Child Impact International is an organization giving hope. 00:00:15.24\00:00:19.18 Previously called Asian Aid, Child Impact International 00:00:19.21\00:00:22.72 is an organization fostering permanent positive change 00:00:22.75\00:00:26.09 in the lives of disadvantaged children 00:00:26.12\00:00:28.19 and their communities. 00:00:28.22\00:00:29.82 Child Impact is committed to making a difference 00:00:29.86\00:00:32.36 in the lives of children and those who are in need. 00:00:32.39\00:00:35.30 Serving communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, 00:00:35.33\00:00:38.47 Sri Lanka, Myanmar, 00:00:38.50\00:00:40.20 and will soon expand to other countries. 00:00:40.24\00:00:42.60 For the last 50 years, 00:00:42.64\00:00:44.11 Child Impact has invested in the futures of people 00:00:44.14\00:00:47.11 and their investment is proving infinite returns, 00:00:47.14\00:00:50.01 driven by the dedication to helping those 00:00:50.05\00:00:52.35 who have the least. 00:00:52.38\00:00:53.72 Child Impact is an organization 00:00:53.75\00:00:55.62 focused on the welfare of children, 00:00:55.65\00:00:57.75 implementing diverse development projects 00:00:57.79\00:01:00.26 and sponsoring thousands of children. 00:01:00.29\00:01:02.46 Their outreach expands from child rescue operations, 00:01:02.49\00:01:05.53 to providing an education for orphans, deaf, 00:01:05.56\00:01:08.46 and the blind children 00:01:08.50\00:01:09.83 giving them a sense of place, a home, 00:01:09.86\00:01:12.63 but above all, Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 00:01:12.67\00:01:16.57 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 00:01:16.60\00:01:19.87 giving hope to the ones who need it the most. 00:01:19.91\00:01:22.54 This is Hope in Motion. 00:01:22.58\00:01:28.32 Hi, I am Rob Raney, 00:01:28.35\00:01:29.68 Vice President for Donor Relations 00:01:29.72\00:01:31.12 at Child Impact International. 00:01:31.15\00:01:33.15 Each day I get to read letters and emails 00:01:33.19\00:01:35.56 and answer phone calls from sponsors and donors. 00:01:35.59\00:01:38.36 Today, I am going to be visiting 00:01:38.39\00:01:39.73 with Leslie and Nick Evenson. 00:01:39.76\00:01:41.30 Leslie and Nick are sponsors. 00:01:41.33\00:01:43.73 Every year, they receive an annual progress report. 00:01:43.77\00:01:46.84 They receive a new picture of their child 00:01:46.87\00:01:49.27 and they'll receive a Christmas card 00:01:49.30\00:01:50.71 from their child as well. 00:01:50.74\00:01:52.27 These are all things that we do to help you be able to know 00:01:52.31\00:01:55.21 a little bit more about your child 00:01:55.24\00:01:56.75 that you are sponsoring. 00:01:56.78\00:01:58.38 So sit down with me as I go in and listen 00:01:58.41\00:02:00.55 to Leslie and Nick 00:02:00.58\00:02:02.08 as they tell their story about what it's like to be a sponsor 00:02:02.12\00:02:05.35 with Child Impact International. 00:02:05.39\00:02:07.49 So tell me a little bit about yourself, 00:02:07.52\00:02:09.52 your family, et cetera? 00:02:09.56\00:02:12.23 My name is Leslie Evenson. 00:02:12.26\00:02:13.60 I live here in the Collegedale, Tennessee area now. 00:02:13.63\00:02:16.56 I teach in the school PA health and wellness 00:02:16.60\00:02:18.40 at Southern Adventist University. 00:02:18.43\00:02:20.60 And I have two young boys, a two-year-old 00:02:20.64\00:02:24.04 and a three-and-a-half year old, 00:02:24.07\00:02:25.41 and we are a busy family. 00:02:25.44\00:02:27.81 And I'm Leslie's husband, Nick, and we actually met here 00:02:27.84\00:02:30.31 at Southern when we were students, 00:02:30.35\00:02:32.21 and we've been married for about ten years now. 00:02:32.25\00:02:36.45 And we have a couple of great little boys 00:02:36.48\00:02:39.12 and we love all our lives here in Tennessee. 00:02:39.15\00:02:43.59 How did you become involved 00:02:43.63\00:02:44.96 with Child Impact International? 00:02:44.99\00:02:46.53 Early in our marriage, we had the opportunity 00:02:46.56\00:02:49.06 to live in India for about six months, 00:02:49.10\00:02:52.37 and we were working 00:02:52.40\00:02:53.74 with another mission organization. 00:02:53.77\00:02:56.00 I was travelling just a little bit 00:02:56.04\00:02:57.54 throughout the country. 