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Update and Letters from the Children at the Kenya Center

Dearest IHF friends and family, this is Carol Sasaki. I’m very thankful to all of you for your support. Our children in Kenya have all been returned to us and are now resident again at our center.

We successfully proved that the NGO investigative report into our center cited by the Kenyan media was a complete fabrication and arranged through bribery. The false report declared that officers had visited our center and interviewed all children and all staff. It also stated that the Nakuru head of Children’s Services was with them when this happened. All utterly fabricated and untrue. No-one had visited our center in that way. The utterly absurd allegations ranging from abuse to trafficking to misused funds were all utterly fabricated – and not the result of any investigation. There wasn’t even an attempt to pretend to visit and interview – so cocky they have become with getting away with printing false allegations when the bribe is large enough.

The bribes the NGO officials and reporters were paid to release this fabricated information about IHF came from the criminal syndicate we have been in court trying to stop for six years. They feed off small charities – never ending up in jail. They run successful Safari companies that then introduce foreigners to “poor orphans” keeping the orphans hungry, impoverished and pocketing almost all the money donors give for them. They often also use these same children as servants. Many are a part of this ugly syndicate and will continue to keep fighting us. They don’t want to lose their power and money and be jailed for their atrocities. We don’t know what they will do next to us: only that they will do something. So please keep up your emails and pressure and attempts to get international eyes on them. That will stop them cold. They don’t like any international light shining on the ugliness of their activities. I know of no other way to stop the atrocities they promote easily amongst the poorest and most vulnerable, hidden and abused populations. If you would like details as to the pettiness of our specific example and how it was used to try to close us down so we couldn’t continue our court case, we have attached details you may download.

Fortunately a new constitution has brought in new rules and new head people, including at the NGO board.  When I met with them, the new director of the Kenya NGO board confirmed he did not instruct for an investigation to take place and has agreed with us for the need for a complete investigation as to how this false information was circulated and to make sure it doesn’t happen to others. I am hopeful they will be furious at how the report was written and released without their knowledge, and will take appropriate action to clear out such unprofessional people.

Again, thank you more than I can say for writing to all about the situation and helping to have our children returned to us and a true investigation take place. I can never thank you enough. I am also deeply thankful to Children’s Services for being as angry as I about these lies and their impact on our children (see photos of their horrid condition when returned to us after only two months).

The result of what happened to us for being so brave, and people’ responses to it is yet another important lesson. Sadly, through this situation we lost sponsors for our Kenya children. At the moment our children are more in need than ever and we are grateful for any financial support or donations that can be provided for them at this time. We are also hugely grateful for those sponsors who have taken the time to understand our situation fully and are still supporting our children. Thankfully we were able to prove these allegations to be false to reassure the majority of our supporters, friends and donors. But what if we hadn’t been able to? It would have destroyed us, and the children’s lives further effected so horribly. This is why poor, good charities don’t speak up and turn a blind eye. Who can blame them?

A BBC correspondent I spoke to six years ago advised me not to fight the court case.  “Any charity that does, doesn’t survive – and with you being ‘all volunteers’, you are too much of a threat to many. Stay silent if you want to continue for your children’s sake”. It turns out she was correct. But isn’t “staying silent” the reason why the corruption has grown to such an absurd state? Too many charities don’t want the government upset with them and so they turn a blind eye to them in order to be able to help the children they can. In our case we simply could not continue to turn a blind eye. This story IS IMPORTANT. Kenya is the headquarters of UN (Nairobi, Kenya/Geneva,Switzerland/ New York City, USA are the three head quarters for our small world). What does it mean if this happens to me when I try to expose charity corruption and this is done to me? Who is going to do this with this result?

This situation must be cleaned up or the world will lose faith in most charities and have reason to. If the world stops being able to believe in the money they give to help towards eradicating abuse and poverty is really going there, and not to slick actor sponsored campaigns that just say it is – then do not all humans have good solid reason to say “I am not selfish to not share: look how it is misused?” It gives people a good reason not to share their wealth. What does this then do the global attitude of all humankind?

