Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000102A
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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 00:21 is an organization fostering 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 is proving infinite returns, 00:48 driven by the dedication to helping those 00:51 who have the least. 00:52 Child Impact is an organization 00:54 focused on the welfare of children, 00:56 implementing diverse development projects 00:59 and sponsoring thousands of children. 01:01 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 01:04 to providing an education for orphans, 01:06 deaf and the blind children giving them a sense of place, 01:10 a home but above all, 01:12 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. 01:40 Good morning, sir. Good morning. 01:42 Good to see you again. How are you? 01:44 Ladies. 01:47 Oh, thank you. 02:08 I'm Jim Rennie. 02:09 I'm for over the last eight years, 02:11 I've been CEO of Asian Aid USA. 02:14 Asian Aid was established over 50 years ago 02:18 and in that time has helped tens of thousands of children 02:21 in over five countries. 02:23 As a part of a bold new strategy, 02:26 we're changing our name. 02:28 We are now Child Impact International. 02:32 We feel our new name will better encompass 02:35 the work that we do. 02:37 Let me briefly explain what I mean. 02:40 This exciting new name Child Impact International 02:44 will give us momentum as we move forward to help 02:48 thousands of additional children. 02:50 As we work with our focus groups, 02:52 we felt Child Impact International 02:55 describes who we are and what we do 02:58 for the following reasons. 03:00 This name reflects 03:02 far more clearly the critical work 03:04 that we're doing with very needy students, 03:07 their families and mission schools. 03:09 Child Impact International gives momentum 03:12 and direction to a bold growth strategy 03:15 that will impact the lives of thousands 03:18 of additional children. 03:20 This name avoids any confusion in regards to where we work 03:24 and what people consider Asia. 03:27 This name gives a clear distinction 03:30 between this organization and Asian Aid Australia, 03:34 which are completely separate. 03:36 The name Child Impact International provides us 03:40 the opportunity to help more children 03:42 and expand our activity beyond Asia. 03:47 Internally, nothing will change, 03:49 the board, staff, policies, 03:52 and work we do will stay the same, 03:54 and at the same level of excellence 03:57 that we're known for. 03:58 We're staying in Collegedale, Tennessee. 04:01 Philosophically however, 04:03 the new name Child Impact International 04:06 will allow our organization to expand 04:09 and give momentum 04:11 to help thousands of new needy children. 04:20 You have an opportunity to be involved 04:22 in the mission field 04:24 every day, every morning with child sponsorship. 04:27 You can impact on the lives of children 04:29 just like these ones here. 04:31 You can help set their lives on a new course 04:34 and also give them hope 04:36 that can change their lives forever. 04:39 Our funds go directly to support the needs 04:42 of an Adventist mission school, 04:44 which heightens the quality of education 04:46 just not for the children who are sponsored, 04:49 but all the children in the school. 04:52 The reality is that poverty is very hard to change. 04:56 Child Impact International sponsorship program 04:59 takes the child based on need and puts them 05:02 in an Adventist mission school. 05:04 It gives them a direction, it gives them hope, 05:07 and also has an impact in the communities 05:10 and with their families and friends. 05:13 Together, you and I can have a huge change 05:17 on an entire community 05:19 just like the ones around the school. 05:22 For existing donors, the only change you'll see 05:26 is advancement in the communication 05:29 between your child and projects. 05:32 You'll see a real difference by using new technologies 05:36 to keep you up-to-date 05:37 on how you support Child Impact. 05:54 The work of Child Impact International 05:57 will continue to grow in the countries 05:59 we already operate in like India, 06:02 Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. 06:06 And as opportunities arise, 06:08 we will expand into other countries. 06:10 The poverty which you see in communities 06:13 like this is real. 06:15 These families struggle to feed and educate their children. 