00:02:57.57\00:02:58.91 Nick was doing quite a bit more travel. 00:02:58.94\00:03:01.54 And during one of the trips, we were in a school 00:03:01.58\00:03:05.58 that had children sponsored by Child Impact International. 00:03:05.61\00:03:09.12 And, of course, throughout the country 00:03:09.15\00:03:11.29 there were many needs, and lots of poverty evident, 00:03:11.32\00:03:15.62 and at that school were a lot of kids 00:03:15.66\00:03:17.79 that relied heavily or solely on sponsors to provide 00:03:17.83\00:03:23.60 food, clothing, education, shelter for them. 00:03:23.63\00:03:28.04 And at that time, we were given the opportunity 00:03:28.07\00:03:29.80 to actually meet and sponsor a kid 00:03:29.84\00:03:33.21 through Child Impact International, 00:03:33.24\00:03:35.91 and so we chose a boy 00:03:35.94\00:03:38.81 of maybe seven years of age at that time, 00:03:38.85\00:03:42.18 and have sponsored him or his predecessors ever since. 00:03:42.22\00:03:46.76 You're traveling with another ministry, he said, 00:03:46.79\00:03:49.46 what was it that you saw that caused you 00:03:49.49\00:03:51.73 to want to become a sponsor? 00:03:51.76\00:03:53.53 We had both had opportunities to go on other mission projects 00:03:53.56\00:03:56.83 where we visit orphanages and you know, 00:03:56.87\00:03:59.60 had done some mission work in other countries, and for me, 00:03:59.63\00:04:03.00 it really showed me that we are so blessed 00:04:03.04\00:04:05.77 here in America and have so much 00:04:05.81\00:04:07.68 and just be able to give just a small amount 00:04:07.71\00:04:10.31 would have a huge impact on these kids 00:04:10.35\00:04:12.91 in other parts of the world that weren't so fortunate. 00:04:12.95\00:04:15.35 And so when we were there in India, 00:04:15.38\00:04:17.99 I think for me one of the hardest things 00:04:18.02\00:04:19.42 to see was when we just first arrived 00:04:19.45\00:04:21.56 and we were in the taxi going to the place 00:04:21.59\00:04:23.69 where we'd be staying, and kids would come up and be 00:04:23.73\00:04:26.76 begging and knocking on the windows, 00:04:26.80\00:04:28.16 and they were just so many people in poverty there 00:04:28.20\00:04:33.84 and then just to think that, you know, 00:04:33.87\00:04:35.20 just a small amount from us can make a huge impact 00:04:35.24\00:04:38.27 and provide Christian education for the kids there 00:04:38.31\00:04:41.18 was a really intriguing and very positive approach. 00:04:41.21\00:04:47.28 Although you are no longer sponsoring that original child, 00:04:47.32\00:04:50.82 what caused you to remain as a sponsor? 00:04:50.85\00:04:54.42 It's something that I believe is very, very helpful 00:04:54.46\00:04:59.06 and it's a tangible way to give back and help people. 00:04:59.09\00:05:02.76 And at the time we originally sponsored that young boy, 00:05:02.80\00:05:06.47 I had considered it a long-term commitment, 00:05:06.50\00:05:09.97 potentially all the way through high school 00:05:10.01\00:05:13.74 and maybe beyond that, I don't know. 00:05:13.78\00:05:16.08 So when he moved on 00:05:16.11\00:05:19.51 and someone else was presented to us, 00:05:19.55\00:05:21.55 it was not really a question in my mind 00:05:21.58\00:05:24.29 whether we'd continue to help support a child 00:05:24.32\00:05:26.65 even though it wasn't the original kid. 00:05:26.69\00:05:29.22 What would you tell somebody 00:05:29.26\00:05:31.76 who might be thinking about becoming a sponsor? 00:05:31.79\00:05:33.96 I'd say that if you are interested 00:05:34.00\00:05:35.60 in sponsoring a child, 00:05:35.63\00:05:38.43 I think it's a great opportunity, 00:05:38.47\00:05:39.80 and so you certainly should. 00:05:39.83\00:05:41.60 There's so many mission fields in the world, you know, 00:05:41.64\00:05:44.17 the kid who lives just down the street from you, 00:05:44.21\00:05:45.81 that's a mission field, 00:05:45.84\00:05:47.28 your own children, your own family, 00:05:47.31\00:05:48.64 that's a mission field but, you know, 00:05:48.68\00:05:52.05 we were called to go into all nations 00:05:52.08\00:05:54.35 and make disciples. 00:05:54.38\00:05:55.72 And when you sponsor a child for a Christian education, 00:05:55.75\00:05:59.95 you know, it's more than just giving them education, 00:05:59.99\00:06:02.22 teaching them also about Christ, 00:06:02.26\00:06:03.83 and the plan of salvation. 