Child Impact International is an organization giving hope, 00:00:14.18\00:00:18.21 previously called Asian Aid. 00:00:18.25\00:00:20.15 Child Impact International 00:00:20.18\00:00:21.72 is an organization fostering permanent positive change 00:00:21.75\00:00:25.12 in the lives of disadvantaged children and their communities. 00:00:25.15\00:00:28.72 Child Impact is committed to making a difference 00:00:28.76\00:00:31.29 in the lives of children and those who are in need, 00:00:31.33\00:00:34.26 serving communities in India, 00:00:34.30\00:00:35.80 Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar 00:00:35.83\00:00:39.20 and will soon expand to other countries. 00:00:39.23\00:00:41.57 For the last 50 years, 00:00:41.60\00:00:43.07 Child Impact has invested in the futures of people 00:00:43.10\00:00:46.07 and their investment is proving infinite returns, 00:00:46.11\00:00:48.91 driven by the dedication 00:00:48.94\00:00:50.35 to helping those who have the least. 00:00:50.38\00:00:52.55 Child Impact is an organization focused 00:00:52.58\00:00:55.02 on the welfare of children, 00:00:55.05\00:00:56.72 implementing diverse development projects 00:00:56.75\00:00:59.15 and sponsoring thousands of children. 00:00:59.19\00:01:01.36 Their outreach spans from Child Rescue operations 00:01:01.39\00:01:04.53 to providing an education for orphans, 00:01:04.56\00:01:06.83 deaf and the blind children, 00:01:06.86\00:01:08.76 giving them a sense of place, a home, but above all, 00:01:08.80\00:01:12.53 Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 00:01:12.57\00:01:15.50 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 00:01:15.54\00:01:18.77 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 00:01:18.81\00:01:21.51 This is Hope in Motion. 00:01:21.54\00:01:26.15 I've had the opportunity to visit India and Myanmar 00:01:26.18\00:01:30.05 with Child Impact International. 00:01:30.09\00:01:32.25 These trips have provided me with fantastic insight 00:01:32.29\00:01:36.42 as to how Child Impact works 00:01:36.46\00:01:39.46 and the work that they do with thousands of children. 00:01:39.49\00:01:42.83 The sponsorship program is absolutely 00:01:42.86\00:01:45.60 what makes 00:01:45.63\00:01:46.97 this entire organization be effective 00:01:47.00\00:01:49.40 and they are extremely effective. 00:01:49.44\00:01:51.81 Jim, tell us a little bit more about this sponsorship program. 00:01:51.84\00:01:55.18 First of all, I'd like to know 00:01:55.21\00:01:56.54 how many children are being sponsored at the moment 00:01:56.58\00:01:59.75 and what are the countries that the children are in? 00:01:59.78\00:02:03.05 Well, Jamie, we are in six countries, 00:02:03.08\00:02:05.39 we have three and half thousand children 00:02:05.42\00:02:07.92 in Adventist mission schools. 00:02:07.96\00:02:10.09 Our biggest country is India, 00:02:10.13\00:02:12.33 then Bangladesh and Myanmar 00:02:12.36\00:02:15.16 and we also have children in Nepal and Sri Lanka. 00:02:15.20\00:02:19.13 Okay. Excellent. 00:02:19.17\00:02:21.67 How do you select the children for sponsorship? 00:02:21.70\00:02:25.67 Well, children are selected on need, all right. 00:02:25.71\00:02:28.58 And the definition of needy varies 00:02:28.61\00:02:31.41 from country to country, 00:02:31.45\00:02:33.11 but these are people well below the poverty line. 00:02:33.15\00:02:37.05 And also people 00:02:37.09\00:02:38.92 that the parents want their child 00:02:38.95\00:02:41.12 to go to an Adventist school, who are very poor. 00:02:41.16\00:02:44.36 So we take them based on need 00:02:44.39\00:02:46.90 and we put them in an Adventist mission school. 00:02:46.93\00:02:50.20 Now, when I was there with you, 00:02:50.23\00:02:52.50 I saw that there are different schools, 00:02:52.53\00:02:54.57 there are different categories of sponsorships. 00:02:54.60\00:02:57.47 Can you explain that for us? Yes. 00:02:57.51\00:03:00.11 Well, first of all we have a day student, 00:03:00.14\00:03:02.94 that's a child 00:03:02.98\00:03:04.31 who obviously lives near the school 00:03:04.35\00:03:06.38 and walks to the school or gets public transport. 00:03:06.41\00:03:10.42 Then we have boarding, which is our biggest category, 00:03:10.45\00:03:14.66 these are children who attend boarding school. 00:03:14.69\00:03:18.03 And so the sponsorship 00:03:18.06\00:03:19.46 not only covers their education, 00:03:19.49\00:03:21.76 it covers the accommodation and it covers their food. 00:03:21.80\00:03:26.17 Then, we actually allow donors to sponsor their children 00:03:26.20\00:03:30.47 to higher education, 00:03:30.51\00:03:32.31 which we call tertiary in those countries 00:03:32.34\00:03:35.08 and that may be a degree course 00:03:35.11\00:03:37.35 or it may be a course 00:03:37.38\00:03:39.01 to give them a trait or a future. 