This website is dedicated to the children of Asia and to those people who have cared enough to help them. In Asia children are often exploited. They are victims of harsh labor and are often put to work without pay and at an age when most children are given a chance to grow, play and study. They are often sold into slavery or bought as servants for the wealthy with no benefits, protection or regard for their human rights. For many theirs is a life of neglect and abuse.
But there are also those in Asia who have reached out to help such children. They hope to give them a new life, a chance to grow and mature, a chance to learn and develop into adults who someday can take charge of their own lives.
I have met such people and I admire and respect what they are doing for the children who cannot help themselves. I hope that through this page their work can be recognized and the hearts of kind readers can encourage them to continue their work.
Below are listed nine projects in different parts of Asia which are in need of assistance. In each case the goal is to make life better for children so that they may be free to study and grow and have a dream for the future.
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The Children and Women's Promotion Center in Nepal is a non-profit organization which maintains an orphanage in the Chitwan district of Nepal near the Indian border. The twelve children at the orphanage have been abandoned by their parents but now live in a home provided by the Children's Center.
In Kathmandu the sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SNC), founded in 1812, are responsible for the Navajyoti Center, School for the Mentally Handicapped Children. They also maintain a Women's Training and Rehabilitation Center which is a six month residential training program to help create women leaders for the community..
In the northern part of Kathmandu in Nepal James Britto is working in the village of Baniyatar to help the people develop job skills to improve their lives. He is also helping to improve the health care of the community as well as to raise the educational standard of the children...
In Kathmandu the Society for Partners in Development hope to establish a vocational training academy to empower the poor children of Nepal to learn computer skills.Such an academy will help gifted but poor children to learn skills which will give them an opportunity for a sustainable livlihood.To read more about their project...
In the shadow of the magnificent ruins of Ankor Wat there are many children who go to school but they do not have enough books, pencils, erasers and other supplies needed for the classroom and their studies. One teacher from Japan hopes to help one of the schools by collecting teaching materials and supplies for the teachers and students.
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In one of the poorest countries of Southeast Asia a new college has been established in Vietiane to help educate the young people of Laos.Many of the students are poor and in need of sponsorship to acquire a higher education.
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East of Bali there is a chain of islands known as Nusa Tengarra which seems much removed from cosmopolitan centers. Yet, teachers on the island of Flores are hoping to build dormitories for children who live in the remote countryside so that they may be able to attend school in the larger town. Without these dormitories the children would not be able to attend school.
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In the historic city of Hoi An Father Peter is the vicar of the only Catholic Church in the city. His church is very active serving the needs of the local community. As part of his mission Father maintains an orphanage for children who are homeless. Hoi An also suffers from severe flooding during the rainy season. Fortunately, the church is on high ground and it become a refuge for the neighboring people who come to the church to find safety from the flood waters.
SACRED HEART CONVENT:
In the city of Danang in central Vietnam the Sister of St. Paul of Chartres maintain a convent which has a variety of educational and humanitarian projects to help the poor and needy people in the community. On the grounds of their convent they maintain a kindergarten for 700 children, a school for the deaf and blind, a school for physically challenged children and a small orphanage.
In the city of Dhaka Brother Nicholas of the Holy Cross Brothers has established several projects to help the poor and underprivileged students of Bangladesh. Among his projects are a Trade School and a Drug Rehabilitation Center and providing stipends for students to study and live in a hostel. He also plans to build an orphanage and host American students to vist Bangladesh.
APON was founded on October 1,1994 by Bro. Ronald Drahozal, CSC. This Rehabilitation Center was started as a Halfway house for aftercare services for addicts who needed a supportative safe residence.APON's target group continues to be the poor and young addicts of the local area but people come from all over Bangladesh..
In Dhaka The Casa Anna Orphanage was established in 2002 as a memorial. It now is home to 30 boys and located at Bottomly. Some of the boys have lost either one or both parents. The boys here also attend a neighboring trade school where they can develop skills needed when they leave the orphanage.
In the northern part of Bangladesh near the Indian border a student school dormitory is being built which will be home to 150 boys. The people in this area are the Garos,a minority group coming originally from Tibet. Without the dormitory education would be impossible since students would otherwise have to walk 20 kilometers to school.
In the coastal city of Vladivostok an orphanage is home for 141 children who have lost both parents. They attend classes at local schools and help to support themselves with handicrafts of their own creation. However, they are in need of new sports equipment to replace what they have which is in poor condition through extensive use.
Off the coastal city of Vladivostok there is a small island named Popov. On this island there is only one school which is in need of equipment and repairs. The school does not even have a computer. Yet, many of the students are eager to study and to go on to higher education.
In the city of Ulan Bator many children live in the sewers beneath the streets. It is estimated that there are over 4,000 of them who are either homeless are orphaned. Through the work of Father Gilbert Sales a home has been provided for them whereby they can receive the care, love and shelter needed to help them grow.
In this Himalayan region of Western India there is Ladakh which is often referred to as "Little Tibet." The mountains are studded with monasteries which have attached schools. One such school is located adjacent to the Hemis Monastery, one of the oldest in Ladakh. The school has forty students but few teachers and practically no supplies.
The link below contains a wealth of information concerning organizations which are dedicated to help stop the exploitation of Asian children.
Links to Child Labor Related Sites
A newsletter will soon be in publication which will contain updated information on these projects and others in Asia dedicated to the same purpose.If you would like a free copy of the newsletter and be placed on our mailing list please respond to the following email and leave you mailing address.
balsamo@kenmei.ac.jp