This small story is about human generosity or selfishness and what supports these attitudes or discourages them. If so much corruption is impossible to report it will inevitably grow. We are an honest and pure organization – and if even we can’t stand up and challenge it: who can? Our story is important for all those who yearn to help those abused and want to believe that generosity and truth and goodness scan ultimately win over greed? I am not yet willing to believe it can’t.

With love, Carol

All letters below are from the children at IHF Kenya.  The letters have been typed up to make them easier to read, but the words, spelling, and grammar remain exact replicas of the original letters.  Click the letter images to view the full size images of the hand written letters. 

I am an orphane from International humanity foudation (IHF) Carol Childrens home at Nakuru.  I brought by my beloved mumm Carol Sasaki in 2009 and our Community Chiefs.  I never face any problems from our mummys home.  I have better education and I stay properly. How can such people like chiefs and others become envy to us? Because they saw that we are eating properly and we are a good health. I am so worried of that.  Our mummy spent her money to us and he loves us so much. I was stayed at IHF three years now without seeing any mistake we no that our mummy does not do such things like that.  I am surely realized that our chiefs does not say thank for something good to them.
Our mummy buy goat, cows and gave to them. Why cant they say thank you? It is a deal to them.  They wanted to take our home.
As my opinion, our mummy want us to built a good future for a good life.  I am sure that those chiefs were thieves.

Mummys son,
Apura Nelson

I am a child from International humanity foundation.  I am writting this to thank Mum as she brought us hear for education.  I never get any problem from our mum she providing us everything.  Really she brought us from a porr generation to a good generation.  We are happy to be hear with our mum Carol Sasaki.  Now I realized that those chiefs in Pokot are saying that we are abusing each other and they are the one who brought us hear with their permision really they don’t want us to succed.
Surely those chiefs are trying to make there own things to close our home.  I know that our Mum can not do such things.  How can somebody do those things and is the one who is helping them is really buying cows, goats, camels and chickens.  When we heart that we din’t believe and we were surprised for those chiefs and I realized that what goes round comes round and our mum have been with us for five years now.  I know that our mum is the one who is our protections and care for us to suced and when back to help our people in Pokot.  When I grow up I would like to be a doctor to build health facilities and brought many doctors their.  We really thank our mum for everything that is doing for us.

Benson Tudoruk

A girl from Carol home,
I could like to say that I have stayed here for almost seven years.  I am save when I am here.  I have not heard anything like this.  I am very confused and I don’t know even where to start saying.  When I heard these tears rolled down my chicks.  Since I came here I have not heard such a horrible things like that.  Let me tell you those who are saying this things are those who want this home to be closed so that they will be happy to see us begging for money and they also wished us to be street children.
I swear this and I am swearing with my all pain tears that one day and one time they will regreat about what they are planning to do so to us.
Since the immigration people started go corrupt our directors who were caring for us to leav this country is because they want the centre to be closed but in the mighty name of Jesus they did not succeed.  So I am very upset to hear such a horrible thing like these.  I think these are the immigration people to do what they want.  I am very worried because if Carol could turn her heart and leave us, we are going to suffer a lot than this.
So if you want to know anything don’t listen to anybody who is coming to tell you lies.  If you heard anything you have to listen and then you have to come and ask the children so that we will know the truth.  May God punished those who are lies to us.  If you ask us anything we will asure you tho know the thruth. Please we are not liars.

From International Humanity Foundation
Chemtai Kiwial

We were all very shocked to see how bad the condition of our children got during the time that they were removed from our center.  These pictures below were taken by Carol Sasaki the day that the children were returned.  The pictures show just how bad the living conditions in these villages are, with no access to good water, very limited food, and no medical care.  Furthermore, our children were forced to fend for themselves on the streets during this time as the village simply can’t care for them, which is why they were sent to IHF in the first place.  Since the children returned, we are happy to report that they have been getting the food and medical care they need and are all recovering from the various cuts as well as head lice, worms, and more.  During this time, it is of the utmost importance to keep our children sponsored to ensure they all get the proper care they need.  Thank you for sticking with us during these trying times and great times of need, we, and the children appreciate it.