06:19 You can have an impact right here, 06:22 right now by becoming a sponsor of a child 06:25 or partnering with Child Impact. 06:27 Child Impact is a fully supportive ministry 06:30 of the Adventist church and supports children 06:33 and orphans and special needs children 06:36 in Adventist homes and mission schools. 06:39 Each child's life has changed 06:42 and the mission school gains unique funds. 06:46 You have an opportunity to be involved 06:48 in the mission field every day by becoming a sponsor 06:52 or a supporter of Child Impact International. 07:03 On my trip to India, 07:04 one of the highlights was the visit 07:07 to the blind school in a town called Bobbili. 07:10 The school is an Adventist church school, 07:13 but it is 100% funded by Child Impact 07:16 and Asian Aid Australia. 07:18 It was build just over 12 years ago, 07:21 thanks to the generosity of the McNeilus family. 07:24 And it is in the rural setting surrounded by lots of farms. 07:29 The school has over 160 students 07:31 from grade 1 to grade 12. 07:34 The students are either partially blind 07:37 or fully blind, 07:38 and come mainly 07:40 from poor farming communities all around. 07:43 When we arrived, 07:45 they gave us an amazing welcome. 07:48 They lined up on both sides, 07:50 they threw flowers on the road and we walked through, 07:54 and then we had to shake 07:55 the hand of every single student. 07:58 They asked us questions, they touched us, 08:01 because they wanted to know what we were all about. 08:05 I was really moved 08:06 by the excitement that I saw in them. 08:08 They were genuinely interested in us. 08:12 We shared a beautiful evening that night, we had a concert. 08:16 Some of them played instruments and then I did a part for them. 08:20 I talked to them and I played my violin. 08:23 I don't think many 08:25 or most of them had ever heard a violin before. 08:28 So it was really exciting. 08:30 There were two things that I remember in particular. 08:33 Number one, they listened intently 08:37 and then when they knew the songs, 08:39 they sang at the top of their lungs. 08:42 Number two, they clapped so hard 08:45 when every song was over. 08:47 It was a beautiful experience. It is a marvelous place. 08:52 The facilities are great. 08:54 The classrooms are expansive and they are large, 08:57 but there are still some serious needs. 09:00 I'm delighted to have Jim Rennie, 09:01 the CEO of Child Impact here again today. 09:05 Jim, why is this school so important? 09:09 Well, first of all, Jaime, 09:10 it's one of my favorite schools to visit in India. 09:13 The kids just are so hungry to talk to you to, 09:17 to find out about you and they touch you, 09:20 of course, because of they can't see... 09:22 They want to feel you, yes. They want to feel and see you. 09:26 This school is important 09:28 because it fulfills a need that no one else is delivering 09:33 in that region of India. 09:35 First of all, these kids come from very, very poor, 09:40 mainly farming families. 09:42 And when you're born blind 09:45 in a village in that part of India, 09:48 there's no way to go. 09:50 The parents have no idea what to do. 09:53 There's an element of shame in having a blind child. 09:57 And so, this school fulfills the need, 10:01 and I've seen so many of the parents 10:04 of the blind children are so proud 10:08 that their child is getting an education. 10:12 And I went to the blind school one day 10:15 and there was a seven-year-old girl there, 10:18 and she had just come to the school 10:21 and to be honest, it was distressing. 10:24 She couldn't talk, her head was down, 10:27 she would sit in the corner, it was just terrible. 10:32 And I had found her at her house 10:35 and she had been locked in her room 10:38 for three to four years. 10:40 The parents were just so embarrassed 10:42 and didn't know what to do. 10:44 But the exciting thing was, 10:46 when I went back 10:47 to the blind school a year later, 10:50 I just about came to tears 10:52 because here she was... 10:54 She was playing with the children. 10:56 I saw her singing, 10:58 I saw her praying, just amazing change. 11:03 It was all there, 11:04 but she had no way of letting it out. 11:07 So this school makes 11:08 a huge difference with blind children, 11:12 but the need is just overpowering 11:15 from the environment in which they come. 11:18 Yes. 11:20 And even though it is a beautiful facility 11:22 as I've mentioned, 11:24 what are the needs that we currently have there? 