00:06:03.86\00:06:05.86 And so you know, it's gonna benefit that child, 00:06:05.89\00:06:09.00 it's gonna benefit that child's community, 00:06:09.03\00:06:11.10 and you know, 00:06:11.13\00:06:12.63 the money that we spend every month 00:06:12.67\00:06:15.30 to support this child, it's an easy sacrifice for us 00:06:15.34\00:06:19.04 but it makes just the world of difference in their lives. 00:06:19.07\00:06:22.84 I really enjoyed that conversation that we had 00:06:22.88\00:06:25.05 with Leslie and Nick, 00:06:25.08\00:06:26.41 and I hope that you enjoyed it as well. 00:06:26.45\00:06:28.42 And as I said before, that's my favorite part 00:06:28.45\00:06:30.39 of being the Vice President for Donor Relations 00:06:30.42\00:06:32.89 at Child Impact International 00:06:32.92\00:06:34.52 is visiting with people in their homes. 00:06:34.56\00:06:37.39 Keep your phones near you 00:06:37.43\00:06:38.76 because you might be the next person I call 00:06:38.79\00:06:40.96 to come visit with you. 00:06:41.00\00:06:42.33 On my trip to India, one of the highlights 00:06:47.30\00:06:49.84 was the visit to the blind school 00:06:49.87\00:06:52.11 in a town called Bobbili. 00:06:52.14\00:06:54.51 The school is an Adventist church school, 00:06:54.54\00:06:57.18 but it is 100% funded by Child Impact 00:06:57.21\00:07:00.12 and Asian Aid Australia. 00:07:00.15\00:07:02.42 It was build just over 12 years ago, 00:07:02.45\00:07:04.85 thanks to the generosity of the McNeilus family. 00:07:04.89\00:07:08.02 And it is in the rural setting surrounded by lots of farms. 00:07:08.06\00:07:12.86 The school has over 160 students 00:07:12.89\00:07:15.36 from grade 1 to grade 12. 00:07:15.40\00:07:18.63 The students are either partially blind or fully blind, 00:07:18.67\00:07:22.64 and come mainly from poor farming communities all around. 00:07:22.67\00:07:27.81 When we arrived, they gave us an amazing welcome. 00:07:27.84\00:07:31.98 They lined up on both sides, they threw flowers on the road 00:07:32.01\00:07:36.52 and we walked through, 00:07:36.55\00:07:38.19 and then we had to shake the hand 00:07:38.22\00:07:39.99 of every single student. 00:07:40.02\00:07:42.29 They asked us questions, they touched us, 00:07:42.32\00:07:45.03 because they wanted to know what we were all about. 00:07:45.06\00:07:48.76 I was really moved by the excitement 00:07:48.80\00:07:51.33 that I saw in them. 00:07:51.37\00:07:52.70 They were genuinely interested in us. 00:07:52.73\00:07:55.90 We shared a beautiful evening that night, we had a concert. 00:07:55.94\00:07:59.84 Some of them played instruments and then I did a part for them. 00:07:59.87\00:08:04.68 I talked to them and I played my violin. 00:08:04.71\00:08:07.55 I don't think many or most of them 00:08:07.58\00:08:09.98 had ever heard a violin before. 00:08:10.02\00:08:12.79 So it was really exciting. 00:08:12.82\00:08:14.66 There were two things that I remember in particular. 00:08:14.69\00:08:17.69 Number one, they listened intently 00:08:17.73\00:08:21.03 and then when they knew the songs, 00:08:21.06\00:08:23.10 they sang at the top of their lungs. 00:08:23.13\00:08:25.87 Number two, they clapped so hard 00:08:25.90\00:08:29.30 when every song was over. 00:08:29.34\00:08:31.31 It was a beautiful experience. 00:08:31.34\00:08:33.71 It is a marvelous place. 00:08:33.74\00:08:35.98 The facilities are great. 00:08:36.01\00:08:37.85 The classrooms are expansive and they are large, 00:08:37.88\00:08:41.38 but there are still some serious needs. 00:08:41.42\00:08:44.19 I'm delighted to have Jim Rennie, 00:08:44.22\00:08:45.65 the CEO of Child Impact here again today. 00:08:45.69\00:08:48.72 Jim, why is this school so important? 00:08:48.76\00:08:53.19 Well, first of all, Jaime, it's one of my favorite schools 00:08:53.23\00:08:56.20 to visit in India. 00:08:56.23\00:08:57.57 The kids just are so hungry to talk to you to, 00:08:57.60\00:09:00.84 to find out about you and they touch you, of course, 00:09:00.87\00:09:05.24 because of they can't see... 00:09:05.27\00:09:06.61 They want to feel you, yes. 00:09:06.64\00:09:07.98 They want to feel and see you. 00:09:08.01\00:09:10.48 This school is important because it fulfills a need 00:09:10.51\00:09:15.18 that no one else is delivering in that region of India. 