Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000218A
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00:07 Child Impact International is an organization giving hope,
00:11 previously called Asian Aid. 00:13 Child Impact International is an organization fostering 00:16 permanent positive change in the lives of disadvantaged 00:19 children and their communities. 00:21 Child Impact is committed to making a difference 00:24 in the lives of children and those who are in need. 00:27 Serving communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, 00:31 Myanmar, and will soon expand to other countries. 00:34 For the last 50 years, Child Impact 00:37 has invested in the futures of people 00:39 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 00:42 Driven by the dedication to helping 00:44 those who have the least, 00:45 Child Impact is an organization 00:47 focused on the welfare of children, 00:49 implementing diverse development projects 00:52 and sponsoring thousands of children. 00:54 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 00:58 to providing an education for orphans, deaf, 01:00 and the blind children, 01:01 giving them a sense of place, a home. 01:04 But above all, Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 01:08 giving hope to children, giving hope to community, 01:12 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 01:14 This is Hope in Motion. 01:20 I've been in this position over eight years now, 01:23 and the privilege that I have in my role 01:26 is being able to visit the children 01:28 that you, the donors, support. 01:31 And as I meet them, I see the difference 01:33 that you make in their lives, 01:35 the difference you make in where they live 01:37 in their village, the difference you make 01:39 with their education. 01:41 And then finally when they get a job... 01:43 Just the other day in India, we met a bank manager. 01:47 He was brought up as a sponsored child 01:50 from a very poor village 01:52 and now he has a successful job, 01:54 he has a family, 01:55 and he is impacting the lives of others. 01:58 And, in fact, the amazing thing is he is now 02:01 sponsoring two children in one of our programs. 02:06 Early when we were married, 02:07 Nick and I spent time over in India, 02:10 and were working for a mission, 02:12 another mission organization for about six months. 02:14 And one of the opportunities we had was to be 02:17 in one of the schools where children were being 02:21 sponsored by Child Impact International 02:23 in receiving education there as well as clothing, 02:26 food, shelter. 02:27 And at that time we were given the opportunity to meet kids 02:31 that still needed sponsors, and have... 02:34 We were able to meet and pick a kid 02:37 that we wanted to sponsor personally at that time. 02:41 So we got to meet him, I think play a little, 02:44 maybe a little cricket with him, gave him 02:46 a little bit of a gift, 02:47 and even though... 02:49 Since then the child that we're sponsoring has changed. 02:53 That's how we started, and have decided 02:55 to continue to sponsor a child 02:57 through Child Impact International. 02:59 I'd say that if you are interested 03:00 in sponsoring a child, 03:03 I think it's a great opportunity 03:05 so and you certainly should. 03:07 There's so many mission fields in the world, you know, 03:09 the kid who lives just down the street from you, 03:11 that's a mission field, your own children, 03:13 your own family, that's a mission field 03:16 but, you know, we were called 03:18 to go into all nations and make disciples. 03:20 And when you sponsor a child for a Christian education, 03:25 you know, it's more than just giving them education, 03:27 teaching them also about Christ, 03:29 and the plan of salvation. 03:31 And so, you know, it's gonna benefit that child, 03:34 it's gonna benefit that child's community 03:36 and, you know, the money 03:39 that we spend every month to support this child, 03:42 it's an easy sacrifice for us but it makes 03:45 just the world of difference in their lives. 03:48 Sponsoring children in activities 03:53 like these mission schools 03:55 and opportunities is a tremendous way 03:58 to help form the character of young people 04:02 as they look to the future. 04:03 They will never forget their association 04:07 in a Christian environment. 04:08 And by God's grace, 04:10 many of them will become 04:11 members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 04:14 It is absolutely a powerful witness 04:18 to sponsor a child in Child Impact 04:21 and so many other organizations that help 04:25 young people to find Jesus. 04:29 Sponsoring a child not only has short-term effects, 04:33 but it has a long-term effect. 04:36 Sponsoring a child is investing in the character 04:39 of a young person for eternity. 04:42 We're taping this right here in Myanmar, 04:46 at the Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary, 04:49 and about one-third of the students 04:52 or one quarter of the students 04:54 are being sponsored by Child Impact. 04:57 People who become workers in God's church, 05:01 people who make an impact in the community 05:04 have been people who have been sponsored. 05:06 Your sponsorship is absolutely an investment 05:11 in the future of the church. 05:22 I've had the opportunity to visit India and Myanmar 05:26 with Child Impact International. 05:28 These trips have provided me with fantastic insight 05:33 as to how Child Impact works, 05:36 and the work that they do with thousands of children. 05:39 The sponsorship program is absolutely 05:42 what makes this entire organization 05:44 be effective. 05:46 And they are extremely effective. 05:48 Jim, tell us a little bit more about this sponsorship program? 05:51 First of all, I'd like to know how many children 05:54 are being sponsored at the moment. 05:56 And what are the countries that the children are in? 05:59 Oh, Jaime, we're in six countries. 06:01 We have 3,500 children in Adventist mission schools. 06:06 Our biggest country is India, then Bangladesh and Myanmar. 06:11 And we also have children in Nepal and Sri Lanka. 06:15 Okay, excellent. 06:18 How do you select the children for sponsorship? 06:22 Well, the children are selected on need, 06:24 all right? 06:25 And the definition of needy varies from country to country. 