Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000152A
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00:17 In this episode of Hope In Motion,
00:19 we look at how Child Impact's work in Bangladesh 00:21 is bringing a positive change 00:23 in the lives of underprivileged children 00:25 and their communities. 00:26 We look at how your sponsorship 00:28 is helping the mission field in Bangladesh 00:30 and its educational institutions. 00:33 Our sponsorship, to be honest, is one of the most direct ways 00:36 that the donor can get involved in the mission field. 00:40 And in a country like Bangladesh, 00:42 it has a massive impact. 00:44 We meet 13-year old Borsha 00:46 at the Monosapara Adventist Seminary 00:49 who is looking forward to a better future 00:51 because of Child Impact's sponsorship program, 00:54 and travel with Jim Rennie to remote villages 00:56 where we meet with Durjoy and Jhorna's family 00:59 who are grateful that someone came forward 01:01 to give their children a helping hand. 01:16 Children are our future. 01:19 They are full of dreams and desires. 01:22 But in a world of unspeakable despair, 01:24 these ignited minds live in poverty and probation, 01:27 helpless and hopeless. 01:32 Child Impact International is an organization giving hope. 01:36 It is an organization fostering permanent positive change 01:40 in the lives of disadvantaged children 01:42 and those who are in need, 01:44 serving communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, 01:49 Myanmar, and beyond. 01:51 For the last 15 years, 01:53 Child Impact has invested in the futures of children, 01:56 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 01:59 Driven by their dedication 02:01 to helping those who have the least, 02:03 Child Impact is an organization 02:05 focused on the welfare of children, 02:08 implementing diverse development projects, 02:10 and sponsoring thousands of children. 02:13 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 02:16 to providing an education for orphans, deaf, 02:19 and the blind children. 02:21 Giving them a sense of place, a home, 02:25 but above all Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 02:29 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 02:34 giving hope to the ones who need it the most. 02:41 This is Hope In Motion. 03:12 Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries 03:14 in the world, 03:15 and it's one of the most densely populated countries 03:18 with nearly 150 million people. 03:21 One-third of the people live below the poverty line 03:24 earning less than $2 a day. 03:29 Although major efforts are being made 03:31 to alleviate poverty, 03:32 in rural villages, life is a struggle. 03:35 In an agrarian society, natural calamities 03:38 like droughts and floods 03:39 can have disastrous consequences 03:41 on their daily lives. 03:42 In a world where finding food 03:44 and other basic necessities is a primary objective, 03:47 the need to educate their children 03:49 is almost irrelevant. 03:51 Well, Child Impact wants to expand its work 03:54 in the country of Bangladesh. 03:56 Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries 03:59 in the world. 04:00 The number of people in Bangladesh per square mile 04:04 is one of the most dense in the world, 04:07 the poverty there is huge, 04:09 and so Child Impact is very excited 04:12 that we will be expanding our work 04:15 in the schools in Bangladesh. 04:19 Education plays a vital role 04:21 in bringing children out of poverty. 04:23 But access to good education 04:25 is hard for children and families 04:26 in rural communities in Bangladesh. 04:29 We know that education is important 04:31 throughout the world. 04:32 For people who don't have those opportunities, 04:35 who are disadvantaged, 04:37 someone needs to give them a hand 04:39 because they fall through the cracks 04:42 and we want to plug those holes out. 04:45 So for children here, 04:47 if they don't have access to education, 04:49 then the only prospect for the future 04:53 is to be in employment 04:57 that's not really that rewarding 04:59 and the future doesn't look bright for them. 05:02 Competition for work within education 05:05 is really so strong that without one, 05:08 they can't access the opportunities in life. 05:13 In the Seventh-day Adventist school system in Bangladesh, 05:16 there are nearly 10,000 students 05:18 and only 20% of these children are paying students. 05:22 The remaining majority are either sponsored 05:24 or seeking sponsorship. 05:26 This is where an organization like Child Impact 05:28 has a huge impact in Bangladesh. 05:31 The country of Bangladesh has an enormous population 05:35 squeezed into a very small area and territory. 05:39 And Child Impact is making an impact there 05:42 in helping with schools in Bangladesh. 05:47 I want to encourage everyone to seriously consider 05:50 how you can impact a child's life in Bangladesh. 06:02 Monosapara Adventist Seminary 06:04 is one of the major boarding schools in Bangladesh. 06:07 Established nearly 10 years ago, 06:09 this institution is a blessing for children coming 06:12 from poor communities in the area. 06:15 About 8 to 10 years ago, 06:16 some large donors really invested 06:19 in the church education in Bangladesh. 