11:28 Well, we always have special needs children, 11:30 blind children that need sponsorship, 11:33 but if you can't sponsor a child, 11:36 you can make a donation to the blind school, 11:39 it has a separate fund. 11:41 It's very costly to run the school. 11:44 And these children have exactly what it says special needs. 11:49 So you can either sponsor a child, 11:52 or you can support the blind school fund. 11:56 Okay. 11:57 Now Child Impact also operates and funds a deaf school. 12:02 Can you tell me a little bit about that 12:04 because I haven't been there? 12:06 Well, this is located in southern India, 12:09 south of the city of Bangalore and a city called Kollegal, 12:13 it has just over 95 students. 12:16 Once again, it's a boarding school. 12:18 It's an Adventist mission school 12:21 and the children come from similar backgrounds 12:24 to the children at the blind school, 12:26 very rural community. 12:28 And once again, when a child is born deaf, 12:31 the parents simply don't know what to do. 12:34 They don't know what sign language is? 12:36 It's an embarrassment and so, these children are given hope. 12:41 And once again, you go there 12:42 and you see them singing with sign language, 12:46 and it's just a school that's having a huge impact. 12:53 One hundred and sixty blind children 12:55 and over 95 deaf children 12:58 are getting opportunities to do things 13:00 that they'll never do otherwise 13:02 and that's thanks to your generosity. 13:05 We thank you and we ask for you to continue 13:09 to be a part of Child Impact to reach these 13:12 and many other young people in there. 13:18 I'm Shawn Boonstra, 13:19 Speaker/Director for the Voice of Prophecy, 13:22 and I've been involved with Asian Aid for many years. 13:25 I'm excited 13:26 that they are growing and helping 13:28 more children in need 13:29 and very excited with their new name, 13:31 Child Impact International. 13:34 Voice of Prophecy continues to partner with Child Impact, 13:37 both in rescuing girls from trafficking in India 13:41 and with outreach in Myanmar. 13:43 My family continues to sponsor Sheela, 13:45 the young lady we sponsored in India. 13:48 Child Impact International is going to have a big impact 13:52 on the lives of thousands of children 13:54 in Adventist mission schools and other projects, 13:57 and we at Voice of Prophecy 13:59 are really excited to be a partner. 14:07 Our television series Hope in Motion 14:10 has been a big success. 14:12 And we want to continue to share with you 14:15 some of the field stories 14:16 that we have filmed over the years. 14:19 So just from time to time, it may refer to Asian Aid 14:23 as we reflect on these great stories 14:26 as we share them with you. 14:45 Bobbili, a small town 14:47 near the costal city of Vizag in India 14:49 has nothing to offer to a visitor. 14:51 Its streets often bustling 14:53 and chaotic are typical of rural towns in India. 15:00 Poverty is widespread 15:01 and people struggle to meet ends, 15:03 doing menial jobs and often attending 15:05 to paddy fields owned by landlords. 15:08 Visits to villages around here only amplify once perception 15:12 of abstract poverty people live in on a daily basis. 15:16 But it is in this despairing and gloomy environment, 15:19 we often get to see 15:21 and experience hopefulness and optimism. 15:25 Over the last 15 years, Child Impact International 15:28 has undertaken numerous developmental work 15:31 in and around the Bobbili area. 15:33 It has supported schools through its sponsorship program 15:36 and built a school for the blind. 15:39 One of its recent projects is the construction 15:42 of a brand new orphanage in Karada village, 15:44 the Sunrise Children Home. 15:54 From its humble beginning in a cramped building in town, 15:57 the orphanage has shifted to a spacious campus 16:00 in the countryside, 16:01 situated about 10 miles from Bobbili. 16:04 The new campus gives the children 16:06 an ideal place to live, learn, and play. 16:12 How many of you like this room? Okay. 16:16 So you want to sleep here? Yes. 16:33 You know, it's taken time to build the new orphanage 16:37 and the children have been brought 16:38 along the journey. 16:40 So they were given an idea 16:41 that you're going to have a better home. 16:43 It's like asking, you're going to go to heaven 16:45 and we've got a better home. 16:46 So they had this idea of having a better home 16:49 and they've been asking questions 16:51 as this whole thing was in progress, 16:53 and now they have it and they are just so excited. 