2014

Yearly Archives

  • Myanmar rice harvest yields 13 tons to feed 100+ orphans, dozens of elderly widows in 2015

    Photo: One of the joyful women our farmland employs. Her job gives her hope and purpose knowing that her wages are helping provide for her family, and that the farmland she works for is also helping others in need.

    We are happy to report that the third harvest at our Myanmar rice farm was a success. The crop yielded approximately 13 tons of rice at the 12 acre farm. This is a decrease from last year’s harvest due to unfortunate heavy rains during planting season that affected our yield significantly. Even so, we are thankful for a good harvest that will feed 100+ orphans and the staff in our 4 orphan homes, and also dozens of indigent elderly widows under our care.

  • Nepal: ‘She Has Hope’ home receives 3 girls rescued from human trafficking; garden project successful

    Photo: The garden at the home provides the girls with nutritious organic vegetables such as these radishes, rich in vitamin C, harvested last week.

    We are grateful to report that we received three teenage girls at our rehabilitation home this week who were rescued from human trafficking. Nepal police, in conjunction with our partner child advocacy group rescued them from a brothel in northern India where they had been held against their will for over a year. Now they are safe, receiving counseling, room & board, medical care, literacy classes, cooking classes, and acquiring craft-making, seamstress, and gardening skills through daily coursework offered by our full-time teachers.

  • Uganda rural clinic meets critical medical needs, brings hope to locals

    Photo: A boy admitted this week was treated for a major foot wound, now well on his way to recovery.

    In very encouraging news coming from our Uganda team, we are happy to report that our recently expanded rural clinic has been busy at work serving dozens of community members weekly. Just this past week our team was able to save the life of a little boy who suffered a major foot wound. Although the boy lost his big toe we were able to stop the bleeding and treat the wound which otherwise would have likely become infected, a very high risk situation where other modern medical services are non-existent.

  • Philippines: Our first small-scale fishery harvest yields half-ton of fish

    Photo: After several hours of netting and dividing, harvest yielded over 2,700 mature fish.

    We are thankful to report that over 2,700 mature fish were harvested at our Philippines fishery weighing in at about 1,000 pounds. This yielded a significant profit as fish are in high demand in the market. We expect harvest rates to increase since these fish were in the breeding stage. We have both fingerlings and medium-sized fish in the pond that were separated and then returned to the pond during harvest. Thus another harvest of the medium-sized fish is expected in about 3 months, and then another harvest of the fingerlings in 6 months time — this productive cycle will continue from this point forward.

  • Children thankful for new dining room, kitchen improvements

    Photo: Children pause to give thanks for the provision they never take for granted.

    Thanks to support from our generous donors, along with profits from our farmland enterprise, our native team recently added a dining room extension onto one of our four orphan homes in Myanmar. The new dining space allows the children to have more room and eat at proper tables. This is a blessing to the children as they used to spread out on the floor of the home and eat wherever they could find space. Other improvements were also made to the kitchen: a new fan to keep our faithful cooks cool, a new wok, new pots and pans, and an additional stove.

  • Philippines fishery and hen house improvements to yield more nutrition, funding for children’s outreach

    Photo: Students happy about the farm-fresh eggs produced on campus!

    We are happy to report that improvements have been made to our hen house and fishery projects on the island of Cebu which have increased production levels. The old hen house was made of wood which rotted easily and was prone to destruction by moths. The new hen house is made of steel, round bars, and G.I. pipe — a very strong structure which can withstand collapse when there is a typhoon. Our new hen house holds 185 chickens — currently yielding 150 eggs per day which are sold for profit and also are used to support the nutrition of the students and children in our outreach programs.

  • 48 students at Children’s Hope Center enjoy upgraded computer lab

    Photo: Students enrolled in our slum outreach program are happy to use new computers which aid their school work.

