Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000159A
00:29 Sunrise Children's Home was established in 2001
00:32 in a cramped place in the town of Bobbili 00:34 in South India. 00:36 Having started with just three children, 00:38 this home over the years 00:40 has sheltered hundreds of orphan children. 00:44 In today's episode of Hope in Motion, 00:46 we meet newcomers, Anusha and Durga Prasad 00:49 and discover how Sunrise Home 00:51 is helping them deal with their tragic past. 01:07 Children are our future. 01:10 They are full of dreams and desires. 01:13 But in a world of unspeakable despair, 01:15 these ignited minds live in poverty and privation, 01:18 helpless and hopeless. 01:24 Child Impact International is an organization giving hope. 01:27 It is an organization fostering permanent positive change 01:31 in the lives of disadvantaged children 01:33 and those who are in need. 01:35 Serving communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, 01:40 Myanmar, and beyond. 01:43 For the last 15 years, 01:44 Child Impact is invested in the futures of children, 01:48 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 01:51 Driven by their dedication to helping those 01:53 who have the least, 01:55 Child Impact is an organization 01:57 focused on the welfare of children. 01:59 Implementing diverse development projects 02:02 and sponsoring thousands of children. 02:05 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 02:08 to providing an education for orphans, 02:10 deaf, and the blind children, 02:13 giving them a sense of place, a home. 02:16 But above all, Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 02:20 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 02:25 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 02:32 This is Hope in Motion. 03:02 Passing through the town of Bobbili 03:03 in Andhra Pradesh, India, 03:05 one gets accustomed to the buzz and chaos 03:07 of a typical rural town. 03:10 These small towns, 03:11 service centers for commercial activities 03:13 for the 600,000 villages spread all across India 03:16 and are linking points to bigger cities and beyond. 03:21 India is a land of contrast, conservative and contemporary, 03:26 chaotic and calm, gloomy and hopeful. 03:30 Sunrise Children's Home 03:32 is the beginning of hope to many orphan children, 03:34 who bring with them stories 03:36 unimaginably difficult to endure. 03:38 Stories like that of nine-year-old Anusha Gantredi. 04:08 Anusha is a fourth grade student 04:10 at the Seventh-day Adventist High School in Bobbili. 04:13 Her home is the Sunrise Children's Home 04:15 built by Child Impact, 04:17 to shelter scores of children like Anusha, 04:20 who are orphaned at a young age. 04:22 Anusha lost both parents. 04:25 They died with jaundice. 04:28 Because of poverty and the lack of medical facilities, 04:31 they were unable to take treatment. 04:34 And it's unfortunate that such a young girl 04:36 lost both parents at an early age. 04:55 This is Sanyasi Rao, he is Anusha's uncle, 04:58 Anusha's both parents, father and mother died, 05:01 and his wife also died. 05:03 With the help of gram panchayat village president, 05:07 he came and joined in Sunrise Children Home. 05:19 Both the parents died with jaundice, 05:21 and liver was spoiled, and the viral fever, 05:24 because of that, they both died. 05:27 First, father died and then mother died. 05:46 Anusha lost both her parents last summer, 05:49 her mother had contracted jaundice 05:52 and had died due to liver failure. 05:54 Within two months, 05:55 her father suffered similar complications and died 05:58 leaving Anusha, their only child, 06:01 orphaned when she was just eight years old. 06:04 Anusha's uncle, Sanyasi Rao took her home 06:08 and tried his best to care for her. 06:10 But he being a poor farmer 06:12 struggled to take good care of her, 06:14 and did not have the means to send her to a good school. 06:17 The village president 06:19 who witnessed his struggles 06:20 suggested he take Anusha to Sunrise Home 06:23 which was not far from his village. 06:39 He says, after joining her in Sunrise Home, 06:42 his burden was free, and he was very happy now. 06:56 If he could not able to join in Sunrise Home, 06:59 he used to take her as a coolie to the farm, 07:02 and work as a farmer in the field. 07:09 He says that 07:10 he was very happy joining her in Sunrise Children Home. 07:17 Anusha is fortunate to have come to Sunrise Home. 07:20 One can only imagine the destiny of an orphaned girl 07:23 growing up in a household, struggling to survive. 07:27 Well, I don't think 07:28 we can understand the life of an orphan. 07:31 They may not know who their parents are, 07:33 or they may know the tragic circumstances 07:36 they come from. 07:37 So we not only give them an education, 07:39 we give them a home, 07:41 but we give them hope, we give them a future. 07:44 And just for a child knowing that they have got a future, 07:47 knowing that they've got some way 07:49 they can go in their life 07:50 makes a huge difference to them, 07:53 and we're just so excited that we can be a part 07:56 of making that total difference. 08:02 Anusha has been at Sunrise Home 08:04 for three months now, 08:05 and although she found it difficult 08:06 to adjust to her new life, 08:08 she has grown to love her new home. 08:12 In the beginning, 08:13 when they come from the different places, 08:15 after they come here, 08:17 they will see all this environment, 08:18 it is different to their homes where they stayed. 