Click images to see full size.  Warning some are a bit graphic in nature.

Even through everything, the children were all so happy to be back at IHF they sang, danced, and rejoiced.

A light in the darkness of corruption

As of 8pm Kenyan time yesterday, all of our children have been returned home to the IHF Center in Nakuru, on order of the highest level from the Kenyan authorities.   All of the children have returned with both tears, and cheers of joy.  The return of our children is a direct result of the hard work from all of the IHF staff and supporters from around the world, these children had no chance with out the dedication and efforts put forth by everyone.  Everyone at IHF, and the children, thank each and every person who helped spread the news of this corruption and helped to get the international eye on this subject. The fight is not over, the road ahead is long, but we have put the corruption, deceit, lies, and violence in the spot light for many to see.  There are questions being asked that have never been asked before, and demands for answers about why all of our evidence has been repeatedly lost from secure locations.  Now that our story is out, there are people at the top who are angry, as we are, about how this kind of thing could happen for so long.   With your help, we have exposed the problem, now it is time to continue to fight the good fight to put an end to this once and for all.

To all our wonderful sponsors, we assure you that all our children from the Nakuru center are home and safe.  A little rough around the edges because of the situation they were thrown into.  They are being treated for lice, and fed properly, and those in need are being taken to the hospital to get them back to 100%.  A little TLC is needed to mend their loving souls, and they would all love to hear from their sponsors.  We will continue to provide updates about the situation and the children through the blog, facebook, and email.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us through any of those avenues.

We thank you for your continued support and faith through these rough and trying times. IHF has always, and will always rely on the warm hearts and active minds of the international community in order to continue helping and teaching children around the world.  From the bottom of our hearts, Thank you.

sponsor.relations@ihfonline.org

http://www.facebook.com/ihfonline

Important Message from Carol Sasaki

Our organization International Humanity Foundation, in the face of progress in a court case against corruption in Kenya, is now being intimidated. This is being achieved by threatening the lives of orphans and selling them into human trafficking. The urgency is that children are currently being trucked right now. Our organization has a history in this area. This specific incident urgently needs addressing now.  We are asking you to help us by sending this to your mailing list and also Embassies, civic groups, religious groups etc as the only way we can help our Children in time is by the public demanding the Kenyan embassies and others investigate it immediately.

My name is Carol Sasaki. I am the CEO and Founder of a small all-volunteer organisation in Nakuru, Kenya. I am giving a chronology of my 14 years of work in the Republic of Kenya. I can assure you I have proof (both documentary and video) to support what I have outlined in the document and I take the public dissemination of this information extremely seriously.

In 1997, I began work on a very small project in the Kibete slum in Nairobi, providing lunch for children. I realized through this work that many of the children were orphans and so I decided to open an orphanage to help address their needs. During this time I was introduced to James Njaaga Njau – a local business man running a safari tourist agency. He and his wife heard of my plans and offered to give me his land in Subukia, Nakuru, for the orphanage, explaining that he himself was an orphan.

I complied with all of necessary regulations to open this orphanage. James Njaaga wanted me to build the Orphange on his land that he had transferred to IHF. I declined to do so : knowing the history of problems in Kenya from the Kebete lunch project and instead first leased a home and put money into growing crops on the land he was donating. I had to put much money on the infrastructure and equipment for the leased center including buying of stoves, bunk beds, costly computers and classroom equipment and security fencing, fixing of buildings and rooms, fixing of van, proper irrigation system and the many other costs. Once opened, this IHF orphanage provided a home for nearly 200 children from the Nairobi slums and 50 from Subukia. As I interviewed the children I came to learn from questioning them in a gentle manner, that most the children were from Subukia and many not in need but told to lie.

Njaaga and his friend helping – Muhia Maina – wanted me to see more children in the East Central Pokot region in East Kenyan instead of processing other orphans and street children from Nairobi and paring it down to 100 total as I was insisting at that time due to too many over cost expenses from what they had all claimed. The communities I visited in East Pokot were indeed filled with many children who were chronically malnourished and in dire need of support. I met extensively with elders, not just chiefs, and began a very needed food relief program and sought donors to help with improving clean water and schooling.