06:22 They established some very special large 06:25 boarding schools. 06:27 Now they established them in very rural and poor areas, 06:31 and so now there is a huge need 06:34 for these schools to have support 06:36 to sponsor children 06:38 and support them financially so that they continue. 06:41 To be honest, they are under a lot of financial pressure 06:44 because the communities affectively are poorer 06:48 than they were 8 to 10 years ago. 06:51 And so we are very excited 06:53 that we can expand our sponsorship 06:56 in these facilities 06:57 that were built 8 to 10 years ago. 07:00 There's a great foundation for making a difference 07:03 for the church in Bangladesh 07:06 but also in the lives of these children. 07:10 Monosapara Adventist Seminary and school is impacting 07:14 so much for this community 07:15 because this community people are 07:19 seeking good education, 07:23 and this school is really providing 07:26 this education for them 07:28 and specially they are dependent, 07:33 and these people going to the cities 07:39 for their job and in the city 07:42 who will take care of their children. 07:45 So it's a very secure place here 07:48 in Monosapara School to continue their education. 08:14 Jhorna Chiran is a sixth grade student 08:17 and came to Monosapara last year. 08:19 She has been sponsored by Child Impact 08:21 ever since she started attending primary school 08:23 at her village in Mondatoly Mondartoli. 08:26 Born into a poor Adventist household, 08:28 where access to one proper meal a day 08:30 is a challenge, 08:31 Jhorna's mother had to deal with the extra burden 08:33 of caring for her children all on her own. 08:48 She is telling that one day, 08:51 she went for work and after return back, 08:55 he fell to sickness, 08:58 and she is telling that the fever is like 09:02 jaundice, do you know? 09:06 For this case... 09:08 yeah, because of that. 09:09 Why they couldn't take him to the hospital? 09:18 She is telling that she tried to give... 09:22 show the doctor and give the treatment 09:24 but he couldn't survive. 09:29 Jhorna's father passed away in 2013. 09:32 In a rural community, such as, Mondartoli 09:34 when a woman loses her husband, 09:36 she not only has to deal with the loss of her husband 09:39 but bear all the responsibility of taking care of her children 09:42 and her parents all by herself. 09:45 This can have devastating physical 09:47 and psychological effects on her. 09:49 Just for somebody like Jhorna Chiran, 09:54 her father passed away and mother is at home, 09:58 mother just illiterate and what she will do, 10:04 some house chores and all and sometimes 10:09 she is also doing day labors work 10:12 and what hope she will have? 10:17 So she would... 10:19 mother would like to have find husband for her 10:23 and give marriage early 10:25 so that the burden of mother will be over 10:28 and she will be on her own. 10:30 So this is the life if she would not study here, 10:35 that would happen. 10:41 One could only imagine the hardship Jhorna would face 10:44 if she didn't get a chance to go to Monosapara 10:47 or get sponsorship to continue her education. 10:50 In all probability, 10:52 she would remain in her village, 10:53 become a day laborer like her mother 10:55 or she would get married before she could turn 18, 10:58 start a family, 11:00 and continue life in perpetual poverty. 11:10 She is telling that if Jhorna didn't get sponsorship, 11:14 she cannot send her to the school 11:16 and she is telling 11:17 if she didn't send her to school, 11:22 she may work like her. 11:25 And she is telling that 11:27 Jhorna's father already passed away, 11:30 so it's very... 11:33 These children don't have people 11:35 who can support them, 11:36 promote them, look out for them, 11:38 and so they really don't know how to access this education 11:42 and also remember the education costs. 11:45 We might say it might be free, but it's really not free. 11:48 Even if you go to a government school, 11:50 you still have school clothes, books, there is a cost. 11:55 And some of these people are so poor, 11:57 they can't really provide this. 11:59 So these children are below zero, 12:02 they are not even up to par with other children, 12:04 the opportunities are less. 12:06 So by sponsoring children, 12:08 we give them that opportunity to break out of that cycle, 12:11 that vicious cycle of poverty and access something 12:15 that will create a better future for them. 12:19 Eleven years old Durjoy Chiran is from the same village 12:23 as Jhorna and goes to school at Monosapara. 12:26 He was eager to take us and meet with his grandparents 12:28 who received us warmly. 12:31 Meeting Durjoy's grandparents was just such a touching moment 12:35 because they held my hand tight, 12:38 they were just so grateful 12:40 that their grandson could have an education. 12:42 And here is a typical situation. 12:44 His parents have had to go to Dhaka, the capital city 12:48 because there's no work here in the fields. 12:51 And to be honest, 12:52 they are probably doing fairly lowly jobs in Dhaka. 12:55 But he is too young to go, 12:57 and so he is being given a special opportunity 13:00 that he can go to a boarding school and learn. 