Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000154A
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00:13 Children are our future.
00:15 They are full of dreams and desires. 00:18 But in a world of unspeakable despair, 00:21 these ignited minds live in poverty and probation, 00:24 helpless and hopeless. 00:29 Child Impact International is an organization giving hope. 00:32 It is an organization fostering permanent positive change 00:36 in the lives of disadvantaged children 00:38 and those who are in need, 00:40 serving communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, 00:45 Myanmar, and beyond. 00:47 For the last 15 years, 00:50 Child Impact has invested in the futures of children 00:53 and their investment has proven infinite returns 00:56 driven by their dedication 00:57 to helping those who have the least. 01:00 Child Impact is an organization 01:02 focused on the welfare of children 01:04 implementing diverse development projects, 01:07 and sponsoring thousands of children. 01:10 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 01:13 to providing an education for orphans, 01:15 deaf, and the blind children. 01:18 Giving them a sense of place, a home, 01:21 but above all Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 01:26 giving hope to children, 01:27 giving hope to communities, 01:29 giving hope to the ones who need it the most. 01:38 This is Hope In Motion. 01:52 Anita, this year 01:54 Operation Child Rescue is going to be involved on a new project 01:59 and that's a project based around beggary, 02:03 children begging 02:05 and this effectively is trafficking 02:08 because these children are trapped 02:10 in the life of a beggar. 02:13 Just tell us about it. 02:15 If you go to a third world country, 02:16 you see it. 02:18 But just tell us about beggary and how the people involved, 02:22 what they do and how they become trapped? 02:26 Well, children begging on the streets 02:28 is a very common sight. 02:30 And most people tend to kind of ignore it 02:33 or they give something and then kind of feel, 02:36 you know, good about it that they've done their bit. 02:39 But what we realized 02:40 as we looked at children begging 02:42 and this whole aspect of children 02:45 being trafficked for beggary, 02:48 we realized how tricky the situation is 02:51 because we find these children, 02:53 more often than not, they are younger than 10 years, 02:56 some of them babies, 02:58 and they usually are with some adult. 03:00 So you assume that they are a relative or a parent 03:03 or a family member. 03:05 What we realized is that many of those children 03:07 don't belong with those adults 03:09 and that a baby can be hired for as less than a dollar a day 03:13 and the baby is drugged. 03:17 Very often, these kids are mutilated or, 03:20 you know, just harmed, physically harmed 03:22 so they look more appealing 03:26 for the pity and for the compassion 03:29 that people would have and give. 03:31 There is a lot of money as well, Jim. 03:33 They make about $10 a day, each of those children. 03:38 So if a person, or if begging mafia had say, 03:43 10 children or 20 children, they make a good lot of money 03:46 and the children don't get to keep 03:48 any of the money that they make in a day. 03:50 So this whole issue of children 03:53 being trafficked for begging is big. 03:56 It's across India 03:58 and we are looking to find a solution to this, 04:00 to remove these children from these very abusive situations. 04:05 So what you are saying is, and it's happened to me 04:07 many, many times, 04:09 when your car stops at the traffic light, 04:11 and a woman appears 04:13 and she's got a baby in her arms, 04:15 that actually may not be her baby. 04:18 Or when a guy, a child comes up to your car, 04:21 the person standing behind him is not actually his parent. 04:26 It's someone that's using them. 04:28 Yes, exactly. 04:30 It may not be always the case but we have come across cases 04:34 where the children begging with adult 04:38 or with the person who's supposedly a caregiver 04:41 really has no relationship whatsoever with them. 04:46 We had a time when we did a rescue operation 04:48 and this lady had an infant. 04:51 So after the rescue, 04:52 the police then said, feed your baby. 04:55 The baby was crying and the lady refused, 04:58 and the police finally, you know, 05:00 they tried to cajole her, tell her all of that, 05:03 but she just refused and six hours later, 05:05 the baby was still crying, 05:07 and she was refusing to breastfeed the child. 