00:03:39.05\00:03:41.72 And then we have special needs children. 00:03:41.75\00:03:45.02 This is our school for the blind, 00:03:45.05\00:03:47.26 the deaf school or orphans. 00:03:47.29\00:03:49.86 And so this category is critical to these children. 00:03:49.89\00:03:53.63 Because these children have huge needs. 00:03:53.66\00:03:56.40 So this is special needs category as well. 00:03:56.43\00:03:59.47 And I visited an orphanage and a blind school with you 00:03:59.50\00:04:04.21 and these kids would otherwise, 00:04:04.24\00:04:05.71 probably never have 00:04:05.74\00:04:07.18 an opportunity to excel in life. 00:04:07.21\00:04:10.15 And I was moved by how these children 00:04:10.18\00:04:12.95 are being developed with their short comings 00:04:12.98\00:04:18.75 but with their talents and gifts 00:04:18.79\00:04:21.19 to be able to honor and glorify God 00:04:21.22\00:04:24.69 and share with others as well. 00:04:24.73\00:04:27.03 Tell me, is it costly to sponsor a child 00:04:27.06\00:04:29.56 in any of these categories? 00:04:29.60\00:04:32.27 Well, I guess compared with education where we are, 00:04:32.30\00:04:36.14 it's not costly. 00:04:36.17\00:04:38.67 The day student starts off at $25 a month, 00:04:38.71\00:04:44.21 ABODA is $38 a month. 00:04:44.25\00:04:47.22 A special needs child is $48 a month 00:04:47.25\00:04:50.89 and that covers their education. 00:04:50.92\00:04:53.22 If they are a boarder or the special needs, 00:04:53.25\00:04:57.09 it covers them at the blind school, 00:04:57.13\00:04:59.89 the deaf school or the orphanage. 00:04:59.93\00:05:02.66 It also includes a book allowance 00:05:02.70\00:05:05.30 and also a uniform allowance. 00:05:05.33\00:05:08.07 So it's quite comprehensive to cover their needs, 00:05:08.10\00:05:13.01 to attend that Adventist mission school. 00:05:13.04\00:05:15.48 Fantastic. 00:05:15.51\00:05:17.91 Now tell me, my wife and I have given funds 00:05:17.95\00:05:21.62 to sponsor children before. 00:05:21.65\00:05:23.79 But let's say somebody is watching this right now 00:05:23.82\00:05:26.12 and wants to sponsor a child, how can they do that? 00:05:26.15\00:05:30.96 Well, the best way is to go on to our website, 00:05:30.99\00:05:33.70 which is ChildImpact.org, that's ChildImpact.org 00:05:33.73\00:05:38.23 and there you go to the sponsorship page 00:05:38.27\00:05:41.50 and you can choose your country, 00:05:41.54\00:05:44.04 you can choose your category 00:05:44.07\00:05:46.01 and you'll see a range of children 00:05:46.04\00:05:48.04 that are available. 00:05:48.08\00:05:49.48 Now if you can't get online, just give us a call, 00:05:49.51\00:05:52.58 call our office and the ladies 00:05:52.61\00:05:54.65 there will be very happy to talk to you about 00:05:54.68\00:05:58.09 what the current... 00:05:58.12\00:05:59.79 what current children are available 00:05:59.82\00:06:02.06 or what the needs are. 00:06:02.09\00:06:03.69 Okay. 00:06:03.73\00:06:05.06 So let's say somebody watching 00:06:05.09\00:06:06.86 right now wants to sponsor a child. 00:06:06.90\00:06:09.50 Can you explain how the funds 00:06:09.53\00:06:11.43 that somebody gives to Child Impact, 00:06:11.47\00:06:13.57 actually gets to that child? 00:06:13.60\00:06:16.50 Yes, Jamie. Well, it's a good question. 00:06:16.54\00:06:18.27 First of all, 00:06:18.31\00:06:19.64 we are registered 501(c)(3) charity, 00:06:19.67\00:06:25.95 so the donation is tax deductible. 00:06:25.98\00:06:27.32 Secondly, and we want the donors to know, 00:06:27.35\00:06:29.58 we retain 15% for overhead. 00:06:29.62\00:06:32.32 We believe that's very fair. Yes. 00:06:32.35\00:06:34.29 Last year, it was only 11%, 00:06:34.32\00:06:36.59 but at the maximum it can be up to 15%. 00:06:36.62\00:06:40.70 Then the money goes direct to our partnering country 00:06:40.73\00:06:44.73 and then it goes direct to the school. 00:06:44.77\00:06:47.34 So we have to have our own on the ground organization 00:06:47.37\00:06:51.57 and the money goes to them 00:06:51.61\00:06:53.38 and then it goes direct to the school. 00:06:53.41\00:06:55.71 And then we have field officers 00:06:55.74\00:06:57.71 and each child is visited three times a year. 00:06:57.75\00:07:01.78 We check that the funds have arrived 00:07:01.82\00:07:03.95 and we check each individual child. 00:07:03.99\00:07:06.69 And then the donors get school reports, 00:07:06.72\00:07:09.76 they get an APR, Annual Performance Report. 