00:09:15.22\00:09:19.69 First of all, these kids come from very, very poor, 00:09:19.72\00:09:23.89 mainly farming families. 00:09:23.93\00:09:26.76 And when you're born blind in a village 00:09:26.80\00:09:30.57 in that part of India, there's no way to go. 00:09:30.60\00:09:34.24 The parents have no idea what to do. 00:09:34.27\00:09:37.11 There's an element of shame in having a blind child. 00:09:37.14\00:09:41.08 And so, this school fulfills the need, 00:09:41.11\00:09:45.61 and I've seen so many of the parents 00:09:45.65\00:09:48.08 of the blind children are so proud 00:09:48.12\00:09:52.65 that their child is getting an education. 00:09:52.69\00:09:55.92 And I went to the blind school one day 00:09:55.96\00:09:59.46 and there was a seven-year-old girl there, 00:09:59.49\00:10:02.53 and she had just come to the school 00:10:02.56\00:10:05.23 and to be honest, it was distressing. 00:10:05.27\00:10:08.04 She couldn't talk, her head was down, 00:10:08.07\00:10:11.41 she would sit in the corner, it was just terrible. 00:10:11.44\00:10:16.04 And I had found her at her house 00:10:16.08\00:10:19.71 and she had been locked in her room 00:10:19.75\00:10:22.15 for three to four years. 00:10:22.18\00:10:24.19 The parents were just so embarrassed 00:10:24.22\00:10:26.62 and didn't know what to do. 00:10:26.65\00:10:28.66 But the exciting thing was, 00:10:28.69\00:10:30.69 when I went back to the blind school 00:10:30.73\00:10:32.46 a year later, 00:10:32.49\00:10:34.30 I just about came to tears because here she was... 00:10:34.33\00:10:38.20 She was playing with the children. 00:10:38.23\00:10:40.57 I saw her singing, I saw her praying, 00:10:40.60\00:10:44.67 just amazing change. 00:10:44.71\00:10:47.08 It was all there, but she had no way of letting it out. 00:10:47.11\00:10:51.15 So this school makes a huge difference 00:10:51.18\00:10:54.28 with blind children, 00:10:54.32\00:10:55.98 but the need is just overpowering 00:10:56.02\00:10:58.79 from the environment in which they come. 00:10:58.82\00:11:02.36 Yes. 00:11:02.39\00:11:03.89 And even though it is a beautiful facility 00:11:03.93\00:11:06.09 as I've mentioned, 00:11:06.13\00:11:07.93 what are the needs that we currently have there? 00:11:07.96\00:11:11.80 Well, we always have special needs children, 00:11:11.83\00:11:14.70 blind children that need sponsorship, 00:11:14.74\00:11:17.54 but if you can't sponsor a child, 00:11:17.57\00:11:20.71 you can make a donation to the blind school, 00:11:20.74\00:11:23.35 it has a separate fund. 00:11:23.38\00:11:25.65 It's very costly to run the school. 00:11:25.68\00:11:27.55 Yes. 00:11:27.58\00:11:29.08 And these children have exactly what it says special needs. 00:11:29.12\00:11:33.62 So you can either sponsor a child, 00:11:33.66\00:11:36.73 or you can support the blind school fund. 00:11:36.76\00:11:39.93 Okay. 00:11:39.96\00:11:41.33 Now Child Impact also operates and funds a deaf school. 00:11:41.36\00:11:46.43 Can you tell me a little bit about that 00:11:46.47\00:11:47.87 because I haven't been there? 00:11:47.90\00:11:49.24 Yes. 00:11:49.27\00:11:50.61 Well, this is located in southern India, 00:11:50.64\00:11:52.84 south of the city of Bangalore, in a city called Kollegal, 00:11:52.87\00:11:56.95 it has just over 95 students. 00:11:56.98\00:12:00.05 Once again, it's a boarding school. 00:12:00.08\00:12:02.55 It's an Adventist mission school 00:12:02.58\00:12:05.22 and the children come from similar backgrounds 00:12:05.25\00:12:08.62 to the children at the blind school, 00:12:08.66\00:12:10.73 very rural community. 00:12:10.76\00:12:12.69 And once again, when a child is born deaf, 00:12:12.73\00:12:15.56 the parents simply don't know what to do. 00:12:15.60\00:12:18.17 They don't know what sign language is? 00:12:18.20\00:12:20.44 It's an embarrassment 00:12:20.47\00:12:22.20 and so these children are given hope. 00:12:22.24\00:12:24.94 And once again, you go there and you see them 00:12:24.97\00:12:27.94 singing with sign language, 00:12:27.98\00:12:30.18 and it's just a school that's having a huge impact. 