05:10 And at that point, I said, 05:12 "I think we need to take the child away 05:14 and let's try and bottle-feed the baby." 05:16 Otherwise, you know, 05:17 the baby had just cried and cried. 05:20 And the moment we tried to take the baby away, 05:22 the lady got her hands 05:23 around the neck of that child and she said, 05:26 "I will just squeeze this baby's neck till it dies." 05:29 Now which mother, Jim, 05:31 which mother would do that to her own baby? 05:34 Yeah, yeah. 05:36 So just tell us about the plan, 05:39 just tell us how do you plan for this, 05:42 what do you actually do 05:44 and what will you do as follow up? 05:47 Well, because this is such a widespread issue 05:50 and we really don't have any model 05:54 that has previously worked with children 05:57 being forced for begging. 05:59 We are using this study, 06:04 this intervention of children forced to beg as a model, 06:09 as a replicable model that can be used 06:11 in other parts in India. 06:13 So we are covering the entire State of Karnataka, 06:17 where the children who are being 06:19 forced to beg will be photographed, 06:22 will be documented, 06:24 and based on that documentation 06:27 and evidence of them being forced to beg, 06:30 we will come up with an intervention plan 06:33 that will be specific to each child. 06:35 For example, there could be, 06:37 you know, a group of children who are begging on their own, 06:40 and who are being forced by begging mafia, 06:42 or there could be a family 06:44 that's put their children out to beg 06:45 because they have a situation at home 06:47 where the parent is unable to earn. 06:49 Or we have children who have run away from home 06:52 and are really street kids from another part of India 06:56 and are begging on the streets. 06:57 So whatever the situation, we have an intervention 07:01 that will take them off that abusive situation 07:04 on the street and put them into a rehabilitation program, 07:07 whether it's education, 07:09 or whether it's vocational training, 07:11 or some skill development, 07:13 or even BRIT school for children 07:15 who have been out of school. 07:17 And the way we have structured 07:19 this project is really over a period of a year 07:23 to complete this 07:25 and to be able to then publish that report, 07:27 because even though begging is such a... 07:31 In the face issue, 07:33 there's hardly any literature available on it. 07:36 There are no studies, there is no data available 07:38 about how many children have been trafficked for this, 07:41 so we really are looking to be a trendsetter in this issue 07:48 so that there is a model 07:50 that can be replicated across India 07:53 with the massive tourism 07:54 and the number of children begging on the streets. 07:57 So depending on the child's age and their need would be, 08:02 would determine how you would help them after the raid, 08:06 after you go, 08:07 and so you actually go and grab the children off of streets 08:11 and then take them, is that what happens? 08:14 Yes, that's pretty much what happens 08:17 but at this point we would have built 08:19 a bit of a relationship 08:22 and because we are doing it over a period of time, 08:24 so we should know the children 08:27 and where their points are of begging 08:29 and where their points are, 08:31 where they go back to rest at night. 08:33 So we would pick these children up 08:35 from either of those points, where they are begging 08:37 or where they are sleeping at night 08:40 and they would be in a form of rehabilitation 08:43 till we are able to ascertain that the caregiver, 08:47 or the parent, or the family, 08:49 or the person with them is not a perpetrator. 08:53 And if they are a perpetrator, Jim, 08:55 then there will be very strict action taken against them 08:57 because begging is an offense in India 09:00 and most people don't know it. 09:03 And so we would really like to enforce that. 09:05 We are also building a public campaign, 09:08 a media campaign that will prevent people 09:12 from encouraging begging by giving hope to them. 09:16 So where is the government, 09:17 where is the police in a program like this? 09:22 Well, there has to be 09:23 a meshing of quite a few government bodies, 09:27 the police being one of them. 09:29 They would help definitely with the rescue operation, 09:32 but it would be the department of women and child, 09:35 who would then look into rehabilitation, prevention. 