00:07:09.79\00:07:13.80 And just like your own children's report, 00:07:13.83\00:07:16.10 sometimes they are exciting, 00:07:16.13\00:07:17.67 sometimes you might be disappointed. 00:07:17.70\00:07:20.07 But you can also write to your child 00:07:20.10\00:07:22.67 and your child will write to you. 00:07:22.70\00:07:24.77 So we believe, we've got to good system 00:07:24.81\00:07:27.24 that delivers accountability 00:07:27.28\00:07:29.38 but also involves you with the child 00:07:29.41\00:07:32.61 and correspondence and reports. 00:07:32.65\00:07:35.18 Well, as I mentioned before, 00:07:35.22\00:07:36.55 I have been to India and Myanmar with Child Impact 00:07:36.58\00:07:40.19 and I have seen firsthand the incredible results 00:07:40.22\00:07:44.09 that these sponsorships 00:07:44.13\00:07:45.73 have on the lives of these young people. 00:07:45.76\00:07:48.06 These projects work efficiently to give these young people 00:07:48.10\00:07:52.43 the best Christian education 00:07:52.47\00:07:54.07 that they can have and a future. 00:07:54.10\00:07:57.67 It's made me realize, 00:07:57.71\00:07:59.27 the huge hope that it's giving these children 00:07:59.31\00:08:02.51 and their families. 00:08:02.54\00:08:04.31 I also saw the impact 00:08:04.35\00:08:06.51 on the Adventist mission schools. 00:08:06.55\00:08:08.85 It makes them thrive and grow. 00:08:08.88\00:08:12.45 Would you please consider sponsoring a child today? 00:08:12.49\00:08:15.42 I just got a letter 00:08:20.53\00:08:21.86 from our sponsored daughter, Sheela. 00:08:21.90\00:08:23.67 And I've got to tell you, 00:08:23.70\00:08:25.03 there is nothing like getting one of these letters. 00:08:25.07\00:08:27.37 Our family has been able to sponsor her 00:08:27.40\00:08:29.24 through Child Impact International, 00:08:29.27\00:08:31.51 because of that, 00:08:31.54\00:08:32.87 she's got a great place to live, 00:08:32.91\00:08:34.24 she's got good food, she's got great clothing. 00:08:34.28\00:08:37.11 Best of all, 00:08:37.15\00:08:38.48 I now found out she's in college, 00:08:38.51\00:08:40.48 she's in nursing school. 00:08:40.52\00:08:42.25 There's nothing like getting a letter like this. 00:08:42.28\00:08:45.42 You need to start getting these letters too. 00:08:45.45\00:08:47.56 Listen, through Child Impact, 00:08:47.59\00:08:49.22 you can make a huge difference in the life of a child 00:08:49.26\00:08:52.56 and I promise you, 00:08:52.59\00:08:53.93 it's gonna make a huge difference 00:08:53.96\00:08:55.63 in your life too. 00:08:55.66\00:08:57.90 Our television series 00:08:57.93\00:08:59.30 "Hope in Motion" has been a big success 00:08:59.33\00:09:02.40 and we want to continue to share with you 00:09:02.44\00:09:05.17 some of the field stories 00:09:05.21\00:09:06.88 that we have filmed over the years. 00:09:06.91\00:09:09.24 So just from time to time it may refer to Asian Aid 00:09:09.28\00:09:13.52 as we reflect on these great stories 00:09:13.55\00:09:16.55 as we share them with you. 00:09:16.58\00:09:18.15 Situated in midst lush green paddy fields of Bobbili 00:09:30.73\00:09:34.20 in Andhra Pradesh, India, 00:09:34.24\00:09:35.74 is an institution that is home 00:09:35.77\00:09:37.24 to some of the most disadvantage children 00:09:37.27\00:09:39.47 in the society. 00:09:39.51\00:09:40.84 This is the Asian Aid School for the Blind. 00:09:40.88\00:09:44.65 In a world where blindness is considered a curse 00:09:44.68\00:09:47.52 and blind children are abandoned, 00:09:47.55\00:09:49.48 this campus is a refuge 00:09:49.52\00:09:51.05 for children seeking care and comfort. 00:09:51.09\00:09:55.02 The Asian Aid School for the Blind 00:09:55.06\00:09:57.09 was established here 00:09:57.13\00:09:58.46 mainly by the efforts of Asian Aid Co-founder, Helen Eagar. 00:09:58.49\00:10:02.13 The Asian Aid School for the Blind 00:10:02.16\00:10:03.63 is very important to me 00:10:03.67\00:10:05.00 because, actually I did find 00:10:05.03\00:10:08.60 that we were supporting a few blind children up 00:10:08.64\00:10:11.21 in Jharkhand 00:10:11.24\00:10:12.97 and they were being supported 00:10:13.01\00:10:14.34 by someone in the US and I thought, 00:10:14.38\00:10:16.18 oh, this is so wonderful, 00:10:16.21\00:10:17.55 I am so glad Asian Aid 00:10:17.58\00:10:18.91 is doing something for the blind. 00:10:18.95\00:10:20.35 And then I went home to Australia 00:10:20.38\00:10:22.38 and then I got a letter just few weeks later saying, 00:10:22.42\00:10:26.82 this person in US 00:10:26.86\00:10:28.19 is no longer supporting these children, 00:10:28.22\00:10:29.56 so we've sent them all home. 00:10:29.59\00:10:30.93 So that was basically 00:10:30.96\00:10:32.29 the start of the "Blind Program." 