06:29 But these are people well below the poverty line. 06:33 And also people that the parents want their child 06:37 to go to an Adventist school are very poor. 06:41 So we take them based on need, 06:43 and we put them in an Adventist Mission School. 06:45 Okay. 06:47 Now, when I was there with you, 06:48 I saw that there are different schools, 06:51 there are different categories of sponsorships. 06:54 Can you explain that for us? 06:56 Yes, well, first of all, we have a day student, 06:59 that's a child who obviously 07:01 lives near the school, 07:03 and walks to the school or gets public transport. 07:07 Then we have boarding, which is our biggest category. 07:11 These are children who attend boarding school. 07:14 And so the sponsorship 07:16 not only covers their education, 07:18 it covers their accommodation and it covers their food. 07:22 Then we actually allow donors to sponsor their children 07:27 to higher education, 07:29 which we call tertiary in those countries. 07:31 And that may be a degree course, 07:34 or it may be a course 07:35 to give them a trade or a future. 07:38 And then we have special needs children. 07:41 This is our school for the blind, 07:43 the day school for orphans. 07:46 And so this category is critical to these children, 07:50 because these children have huge needs. 07:53 So there's a special needs category as well. 07:56 And I visited an orphanage and a blind school with you. 08:00 And these kids would otherwise probably 08:02 never have an opportunity to excel in life. 08:06 And I was moved by how these children are being 08:10 developed with their shortcomings, 08:15 but with their talents and gifts, 08:17 to be able to honor and glorify God 08:21 and share with others as well. 08:23 Tell me, is it costly to sponsor a child 08:26 in any of these categories? 08:28 Well, I guess compare with education where we are, 08:32 it's not costly. 08:35 The day student starts off at $25 a month, 08:40 a boarder is $38 a month, 08:43 a special needs child is $48 a month. 08:47 And that covers their education. 08:49 If they're a boarder or the special needs, 08:53 it covers them at either the blind school, 08:56 the day school or the orphanage. 08:59 It also includes a book allowance, 09:01 and also a uniform allowance. 09:04 So it's quite comprehensive to cover their needs 09:09 to attend that Adventist Mission School. 09:12 Fantastic. 09:14 Now tell me, my wife and I 09:17 have given funds to sponsor children before. 09:20 But let's say, somebody is watching this right now 09:22 and wants to sponsor a child, how can they do that? 09:27 Well, the best way is to go on to our website, 09:30 which is childimpact.org. 09:32 That's childimpact.org. 09:34 And there, you go to the sponsorship page, 09:38 and you can choose your country, 09:40 you can choose your category, 09:42 and you'll see a range of children 09:44 now that are available. 09:46 Now if you can't get online, just give us a call. 09:49 Call our office and the ladies, they will be very happy 09:53 to talk to you about 09:54 what current children are available, 09:58 or what their needs are. 10:00 Okay. 10:01 So let's say somebody watching right now 10:04 wants to sponsor a child. 10:06 Can you explain how the funds that somebody gives to Child 10:09 Impact actually gets to that child? 10:13 Yes, Jaime, well, that's a good question. 10:15 First of all, we are registered 501c3 charity. 10:19 So the donation is tax deductible. 10:23 Secondly, and we want the donors to know, 10:26 we retain 15% overhead, we believe that's very fair. 10:29 Yes. 10:31 Last year it was only 11%. 10:33 But at the maximum, it can be up to 15%. 10:37 Then the money goes direct to our partner and country. 10:41 And then it goes direct to the school. 10:44 So we have to have our own on the ground organization. 10:48 And the money goes to them. 10:50 And then it goes direct to the school. 10:52 And then we have field officers. 10:54 And each child is visited three times a year. 10:58 We check that the funds have arrived. 11:00 And we check each individual child. 11:03 And then the donors get school reports, 11:06 they give, well, an APR, 11:08 annual performance report. 11:10 And just like your own children's report, 11:12 sometimes they're exciting, 11:14 sometimes you might be disappointed. 11:16 But you can also write to your child 11:19 and your child will write to you. 11:21 So we believe we've got a good system 11:24 that delivers accountability, 11:26 but also involves you with the child, 11:29 and correspondence, and reports. 11:31 Well, as I mentioned before, 11:33 I have been to India and Myanmar 11:35 with Child Impact. 11:37 And I have seen firsthand the incredible results 11:40 that these sponsorships have on the lives 11:43 of these young people. 11:44 These projects work efficiently to give these young people 11:49 the best Christian education 11:50 that they can have and a future. 11:54 It's made me realize 11:55 the huge hope that it's giving 11:58 these children and their families. 12:01 I also saw the impact 12:03 on the Adventist Mission Schools. 12:05 It makes them thrive and grow. 12:09 Would you please consider sponsoring a child today? 12:17 I just got a letter from our sponsored 12:19 daughter Sheila. 12:20 I've got to tell you, 12:21 there is nothing like getting one of these letters. 12:24 Our family has been able to sponsor her 12:26 through Child Impact International. 12:28 Because of that, 12:29 she's got a great place to live. 12:30 She's got good food. 12:32 She's got great clothing. 12:33 Best of all, I now found out she's in college. 12:37 She's in nursing school. 12:38 There's nothing like getting a letter like this. 12:42 You need to start getting these letters too. 12:44 Listen, through Child Impact, you can make a huge difference 12:47 in the life of a child, and I promise you, 12:50 it's going to make a huge difference 12:52 in your life too. 12:54 Join me and others like me throughout the world 12:57 who are sponsoring a child monthly 12:59 to provide like Jesus did, 13:01 to support like Jesus did, to love like Jesus did. 13:06 You too can make a lifelong impact on the life of someone 13:09 who is waiting for you to say yes. 13:12 Yes, today you will consider sponsorship 13:15 right now with Child Impact or one of our other projects. 13:19 Yes, to give hope to a precious child today. |
Revised 2019-08-27