09:39 Social welfare is another government department 09:42 that would come in because they have schemes 09:44 for children like these who are out of school 09:47 or who have never been to school. 09:49 So BRIT schools, the department of education 09:51 would need to come in. 09:52 We've already had some preliminary meetings 09:55 with these departments to kind of discuss this issue 09:58 and see what support we can get 10:00 and work together on this. 10:03 Well, Child Impact International 10:06 through its project, Operation Child Rescue, 10:09 I guess we are just so excited that we can be a part 10:14 of taking children and beggary off the streets in India. 10:18 It may not be on a grand scale, but it's on an important scale, 10:23 and I just hope that you can see 10:25 the dedication of Anita and her team 10:28 that you can see that it's been done professionally 10:31 and that we will be actually making a real difference 10:35 and a real rescue in the lives of these children. 10:39 Hi, I am Jaime Jorge and I want to tell you, 10:42 I am honored to be 10:44 a Child Impact International ambassador. 10:47 I've had the opportunity to travel to India and Myanmar, 10:50 and I've met hundreds of young people 10:53 that are being sponsored by wonderful folks here 10:57 and in other parts of the world, 10:58 that are making it possible for these young people 11:01 to have an education, a future, 11:04 salvation, and hope in Jesus Christ. 11:07 So I'd like to invite you to consider becoming 11:11 a sponsor for Child Impact 11:13 and changing the life of one of these young people. 11:26 I am Jim Rennie, CEO of Child Impact International. 11:30 I've just returned from the country of Bangladesh. 11:33 Bangladesh is located northeast of India. 11:36 Bangladesh has a population of 163 million 11:40 and is actually one of the most 11:42 densely populated countries in the world. 11:46 For instance, 11:47 Los Angeles has 2,700 people per square kilometer, 11:53 but the capital of Dhaka 11:55 has 23,900 people per square kilometer. 12:01 The Adventist Church only has about 30,000 members, 12:05 but the church school system 12:07 has about 10,000 children in small village schools 12:11 and also larger boarding schools. 12:14 The main religion is Islam, 12:16 and the education is the key outreach for the church. 12:20 Bangladesh is a low-lying land on a huge area of river delta. 12:25 Late last year, Bangladesh suffered the worst flooding 12:28 in its history with over 8 million people 12:31 displaced or affected. 12:33 Thousands died in the floods. 12:36 Unfortunately, farming was devastated by the flooding 12:39 which caused food prices to skyrocket in price 12:43 and created food shortages. 12:45 In most of the country, prices still remain high. 12:49 This has put a huge financial strain 12:52 on our mission school finances. 12:54 Children are not getting sufficient nutrition 12:57 and the mission schools are really struggling financially. 13:01 As I visited the schools, they asked for help. 13:04 I also visited the villages 13:06 where the children live in the poorer areas 13:09 and they are really struggling also. 13:11 As I saw the reality of what was happening, 13:14 I realized we just had to help. 13:16 We don't normally do food appeals, 13:19 but we have no option but to help these children 13:22 and also the mission schools. 13:24 We are asking you to help us purchase 5,000 bags of rice 13:29 for $35 a bag. 13:31 A bag is about 110 pound and feeds about 105 meals. 13:37 Each bag you can donate 13:38 will ensure that children are fed, 13:40 but will also save the schools' valuable funds. 13:44 You can donate 1 bag, 10 bags, 100 bags 13:48 or whatever you can share. 13:50 Each bag will impact on 13:52 hundreds of children's nutrition 13:55 and will give urgent financial relief 13:57 to those struggling mission schools, 13:59 some who are close to closing. 14:02 It's urgent, please help. 14:04 Just one bag for $35 14:07 or may be 5 or 10 bags, 50 bags, 14:10 whatever you can help with. 14:12 Please help these kids. 14:35 Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries 14:37 in the world, 14:38 and it's one of the most densely populated countries 14:41 with nearly 150 million people. 14:43 One-third of the people live below the poverty line 14:47 earning less than $2 a day. 14:52 Although major efforts are being made 14:54 to alleviate poverty, 14:55 in rural villages, life is a struggle. 14:57 In an agrarian society, natural calamities 15:01 like droughts and floods can have disastrous 15:03 consequences on their daily lives. 