Njaaga became quite angry about the amount of money I was spending on this rather than spending it exclusively on the Subukia orphanage. Muhia Maina had volunteered to Direct the Orphange while working with my IHF volunteers and the community. He gave number of references with UNESCO and city officials and Pokot chiefs all verified this work. Njaaga took me to meet with the new Police Chief in Nairobi and a high ranking official of Childrens services and an official dealing with our registration. When I politely addressed a bit about my concerns, all I met with assured me he was an outstanding individual. One official from the NGO board laughingly said “he is so respected he may well end up Mayor of Nairobi someday”. All was going forward and the government meetings seemed to go fine but small things felt like stop lights such as some robberies that didn’t feel quite right and then Nakuru police coming and saying they don’t have enough to safeguard us (after I had refused Njaaga’s insistence we must pay them direct bribes). Thus I had to pay for the police safeguard. But felt that “beep” inside so stopped doing any additional building and refused to take on additional children I simply could not afford to.

I was alarmed when many orphans had come without my prior permission and prior processing : not meeting our criteria of need. I knew it was time to politely and carefully end any IHF involvement with this donor if all being said was true and give him back his land and van both now greatly improved at much cost. Then two of our Volunteers and Director called me to fly back to Kenya immediately as James was coming drunk to the orphanage and brought very young prostitutes and you could hear the sex. Even the children could hear the volunteers said. I immediately flew out to end his involvement promptly.

When I arrived, an older sister he had raped opened up and others came forward after a series of events. I went to the police office and discussed my concerns. About his bringing prostitutes I met with a childrens officer the next day. They arranged for someone to come out to the orphanage but no one showed up. When I discussed the charges of his bringing prostitutes with James, he threatened that he could take all from me and from the children in a minute if he chose to and I best be careful in what I say (I did not yet address with him his sleeping with the girls as they were fearful of their lives).

He forbade me to do the food relief in Pokot the next day, stating he owned IHF Kenya Chapter and if I did not leave Kenya immediately I would find myself dropped in the desert and gang raped. I didn’t believe this could be true and went ahead with the food relief. I was indeed dropped off in the desert in the middle of the night and waited to be gang raped as he had promised. Later one of James’s friends slammed me into a wall and said beware my life and James himself said in front of many “I will personally fuck you” he produced a paper signed by the head of NGO with none of the board members we had discussed in our meeting, nor any IHF stamp yet stating he was owner and lifetime Chairman of Kenya chapter of IHF. The same police station I had gone to for help, over his coming to our orphanage too often drunk and bringing prostitutes to our orphanage, was now stating he was the owner of all including all our computers and wouldn’t let us take even our owners claiming they too belonged to IHF Kenya Chapter so therefore him. I was told I should leave the orphanage and not return – and if I did return I could well be killed by James Njaaga as he had promised. I received various additional warnings, both physical and verbal to this effect.

The Police and some government official with them stated that I would be arrested if I did not leave the property immediately, without any of the children (I was terrified to leave the girls that had told me bravely of his raping them and their sisters and of leaving those few children not from Subukia or Kibete). I knew these children were not safe. IHF Kenya chapter had been signed over to James Njaaga Njau, his driver, wife and Muhia Maina and friends signed by the head of all Kenya NGOs. I could not fathom how this could be possible no matter how corrupt any government : HOW??? I was still in the process of registering the orphanage under the name of IHF as a Kenyan non-governmental organization. I had so far received confirmation of the beginning of the process. The addition of these men had not been approved by the IHF board, had not even been discussed so it is unclear as to how approval was given for them to register under the IHF name.