00:10:32.33\00:10:35.70 I said, well, bring them all back 00:10:35.73\00:10:37.07 and we supported them there in Jharkhand 00:10:37.10\00:10:39.23 and then we started the blind school 00:10:39.27\00:10:42.70 actually in Andhra Pradesh. 00:10:42.74\00:10:44.77 Started with just a few children 00:10:44.81\00:10:46.78 at its new location in Bobbili, 00:10:46.81\00:10:48.78 the number of children at the school 00:10:48.81\00:10:50.48 steadily increased each passing year. 00:10:50.51\00:10:53.08 There are various circumstances that have contributed 00:10:53.11\00:10:55.58 to these children losing their sight. 00:10:55.62\00:10:57.55 Some of them are victims of accidents, 00:10:57.59\00:10:59.65 some due to vitamin deficiency, 00:10:59.69\00:11:01.59 factored by lack of nutritious food, 00:11:01.62\00:11:03.66 but most of them were born blind. 00:11:03.69\00:11:05.79 The main reason children are born blind 00:11:05.83\00:11:07.90 in these parts of Andhra Pradesh 00:11:07.93\00:11:09.70 is due to a social-economic practice 00:11:09.73\00:11:11.90 that is prevalent in these cultures. 00:11:11.93\00:11:14.90 We have found that with the children 00:11:14.94\00:11:17.17 that we support in the blind school, 00:11:17.21\00:11:19.37 that nearly all of them, 00:11:19.41\00:11:20.74 the parents are blood relatives. 00:11:20.78\00:11:22.64 Now the reason they do, 00:11:22.68\00:11:24.01 this is basically poverty as well. 00:11:24.05\00:11:26.21 Because if there is, 00:11:26.25\00:11:28.02 you know, a small piece of land, 00:11:28.05\00:11:29.85 they don't want that piece of land to leave 00:11:29.88\00:11:32.52 the family kind of thing and so they will... 00:11:32.55\00:11:35.76 It's often uncles marrying their nieces. 00:11:35.79\00:11:40.13 And of course, 00:11:40.16\00:11:41.66 if your daughter marries a relative, 00:11:41.70\00:11:45.23 then you don't have to pay a dowry. 00:11:45.27\00:11:48.07 Well, rural traditions 00:11:48.10\00:11:49.44 and socio-economic difficulties dictate life in rural India, 00:11:49.47\00:11:52.94 their children pay the price. 00:11:52.97\00:11:55.08 Cultural issues are hard to understand. 00:11:55.11\00:11:57.55 It may even seem bizarre and cruel at times. 00:11:57.58\00:12:00.38 It's difficult to change peoples' perceptions 00:12:00.42\00:12:02.75 that are rooted deep 00:12:02.78\00:12:04.12 but for all its traditions and practices, 00:12:04.15\00:12:06.39 the fact remains 00:12:06.42\00:12:07.76 that all parents love their children 00:12:07.79\00:12:09.82 and want the best for them. 00:12:09.86\00:12:11.49 It's very difficult for you 00:12:11.53\00:12:13.03 as a caring parent to find a way 00:12:13.06\00:12:16.50 of giving your child a better life. 00:12:16.53\00:12:19.27 So not only are we making a difference for the child, 00:12:19.30\00:12:24.41 we're actually giving the parents some hope. 00:12:24.44\00:12:28.51 They all care for their child and they overcome 00:12:28.54\00:12:32.78 with guilt and community pressure 00:12:32.81\00:12:36.62 because their child was blind. 00:12:36.65\00:12:38.72 So it helps overcome all these issues, 00:12:38.75\00:12:42.59 in giving the child a chance but giving the parents hope 00:12:42.62\00:12:48.06 that they simply have no other way of getting. 00:12:48.10\00:12:50.53 Jagan is a 9th grade student at the school. 00:12:53.97\00:12:56.60 He comes from a small village 00:12:56.64\00:12:58.11 about an hours drive from the school. 00:12:58.14\00:13:00.08 Jagan's parents are dhobis, a washer men community. 00:13:12.65\00:13:16.06 In a class divided world, 00:13:16.09\00:13:17.73 they are at the bottom of the social structure 00:13:17.76\00:13:19.86 and are pushed to the edge of the village. 00:13:19.89\00:13:21.76 When my first son was born, I was happy. 00:13:26.40\00:13:29.94 My second son was born and I was very happy 00:13:29.97\00:13:33.51 but when my third child was born, 00:13:33.54\00:13:36.14 my wife and I became very depressed. 00:13:36.18\00:13:40.92 As if living at the edge of the village 00:13:40.95\00:13:42.65 wasn't bad enough, 00:13:42.68\00:13:44.02 their hardship was compounded 00:13:44.05\00:13:45.59 when their third child Jagan was born blind. 00:13:45.62\00:13:50.53 I am a dhobi. 00:13:50.56\00:13:51.89 I go to the pond in the morning and come back in the evening. 