for Mummy Eager 15:42 and that's how I found her. 15:45 I was very happy thinking 15:46 that I'm going to go to a school, 15:48 a hostel, English medium, 15:50 no one knows in my school what is English, means, 15:52 they don't know how to talk in English and all. 15:54 So I was very happy 15:55 that I will be the person to learn English and all. 15:58 So when I came here, 15:59 first two, three days I was nervous, 16:01 means I used to remember parents 16:02 all those things, 16:04 and only one single building was there, 16:06 and no boundary, you know, it was like jungle. 16:08 And jungle, means, 16:09 I really get very, very scared of that. 16:12 And no boundary, no nothing, only one building was there, 16:15 boys, girls, staff, 16:17 everyone in same building doing all the activities, 16:20 eating, sleeping, studying, 16:22 everything in the same building. 16:24 From right at the beginning 16:25 when this school was just one classroom, 16:27 then with the vision of Helen Eager 16:29 and supporters like Garwin McNeilus, 16:32 the school sprouted into an institution 16:35 that now has, I think about 700 children 16:38 and of those 600 are sponsored. 16:40 And now we see 16:41 the success stories coming through. 16:43 Devoki who was right at the school 16:46 when it started, 16:47 she did her education at the school, 16:49 then she went away to university, 16:51 and now she's come back as a science teacher. 16:54 It's just so fantastic to see 16:56 the difference that has made with her 16:58 but also with the children that are here. 17:02 If it weren't for the timely intervention 17:04 of Child Impact International and people like Helen Eager, 17:08 Devoki Moharia's life would have seen misfortunes 17:11 of so many young girls like her in her village. 17:15 Life in rural India is simple. 17:17 People live in close quarters and as one unit. 17:24 During the day, they either go to the fields 17:27 or graze what little livestock they have. 17:30 And there is a clear order of social precedence 17:32 based on gender 17:34 and women have little or no say in its structure, 17:36 often leading to unjust practices and misery. 17:40 In villages, parents, they are uneducated 17:42 and they don't send their children 17:46 when they are small to the school. 17:48 So that is the reason I never went to school. 17:51 In villages, that is a rule that when a girl is grown up, 17:55 she should be given marriage to someone. 17:59 So in my case also, it would have been like 18:01 that when I would not have been come 18:02 to the school and study. 18:03 By this time, I would have got married, 18:05 having children, all those things. 18:09 Child marriage is a common practice 18:11 in South Asia 18:12 and it is more prevalent in India. 18:14 According to United Nations Children's Agency, 18:17 UNICEF, 18% of the girls are married 18:20 by the age of 15. 18:23 Although Indian law has made child marriage illegal 18:26 and the practice is in decline in recent years, 18:28 customs and traditions dictate life 18:30 in rural India. 18:32 It is like so in Devoki's village, Basuli. 18:36 At present, I don't have any of my friends to my age, 18:39 only I'm the girl in my village, 18:41 all are younger to me, all have got married. 18:45 By now, she would have got married. 18:47 If she would have not studied here, 18:49 by now, she would have got married. 18:50 So by now, 18:52 she would have been lost in that way. 18:54 But now she is in God's hand. 18:57 She is doing wonderful. 19:00 Although, Devoki grew up in a boarding school at Jeypore 19:03 and went to college in bigger cities, 19:05 she has not forgotten her roots and is always happy 19:08 to visit her family in her village. 19:12 Yeah, I feel very happy 19:13 because I'm born and brought up in this village. 19:16 And even though I stay in a town or something, 19:19 but I still have love for my village, 19:21 for my family members. 19:23 I feel very happy 19:24 when I come back to my home and see them. 19:30 Devoki is the only girl to have successfully received 19:33 a college education from her village. 19:35 And in a community 19:36 where women have little or no say, 19:38 she is treated with utmost respect. 19:42 We feel very proud. 19:44 Whenever someone comes to visit us, 19:46 we always tell them about our daughter. 19:48 When she comes here, we're very happy and proud. 19:51 The realization 19:52 that there are many more children out there 19:54 who yearn for a good education can be discouraging, 19:57 but it is reassuring to know that with sponsorship, 20:00 we can go about making a difference one day at a time. 20:04 When we are at home, 20:06 sometimes we're not getting three meals to eat, 20:09 no good place to sleep. 20:11 So when schools are there, like this school, 20:14 they are providing meals, education, and sponsors, 20:17 they are struggling hard to educate some other's life. 20:20 That is something very great to understand. 20:23 Since sponsorship was there, I studied. 20:27 And I'm... 20:28 I'm so much grateful to my sponsor. 20:31 And to me, it's really wonderful 20:32 just to see the changes. 20:34 You know, when you see a child come looking dirty 20:38 and unhappy 20:40 and know that nobody cares about them, 20:42 and then after a very short time 20:44 to see the transformation, 20:46 and then after few years to see them really doing well. 20:50 I think that's what makes its worthwhile. 20:52 Devoki, although having better offers 20:54 to teach outside in bigger cities, 20:56 has come back to teach in the place 20:58 that gave her a new chance in life. 21:00 Actually, my education, 21:03 my foundation is started from here, 21:05 so I thought first let me serve to my place, 21:09 the place where I belong to, where I have got my foundation, 21:12 whatever talent I have, let me show to those people 21:15 so that those students also will learn about that. 21:18 I feel proud because whatever I did for her, 21:23 I've got the fruit. 