00:12:30.21\00:12:36.79 One hundred and sixty blind children 00:12:36.82\00:12:39.69 and over ninety-five deaf children 00:12:39.72\00:12:42.46 are getting opportunities to do things 00:12:42.49\00:12:44.49 that they'll never do otherwise 00:12:44.53\00:12:46.83 and that's thanks to your generosity. 00:12:46.86\00:12:49.40 We thank you and we ask for you to continue 00:12:49.43\00:12:53.23 to be a part of Child Impact to reach these 00:12:53.27\00:12:56.40 and many other young people in there. 00:12:56.44\00:12:58.47 I'm Shawn Boonstra, Speaker/Director 00:13:02.04\00:13:04.21 for the Voice of Prophecy, 00:13:04.25\00:13:05.98 and I've been involved with Asian Aid for many years. 00:13:06.01\00:13:09.58 I'm excited that they are growing 00:13:09.62\00:13:10.99 and helping more children in need 00:13:11.02\00:13:12.85 and very excited with their new name, 00:13:12.89\00:13:15.72 Child Impact International. 00:13:15.76\00:13:18.49 Voice of Prophecy continues to partner with Child Impact, 00:13:18.53\00:13:21.70 both in rescuing girls from trafficking in India 00:13:21.73\00:13:24.77 and with outreach in Myanmar. 00:13:24.80\00:13:27.10 My family continues to sponsor Sheila, 00:13:27.14\00:13:29.77 the young lady we sponsored in India. 00:13:29.80\00:13:32.67 Child Impact International is going to have a big impact 00:13:32.71\00:13:36.24 on the lives of thousands of children 00:13:36.28\00:13:38.25 in Adventist mission schools and other projects, 00:13:38.28\00:13:41.78 and we at Voice of Prophecy 00:13:41.82\00:13:43.59 are really excited to be a partner. 00:13:43.62\00:13:45.79 Our television series Hope in Motion 00:13:51.79\00:13:54.40 has been a big success. 00:13:54.43\00:13:56.26 And we want to continue to share with you 00:13:56.30\00:13:58.90 some of the field stories that we have filmed 00:13:58.93\00:14:01.80 over the years. 00:14:01.84\00:14:03.17 So just from time to time, it may refer to Asian Aid 00:14:03.20\00:14:07.34 as we reflect on these great stories 00:14:07.38\00:14:10.38 as we share them with you. 00:14:10.41\00:14:12.28 Bobbili, a small town near the coastal city of Vizag 00:14:29.10\00:14:32.27 in India 00:14:32.30\00:14:33.64 has nothing to offer to a visitor. 00:14:33.67\00:14:35.44 Its streets often bustling and chaotic 00:14:35.47\00:14:37.91 are typical of rural towns in India. 00:14:37.94\00:14:40.14 Poverty is widespread 00:14:44.11\00:14:45.68 and people struggle to meet ends, 00:14:45.71\00:14:47.62 doing menial jobs 00:14:47.65\00:14:48.98 and often attending to paddy fields 00:14:49.02\00:14:50.72 owned by landlords. 00:14:50.75\00:14:52.72 Visits to villages around here only amplify one's perception 00:14:52.75\00:14:56.29 of abstract poverty people live in on a daily basis. 00:14:56.32\00:15:00.73 But it is in this despairing and gloomy environment, 00:15:00.76\00:15:03.77 we often get to see and experience hopefulness 00:15:03.80\00:15:06.43 and optimism. 00:15:06.47\00:15:07.80 Over the last 15 years, Child Impact International 00:15:07.84\00:15:12.64 has undertaken numerous developmental work 00:15:12.67\00:15:15.21 in and around the Bobbili area. 00:15:15.24\00:15:17.01 It has supported schools through its sponsorship program 00:15:17.05\00:15:19.88 and built a school for the blind. 00:15:19.91\00:15:23.49 One of its recent projects is the construction 00:15:23.52\00:15:25.89 of a brand new orphanage in Karada village, 00:15:25.92\00:15:28.49 the Sunrise Children Home. 00:15:28.52\00:15:30.16 From its humble beginning in a cramped building in town, 00:15:38.63\00:15:41.60 the orphanage has shifted to a spacious campus 00:15:41.64\00:15:44.24 in the countryside, 00:15:44.27\00:15:45.77 situated about 10 miles from Bobbili, 00:15:45.81\00:15:48.34 the new campus gives the children 00:15:48.38\00:15:50.05 an ideal place to live, learn, and play. 00:15:50.08\00:15:53.15 How many of you like this room? 00:15:56.65\00:16:00.66 Okay. So you want to sleep here? 00:16:00.69\00:16:02.79 Yes. 00:16:02.82\00:16:04.23 You know, it's taken time to build the new orphanage 00:16:17.61\00:16:21.08 and the children have been brought along the journey. 