    We are excited to share the good news that the computer lab at our Children’s Hope Center in Hyderabad, India, was recently refurbished to include 3 new computers, new desks and tables, and educational charts and videos. There are currently 48 students enrolled in our program, and the upgrades to the computer lab greatly benefit their studies after school. Our electricity connection is still working, which is a great improvement from our previous usage of lanterns and a small generator. This doesn’t solve everything, as electricity only flows a few hours a day, but the children are overjoyed to have access to technology which empowers their pursuit of education.

  • Bolstered by improved facilities, our two Uganda schools start semester back with renewed enthusiasm

    Photo: Our primary school students are thankful for a new building which makes learning much more enjoyable: concrete floors, a sturdy roof, and permanent chalkboards are big improvements from their previous makeshift facility.

    We are happy to report that the new Ugandan school semester for both our primary and high school students started on September 8. After a month-long break, our teachers and students were eager to return to the empowering pursuit of education. Our primary school students (ages 5-11) are learning math, English, science, social studies, reading, writing, and the art of handcraft. Our high school students (ages 12-18) are learning English, math, geography, history, agriculture, physics, chemistry, fine art, biology, politics, commerce, and entrepreneurship.

  • Aided by profitable farmland enterprise, India Girls Home able to rescue 29 more orphans

    Photo: Orphan girls once trapped in child labor and extreme poverty are thankful to be free and safe at the newly expanded Girls Home.

    Thanks to profits from our native-led farmland as well as donations from our generous donors, enrollment is up at our India Girls Home by 29 new girls who were rescued within the past 2 months. We are also happy to report that the Girls Home has recently expanded to include a new space which comfortably houses 40 orphan girls. The other 30 girls live in the existing space, and all of the orphans are cared for by 5 loving women and widows who live in the Girls Home and serve faithfully.

  • Nepal farmland yields abundant harvest; provides nutritious meals for orphans, trafficking survivors

    Photo: Orphan girls rescued from extreme poverty are happy with a bountiful crop of organic vegetables!

    We are happy to report that our native-led farmland in Nepal yielded an abundant harvest of vegetables two weeks ago. The harvest produced 22 pounds of eggplant, 17 pounds of green beans, and 15 pounds of tomatoes. Our native farmers also harvested pumpkins, which are a special treat as pumpkin leaves are considered a delicacy in Nepal. Our farmers are also growing corn right now — they expect 1,320 pounds of corn at the time of its harvest.

  • Rice harvest preparation underway; to provide funding, nutrition for orphans

    Photo: A local woman is happy to work at our farm, which provides for her and her community in an empowering way.

    We are pleased to share the good news that preparation for the rice harvest is going very well, according to schedule. There has been more heavy rain and flooding than this time last year, but reports from the field tell us that they expect the weather to clear up and provide excellent conditions for the harvest in late November or December. At this point in the process, 1-2 women are preparing the field for planting, working 8 hours a day. They are healthy and happy to work on the rice farm as it provides a staple in the orphans’ and the community’s diets. Our native team in Myanmar is able to serve almost 300 meals each day to orphans and staff in four different homes in the country.

  • Children at Nepal orphanage are happy about new Boys Home

    Photo: Orphans once trapped in extreme poverty and child labor are now free and thriving in their new environment.

    Thanks to profits from our native-led farmland enterprise, along with donations from our generous donors, we were able to expand the Nepal orphanage to include a new Boys Home to better serve the girls and boys who are growing to need their own space. The new home, which houses 9 boys ages 9-14, includes two bedrooms with 3 bunk beds in each room, a changing room with a bathroom, and a study room. The boys moved into their new home in June and have been very happy there during study time and bedtime.

  • Farmland, vegetable garden, and crafts shop sustain our fight against human trafficking

    Photo: Girls rescued from human trafficking are learning valuable skills which will allow them to stand on their own as they’re restored to a life full of hope.

    We are happy to share a miraculous report from our efforts to fight human trafficking in Nepal. This week a 16-year-old orphan who had been living with her uncle had gone missing. Someone in her native village contacted our local team, knowing they work on the border looking for trafficked girls. They provided her photo, and our team kept an eye out for her at our border kiosk from which we look for suspicious activity and distribute trafficking awareness pamphlets.