08:22 But after coming here, 08:24 they will mingle with all the children, 08:25 and they will learn. 08:26 Within one or two months, they will be very active 08:29 and they'll become very smart. 08:37 Anusha goes to the Adventist High School 08:39 in Bobbili town 08:40 and has quickly proven to be a smart student. 08:43 What a delight it is for us to see her in uniform, 08:46 receiving a good Christian education. 08:48 And come to think of it, 08:50 Anusha could have ended up 08:51 having a completely different life 08:52 if she didn't come to Sunrise Home. 08:55 Even though we are caretakers of the children 08:57 giving them food and shelter, 08:59 but there are the sponsors 09:00 who are playing important role in their lives, 09:04 giving them opportunity 09:06 to become something in the life. 09:09 Without their sponsorship, 09:11 these children would have no way of gaining an education 09:15 at a Christian setting. 09:16 And the children that I see, where I see they come from, 09:21 would not have this chance if it wasn't for Child Impact. 09:25 And though, and we may not do a lot of children 09:28 in a world setting, but the ones that we do, 09:31 it can really make a huge difference, 09:34 that's what I like to see. 09:47 Today, Child Impact is bringing joy and happiness 09:51 to many children like Anusha 09:53 who are unfortunate to have suffered 09:54 the loss of their parents. 09:56 Instead of a life working in the fields 09:58 or working as a maid, 10:00 Anusha has found a new home and goes to school 10:03 with a promise of a bright future. 10:34 A couple of years ago my daughters and I 10:36 had a wonderful opportunity to travel to India. 10:40 And while we were there, 10:41 we met yet another part of our family 10:43 and that's our sponsored daughter Sheila. 10:46 We've had the privilege of sponsoring Sheila 10:48 through Child Impact International 10:50 for more than three years now. 10:53 And, you know, while we were there, 10:55 she shared with us 10:56 that her dream was to become a nurse. 10:59 Now, what a wonderful privilege it is for us 11:02 now as a family to know that she is fulfilling that dream. 11:07 Sheila is now studying to be a nurse. 11:10 She's in college, 11:11 and we could not be happier for her. 11:13 It's been wonderful to be part of that journey with her. 11:17 And, you know, 11:18 sponsoring a child through Child Impact, 11:20 it's made an incredible difference 11:22 for our family. 11:23 And I know that for you sponsoring a child 11:25 can make a difference for you too. 11:28 And most importantly, 11:29 it can make the difference in the life of a child 11:31 every day. 11:45 At Adventist mission schools like this one in Bangladesh, 11:48 Child Impact International sponsors hundreds of children. 11:52 We often think that sponsorship 11:54 only impacts on the life of the child, 11:57 but it's much wider than that, 11:59 it impacts on the parents and on the community. 12:02 But more important, it impacts on the school. 12:06 It becomes valuable income for the school, 12:09 and then in turn, 12:10 it impacts on hundreds of other children. 12:13 I just ask that you would consider 12:15 sponsoring a child with Child Impact 12:18 or supporting one of its valuable projects 12:20 that will improve education in Adventist mission schools 12:24 like this one in right here. 12:54 Child Impact International is an organization 12:56 that is committed to making a difference 12:58 in the lives of children living in poverty. 13:01 Since its inception, 13:03 Child Impact has provided thousands of needy children, 13:06 and education in Adventist mission schools 13:09 through its sponsorship program. 13:11 Although its primary objective has always been 13:13 to provide education to needy children, 13:16 one of the key areas it is proud to be involved in 13:19 is in the development of orphanages 13:21 and the welfare of orphans. 13:24 Well, the other key area we're involved in as orphans 13:27 and orphanages, 13:29 and we call them children's homes. 13:30 Now, obviously a child that no longer has parents, 13:34 or the parents have abandoned them. 13:37 But yes, we do have some children 13:39 who may have a parent or even parents. 13:42 But the whole family unit is disintegrated, 13:44 or the parent they have 13:46 is simply not capable of looking after them. 13:50 And so they have no hope. 13:51 So there is a small core group of children 13:55 that really need help in these type of a homes, 13:58 and we're just so delighted 14:01 that we can make a difference in the lives of these children. 14:13 Sunrise Children's Home in the outskirts of Bobbili 14:16 in Andhra Pradesh, India is a sprawling campus 14:19 that is home to 82 orphaned children at present. 14:23 These children, many with heartbreaking stories, 14:26 are fully dependent on Child Impact support 14:28 for their daily needs. 14:30 Child Impact support 14:32 ensures these children can live and learn 14:34 in the security of a home. 15:00 Five years old Durga Prasad 15:03 came to Sunrise Home a couple of months ago. 15:06 He was brought to Sunrise Home by Sridhar Parisarla, 15:09 a social worker with Specialized Adoption Agency. 15:36 Durga Prasad comes from a remote village. 15:40 His father died 15:42 and mother is in prison. 15:44 Although he has relatives, 15:46 they're unable to take care of him 15:48 because they are poor. 15:51 And like Durga Prasad, 15:53 many children come from such remote villages. 