00:16:21.11\00:16:23.45 So they were given an idea 00:16:23.48\00:16:24.91 that you're going to have a better home. 00:16:24.95\00:16:27.12 It's like asking, you're going to go to heaven 00:16:27.15\00:16:28.98 and we've got a better home. 00:16:29.02\00:16:30.72 So they had this idea of having a better home, 00:16:30.75\00:16:33.66 and they've been asking questions 00:16:33.69\00:16:35.29 as this whole thing was in progress, 00:16:35.32\00:16:37.59 and now they have it and they are just so excited. 00:16:37.63\00:16:40.53 It is such a wonderful place to go 00:16:40.56\00:16:42.73 from such a cramped environment 00:16:42.76\00:16:45.63 to such an expansive free environment. 00:16:45.67\00:16:49.67 The children still attend 00:16:59.61\00:17:00.95 the Seventh-day Adventist school in town. 00:17:00.98\00:17:03.25 But Sunrise Home has its own bus 00:17:03.28\00:17:05.22 that takes them to school every day. 00:17:05.25\00:17:07.22 And the bus ride is something that children look forward 00:17:07.26\00:17:09.59 to every morning. 00:17:09.62\00:17:11.19 August 2nd, 2014 was a special day 00:17:16.33\00:17:19.40 for Child Impact International and everyone at Sunrise Home, 00:17:19.43\00:17:23.14 a new boys' dorm was inaugurated 00:17:23.17\00:17:25.07 by renowned Adventist violinist, Jaime Jorge. 00:17:25.11\00:17:28.94 It was very emotional for me to be here 00:17:28.98\00:17:31.48 at the opening of the boys' dormitory. 00:17:31.51\00:17:34.62 It was just so great that Jamie Jorge could be here 00:17:34.65\00:17:37.42 to do the dedication and arguably we could say 00:17:37.45\00:17:40.96 it's the end of the project, but it's not. 00:17:40.99\00:17:44.03 Yes, the donors have build a great facility, 00:17:44.06\00:17:47.86 but the ongoing need for orphans in this home, 00:17:47.90\00:17:51.50 the ongoing operating needs, 00:17:51.53\00:17:53.74 the ongoing needs to sponsorship 00:17:53.77\00:17:56.54 simply means it's not over. 00:17:56.57\00:17:58.87 Although there is ongoing need for sponsorship 00:18:02.41\00:18:04.85 and other needs at Sunrise Home, 00:18:04.88\00:18:06.75 it is encouraging knowing 00:18:06.78\00:18:08.12 that this facility has the capability 00:18:08.15\00:18:10.12 to double the number of children and in the future, 00:18:10.15\00:18:12.69 there is facility to build another floor, 00:18:12.72\00:18:14.99 thereby having the capacity to facilitate 00:18:15.02\00:18:17.56 the ever increasing inflow of children 00:18:17.59\00:18:19.83 arriving at Sunrise Home each year. 00:18:19.86\00:18:22.10 In my union, we have 00:18:22.13\00:18:27.07 850,000 members 00:18:27.10\00:18:29.64 and there are hundreds of needs in this union, 00:18:29.67\00:18:32.17 especially there are orphan children, 00:18:32.21\00:18:34.28 there are semi-orphan children, 00:18:34.31\00:18:36.01 and therefore we really face challenge. 00:18:36.04\00:18:37.78 Today, expanding and adding these facilities 00:18:37.81\00:18:40.02 in the boys' hostel will really be a great blessing 00:18:40.05\00:18:42.58 because these children are adjusting somewhere 00:18:42.62\00:18:44.59 and they don't have proper facilities. 00:18:44.62\00:18:46.42 They want to feel with their friends 00:18:46.45\00:18:48.52 as if it is their own home 00:18:48.56\00:18:50.39 and this will be a unique identity 00:18:50.43\00:18:51.79 that will build confidence in them, 00:18:51.83\00:18:53.53 and they will really develop in the proper way 00:18:53.56\00:18:55.80 in the Adventist atmosphere. 00:18:55.83\00:18:58.00 Twelve-year-old Durga Prasad 00:19:23.19\00:19:25.06 and his 11-year-old brother Rajesh 00:19:25.09\00:19:27.26 came to Sunrise Home three years ago. 00:19:27.30\00:19:29.86 They were rescued from the streets 00:19:29.90\00:19:31.40 by a local NGO Child Line, 00:19:31.43\00:19:33.54 after a newspaper article appeared in a local daily 00:19:33.57\00:19:36.34 with the title "mother for sale." 00:19:36.37\00:19:38.67 Child Line immediately followed up the story 00:19:38.71\00:19:41.41 with the concerned people and rescued the boys 00:19:41.44\00:19:44.01 and took them in their custody. 00:19:44.05\00:19:47.98 After we brought them here, we came to know that 00:19:48.02\00:19:50.85 their father died 00:19:50.89\00:19:52.42 and the mother found another man, 00:19:52.45\00:19:54.52 and she moved in with him. 00:19:54.56\00:19:56.56 But he forced her into prostitution 00:19:56.59\00:19:59.36 and forced the boys on to the streets to beg 00:19:59.39\00:20:01.93 and sell newspaper and fruits. 