15:05 In a world where finding food 15:07 and other basic necessities is a primary objective, 15:10 the need to educate their children is almost irrelevant. 15:14 Well, Child Impact wants to expand its work 15:17 in the country of Bangladesh. 15:19 Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries 15:21 in the world. 15:23 The number of people in Bangladesh 15:25 to its per square mile 15:27 is one of the most dense in the world, 15:30 the poverty there is huge, 15:32 and so Child Impact is very excited 15:35 that we will be expanding our work 15:38 in the schools in Bangladesh. 15:42 Education plays a vital role 15:44 in bringing children out of poverty. 15:46 But access to good education 15:48 is hard for children and families 15:49 in rural communities in Bangladesh. 15:52 We know that education is important 15:54 throughout the world. 15:55 For people who don't have those opportunities, 15:58 who are disadvantaged, 16:00 someone needs to give them a hand 16:02 because they fall through the cracks 16:05 and we want to plug those holes out. 16:08 So for children here, if they don't have access to education, 16:12 then the only prospect for the future 16:16 is to be in employment 16:20 that's not really that rewarding 16:22 and the future doesn't look bright for them. 16:25 Competition for work within education 16:28 is really so strong that without one, 16:31 they can't access the opportunities in life. 16:36 In the Seventh-day Adventist school system in Bangladesh, 16:39 there are nearly 10,000 students 16:41 and only 20% of these children are paying students. 16:45 The remaining majority are either sponsored 16:47 or seeking sponsorship. 16:49 This is where an organization like Child Impact 16:51 has a huge impact in Bangladesh. 16:54 The country of Bangladesh has an enormous population 16:58 squeezed into a very small area and territory. 17:02 And Child Impact is making an impact there 17:05 in helping with schools in Bangladesh. 17:10 I want to encourage everyone to seriously consider 17:13 how you can impact a child's life in Bangladesh. 17:25 Monosapara Adventist Seminary 17:27 is one of the major boarding schools in Bangladesh. 17:30 Established nearly 10 years ago, 17:32 this institution is a blessing for children 17:35 coming from poor communities in the area. 17:37 About 8 to 10 years ago, some large donors 17:40 really invested in the church education 17:43 in Bangladesh. 17:45 They established some very special 17:48 large boarding schools. 17:49 Now they established them in very rural and poor areas, 17:54 and so now there is a huge need 17:57 for these schools to have support 17:59 to sponsor children and support them financially 18:02 so that they continue. 18:04 To be honest, they are under a lot of financial pressure 18:07 because the communities affectively 18:10 are poorer than they were 8 to 10 years ago. 18:14 And so we are very excited that we can expand our sponsorship 18:18 in these facilities that were built 8 to 10 years ago. 18:23 There's a great foundation for making a difference 18:27 for the church in Bangladesh 18:29 but also in the lives of these children. 18:33 Monosapara Adventist Seminary and School 18:36 is impacting so much for this community 18:38 because this community people 18:40 are seeking good education, 18:46 and this school is really providing 18:49 this education for them 18:51 and specially they are dependent, 18:55 and these people going to the cities for their job 19:02 and in the city who will take care of their children. 19:08 So it's a very secure place here in Monosapara School 19:14 to continue their education. 19:37 Jhorna Chiran is a sixth grade student 19:40 and came to Monosapara last year. 19:42 She has been sponsored by Child Impact 19:44 ever since she started attending primary school 19:46 at her village in Mondartoli. 19:49 Born into a poor Adventist household, 19:51 where access to one proper meal a day is a challenge, 19:54 Jhorna's mother had to deal with the extra burden 19:56 of caring for her children all on her own. 20:11 She is telling that once a day, she went for work 20:15 and after return back, he fell to sickness, 20:21 and she is telling that 20:23 the fever is like a jaundice, do you know? 20:27 Yeah. Jaundice, for this case... 20:30 Yeah, yeah, because of that. 20:32 Why they couldn't take him to the hospital? 20:41 She is telling that she tried to give... 20:45 Show to doctor and give the treatment 20:47 but he couldn't survive. 20:52 Jhorna's father passed away in 2013. 