As soon as I was out of the country, arriving in London, safe at a friends home, we wrote an official complaint to the Kenyan NGO board and others that very next day. Additionally my IHF board, lawyer and I filed an official compliant to the NGO Council of Kenya regarding this, as did my friends. All appalled that such a clearly illegal action could be signed by the head of NGOs behind our back ,without our approval, vote or even knowledge. Later, My Kenyan lawyer additionally followed up on these complaints only to be told they had ALL been” lost”. My lawyer then filed another complaint (which I am now told also became ” lost” with all the other complaints)

The situation came to a horrible climax when James Njaaga’s men looted the orphanage, removed all computers , the most costly fixtures and equipment and put the children from Subukia/ Kebete into trucks and dropped them back in the slums of Nairobi or other cities. I have searched but never been able to find them. James wife called me at one point before I was on the plane. His wife stated her husband has the right to sleep with any of the girls in Kebete slum and girls from Subukia, regardless of their ages as this is their tribal way and I can’t come in as some colonialism telling them how to act. She stated “He owns them: they all owe him favors in these towns and will all turn against you so never return if you want to live. He owns your IHF in Kenya now so better not return if you value your life”. Njaaga himself had said the same thing and on that first horrible day had said “I will personally fuck you if I want to, when I want to. No one will do a thing. How do you think I have an office for Planet Safari at the airport when wealthier safaris don’t? It is not who you know as much as WHAT you know about who you know that gives me the power “

I decided that life is too precious to not stand up to what happened in Kenya and to be too afraid to return and continue to help the greatly malnourished Pokot (I had buried children who didn’t survive there) and to try to find the girls who had trusted me in confessing what James had done to them. I decided that I could not let these events go unanswered for. I was recommended a lawyer by the Pokot children and elders and chiefs that I worked with.

As a result of the long period during post Tsunami when I was cleaning up there in Aceh : They ( Muhia and government officials and appointees) were stealing the food relief, education and other monies I sent. Pokot elders claim 11 people who were reliant on that food I provided on a monthly basis died as this was during that horrible period of drought and tribal conflict that too often leaves orphans (in addition to not only HIV but the inherited bride system among widows of tribal conflict and selling of child servants and child brides– many by these so called Christians and pastors) .

Various people advised me that if I took these matters to court it would at the very least be the end of IHF and at the worst be dangerous for my children and myself. However I believe that issues like this should be addressed – as taking no action contributes to the ongoing problem of corruption and cons that poses such a challenge to the charitable sector – which causes growing difficulties in helping communities who so badly need it.

I disagreed with separating the case into two as I was advised, but the CID office “lost” the evidence proving it is one case all people involved in both. I started the court case against Muhia in 2004. I was very unhappy to find myself being represented by the same police force that had evicted us from my own orphanage in a terrifying manner involving guns. So the case, despite my pleas to begin in Nairobi, began in Nakuru in 2004 and I was told would take no more than three to six months and then I could work on the true case, the person behind all this : James Njaaga and Presidential appointed head of NGO giving IHF Kenya Chapter to him behind our back, never telling or discussing with IHF board or anyone in IHF and all the violence and abuse that had occurred and was being threatened to continue occurring. It is now 2011. During all this time our evidence, after being written up and documented, has been “lost” by the police on three separate occasions,( each time we re-gather less powerful but additional evidence) and most recently (in March 2011) by the court house itself when I asked the judge to safe keep the evidence, explaining all the major evidence lost. ( I had received information from my reliable informant that this evidence would also vanish just to let me know they are inside the court system itself and our Nakuru Orphanage will next vanish in the same manner as this evidence).

At least in Nakuru I could keep my eyes on the children so they would not be unfed and their money taken as kept happening when I was not present out in Pokot. I had cashed the last of my retirement bonds to buy a home with land for them in Nakuru with the help of our lawyers and many others in government, and could make certain they were not abused, and we could grow food for them off the land. I obviously did so with many fears and very carefully meeting with all government officials before buying. First this orphanage was located in Pokot itself and then the center moved to land that I purchased on the edge of Githima slum in Nakuru. The center has been there for the last 5 years. It is run by a mixture of local staff and international volunteers. We work according to IHF International bi-laws which mandate that IHF must consist of volunteers only and in essence be people from all over the world helping each other and learning from each other. IHF volunteers are wonderful giving individuals who donate their time – and often a large amount of their own money – to help our children. We work hard and choose to live as simply as nuns for the same reason nuns help the poor – it is our chosen way of life.

