Chicken Memorials

[Lesley-Jean]

I'd like to tell you a little bit about thechild I have sponsored in Vietnam for a few years now through a charity called Plan International You can give as much (or a little) as you wish each month and the donation goes to raising the living standards and potential of children in many poor areas of the world. They work to improve children’s growth through good nutrition; health through such schemes as clean water and latrines; education by the provision of books to schools.

 

I write letters to the child who I (nominally) sponsor, I send photos and small gifts, (nothing expensive) like colouring pencils, stickers, the type of things children like but are not available in their country (or on their budget). Her name is Nguyen Thi Vi Hoa she is 8 years old and lives in Viet Long near Ha noi. She enjoys going to school and likes mathematics reading and singing, how many of our children would list their likes in that order ? She has to cycle to school and it takes her about 30 mins. She is only 8 and I’m sure her parents don’t take her !

 

This is a picture that Nguyen Thi Vi Hoa drew at school and sent to me recently

 

 

Look at the pretty chicken. It’s Hoa’s job to look after the hens at home

I get regular updates from Plan International about the work they are carrying out and how my sponsored child and her family are getting on.

 

Do take some time to look at the web site that I have linked to above.

[AnnieP]

That is an amazing picture for a child of her age with so little experience of schooling! The chicken is fantastic isn't it?

I sponsor through this organisation too. Mine is a little boy in Columbia. I visited this country a while ago when OH was working out there. Its a scary place. My chap (Andrés) is fantastic. He wants to be a footballer (of course). His brother was killed in a drive by shooting over drugs. Andrés has real hope and I am happy to think that I might be helping a little bit.

[SusannenoZ]

I sponsor Charlotte 9 years old form Burkina Faso in Africa through Plan. It is very rewarding, she sends pictures and letters via a community worker and Plan send an update each year with photographs etc. My own girls get a lot out of it too choosing gifts to send and pictures etc. I hope that it gives them an insight into other children's lives less fortunate in a many ways than they are.

[Popcorn]

What a great idea LJ, I will look into this.

 

We are involved in a scheme with the macmillan cancer trust, but I love the idea of helping children too.

[The Managing Director]

that's a wonderful thing to do, thing the CA would love to have a penfriend abroad too so shall definitely look in to it. We received a goat and a tiger for christmas last year , prompting the CA to say she hoped they weren't in the same place

 

Endearingly the CA thanked her cousin for the tiger with the words 'a whole tiger!! that's my biggest present ever' given the vast quantities of gifts she seems to receive I was quite pleased with her for that one

[Sheilaz]

Thank you for posting that Lesley-Jean. What a good idea, and a charming picture, I like the hen!

Interesting reading the subsequent posts too, and CA certainly has a delightful way with words, lovely child.

It does seem an opportunity to see that a little giving can make a big difference. Also, as said, a good way to involve own children. Will take a look later.

[Mrs Blue Sky]

We sponsor a girl called Ponpimon in northern Thailand through a very small organisation called Lert Sa Wat Child. She is 16 now and is at college studying to be a nurse. Lots of children there are abandoned when their parents go to the big cities to find work and don't return... So the orphanage has a school too, and maybe 30 children live there. Ponpimon has incomplete hands, not enough fingers, and there is such prejudice in her culture against physical handicap that she may not be able to marry and start a family so her career will be very important to her. When she leaves education we won't sponsor her anymore, so we really hope she does well! She is very sweet and hard working and cycles 7km to college. We empty our 5p jar at Christmas and send the proceeds for the soap and vitamin fund. When we stop sponsoring Ponpimon, Harry wants to sponsor a boy his own age.

[Martin B]

I'll look into it aswell!

[Lesley-Jean]

Perhaps you could sugest it as a school charity Martin. I wonder what your teachers would say

[Martin B]

I know what they would say.... NO! We are not allowed! How bad is that. We asked if we could raise money for children in need or comic relief they said no, you're all too naughty. We only ever raise money if it's for the school mini bus!

[Popcorn]

You don't even take part in Comic Relief Martin?

[Martin B]

Nope

[Popcorn]

Oh dear..how very sad

 

My hubby goes to school in all manner of fancy dress on Comic Releif day.

 

I remember the first one when I was at school (1989 I think was the first) the male teachers allowed us to shave half of their beards off!