13:05 The grandparents are so proud, 13:07 and I am sure the parents are too. 13:09 But once again, here we are, 13:11 lifting this young boy out of poverty, 13:14 giving him a chance both in feeding him 13:17 but educating him and making his family so proud. 13:23 Meeting Durjoy's grandparents was an emotional experience, 13:26 as it was evident they loved their grandson very much 13:29 and want to see him come up in life. 13:33 Child Impact sponsorship program 13:35 is making a difference in Bangladesh 13:37 thanks to the thousands of sponsors 13:39 who support this program, 13:41 young boys and girls like Durjoy and Jhorna 13:43 can grow up in a safe environment, 13:45 receive a proper education, 13:47 and look forward to a brighter future. 14:00 I am Jim Rennie, 14:02 CEO of Child Impact International. 14:04 I've just returned from the country of Bangladesh. 14:07 Bangladesh is located North-East of India. 14:11 Bangladesh has a population of 163 million 14:15 and is actually one of the most densely 14:17 populated countries in the world. 14:20 For instance, 14:21 Los Angeles has 2,700 people 14:25 per square kilometer, 14:27 but the capital of Dhaka 14:29 has 23,900 people per square kilometer. 14:35 The Adventist church only has about 30,000 members 14:39 but the church school system has about 10,000 children 14:44 in small village schools 14:45 and also larger boarding schools. 14:48 The main religion is Islam, 14:50 and the education is the key outreach for the church. 14:54 Bangladesh is a low-lying land on a huge area of River Delta. 14:59 Late last year, Bangladesh suffered 15:01 the worst flooding in its history 15:04 with over 8 million people displaced or affected. 15:08 Thousands died in the floods. 15:10 Unfortunately, farming was devastated 15:13 by the flooding which caused food prices 15:15 to sky rocket in price and created food shortages. 15:20 In most of the country, prices still remain high. 15:24 This is for a huge financial strain on 15:26 our mission school finances. 15:28 Children are not getting sufficient nutrition 15:31 and the mission schools 15:32 are really struggling financially. 15:35 As I visited the schools, they asked for help. 15:38 I also visited the villages 15:40 where the children live in the poorer areas 15:43 and they are really struggling also. 15:45 As I saw the reality of what was happening, 15:48 I realized we just had to help. 15:51 We don't normally do food appeals, 15:53 but we have no option 15:54 but to help these children and also the mission schools. 15:58 We are asking you to help us purchase 16:01 5000 bags of rice for $35 a bag. 16:05 A bag is about 110 pound and feeds about 105 meals. 16:11 Each bag you can donate will ensure 16:13 that children are fed 16:15 but will also save the school's valuable funds. 16:19 You can donate 1 bag, 10 bags, 100 bags 16:22 or whatever you can share. 16:24 Each bag will impact on 16:26 hundreds of children's nutrition 16:29 and will give urgent financial relief 16:31 to those struggling mission schools, 16:34 some who are close to closing. 16:36 It's urgent, please help. 16:38 Just one bag for $35 or maybe 5 or 10 bags, 16:43 50 bags, whatever you can help with. 16:46 Please help these kids. 16:55 A couple of years ago, my daughters and I had 16:57 a wonderful opportunity to travel to India. 17:00 And while we were there, 17:02 we met yet another part of our family 17:04 and that's our sponsored daughter Sheila. 17:06 We've had the privilege of sponsoring Sheila 17:09 through Child Impact International 17:11 for more than three years now. 17:13 And, you know, while we were there, 17:15 she shared with us that her dream 17:18 was to become a nurse. 17:20 Now what a wonderful privilege it is for us now, as a family, 17:24 to know that she is fulfilling that dream. 17:28 Sheila is now studying to be a nurse. 17:30 She is in college, 17:32 and we cannot be happier for her. 17:34 It's been wonderful to be part of that journey with her. 17:38 And, you know, sponsoring a child 17:39 through Child Impact, 17:41 it's made an incredible difference 17:42 for our family, and I know that for you 17:45 sponsoring a child can make a difference for you too. 17:48 And most importantly, 17:50 it can make the difference 17:51 in the life of a child every day. 18:21 Child Impact International is all about children, 18:24 impacting children in a positive 18:26 and long-lasting way 18:28 through education and sponsorship. 18:31 Over the last couple of years, 18:33 Child Impact has focused its work in Bangladesh 18:35 by helping the school system achieve its potential. 18:38 Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries 18:40 in the world, 18:42 and a majority of students who attend our schools 18:44 come from poor backgrounds and depend on sponsorship. 19:05 The Seventh-day Adventist school system 19:07 in Bangladesh has over 10,000 students 19:09 and only 20% of them are paying students. 19:12 The rest are sponsored or seeking 19:14 some kind of sponsorship to continue their education. 19:17 This situation puts the schools in financial distress 19:20 and can have direct impact on the student's well being 19:23 as well as the quality of education. 19:26 This is where an organization 19:27 like Child Impact has a great impact. 