00:13:51.93\00:13:55.56 He was let alone at home. 00:13:55.60\00:13:57.53 When he goes into the street, other children made fun of him. 00:13:57.57\00:14:01.30 This is how he spent his childhood here. 00:14:01.34\00:14:03.91 He's blind, god made him that way, what can we do? 00:14:03.94\00:14:07.51 In rural villages 00:14:07.54\00:14:08.88 where being handicapped is considered a curse, 00:14:08.91\00:14:11.45 blind children face an uncertain future. 00:14:11.48\00:14:14.25 This is where Asian Aid School for the Blind in Bobbili serves 00:14:14.28\00:14:17.69 as a refuge for children born blind. 00:14:17.72\00:14:20.52 These children have very special needs. 00:14:20.56\00:14:24.63 Their needs are even greater than people 00:14:24.66\00:14:27.96 who do not have sight in a western system, 00:14:28.00\00:14:30.43 in a first world country 00:14:30.47\00:14:32.10 because they are ostracized, their family is ostracized. 00:14:32.13\00:14:35.34 So creating this environment that focuses on them, 00:14:35.37\00:14:38.67 gives them an education 00:14:38.71\00:14:40.98 and gives them an opportunity to live a normal life. 00:14:41.01\00:14:44.01 It's so transformational, 00:14:44.05\00:14:45.38 not just now for the child but the parents, 00:14:45.41\00:14:48.12 because now they don't have the same stigma. 00:14:48.15\00:14:50.35 Their children can get on and live a productive life 00:14:50.39\00:14:53.76 and contribute to society a huge difference. 00:14:53.79\00:14:58.96 This environment that gives them an opportunity 00:14:58.99\00:15:01.20 to live a normal life is indeed transformational. 00:15:01.23\00:15:04.90 With the help of a local school teacher, 00:15:04.93\00:15:06.94 Jagan was brought to the school for the blind in Bobbili, 00:15:06.97\00:15:10.07 far away from the struggles 00:15:10.11\00:15:11.47 of his parents and his community. 00:15:11.51\00:15:15.18 I am so happy 00:15:15.21\00:15:16.54 he is studying there at the school. 00:15:16.58\00:15:18.01 When he gets a good education, he will get a good job. 00:15:18.05\00:15:21.02 I am really happy about that. 00:15:21.05\00:15:22.88 Now he can become 00:15:22.92\00:15:24.25 whatever he wishes to be in life. 00:15:24.29\00:15:26.79 The appreciation from these parents sometimes 00:15:26.82\00:15:31.33 it's just over powering because they are so proud 00:15:31.36\00:15:34.93 that their child can go to the school 00:15:34.96\00:15:37.70 and they're so proud 00:15:37.73\00:15:39.07 that when their child comes home, 00:15:39.10\00:15:40.94 they can see a dramatic difference. 00:15:40.97\00:15:43.67 Okay, read that first hand? First hand, sir? 00:15:43.71\00:15:47.84 Child Impact International 00:15:47.88\00:15:49.51 sponsors the majority of children living 00:15:49.54\00:15:51.58 and studying at the school. 00:15:51.61\00:15:53.05 Without sponsorship, 00:15:53.08\00:15:54.42 these children would not have the opportunity 00:15:54.45\00:15:56.42 for a new chance in life. 00:15:56.45\00:15:58.42 I really thank 00:15:58.45\00:15:59.79 the Asian Aid sponsors, the donors. 00:15:59.82\00:16:02.32 If sponsorship is not there, my life will be not there. 00:16:05.83\00:16:09.40 Today is a special day 00:16:22.11\00:16:23.45 for the staff and students of Asian Aid School 00:16:23.48\00:16:25.61 for the Blind in Bobbili, India. 00:16:25.65\00:16:27.58 Standing on both sides of the entrance, 00:16:27.62\00:16:29.82 the students and staff welcome the arrival of a special guest, 00:16:29.85\00:16:33.36 Garwin Mcneilus. 00:16:33.39\00:16:35.06 Garwin is an Adventist businessman 00:16:35.09\00:16:36.73 from Minnesota, 00:16:36.76\00:16:38.09 who has sponsored hundreds of children in India. 00:16:38.13\00:16:40.53 He and his family have supported 00:16:40.56\00:16:42.06 and built a number of urgently needed buildings 00:16:42.10\00:16:44.33 for Adventist schools, 00:16:44.37\00:16:45.80 including the school for the blind in Bobbili. 00:16:45.83\00:16:49.40 The needs of the blind school were first brought to me 00:16:49.44\00:16:52.07 by Helen Eagar, 00:16:52.11\00:16:54.11 and Helen showed a video of where they were, 00:16:54.14\00:16:57.58 the conditions they were and how they had to take 00:16:57.61\00:17:00.42 their sleeping mattresses out, 00:17:00.45\00:17:05.12 lay them outside, 00:17:05.15\00:17:06.69 sometimes it's raining, put the desk in, 00:17:06.72\00:17:09.46 have their class and it made an impression 00:17:09.49\00:17:13.86 that just wouldn't go away on my heart. 00:17:13.90\00:17:17.63 Moved by the plight of the blind children 00:17:17.67\00:17:19.80 in an old crowded building in town, 00:17:19.83\00:17:22.00 Garwin drew out a plan to move them 00:17:22.04\00:17:23.94 to a bigger campus just outside Bobbili town. 00:17:23.97\00:17:26.81 He also designed the buildings. 