16:56 It is such a wonderful place to go 16:58 from such a cramped environment 17:01 to such an expansive free environment. 17:15 The children still attend 17:17 the Seventh-day Adventist school in town. 17:19 But Sunrise Home has its own bus 17:21 that takes them to school every day. 17:23 And the bus ride is something 17:24 that children look forward to every morning. 17:32 August 2nd, 2014 was a special day 17:35 for Child Impact International and everyone at Sunrise Home, 17:39 a new boys' dorm was inaugurated by renowned 17:41 Adventist violinist, Jaime Jorge. 17:45 It was very emotional for me to be here 17:47 at the opening of the boys' dormitory. 17:50 It was just so great that Jamie Jorge 17:52 could be here to do the dedication and arguably 17:56 we could say it's the end of the project, but it's not. 18:00 Yes, the donors have build a great facility, 18:04 but the ongoing need for orphans in this home, 18:07 the ongoing operating needs, 18:09 the ongoing needs to sponsorship 18:12 simply means it's not over. 18:18 Although there is ongoing need for sponsorship 18:21 and other needs at Sunrise Home, 18:22 it is encouraging knowing that this facility 18:25 has the capability to double 18:26 the number of children and in the future, 18:28 there is facility to build another floor, 18:31 thereby having the capacity to facilitate 18:33 the ever increasing inflow 18:35 of children arriving at Sunrise Home each year. 18:38 In my union, 18:40 we have 850,000 members 18:45 and there are hundreds of needs in this union, 18:48 especially there are orphan children, 18:50 there are semi-orphan children, 18:52 and therefore we really face challenge. 18:54 Today, expanding and adding 18:55 these facilities in the boys' hostel 18:57 will really be a great blessing 18:58 because these children are adjusting somewhere 19:00 and they don't have proper facilities. 19:02 They want to feel with their friends 19:04 as if it is their own home 19:06 and this will be a unique identity 19:08 that will build confidence in them, 19:09 and they will really develop in the proper way 19:11 in the Adventist atmosphere. 19:39 Twelve-year-old Durga Prasad 19:41 and his eleven-year-old brother Rajesh 19:43 came to Sunrise Home three years ago. 19:45 They were rescued 19:46 from the streets by a local NGO Childline, 19:49 after a newspaper article appeared in a local daily 19:52 with the title "mother for sale." 19:54 Childline immediately followed up the story 19:57 with the concerned people 19:59 and rescued the boys and took them in their custody. 20:04 After we brought them here, 20:06 we came to know that their father died 20:08 and the mother found another man, 20:10 and she moved in with him. 20:12 But he forced her into prostitution 20:15 and forced the boys on to the streets to beg 20:18 and sell newspaper and fruits. 20:20 He used that money, drinking and gambling. 20:33 Durga Prasad and Rajesh woke up every day 20:37 to the blaring sound of train horns 20:39 or the screeching halt of its iron wheels. 20:41 The buzz and hustle of the street 20:43 near the train station at Vizianagaram 20:45 was their domain 20:47 and the railway platform their shelter. 20:49 The boys were forced to go and beg 20:51 or steal by their mother's boyfriend, 20:53 and when they refused, they were beaten. 20:56 Fearing the beatings that awaited them at home, 20:58 they spend most of their time living on the railway platform, 21:01 earning some money selling fruits or begging. 21:04 After they were rescued 21:05 and taken into custody by Childline, 21:07 Durga Prasad and Rajesh were brought to Sunrise Home. 21:14 I'm from Bobbili town and I used to live very close 21:17 to where the old Sunrise Home was. 21:20 Then I informed by superiors about it 21:23 and recommended these two boys to Sunrise Home. 21:27 Sunrise Home is highly regarded 21:29 throughout the district for its work 21:31 with the shelter it provides to orphaned 21:33 and abandoned children like Durga Prasad and Rajesh. 21:37 Most of the children are coming to Sunrise Home recommended 21:40 by police department, 21:43 and non-governmental organizations, 21:45 and the Childline, and rescued children, 21:49 most of them are here the rescued children. 