21:38 Today, Child Impact International continues 21:40 to fulfill it's commitment to the welfare of children 21:43 who are in need and to provide them 21:45 with an education through sponsorship, 21:47 giving them hope and a chance for a better life. 21:50 Zig Zag Zoom... 21:52 So they are building lives, that, people means, 21:55 students and children, they are in the darkness. 21:58 They are receiving the light in their lives. 22:01 Once if they are at their home, 22:03 their lights are been off or gone away, 22:05 but once they are coming here, 22:06 the light of their life is being on. 22:10 Since I think that, I feel, since I was in this school, 22:14 I'm blessed to this position today. 22:21 I've been in this position over eight years now. 22:24 And the privilege that I have in my role 22:27 is being able to visit the children 22:29 that you the donors support. 22:31 And as I meet them, 22:33 I see the difference that you make in their lives. 22:36 The difference you make 22:37 and where they live in their village, 22:39 the difference you make with their education, 22:41 and then finally when they get a job. 22:44 Just the other day in India, we met a bank manager. 22:47 He was brought up as a sponsored child 22:50 from a very poor village 22:52 and now he has a successful job, 22:55 he has a family, 22:56 and he is impacting the lives of others. 22:58 And in fact, the amazing thing is, 23:01 he is now sponsoring two children 23:03 in one of our programs. 23:05 This is an important time of year. 23:08 It's a time of year where we share 23:10 and where we give gifts to our loved ones and friends. 23:13 But it's also an important time 23:15 of year for us here at Child Impact. 23:18 And this year for our annual appeal, 23:20 we have four projects that will make a real impact 23:24 with the people that they serve. 23:27 Our first project is Where Needed Most Fund, 23:30 this is a critical fund for Child Impact, 23:33 as it not only helps with the operating 23:36 that we do in six countries, 23:38 but it also allows us to have a pool of money 23:42 for emergencies which consistently come along. 23:45 Some are small just like medical needs, 23:48 but others are major 23:49 when there's a disaster or a flood. 23:51 We just ask that you consider the "Where Needed Most Funds" 23:55 as one of the ones 23:56 that you can support this Christmas. 23:59 Our next project is Operation Child Rescue. 24:02 Operation Child Rescue is a very dramatic project 24:06 that we are involved in Bengaluru, India. 24:10 We're partner with a lady 24:12 who has a team that rescues girls 24:15 from brothels and the sex industry. 24:18 It's simply hard to comprehend 24:20 how many girls and children are taken 24:22 to the sex industry. 24:24 In India, it's thousands every year. 24:27 The same team helps rescue boys 24:30 from factories with a poorly paid 24:33 or hardly paid anything. 24:35 And the other aspect of Operation Child Rescue 24:38 is looking after and rescuing babies 24:41 who have been dropped off on the side 24:43 of the road or abandoned. 24:45 Operation Child Rescue is not only saving lives, 24:49 it's giving those children hope. 24:52 Operation Child Rescue is a key project 24:55 for Child Impact International. 24:58 The next project is the Unsponsored Child Fund. 25:01 At anytime, Child Impact has over 3,500 children, 25:06 and we normally have about 500 unsponsored children. 25:10 These are children we have had to take 25:12 because of an urgent need. 25:14 We also need a pool of children available for sponsorship. 25:18 And yes, once a donor can't support a child 25:22 for some reason, 25:23 they go into that pool of children. 25:26 Once a child is in our program, we support them 25:29 whether they have a sponsorship or not. 25:32 Supporting the Unsponsored Child Fund 25:35 is a unique way of being involved 25:37 in sponsorship 25:39 if you don't want the monthly commitment. 25:41 The Unsponsored Child Fund is critical 25:44 to our sponsorship program. 25:47 Child Impact is very excited 25:49 that we can partner with the church in India 25:52 with a blind school, a deaf school, 25:55 and four orphanages. 25:57 These special homes and schools are just so exciting to visit. 26:03 I have one of the most emotional moments 26:05 of my whole work career, 26:07 when one day, I visited the blind school. 26:10 And a young girl 26:11 was just arrived at the school that morning, 26:14 they had found her in a village 26:16 and she had been locked in the basement 26:18 of the house for over six years. 26:20 She just sat in the corner, she wouldn't talk to anyone, 26:24 she wouldn't communicate, and she was just totally lost. 26:27 And I thought, 26:29 "Is there any hope for this child, 26:31 totally blind by the way?" 26:33 Well, I went back eight weeks later, 26:36 and here she was, I couldn't believe it. 26:39 She was talking to the other children, 26:41 she was playing. 26:43 And then in the evening, it was just so touching 26:45 to see her singing Jesus loves me, 26:49 it really was just very emotional. 26:51 And so these children in a country like India, 26:56 have a larger need than here 26:58 because when they are home in their village, 27:00 they are rejected. 27:01 Their parents don't know what to do. 27:04 So supporting the blind school, the deaf school, 27:07 or the orphanages is a very real way 27:10 in which you can impact the life of children, 27:13 who have a huge need. 27:15 We're very grateful to Child Impact 27:17 for the support that you the donors give. 27:20 But December is a critical month for us 27:23 and a month where you can give to one of these four funds 27:27 or any of our projects and have a real impact. 27:30 I just ask that you give consideration 27:33 to supporting our yearend program 27:36 for one of these four projects. 27:38 You can contact us on our phone by talking to our staff, 27:43 and we put the number on the screen 27:45 or you can go online to ChildImpact.org, 27:49 that's ChildImpact.org 27:52 to see how you can get further information 27:55 or support us at Child Impact International. 27:58 I wanna thank you for your support. |
Revised 2018-03-29