 

I got dressed up as a clown, and took a water pistol in with me. Everytime my German teacher turned his back to write on the black board I squirted him. He eventually cottoned on it was me.....and threw me out the class

 

Of course the joke was on me. When he asked me to come back into the classroom the WHOLE class was prepared and picked me up and carried me to the swimming pool, where I was promptly chucked in

[Lesley-Jean]

Plan International often has a catalogue of greetings cards and gifts, some of which are suitable to send to a sponsored child if you are unable to go shopping (Aimed at the men ), they will send them direct and attach a letter from the sponsor.

[Guest]

I know what they would say.... NO! We are not allowed! How bad is that. We asked if we could raise money for children in need or comic relief they said no, you're all too naughty. We only ever raise money if it's for the school mini bus!

 

At my daughter's secondary school every year group has to raise money for a charity it chooses over the year. Obviously motivated by their tutors, each tutor group has to think up ways of raising money. They do cake sales, mufti days, sometimes evening events etc and the amounts each year group raises are published at the end of the year.

 

Perhaps you should suggest something like that? I thought that all schools have to strive to give something back to the community. This might count, especially if it was a local charity. It also teaches a whole new generation that we should all help to support those far less well off than we are.

[Martin B]

I know what they would say.... NO! We are not allowed! How bad is that. We asked if we could raise money for children in need or comic relief they said no, you're all too naughty. We only ever raise money if it's for the school mini bus!

 

At my daughter's secondary school every year group has to raise money for a charity it chooses over the year. Obviously motivated by their tutors, each tutor group has to think up ways of raising money. They do cake sales, mufti days, sometimes evening events etc and the amounts each year group raises are published at the end of the year.

 

Perhaps you should suggest something like that? I thought that all schools have to strive to give something back to the community. This might count, especially if it was a local charity. It also teaches a whole new generation that we should all help to support those far less well off than we are.

 

We choose a charity at the beggining of year and that's about it. We don't do the fundraising very often!

[Guest]

Next year, perhaps you could suggest BHWT? Then you would feel passionate about it and may be motivated to do more. It's up to you!

[Martin B]

I'm a member of the student council, and I put forward things like this but nothing is done and "Ooops, word censored!"ody cares. Personally I raise money for charities in many ways but "Ooops, word censored!"ody else I know does.

[Linda]

I'm a member of the student council, and I put forward things like this but nothing is done and "Ooops, word censored!"ody cares. Personally I raise money for charities in many ways but "Ooops, word censored!"ody else I know does.

Martin, I think you are just the right sort of person to be on the student council. Do keep trying with putting forward ideas, even if it seems that no-one else cares, you do, and that's important.

[Martin B]

Thanks Linda

[Louise]

I sponsor a little girl Angeline from Haiti through Plan International

[Aunty e]

We sponsor quite a big girl now (we've been sponsoring her for years) called Eless in Malawi. We sent her a wedding picture when we got married four years ago, and Duncan had to explain what the big white frock was about, as she thought it was silly. She's fourteen and still at school, which we count as a success.

[Lesley-Jean]

Next year, perhaps you could suggest BHWT? Then you would feel passionate about it and may be motivated to do more. It's up to you!

OR SPONSOR A CHILD IN THE 3RD WORLD

 

I'm so pleased that so many Omleteers sponsor a child. It just goes to show what nice caring people chicken keepers are

[Mrs Blue Sky]

I got a letter from Lert Sa Wat yesterday to tell me that my girl in Thailand (Ponpimon) has decided to leave college without taking her final exams She has fallen in with a party crowd, and I suppose at 16 feels that she will get on in life perfectly well without education - I remember that feeling myself - now two of her girlfriends have fallen pregnant and left college too so she has lost interest altogether. I am really sad about this. Her physical handicap will very likely prevent her from marrying and starting a family of her own, so I don't know how she will support herself. I hope she doesn't follow in her parents footsteps and go to the city to find work in Thailand's biggest industry... I'm going to write to her and see if I can get her to reconsider - she was studying to be a nurse and if she qualified she could have a good career, and travel too - there's certainly plenty of Thai nurses working all over the world.

 

But it is up to her, and if she is determined to finish her studies, the orphanage has six little ones all waiting for sponsors.

 

I didn't expect to take it so personally - I am as sad as if it was one of my own children!

[Lesley-Jean]

I'm sorry to hear that Heather It is not suprising that we become attached to our sponored children I hope your letter might make a little difference to her decision. You can feel assured that your friendship and support have given her a better chance of a happy life, no matter what she decides to do at present.