  • Funds raised for new rural primary school in Uganda; construction almost complete

    Photo: Children at our elementary school are excited about the new building under construction!

    We are happy to report that our new primary school in rural Uganda is now fully funded thanks to our generous donors, as well as profits from the farmland. Construction of the new building is almost complete, which is creating a lot of excitement amongst the 200 children enrolled in the school this year. The old building has dirt floors, wooden siding, and a shoddy roof, and floods easily. The new building is a great improvement with an elevated foundation to prevent flooding, and a sturdy roof that will shelter the children even in the heaviest of rain storms. The funds have also provided benches and permanent chalkboards.

  • Rice farm profits continue to enable orphans’ education in new school year

    Photo: Girls at one of our orphan homes are excited to start the school year with new uniforms, purchased with profits from our native-led rice farm and piggery projects.

    We are happy to report that around 100 children from our orphan homes in Myanmar went back to school this month, which is an increase in enrollment from last year. They were happy to receive backpacks, new uniforms, writing books and pens, shoes, and umbrellas — much-needed items for school that they would not have otherwise, as they come from backgrounds that would never have afforded them such opportunities. Their education is made possible by profits from our 12-acre farmland and piggery project along with donations made by our orphan sponsors.

  • Thanks to farmland profits, 400 impoverished children enrolled in school

    Photo: Students happy to show you a harvest of eggs yielded from our farmland enterprise!

    Thanks in part to profits from our farmland project, 400 impoverished children received backpacks and school supplies, enabling them to enroll for the start of the Filipino school year, which began this month. These school supplies are items their families could not afford — supplies they must have in order to attend local schools. The children and their parents were overcome with joy.

  • 2 Girls rescued from traffickers in Kathmandu, Nepal

    Photo: Girls rescued from human trafficking, now safe at our rehabilitation home receiving training in embroidery and other skills as part of their path toward recovery and empowerment.

    We are thankful to share that last week, two 16-year-old girls were rescued from the dangers of human trafficking. The trafficker took the girls from their village in the Nuwakot district and kept them in a lodge in Kathmandu, where they were forced into prostitution against their will.

  • Farmland profits expand education outreach to slum children

    Photo: A girl rescued from extreme poverty is happy to show us her new uniform and backpack. She’s ready for school!

    We’re happy to report that children of the Thapathali slum colony in Kathmandu, Nepal, recently received new backpacks, uniforms, and education scholarships, which have enabled them to attend local schools in the city. Focusing our efforts on getting them into school is a key component in breaking the cycle of extreme poverty, and gives them great hope and an opportunity to change their lives. Our education program, now in its second year, is growing and these achievements are a significant step in the process.

  • New small-scale fishery project launched; profits to fund outreach program

    Photo: Our Philippines Director is happy to show us the “mother fish” that will multiply into an abundant harvest in 6 months’ time.

    We’re very excited to announce that our new small-scale fishery project has now been completed on the island of Cebu in the Philippines. The new concrete-lined pond holds a volume of approximately 20,000 gallons (75,000 liters) of fresh water pumped from our on-campus well. The fishery is located on our existing campus on Cebu. Also on the same property is our hen house which produces over 20 dozen eggs daily, and a banana grove that yields over 6,000 bananas annually.

  • India team partners with government, establishes scholarships to fight child marriage

    Photo: Orphan girls rescued from child labor situations are well on their way to recovery at our girls home.

    Yesterday our India team hosted a public seminar to explain the legal rights of minor girls and to heighten awareness of the illegal and dangerous nature of child marriage. Motivated by extreme cultural pressures, relatives of our Indian orphan girls often try to claim legal rights to withdraw the girls from the orphanage as early as age 12 or 13 with the hidden motive of arranging for their marriages. Thus we invited and paid transportation for many of these relatives to attend, to hear directly from government representatives about the illegal practice of child marriage.