00:20:01.96\00:20:04.43 He used that money, drinking and gambling. 00:20:04.47\00:20:07.27 Durga Prasad and Rajesh woke up every day 00:20:17.81\00:20:20.98 to the blaring sound of train horns 00:20:21.02\00:20:23.08 or the screeching halt of its iron wheels. 00:20:23.12\00:20:25.59 The buzz and hustle of the street 00:20:25.62\00:20:27.19 near the train station at Vizianagaram 00:20:27.22\00:20:29.62 was their domain 00:20:29.66\00:20:30.99 and the railway platform their shelter. 00:20:31.03\00:20:33.19 The boys were forced to go and beg or steal 00:20:33.23\00:20:35.93 by their mother's boyfriend, 00:20:35.96\00:20:37.37 and when they refused, they were beaten. 00:20:37.40\00:20:39.83 Fearing the beatings that awaited them at home, 00:20:39.87\00:20:42.07 they spend most of their time living on the railway platform, 00:20:42.10\00:20:45.21 earning some money selling fruits or begging. 00:20:45.24\00:20:47.88 After they were rescued and taken into custody 00:20:47.91\00:20:50.15 by Child Line, Durga Prasad and Rajesh 00:20:50.18\00:20:53.01 were brought to Sunrise Home. 00:20:53.05\00:20:54.55 I'm from Bobbili town and I used to live very close 00:20:57.92\00:21:01.12 to where the old Sunrise Home was. 00:21:01.16\00:21:04.09 Then I informed my superiors about it and recommended 00:21:04.13\00:21:07.70 these two boys to Sunrise Home. 00:21:07.73\00:21:11.80 Sunrise Home is highly regarded throughout the district 00:21:11.83\00:21:14.84 for its work with the shelter it provides to orphaned 00:21:14.87\00:21:17.44 and abandoned children like Durga Prasad and Rajesh. 00:21:17.47\00:21:21.01 Most of the children are coming to Sunrise Home 00:21:21.04\00:21:23.65 recommended by police department, 00:21:23.68\00:21:27.05 and non-governmental organizations, 00:21:27.08\00:21:29.58 and the Child Line, and rescued children, 00:21:29.62\00:21:33.36 most of them are here, the rescued children. 00:21:33.39\00:21:37.06 In this whole of the Vizianagaram district, 00:21:37.09\00:21:39.39 only this home is best home 00:21:39.43\00:21:41.90 and the government will recommend all the children 00:21:41.93\00:21:44.33 to stay here only. 00:21:44.37\00:21:46.13 Okay. Wow. 00:21:46.17\00:21:48.80 At our homes like Sunrise, we have children 00:21:48.84\00:21:51.61 from varied backgrounds, varied stories, 00:21:51.64\00:21:54.58 and honest some of them are hard to comprehend, 00:21:54.61\00:21:57.65 and just like these two boys 00:21:57.68\00:21:59.25 who were found on a railway platform 00:21:59.28\00:22:02.38 at the train station, could you imagine it, 00:22:02.42\00:22:05.25 could you imagine living there 00:22:05.29\00:22:07.09 having to scrape up an existence? 00:22:07.12\00:22:09.86 They were exploited by many people 00:22:09.89\00:22:12.43 and they had no hope. 00:22:12.46\00:22:14.50 Now, at least they have come to Sunrise Home 00:22:14.53\00:22:17.50 where they have a new direction, 00:22:17.53\00:22:21.04 and now they have hope of an education, 00:22:21.07\00:22:24.01 they have a hope of the future, 00:22:24.04\00:22:26.07 and the Asian Aid sponsorship program 00:22:26.11\00:22:28.78 will have a big difference in their lives. 00:22:28.81\00:22:32.78 Durga Prasad and Rajesh are in a place 00:22:32.81\00:22:35.12 where they can leave behind the fear 00:22:35.15\00:22:36.75 of being beaten and exploited, 00:22:36.79\00:22:38.79 leave behind the struggles of growing up in the streets 00:22:38.82\00:22:41.79 and instead are in a safe and comfortable place, 00:22:41.82\00:22:44.89 a place where they don't feel 00:22:44.93\00:22:46.26 like they're orphan or abandoned. 00:22:46.29\00:22:48.33 So by having an orphanage, we can access these children 00:22:48.36\00:22:50.97 who really won't have the basics in life, 00:22:51.00\00:22:53.70 who now can have the basics in life to go forward. 00:22:53.74\00:22:57.57 So that's what orphanage is doing. 00:22:57.61\00:22:59.17 They get the children who really need help 00:22:59.21\00:23:02.24 and don't have anyone to help them. 00:23:02.28\00:23:06.35 Child Impact is giving them that help. 00:23:06.38\00:23:08.65 Child Impact is giving them that new life 00:23:08.68\00:23:11.29 through its special need schools, 00:23:11.32\00:23:12.99 at an orphanage like Sunrise Home, 00:23:13.02\00:23:14.92 and is giving them an opportunity 00:23:14.96\00:23:16.62 to receive a proper education. 