News

February, 2012
An Orphan No More
By: Jay Jurick, Board Member and eFoster Parent
Photo: An Orphan No More book cover

An Orphan No More Book To Benefit eGlobal Family
Jerry and Jordan Windle's new book, An Orphan No More, is now available online. The story is a beautiful one, about love, family, and overcoming all odds to acheive something miraculous. It is based on the real-life story of Jordan Pisey Windle and features a forward by Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis. And if all that wasn't enough, Jerry has generously offered to make a donation to eGlobal Family for each book purchased using our reference code:

eglobal

Just go to www.anorphannomore.com to read more about the book. When you make your purchase, just enter eglobal in the reference code field.

Cambodian Dancers April, 2011
Khmer New Year
Photo: Khmer dancers from the Cambodian Hawaii Friendship Association

On April 17th, 2011 eGlobal Family and the Cambodian Hawaii Friendship Association (CHFA) hosted a joint fundraiser event to celebrate the Cambodian New Year. The event was held at the Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu and featured traditional Khmer dance performances by CHFA members. After the presentations everyone enjoyed a Cambodian dinner and live Cambodian music. This is a fun time of year for the Cambodian community as they celebrate this special holiday:

"The Cambodian New Year is based on the lunar calendar, and is celebrated every April at the end of the harvest season. About 85 percent of residents in Cambodia are rural farmers and this is a time for them to enjoy the fruits of their harvest and relax before the rainy season begins."

"The celebration lasts three days from April 14 to 16. During this time, the Khmer people clean their homes thoroughly to rid of any unclean spirits. They buy new clothes to represent new beginnings, and take time off work to visit family and friends, as well as Buddhist pagodas."

"Day one, Maha Sangkrahn, is the entry into the new year signaled by the drum or bell of the Buddhist temple. With the sounding, it is believed that the new Angel arrives. Day two is called Vana Bat, and is a time to show respect to elders. It is also a time to serve the community. Cambodians offer charity to the less fortunate, participate in service activities and forgive others for their misdeeds. The final day is called "Loeung Sak" and is a day for the cleansing of Buddha statues. People wash the statues with perfumed water to bring good luck, long life and happiness to their families."

"This year, the angel is believed to come down on April 14 at 1:12 p.m. as calculated by Khmer astronomers. The angel's name is Keriny Tevy. She is adorned with the Mondea flower tucked behind her ear and an emerald around her neck. In her right hand she carries a harpoon and a gun in her left. She rides an elephant as she processes down to earth to bless the New Year."

Happy Cambodian New Year!

Phaly and Rob with the new kids January, 2011
New Arrivals at FLO
By: Rob Hail, eGF Founder and Chairman
Photo: Rob and Phaly with New FLO Children

Last month I went out to a rural village with Phaly and FLO staff to help them receive an intake of new children. Interviewing the kids and hearing their sad stories is so interesting, but at times you just have to fight to hold back the tears. So many have had such a struggle - very little food, most appear to be about half of their actual age, so little love or attention in their lives, and most have lost at least one parent. The parent or relative who remains begs us to take them off their hands and give them a chance for a better life. Most have had either no education or very little. Some have been abused and suffer from headaches and nervousness. All are eager for a chance at a new life.

We load up all 18 "new" kids in our little van, along with five staff and head back to FLO along the long bumpy and dusty dirt road. The 23 of us are crammed into the van's 12 seats. All but one of the kids have never been in a car before and all are so excited as they crane their little necks out the window seeing sights they have never seen before...their new lives have begun. All are excited but also a bit scared and confused. Soon the excitement turns into car sickness for about half of them. Their heads go down into the little plastic bags we have given each of the. We have done this before.

Three hours later we arrive at FLO and our big gate opens. Our 180 or so FLO kids are waiting in parallel lines inside clapping and saying in both Khmer and English, "Welcome to FLO!!!... Welcome to FLO!!!" Our new arrivals look both terrified and excited. (What are they thinking?!) Some of their stunned faces turn to smiles as they recognize a few of the kids at FLO who left their village a year or two ago and also landed in FLO. The FLO children now surround the new children with puzzled and curious faces.