21:53 In this whole of the Vizianagaram district, 21:55 only this home is best home 21:58 and the government will recommend 21:59 all the children to stay here only. 22:02 Okay. Wow. 22:04 At our homes like Sunrise, we have children 22:07 from varied backgrounds, varied stories, 22:10 and honest some of them are hard to comprehend, 22:13 and just like these two boys 22:15 who were found on a railway platform 22:18 at the train station, could you imagine it, 22:21 could you imagine living 22:22 there having to scrape up an existence? 22:26 They were exploited by many people 22:28 and they had no hope. 22:30 Now, at least they have come to Sunrise Home 22:33 where they have a new direction, 22:37 and now they have hope of an education, 22:40 they have a hope of the future, 22:42 and the Asian Aid sponsorship program 22:44 will have a big difference in their lives. 22:49 Durga Prasad and Rajesh are in a place 22:51 where they can leave 22:52 behind the fear of being beaten and exploited, 22:55 leave behind the struggles of growing up in the streets 22:57 and instead are in a safe and comfortable place, 23:01 a place where they don't feel like 23:02 they're orphan or abandoned. 23:04 So by having an orphanage, we can access these children 23:07 who really won't have the basics in life, 23:09 who now can have the basics in life to go forward. 23:13 So that's what orphanage is doing. 23:15 They get the children who really need help 23:18 and don't have anyone to help them. 23:22 Child Impact is giving them that help. 23:24 Child Impact is giving them that new life 23:27 through its special need schools, 23:29 at an orphanage like Sunrise Home, 23:31 and is giving them an opportunity 23:32 to receive a proper education. 23:34 One of the great blessing is 23:36 that we cannot do everything by on our own 23:39 because of certain reasons. 23:40 I thank God for special organizations 23:44 like Asian Aid. 23:45 They are uniquely tuned to meet exactly our needs, 23:50 where we really need, 23:51 especially we need next generation 23:53 to be prepared for the church work 23:55 and these children 23:57 who are trained up in the homes and with their help, 24:00 with their support, we educate our poor children, 24:02 they're the next generation, 24:04 faithful workers for the church. 24:06 And it is really transforming. 24:07 I really thank God, 24:09 every sponsor that is supporting this work, 24:11 every leader in this organization, 24:13 they are really doing the work with dedication and commitment. 24:17 They reach unto us, they openly talk their ideas 24:20 and we tell our needs, and they really fit in. 24:22 I'm proud of this important organization, 24:25 and they are truly beneficial 24:26 to my union here in East Central India. 24:30 It was painful for us to learn 24:31 that the boys' mother is still making her living 24:33 through prostitution 24:34 and does not know the whereabouts of her sons. 24:37 Taking the children away 24:38 from the mother may sound cruel and callous, 24:41 but extraordinary circumstances call 24:43 for extraordinary measures for the welfare 24:45 and the future of the children. 24:47 Like Rajesh and Durga Prasad, there are so many children 24:50 who are having very bad family backgrounds. 24:54 Sunrise Home is giving them good directions in their lives. 25:00 Today, Child Impact International 25:02 is reaching out to children in need. 25:04 And Sunrise Home is a safe haven 25:07 for these children, 25:08 providing not just their basic needs 25:10 and an opportunity for an education, 25:12 but giving them parental love and affection, 25:14 the chance and hope for a brighter future. 25:40 A couple of years ago, my daughters and I had 25:43 a wonderful opportunity to travel to India, 25:46 and while we were there, 25:47 we met yet another part of our family 25:49 and that's our sponsored daughter, Sheela. 25:52 We had the privilege of sponsoring Sheela 25:54 through Child Impact International 25:57 for more than three years now. 25:59 And you know, while we were there, 26:01 she shared with us 26:02 that her dream was to become a nurse. 26:05 Now, what a wonderful privilege it is for us now 26:09 as a family to know 26:11 that she is fulfilling that dream. 26:13 Sheela is now studying to be a nurse. 26:16 She is in college 26:17 and we could not be happier for her. 26:20 It's been wonderful to be part of that journey with her. 26:23 And you know, sponsoring a child 26:25 through Child Impact, 26:26 it's made an incredible difference 26:28 for our family. 26:30 And I know that for you sponsoring a child 26:32 can make a difference for you too. 26:34 And most importantly, it can make the difference 26:36 in the life of a child every day. |
Revised 2018-03-29