This year, after many delays we are approaching the conclusion of the court case against Muhia Muyai. Sadly, I was to learn that due to the the numerous, and at times scary delaying tactics used, the time frame for pressing criminal charges against Najaaga had passed, even though I was assured this was not the case. We will have to file civil charges alone against James Njaaga at this time unless can learn another way. We also had Muhias relative romance volunteers and some others come in and destroy our center , take photos and video , intimidate the children etc when I was in the hospital, another time intimidate a wonderful incredible Director from Tanzania, and once a man bruised me, slamming me against the wall and telling me I will be killed if I return and on and on and on to get to this date in this trial. I am sure all are shocked we have not given up in spite of all other NGOs saying IHF reputation will be destroyed and you will never last in Kenya if you continue. We have continued.

However in May, this year 2011, our amazing unpaid volunteers at our center in Nakuru were arrested by Nakuru immigration for “working” on tourist visas. They were held in prison, charged, fined 175,000KES and given seven days to leave the country. Leaving the children suddenly abandoned and allowing us no time to arrange for them. They were told that to volunteer they needed a work permit costing $2000. USD. The volunteers who were arrested had at most been present in Kenya for just over two months. One had been there for barely two weeks.

Volunteers have visited our center and projects since IHF began in Kenya and have used tourist visas. I myself have only ever visited Kenya on a tourist visa. We have contacted various Kenyan consulates around the world about this matter – whilst their replies about the documentation needed for volunteers is somewhat inconsistent, they regularly state that most volunteers visit Kenya on a tourist visa and do not require further documentation. One consulate even stated that obtaining a work permit was “not advisable”. Our volunteers have regularly applied for their three months tourist visas by providing a letter of support from IHF stating their purpose and visas have always been granted with no notice of needing further documentation. Other NGOs we have contacted in Kenya advise us that their volunteers all visit on tourist visas – or in some circumstances they pay money to individual immigration officials as a “processing fee”.

Conversely, I can only assume that if other NGOs aren’t subject to this treatment of having their volunteers arrested and deported that IHF is being singled out due to the fact we are bringing court cases against a wealthy Kenyan with many others benefiting and a situation embarrassing at the least to the former head of Kenyan NGOs.

I have been told from reliable sources that the motivation behind this activity is not only intimidation tactics to persuade me not to pursue this case, but also to remove international involvement in our organization to make it easier to close the center and take over the land I own. I am fairly used to dealing with threats. I have been shot at, tortured and witnessed the same too often. My informant saying I will be either arrested upon arrival or have a fatal accident. The government is again claiming that James Njaaga is owner of IHF Kenya Chapter and Muhia is very likely to walk free as innocent because of outside intimidation he is unaware of since we are represented by the same police and I am not allowed to speak to such issues. Just a few days ago I have received message: “Don’t come without strong helpers from outside! Certain Fatal accident to you before IHF ownership cleared”. This informant I mentioned above has been 100 percent accurate in all these years, even about the plot to have a group of volunteers believe we are evil and create fake videos several years ago, while I was seriously ill and unable to travel there. I have no way of overseeing IHF Kenya, following or even appearing for court case , getting money there properly and am worried about the children being so terrified and threatened if I am not there. I am also being told they will close us down if I don’t come.

Days after our volunteers were expelled the government authorities in Nakuru accused IHF of having no proper leadership. Worst of all, they insisted that the majority of the children return to Pokot. In their early years, many of our children were severely malnourished, been used for labor, sold as child brides, had no parents or abusive alcoholic parents. For the last six years they have been slowly healing physically and mentally and it is tragic that they are now once again vulnerable to those dangers.

I consider it imperative that all embassies, consulates, NGOs, media, friends, families and individuals be made aware of these events. Not just for the sake of unwinding corruption at such a high level but also to give a hope to other organizations and more importantly to our children that there are still people in this world who care for their home and their future.

Yours faithfully

Carol Sasaki

CEO and Founder of IHF

 

Daily journal in Jakarta — Day 4

Day 4 saw me go through a standard routine again, but with some exceptions!