15:57 After his mother was incarcerated 15:59 for the death of his father, 16:01 Durga and his older sister were rescued 16:03 and brought to the Specialized Adoption Agency, 16:06 a government funded adoption agency 16:08 under the Department of Women Development 16:09 and Child Welfare. 16:11 They could not be enrolled for adoption 16:13 because they still had a living parent. 16:15 Durga's sister was sent to an all-girls shelter home 16:18 run by the government. 16:19 And since Durga could not be sent with her, 16:21 Sridhar brought him to Sunrise Home. 16:48 Raj Varma, field officer for Child Impact, 16:51 took us to Durga's village 16:53 where we met with his relatives. 16:54 His aunt, emotionally overwhelmed, 16:57 could not hold back her tears upon seeing Durga. 17:13 What's she saying? 17:14 Yeah, I felt very sorry about this situation. 17:17 After my sister killed my brother-in-law, 17:21 we felt very, very sorry about the children 17:23 and also the family situation. 17:27 In remote villages 17:29 where people live in close quarters, 17:30 news of a tragedy of such magnitude 17:33 is not easily forgotten. 17:34 And the family is victimized, ridiculed, 17:37 and reminded of the shame it has brought to the village, 17:40 almost on a daily basis. 18:10 The situation is very bad. 18:11 But all the village people criticized us. 18:14 Your sister made a big mistake and killed that man. 18:18 If she doesn't like husband 18:19 and she wants to live together with another person, 18:22 she can take that person and leave the village and go. 18:27 Durga's aunt tells us she is a daily laborer 18:30 and is not in a position to take care of him 18:32 if the responsibility fell on her. 18:34 She's thankful that government officials 18:36 took Durga and his sister to shelter homes outside. 18:40 If Durga was not rescued and brought to Sunrise, 18:43 there is a high chance 18:44 he would be abandoned by his relatives. 19:19 One of the major problems 19:21 faced by orphaned and abandoned children in India 19:23 is trafficking. 19:25 They are often preyed upon by people 19:27 who take advantage of their situation 19:29 and end up begging in the streets 19:30 or as child laborers. 19:32 They become caught in the web of organized slavery, 19:35 unable to free themselves, 19:37 but their rescue and eventual rehabilitation 19:40 can have a transforming effect on them for good. 19:42 Shelter homes like Sunrise 19:44 play a crucial role in this transformation. 19:49 What happens if a child in need, doesn't... 19:52 is not in a position that Child Impact offers? 19:57 Well, that child has no protection. 19:59 So what's the risk of a child who does not have protection? 20:02 They can be trafficked, they can be abused, 20:04 they can be misused. 20:07 So what's their future? 20:08 Really, it's slavery in a modern world. 20:13 So if these children do not, 20:15 are not supported by organizations 20:17 like Child Impact, 20:19 their future is really bleak. 20:22 There is no future for them, 20:24 because they're open to be abused by other people. 20:28 And there are lots of people 20:30 who will exploit vulnerable children. 20:32 So it's such an opportunity 20:34 to create such a transformations, 20:36 not a change, it's an absolute transformation 20:40 from what would be to what could be. 20:43 And that's what Child Impact is about. 20:46 Help us, make the difference with you. 20:51 Durga Prasad has adapted well to his new home at Sunrise. 20:55 He is loved and cared for along with other boys and girls 20:58 who have come from similar backgrounds like him. 21:01 Although we are sure he misses his mother and sister, 21:04 we can take comfort in the fact that he is in a safe place, 21:07 and he now has an opportunity to go to school. 21:28 A, B... 21:33 P, Q, R, 21:36 S, T, U, V... 21:41 Throughout India, 21:42 there are many children who have lost their parents 21:44 to unfortunate circumstances 21:46 and are abandoned by their relatives, 21:48 simply because they have no means to provide for them. 21:51 But today, Sunrise Home is a haven of refuge 21:54 and serves as a beacon of hope for these young boys and girls, 21:58 giving them a second chance in life. 22:02 Yes, we all invest in life, in everything in life. 22:06 The greatest investment with the greatest reward 22:09 is an investment in a child. 22:13 And that's what Child Impact is about. 22:15 We love to invest in children, invest in their health, 22:21 in their education, in their family environment, 22:24 in their school environment, in their physical, 22:27 in their spiritual, in their mental, 22:29 in their emotional abilities. 22:31 It's the whole child that Child Impact International 22:36 invests in. 22:37 So your funds go to a holistic approach 22:42 for the child, 22:43 so that child can be anything it chooses to be 22:48 because of your help. 22:50 Thank you for helping Child Impact, 22:52 achieve this wonderful goal for these children. 23:17 Hi, I am Jaime Jorge. 23:19 And I want to tell you, I am honored to be 23:21 a Child Impact International ambassador. 23:24 I've had the opportunity to travel to India and Myanmar. 23:28 And I've met hundreds of young people 23:31 that are being sponsored by wonderful folks here 23:34 and in other parts of the world that are making it possible 23:38 for these young people to have an education, 23:41 a future, salvation, and hope in Jesus Christ. 23:45 So I'd like to invite you 23:47 to consider becoming a sponsor for Child Impact 23:51 and changing the life of one of these young people. |
Revised 2019-02-11