00:17:26.84\00:17:28.91 This is beautifully designed for the blind children, 00:17:28.94\00:17:33.18 who cannot see. 00:17:33.21\00:17:34.72 And once they get inside, they take a single walk. 00:17:34.75\00:17:38.42 They can easily understand which side is the boy's hostel, 00:17:38.45\00:17:41.62 which side is the girl's hostel, 00:17:41.66\00:17:43.83 there is nothing to be confused. 00:17:43.86\00:17:45.46 The children now have a beautiful campus, 00:17:49.73\00:17:52.17 where they can feel safe and secure, 00:17:52.20\00:17:54.24 their own home away from home. 00:17:54.27\00:17:56.40 The Asian Aid School for the Blind 00:17:56.44\00:17:58.27 is not just an institution 00:17:58.31\00:17:59.67 that provides food and shelter for the blind, 00:17:59.71\00:18:02.14 but it's an institution that prepares them 00:18:02.18\00:18:04.18 for the world outside. 00:18:04.21\00:18:05.55 And remember 00:18:05.58\00:18:06.92 when they finish year 12, for example, 00:18:06.95\00:18:08.52 I am talking about the sight impaired children, 00:18:08.55\00:18:12.09 they can go on to university 00:18:12.12\00:18:14.09 and by giving them these opportunities, 00:18:14.12\00:18:16.12 they can get jobs that are already there, 00:18:16.16\00:18:18.43 that government has set aside for people 00:18:18.46\00:18:20.30 with these sort of disabilities. 00:18:20.33\00:18:22.16 So we are channeling them, giving them the skills, 00:18:22.20\00:18:25.27 giving them the qualifications, 00:18:25.30\00:18:27.04 preparing them for employment 00:18:27.07\00:18:29.87 but also we are giving them life skills. 00:18:29.90\00:18:35.14 These children may not have the ability to see 00:18:35.18\00:18:37.75 but this disability does not deprive them 00:18:37.78\00:18:40.08 of the ability to learn. 00:18:40.12\00:18:41.58 They are perfectly capable of acquiring skills needed 00:18:41.62\00:18:44.22 for employment. 00:18:44.25\00:18:45.59 In fact, the Indian government refers to them 00:18:45.62\00:18:47.96 not as disabled but differently abled. 00:18:47.99\00:18:50.36 And the Asian Aid School for the Blind provides them 00:18:50.39\00:18:52.83 an ideal place 00:18:52.86\00:18:54.20 for these differently abled children 00:18:54.23\00:18:55.63 to acquire skills. 00:18:55.66\00:18:57.03 Without individual sponsorship, 00:19:02.44\00:19:04.41 these children would not be here. 00:19:04.44\00:19:06.68 Today because of Child Impact sponsorship program, 00:19:06.71\00:19:09.71 an individual supporting its program, 00:19:09.74\00:19:12.05 hundreds of differently abled students 00:19:12.08\00:19:13.78 like Jagan can receive an education, 00:19:13.82\00:19:16.18 an education that will help them 00:19:16.22\00:19:17.82 to lead a dignified life. 00:19:17.85\00:19:20.29 Whether one is able to contribute 00:19:20.32\00:19:21.89 in a small way or in a big way, 00:19:21.92\00:19:24.03 sponsorship endows these children's future. 00:19:24.06\00:19:27.53 Whether the Lord has blessed in different ways, 00:19:27.56\00:19:32.80 we are accountable for what we have. 00:19:32.83\00:19:35.70 We all know the Bible parable of the widow's mite. 00:19:35.74\00:19:39.67 How she gave what she could. 00:19:39.71\00:19:41.84 Some can do a child, some can do a half a child, 00:19:41.88\00:19:45.75 some can do many child, 00:19:45.78\00:19:48.32 but the combination 00:19:48.35\00:19:50.02 of what the Lord has blessed you 00:19:50.05\00:19:51.49 with is essential for the welfare of the children 00:19:51.52\00:19:56.52 and it will make a difference in eternity. 00:19:56.56\00:20:00.43 Thanks to the untiring efforts of Helen Eagar, 00:20:04.60\00:20:07.14 organizations like Child Impact International 00:20:07.17\00:20:09.87 and individual sponsors like Garwin Mcneilus, 00:20:09.90\00:20:12.64 children at the blind school not only have a place 00:20:12.67\00:20:14.98 where they can acquire life skills 00:20:15.01\00:20:16.58 for the world outside, 00:20:16.61\00:20:17.95 but they have a place 00:20:17.98\00:20:19.31 where they can prepare their souls 00:20:19.35\00:20:20.68 for the world to come. 00:20:20.72\00:20:22.05 I think of the blind school, 00:20:22.08\00:20:25.35 if not daily, sometimes several times a day. 00:20:25.39\00:20:28.26 And I think of the story 00:20:28.29\00:20:31.43 when we were taking the children, 00:20:31.46\00:20:34.20 to get their eye operation 00:20:34.23\00:20:38.10 and Dorothy Watts, 00:20:38.13\00:20:40.80 long time friend, India, 00:20:40.84\00:20:44.44 who's not with us anymore, 00:20:44.47\00:20:46.98 and I were sitting on the bench, 00:20:47.01\00:20:50.25 I had a little girl 00:20:50.28\00:20:52.91 and the little girl, Dorothy says, 00:20:52.95\00:20:55.62 "What do you want to do 00:20:55.65\00:20:57.49 if your operation is successful? 