  • Despite being underfunded, Uganda elementary school perseveres in difficult circumstances

    Photo: Children at our elementary school gather under a tree for class, as our current facility does not offer enough space to meet the demand for local education.

    Without our school these children would otherwise have no education opportunities within a reasonable distance of their village. Two years ago we acquired this land, launched the school with a temporary shelter, and began a fundraiser to build a proper facility. The fundraiser has made some strides but the goal is not yet met, and now the school faces closure if we do not act soon.

  • Over 5,000 girls trained how to avoid deceptions of human traffickers

    Photo: One of the many schools our staff have visited to inform girls on the dangers of human trafficking and how to protect themselves.

    Each year over 12,000 Nepalese girls as young as age 7 are trafficked across the Nepal-India border, mostly into Indian brothels. Many are from families who were tricked into believing there was an attractive job awaiting them in the big city. Others are lured to run away by young men who promise the girls various material possessions, leading them to believe they’re in love with them and want to take them home to India. Our teams are training girls how to spot such tactics and what to do when they suspect traffickers are visiting their towns and villages.

  • After a 4-year wait, electricity connection finally installed at Children’s Hope Center

    Photo: A young girl enrolled in our program is now out of child labor, being equipped with an education that will take her far.

    Good news! After a 4-year wait—yes, 4 years—we finally got our electricity connection at the Children’s Hope Center in the slums of Hyderabad. All this time we’ve been running on lanterns and a small generator.

  • Philippines team continues typhoon recovery plan with help of improved hen house

    Photo: Students at our main campus are happy to show you eggs yielded from the newly renovated hen house.

    In November we brought you news of Typhoon Hayan, one of the worst storms in history, making a direct hit to the island on which our native team faithfully operates. We had told you we committed to helping 21 families who had lost everything. Thanks to your support, work is coming along and we’re helping these families to slowly rebuild and get their lives back together. One thing that has helped provide these families with sustenance is the steady flow of eggs from our hen house, allowing an important high-protein ingredient in their diets.

  • Children’s Hope Center in Hyderabad enjoys several improvements

    Photo: Students rescued from child labor enjoying the newly improved computer lab and classroom space.

    In one of the world’s most populous and fastest-growing cities—Hyderabad, India—there’s a slum colony situated on the edge of one of the city’s major landfills. In this colony made up of make-shift homes pieced together from discarded vinyl ad banners, tattered tarps and sticks, stands one permanent facility. This facility is The Children’s Hope Center, which exists to provide children a way out of child labor through education and nutrition.

  • New land acquired for Manila slum outreach center, new facility to be built

    Photo: Children in our Manila slum outreach education program enjoy after-school activities including computer literacy classes.

    Deep in the heart of one of Manila’s most hazardous slums, our children’s outreach center is shining the light brightly into the darkness of child labor and malnutrition. Situated on the edge of a huge city landfill, the Payatas Colony is a living nightmare where children play in contaminated drainage and are working in unthinkable, hazardous conditions as young as age 5.

  • Over 40 children rescued from child labor at our slum outreach education center

    Photo: A reason to be joyful! Girls rescued from a life of child labor in the slums are being equipped for a life of hope—at our Children’s Hope Center in Hyderabad.

    As a lesser-known but massive city with a population of almost 8 million, the South Indian metropolis of Hyderabad faces extreme infrastructure and poverty challenges. With an urbanization rate bringing tens of thousands of new residents into the city each month, there is simply not enough affordable housing to keep up.

  • Orphanage building fundraiser a success, new home construction begins soon

    Photo: Boys at our orphanage home are excited about the news of a new, vastly improved home soon to be under construction.

    We’re extremely happy to announce that funds have been raised for a new orphanage home on our Uganda campus. The home is currently located in a dilapidated rental facility that is off-campus and inadequate. The funds provided will allow for the construction of a vastly improved home, one with proper space, electrical connections for a future solar array, and direct access to our water well, medical clinic and school on our main campus.