00:23:16.66\00:23:18.79 One of the great blessing is that 00:23:18.83\00:23:20.90 we cannot do everything by on our own 00:23:20.93\00:23:23.06 because of certain reasons. 00:23:23.10\00:23:24.83 I thank God for special organizations 00:23:24.87\00:23:28.20 like Asian Aid. 00:23:28.24\00:23:29.57 They are uniquely tuned to meet exactly our needs, 00:23:29.60\00:23:34.01 where we really need, especially we need 00:23:34.04\00:23:36.71 next generation to be prepared for the church work 00:23:36.75\00:23:39.48 and these children who are trained up in the homes 00:23:39.51\00:23:42.28 and with their help, with their support, 00:23:42.32\00:23:44.62 we educate our poor children, they're the next generation, 00:23:44.65\00:23:47.96 faithful workers for the church. 00:23:47.99\00:23:50.06 And it is really transforming. 00:23:50.09\00:23:51.43 I really thank God, every sponsor 00:23:51.46\00:23:53.80 that is supporting this work, 00:23:53.83\00:23:55.23 every leader in this organization, 00:23:55.26\00:23:57.27 they are really doing the work with dedication 00:23:57.30\00:23:59.87 and commitment. 00:23:59.90\00:24:01.24 They reach unto us, they openly talk their ideas 00:24:01.27\00:24:03.97 and we tell our needs, and they really fit in. 00:24:04.01\00:24:06.84 I'm proud of this important organization, 00:24:06.88\00:24:09.01 and they are truly beneficial to my union here 00:24:09.04\00:24:11.65 in East Central India. 00:24:11.68\00:24:13.75 It was painful for us to learn that the boys' mother 00:24:13.78\00:24:16.15 is still making her living through prostitution 00:24:16.18\00:24:18.55 and does not know the whereabouts of her sons. 00:24:18.59\00:24:21.12 Taking the children away from the mother 00:24:21.16\00:24:23.19 may sound cruel and callous, but extraordinary circumstances 00:24:23.22\00:24:26.83 call for extraordinary measures for the welfare 00:24:26.86\00:24:29.60 and the future of the children. 00:24:29.63\00:24:31.80 Like Rajesh and Durga Prasad, there are so many children 00:24:31.83\00:24:34.87 who are having very bad family backgrounds. 00:24:34.90\00:24:38.67 Sunrise Home is giving them good directions in their lives. 00:24:38.71\00:24:44.41 Today, Child Impact International 00:24:44.45\00:24:46.58 is reaching out to children in need. 00:24:46.61\00:24:48.62 And Sunrise Home is a safe haven 00:24:48.65\00:24:50.75 for these children, 00:24:50.79\00:24:52.12 providing not just their basic needs 00:24:52.15\00:24:53.86 and an opportunity for an education, 00:24:53.89\00:24:55.96 but giving them parental love and affection, 00:24:55.99\00:24:58.46 the chance and hope for a brighter future. 00:24:58.49\00:25:01.23 A couple of years ago, my daughters and I 00:25:24.65\00:25:26.72 had a wonderful opportunity to travel to India, 00:25:26.76\00:25:30.26 and while we were there, we met yet another part of our family 00:25:30.29\00:25:33.63 and that's our sponsored daughter, Sheila. 00:25:33.66\00:25:36.26 We had the privilege of sponsoring Sheila 00:25:36.30\00:25:38.73 through Child Impact International 00:25:38.77\00:25:40.97 for more than three years now. 00:25:41.00\00:25:43.27 And you know, while we were there, 00:25:43.30\00:25:45.11 she shared with us 00:25:45.14\00:25:46.47 that her dream was to become a nurse. 00:25:46.51\00:25:49.58 Now, what a wonderful privilege it is for us 00:25:49.61\00:25:52.51 now as a family to know 00:25:52.55\00:25:54.82 that she is fulfilling that dream. 00:25:54.85\00:25:57.49 Sheila is now studying to be a nurse. 00:25:57.52\00:26:00.19 She is in college 00:26:00.22\00:26:01.56 and we could not be happier for her. 00:26:01.59\00:26:03.93 It's been wonderful to be part of that journey with her. 00:26:03.96\00:26:07.33 And you know, sponsoring a child through Child Impact, 00:26:07.36\00:26:10.77 it's made an incredible difference 00:26:10.80\00:26:12.43 for our family. 00:26:12.47\00:26:13.90 And I know that for you sponsoring a child 00:26:13.94\00:26:16.00 can make a difference for you too. 00:26:16.04\00:26:18.04 And most importantly, 00:26:18.07\00:26:19.41 it can make the difference in the life of a child 00:26:19.44\00:26:21.98 every day. 00:26:22.01\00:26:23.45