00:20:57.52\00:20:59.39 What is the first thing that you want to see?" 00:20:59.42\00:21:02.49 And she said 00:21:02.52\00:21:03.86 "Well, I've held a kitty, I petted a cow." 00:21:03.89\00:21:10.27 She says, "I want to see Jesus." 00:21:10.30\00:21:13.47 And Dorothy said, 00:21:13.50\00:21:15.70 "Well, we can see but we can't see Him." 00:21:15.74\00:21:19.87 And she says, 00:21:19.91\00:21:21.24 "Well, then show me a picture." 00:21:21.28\00:21:25.35 And Dorothy said, 00:21:25.38\00:21:26.72 "Well, your operation may not be successful." 00:21:26.75\00:21:30.59 And she said, she thought, she had look on her face. 00:21:30.62\00:21:34.32 She says, "That's okay, I'll see Him in heaven." 00:21:34.36\00:21:37.23 Wow! 00:21:37.26\00:21:38.59 Here this little girl, that first thing 00:21:38.63\00:21:40.73 she want to see if she could see is Jesus. 00:21:40.76\00:21:44.37 And I think, when we wake up in the morning, 00:21:44.40\00:21:47.34 is that our thought? 00:21:47.37\00:21:49.04 The first thing we want to see is Jesus, 00:21:49.07\00:21:51.41 it has such an affect. 00:21:51.44\00:21:53.64 Jim, I think about it daily. 00:21:53.68\00:21:56.81 The faith of a blind child cannot be explained. 00:21:56.85\00:22:02.25 You need to come and feel it. 00:22:02.28\00:22:05.59 I've been in this position over eight years now 00:22:05.62\00:22:08.82 and the privilege that I have in my role 00:22:08.86\00:22:11.23 is being able to visit the children 00:22:11.26\00:22:13.70 that you the donors support. 00:22:13.73\00:22:15.86 And as I meet them, 00:22:15.90\00:22:17.23 I see the difference that you make in their lives. 00:22:17.27\00:22:20.40 The difference you make 00:22:20.44\00:22:21.77 and where they live in their village. 00:22:21.80\00:22:23.44 The difference you make with their education 00:22:23.47\00:22:26.01 and then finally when they get a job. 00:22:26.04\00:22:28.41 Just the other day in India, we met a bank manager, 00:22:28.44\00:22:32.21 he was brought up as a sponsored child 00:22:32.25\00:22:34.92 from a very poor village 00:22:34.95\00:22:36.92 and now he has a successful job, 00:22:36.95\00:22:39.35 he has a family 00:22:39.39\00:22:40.72 and he is impacting the lives of others. 00:22:40.76\00:22:43.16 And in fact, the amazing thing is, 00:22:43.19\00:22:45.26 he is now sponsoring two children 00:22:45.29\00:22:47.86 in one of our programs. 00:22:47.90\00:22:50.20 This is an important time of year. 00:22:50.23\00:22:52.30 It's a time of year where we share 00:22:52.33\00:22:54.27 and where we give gifts to our loved ones and friends. 00:22:54.30\00:22:57.84 But it's also an important time 00:22:57.87\00:22:59.41 of year for us here at Child Impact. 00:22:59.44\00:23:02.48 And this year for our annual appeal, 00:23:02.51\00:23:04.91 we have four projects 00:23:04.95\00:23:06.72 that will make a real impact with the people 00:23:06.75\00:23:09.35 that they serve. 00:23:09.38\00:23:11.32 Our first project is "Where Needed Most" fund. 00:23:11.35\00:23:14.66 This is a critical fund for Child Impact, 00:23:14.69\00:23:18.16 as it not only helps with the operating 00:23:18.19\00:23:20.56 that we do in six countries 00:23:20.60\00:23:23.16 but it also allows us to have a pool of money 00:23:23.20\00:23:26.47 for emergencies, which consistently come along. 00:23:26.50\00:23:29.87 Some are small just like medical needs, 00:23:29.90\00:23:32.47 but others are major 00:23:32.51\00:23:33.84 when there's a disaster or a flood. 00:23:33.88\00:23:36.04 We just ask that you consider the "Where Needed Most" funds 00:23:36.08\00:23:39.78 as one of the ones 00:23:39.81\00:23:41.15 that you can support this Christmas. 00:23:41.18\00:23:43.52 Our next project is "Operation Child Rescue." 00:23:43.55\00:23:46.86 Operation Child Rescue is a very dramatic project 00:23:46.89\00:23:51.09 that we are involved in Bangalore, India. 00:23:51.13\00:23:54.90 We are partnered with a lady, 00:23:54.93\00:23:56.46 who has a team that rescues girls 00:23:56.50\00:23:59.33 from brothels and the sex industry. 00:23:59.37\00:24:02.20 It's simply hard to comprehend, 00:24:02.24\00:24:04.47 how many girls and children are taken to the sex industry. 00:24:04.51\00:24:08.64 In India, it's thousands every year. 00:24:08.68\00:24:11.75 The same team helps rescue boys from factories 00:24:11.78\00:24:15.98 where they are poorly paid or hardly paid anything. 