19:32 Our sponsorship, to be honest, is one of the most direct ways 19:35 that the donor can get involved in the mission field. 19:39 And in a country like Bangladesh, 19:41 it has a massive impact. 19:43 And we are really grateful to our sponsors and donors 19:47 for the support that they give Child Impact. 19:50 But it's actually not about Child Impact, 19:53 It's actually about the children 19:55 who that they support every month 19:58 and make a real difference. 20:00 Sponsoring children in activities like 20:05 these mission schools and opportunities 20:08 is a tremendous way to help form the character 20:12 of young people as they look to the future. 20:15 They will never forget their association 20:18 in a Christian environment. 20:20 It is absolutely a powerful witness to sponsor 20:25 a child in Child Impact and so many other organizations 20:30 that help young people to find Jesus. 20:39 Child Impact is a unique organization. 20:42 It is not just a sponsorship agency 20:44 but, as Jim said, 20:46 it gives sponsors a unique opportunity 20:48 to be involved in the mission field every day. 20:51 In mission fields like Bangladesh, 20:53 the child depends on the sponsor, 20:54 and so the sponsor is not only impacting 20:57 the life of a child 20:58 but making a significant difference 20:59 in the mission schools, big and small. 21:03 Just walking into a small rural mission school here 21:06 in Bangladesh really allows you to see the difference 21:11 that sponsorship in education makes 21:14 because these children come from rural farming communities 21:18 where, to be honest, 21:20 there is a severe shortage of funds 21:22 and food sometimes. 21:24 And so these children are being given hope, 21:27 and these children are being given an education, 21:30 and here we see the difference that sponsorship is making. 21:36 The Bangladesh Union Mission 21:38 runs many such village schools in the community. 21:40 These village schools also act as feeder schools 21:43 for bigger institutions like Monosapara Adventist Seminary. 22:06 Borsha Mankim came to Monosapara in 2014 22:09 and is a seventh grade student. 22:11 Borsha is a recipient of Child Impact sponsorship 22:14 that she has been receiving 22:16 from a primary level at her village. 22:35 Borsha comes from Shibananda Khila, 22:37 a small village about one-hour drive from Monosapara. 22:41 Visiting her village and meeting her grandparents, 22:43 it was evident they were facing hardship 22:45 and it emphasize the need for sponsorship 22:48 for children like Borsha. 23:13 Borsha's parents are day laborers 23:15 who worked in the paddy fields owned by landlords. 23:18 But a severe drought last year 23:19 made jobs unavailable for them in the village. 23:22 With no daily wages, 23:23 they struggled to feed the family 23:25 and were forced to borrow money. 23:27 Unable to settle their debt, 23:28 they decided to move to Dhaka, 23:30 the capital city to earn some money 23:32 and pay back their debt. 23:34 Families facing such financial hardship 23:36 have only one thing on their mind, 23:38 feeding their family. 23:40 In such circumstances, 23:42 the thought of educating their children 23:43 takes the backseat. 23:45 It's not hard to imagine 23:47 what would have happened to Borsha 23:48 if she didn't go to school. 23:50 If they wouldn't have the sponsorship 23:52 and continued their education, 23:55 they would remain the same as their parents 23:59 and they would be the day laborers 24:02 and especially for girls, they would have early marriage 24:06 and will be just a day laborer and without hope in this world. 24:39 Today, thanks to Borsha's sponsors, 24:42 she can leave behind the hardship of her parents, 24:44 break away from the cycle of poverty, 24:46 and focus on her studies at Monosapara. 24:49 She wants to become a nurse, and at Monosapara, 24:52 she has the opportunity to realize her dreams. 24:57 As the in-charge of sponsorship program here in Bangladesh, 25:02 I see the great impact 25:05 on children and their education. 25:09 And if we have more sponsors coming forward 25:14 to help these kids to give hope in their life, 25:19 and the impact in their life would be greater. 25:24 Well, after today, riding by motorbike 25:27 and coming to the villages, 25:29 coming to where these children live, 25:32 it has really strengthened my belief on what we do. 25:36 I've actually seen the homes these children come from 25:40 and then I see the difference that's being made 25:43 at the schools where they go. 25:46 And you really have to come and see 25:49 where they come from. 25:50 You have to come and see the challenges 25:53 they are facing in their homes and their communities. 25:57 With poverty, with getting work, 26:00 it just shows me that by having an education, 26:04 they've got hope, 26:05 they've got a little edge to do something better. 26:08 Some of them have got brothers and sisters 26:10 who have gone to the big cities to work. 26:12 And to be honest, all is they are working is on 26:15 construction sites or low-paid jobs. 26:19 But these children when they have got an education 26:22 and to have to walk through the fields, 26:25 to have to see the houses they are living in, 26:28 it's pretty touching. 26:30 And today, I'm strengthened 26:33 that I know that what we are doing is great. |
Revised 2018-06-28