 

As I was cleaning the yard in the morning, i saw a big jackfruit lying on the ground! Luckily the birds and insects haven’t taken a go at it yet (though there were some ants already).

 

Ade cut it up while I watched and cleaned. There was so much white sticky getah. I don’t know what the exact word in English is. Glue? Gum? I’m pretty sure I learnt it in science at primary school, but I’ve long forgotten it now.

 

Again, a quiet morning because the kids and Ayu are at school. But they returned before noon and the house was bustling again. When Ayu returned, i followed her to the market. She was a little tired because she had just taken 4 exams at school!

 

I love the market. you can find everything there. Not just meat and vegetables and fish. But you can buy clothes, undergarments, household items, bath accessories. There’s also a key maker and several shops selling gold jewellery! It’s so much more vibrant than the wet market inSingaporebecause the sellers are not your typical old uncles and aunties. Even the young mats (or cowok) are sellers. This is from a very unique sight for a Singaporean.

 

I bought indomee for the household because I suspected we were running low on instant noodles and I had a mad craving for it too . I also bought a packet of liquid softener for my laundry. Yes, I bought it from a vegetable seller.

 

From the groceries we bought, I knew Ayu would be cooking up a storm as usual. On our way home, we talked about the local food and which food i have yet to try, like somay, which I still can’t figure out what’s in it.

 

I taught 2 English lessons today – always an immense pleasure! Love seeing students’ faces light up with understanding. Though a lot of the laughter and grinning were directed at my quirky accent and antics, I’m sure!

 

Advanced English class is like the cherry on top of the cake. I love advanced classes because you don’t have to spend too much time translating basic things, and can explain things in a more creative manner.

 

Even though it’s 10pm here already, it’s still pretty bustling. Joko’s friends are hanging out here, playing card games and watching TV. Even the little ones, Nhiiaa and Adit, are still up. That’s because tomorrow is a public holiday inIndonesia! it’s Ascension Day. (Note:Singaporeshould really have more public holidays)

 

Tomorrow I will be out! I will be hanging out with Chandra – a lovely lady whom Jinesh connected me to. Together with her husband and son, she will bring me to a mall, have seafood, and if we have time, visit the monument. I’m quite psyched as that will be my first time doing a typical tourist-y thing since I’ve arrived.

 

I will be taking as many pictures as possible of the food. I’ve been eating A LOT since I came here, more than what i was eating back inSingapore. I’m psyched to be gaining back my ‘healthy weight’. Ayu, Joko and Ade have compiled a list of Indonesian singers/bands for me to buy at the mall tomorrow.

 

And now, I just asked joko to help me buy fresh mango juice. I could really get used to this. Ha-ha!

 

-Written by Yasmin

A visit to the hills

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the majority of children returned to their village for a festive weekend. I had the chance to join them in their traditional dances around a totem and also in a ceremony in which all the villagers wore traditional dress early in the morning, gave out sweets to each home and washed the hands of the owner of the premises. In spite of the poverty existing in the children’s villages this was a beautiful and magical experience.

Carol’s Reflection

The most wonderful current story of IHF is three fold: #1. Our Amazing children who have overcome such violent environments and experiences we can’t imagine: to be the shining lights that will inspire so many for years. #2. The amazing story that is unfolding and so heart wrenching now of Directors staying on with no per diem- nothing, in spite of what has happened. #3. The fundraising dinners and those who put them on and came — It is all such an amazing story of the best of humanity and the worst of humanity. This is such a light in dark

Being an Online Director with IHF – Mariamah Online Director

Being an at home director for IHF, has never been an easy idea to me. First thought, and question I had was; how could I help children just from online tasks? and finally, I find it really challenging to learn all of these stuffs. Not only we are helping children managing the stuffs they need, spreading information about IHF that will lead to sponsors to those children, we also learn how to communicate with so many people from around the world, with different cultures and background. Yet we will find it very useful, as we know how to treat others, and how to respect others work. Its not easy, but it is doable, as long as we want to ask and communicate. Recalling a story from at center directors, working with IHF’s children directly seems to be very interesting, but working online for them, does have the same joy.