00:24:16.02\00:24:19.45 And the other aspect of Operation Child Rescue 00:24:19.49\00:24:22.66 is looking after and rescuing babies, 00:24:22.69\00:24:25.53 who have been dropped off 00:24:25.56\00:24:26.90 on the side of the road or abandoned. 00:24:26.93\00:24:29.33 Operation Child Rescue is not only saving lives, 00:24:29.36\00:24:33.70 its giving those children hope. 00:24:33.74\00:24:36.27 Operation Child Rescue is a key project 00:24:36.30\00:24:39.67 for Child Impact International. 00:24:39.71\00:24:42.34 The next project is the "Unsponsored Child Fund." 00:24:42.38\00:24:46.11 At any time, 00:24:46.15\00:24:47.48 Child Impact has over three and half thousand children 00:24:47.52\00:24:51.19 and we normally have about 500 unsponsored children. 00:24:51.22\00:24:55.06 These are children we have had to take 00:24:55.09\00:24:56.99 because of an urgent need. 00:24:57.03\00:24:58.99 We also need a pool 00:24:59.03\00:25:00.36 of children available for sponsorship. 00:25:00.40\00:25:02.90 And yes, once a donor can't support a child 00:25:02.93\00:25:06.57 for some reason, 00:25:06.60\00:25:08.10 they go into that pool of children. 00:25:08.14\00:25:10.44 Once a child is in our program, we support them 00:25:10.47\00:25:13.81 whether they have a sponsorship or not. 00:25:13.84\00:25:17.18 Supporting the Unsponsored Child Fund 00:25:17.21\00:25:19.68 is a unique way of being involved 00:25:19.71\00:25:22.18 in sponsorship, 00:25:22.22\00:25:23.55 if you don't want the monthly commitment. 00:25:23.59\00:25:25.95 The Unsponsored Child Fund is critical 00:25:25.99\00:25:29.12 to our sponsorship program. 00:25:29.16\00:25:32.09 Child Impact is very excited 00:25:32.13\00:25:34.06 that we can partner with the church in India, 00:25:34.10\00:25:37.07 with a blind school, 00:25:37.10\00:25:38.43 a deaf school and four orphanages. 00:25:38.47\00:25:41.60 These special homes and schools are just so exciting to visit. 00:25:41.64\00:25:47.28 I had one of the most 00:25:47.31\00:25:48.64 emotional moments of my whole work career, 00:25:48.68\00:25:51.98 when one day I visited the blind school. 00:25:52.01\00:25:54.68 And a young girl 00:25:54.72\00:25:56.05 was just arrived at the school that morning, 00:25:56.08\00:25:58.49 they had found her in a village and she had been locked 00:25:58.52\00:26:01.66 in the basement of the house for over six years. 00:26:01.69\00:26:05.19 She just sat in the corner, she wouldn't talk to anyone, 00:26:05.23\00:26:08.66 she wouldn't communicate and she was just totally lost. 00:26:08.70\00:26:12.33 And I thought, 00:26:12.37\00:26:13.84 is there any hope for this child, 00:26:13.87\00:26:15.90 totally blind by the way. 00:26:15.94\00:26:18.14 Well, I went back eight weeks later 00:26:18.17\00:26:20.78 and here's she was, I couldn't believe it. 00:26:20.81\00:26:23.38 She was talking to other children, 00:26:23.41\00:26:26.01 she was playing. 00:26:26.05\00:26:27.38 And then in the evening, 00:26:27.42\00:26:28.75 it was just so touching to see her singing, 00:26:28.78\00:26:31.72 Jesus loves me. 00:26:31.75\00:26:33.19 It really was just very emotional. 00:26:33.22\00:26:36.12 And so these children in a country 00:26:36.16\00:26:39.46 like India have a larger need than here 00:26:39.49\00:26:42.56 because when they are home 00:26:42.60\00:26:43.93 in their village, they are rejected, 00:26:43.97\00:26:46.00 their parents don't know what to do. 00:26:46.03\00:26:48.24 So supporting the blind school, 00:26:48.27\00:26:50.57 the deaf school or the orphanages 00:26:50.61\00:26:52.91 is a very real way in which you can impact 00:26:52.94\00:26:56.64 the life of children who have a huge need. 00:26:56.68\00:27:00.05 We're very grateful of Child Impact 00:27:00.08\00:27:02.05 for the support that you the donors give. 00:27:02.08\00:27:04.85 But December is a critical month for us 00:27:04.89\00:27:07.36 and a month 00:27:07.39\00:27:08.72 where you can give to one of these four funds 00:27:08.76\00:27:11.46 or any of our projects and have a real impact. 00:27:11.49\00:27:15.06 I just ask, so you give consideration 00:27:15.10\00:27:17.73 to supporting our yearend program 00:27:17.77\00:27:20.54 for one of these four projects. 00:27:20.57\00:27:23.04 You can contact us on our phone 00:27:23.07\00:27:25.37 by talking to our staff 00:27:25.41\00:27:27.31 and we put the number on the screen. 00:27:27.34\00:27:29.64 Or you can go online to ChildImpact.org. 00:27:29.68\00:27:33.92 That's ChildImpact.org 00:27:33.95\00:27:36.38 to see how you can get further information 00:27:36.42\00:27:39.49 or support us at Child Impact International. 00:27:39.52\00:27:43.22 I want to thank you for your support. 00:27:43.26\00:27:45.46