20:55 In a rural community such as Mondartoli, 20:57 when a woman loses her husband, 20:59 she not only has to deal with the loss of her husband 21:02 but bear all the responsibility of taking care of her children 21:05 and her parents all by herself. 21:08 This can have devastating 21:09 physical and psychological effects on her. 21:12 Just for somebody like Jhorna Chiran, 21:17 her father passed away and mother is at home, 21:21 mother just illiterate and what she will do, 21:27 some house chores and all, 21:30 and sometimes she is also doing day laborers work 21:35 and what hope she will have? 21:40 So she would... 21:42 Mother would like to have find husband for her 21:46 and give marriage early so that the burden of mother 21:50 will be over and she will be on her own. 21:53 So this is the life if she would not study here, 21:58 that would happen. 22:04 One could only imagine the hardship Jhorna would face 22:07 if she didn't get a chance to go to Monosapara 22:10 or get sponsorship to continue her education. 22:13 In all probability, 22:15 she would remain in her village, 22:16 become a day laborer like her mother, 22:19 or she would get married before she could turn 18, 22:21 start a family, and continue life in perpetual poverty. 22:33 She is telling that if Jhorna didn't get sponsorship, 22:37 she cannot send her to the school 22:39 and she is telling 22:40 if she didn't send her to school, 22:45 she may work like her, and she is telling that 22:50 Jhorna's father already passed away, 22:53 so it's very... 22:55 These children don't have people 22:58 who can support them, 22:59 promote them, look out for them, 23:01 and so they really don't know how to access this education 23:05 and also remember the education costs. 23:07 We might say it might be free, but it's really not free. 23:11 Even if you go to a government school, 23:13 you still have school clothes, books, there is a cost. 23:18 And some of these people are so poor, 23:20 they can't really provide this. 23:22 So these children are below zero, 23:25 they are not even up to par with other children, 23:27 the opportunities are less. 23:29 So by sponsoring children, 23:31 we give them that opportunity to break out of that cycle, 23:34 that vicious cycle of poverty and access something 23:38 that will create a better future for them. 23:43 Eleven years old Durjoy Chiran 23:44 is from the same village as Jhorna 23:47 and goes to school at Monosapara. 23:49 He was eager to take us and meet with his grandparents 23:51 who received us warmly. 23:54 Meeting Durjoy's grandparents 23:56 was just such a touching moment 23:59 because they held my hand tight, 24:01 they were just so grateful 24:02 that their grandson could have an education, 24:05 and here is a typical situation. 24:08 His parents have had to go to Dhaka, 24:10 the capital city, 24:11 because there's no work here in the fields. 24:14 And to be honest, 24:15 they are probably doing fairly lowly jobs in Dhaka. 24:18 But he is too young to go, 24:20 and so he is being given a special opportunity 24:23 that he can go to our boarding school and learn. 24:28 The grandparents are so proud, 24:30 and I am sure the parents are too. 24:32 But once again, here we are, 24:34 lifting this young boy out of poverty, 24:37 giving him a chance both in feeding him 24:40 but educating him and making his family so proud. 24:46 Meeting Durjoy's grandparents was an emotional experience, 24:49 as it was evident they loved their grandson very much 24:52 and want to see him come up in life. 24:55 Child Impact sponsorship program 24:58 is making a difference in Bangladesh. 25:01 Thanks to the thousands of sponsors 25:02 who support this program, 25:04 young boys and girls like Durjoy and Jhorna 25:06 can grow up in a safe environment, 25:08 receive a proper education, 25:10 and look forward to a brighter future. 27:12 At Adventist mission schools like this one in Bangladesh, 27:15 Child Impact International sponsors hundreds of children. 27:19 We often think that sponsorship 27:22 only impacts on the life of the child, 27:24 but it's much wider than that. 27:26 It impacts on the parents and on the community. 27:29 But important, it impacts on the school. 27:33 It becomes valuable income for the school 27:36 and then in turn, 27:37 it impacts on hundreds of other children. 27:40 I just ask that you would consider 27:42 sponsoring a child with Child Impact, 27:45 or supporting one of its valuable projects 27:47 that will improve education in Adventist mission schools 27:51 like this one right here. |
Revised 2018-07-06