Samnang in bed January, 2011
"Lucky" Samnang

Samnang (which means "lucky" in Khmer) is the newest child to come to FLO. His story is tragic but inspirational and you can decide if his name is fitting after reading his story:

Samnang was born about five years ago in northeastern Cambodia in the mountainous area near the Vietnamese border. This is an extremely poor area where villagers employ slash and burn methods of farming, are still struggling from the aftermath of the American war with Vietnam and the ravages of the Pol Pot regime. Samnang's father abandoned his mother soon after he was born to look for work in Malaysia. His mother struggled to feed him but was overcome by illness about two years ago and died.

His aunt took over the care of Samnang for about a year but abandoned him about a year ago. Being so poor, like her fellow villagers, she simply left Samnang in a little hooch or hut under a big tree in the countryside and would come by and leave him a bit of food when she could. After many months (no one is exactly sure how many) of living in this condition Samnang became skin and bones, was covered with sores and festering mosquito bites. He could no longer walk or talk, was alone and close to death.

Someone from the small town near the village happened to pass the hut and could hear his faint crying and was horrified by what they saw. The immediately informed the local authorities who came and got the boy and rushed him to the hospital. The small hospital there could not do much for him at this point as he was so ill. They contacted Phally at FLO to ask if there was anything that could be done. Just by chance she was planning to come to this mountain area, which is ten hours by car from FLO, in two more days to attend to some other orphaned children. Upon seeing Samnang her heart broke and she vowed to do what she could to save his life.

She took him back to Phnom Penh and got him into a proper hospital for treatment. It has been touch and go with him for the past five months but the FLO kids have been staying with him 24 hours a day, attending him at the hospital with hospital staff and he has just recently become healthy enough to move from the hospital to FLO. He is now the center of attention of all the children and receives constant love and affection and all the food he can eat! He is now part of our FLO and eGlobal Family and the plan is to have Samnang stay at FLO for a long time to come! He is very bright and curious, starting to talk again and seems very happy!

FLO kids receive new English books November, 2010
New Books at FLO

The Future Light Orphanage (FLO) just received new English language textbooks. At FLO, all the children attend daily English and computer classes at the Aloha Learning Center - a building on the orphanage grounds that consists of four classrooms. Each classroom is full every evening as the students attend classes taught by professional English and computer teachers. FLO employs two Cambodian English teachers that teach the classes almost entirely in English. Sometimes volunteers or visitors will participate in the English classes so the children can have a chance to practice their skills with native English speakers.

These new English books are from a series called "Interchange." FLO was able to purchase these books by using funds donated for their education programs. School supplies, such as up-to-date textbooks, are essential for providing the FLO children with a chance to learn.

Tri Suyanti August, 2010
New Indonesian Partner Orphanage

Founder Rob Hail traveled to Indonesia to meet with the good people at Nurul Haq Madania, our new partner in Jogyakarta. The organization takes care of about a hundred orphaned and poor children and has a baby nursery and a facility on the edge of town for their older teens and young adults who are disabled from either polio, losing a limb, auto accident, etc. This handicapped group tries to earn money by selling water they purify and clothes they sew. They would also like to add baked goods to their product line as many of them know how to bake, but they don't have a proper oven, mixer and basic supplies.

Rob used funds donated by the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise to purchase a good blender, diapers, soap and milk formula for the nursery. The orphanage has about 14 babies, the youngest is 11 days old.

This from Endang, who kindly hosted Rob during his stay:

I noticed that Rob did enjoy his stay in Yogyakarta, especially in my house cause it was so close from Nurul Haq. He went to and fro to the orphanage house, dealing with all children and the staff. He also had visited other houses for babies, disables and the girls' dormitories. Am wondering how he would chat with those non-english speaking children for hours. I think because he loves children and he is a good hearted person. He is an easy type to handle. He could eat anything served. What so funny that he joined one pray activity in the mosque nearby the orphanage. Mohammad said his hat kept falling when he had to bow. Everyday he changed his new shirt because he bought 8 batik shirts. I think he is a bit crazy about batik. This morning, at dawn he left for the airport leaving for Jakarta. Suyanto and his wife specially come to say goodbye. Mohammad and Suparno took him to the airport. We suddenly miss him after his one-week-stay with us.

Selamat jalan Rob.

Wish him come back to Jogja some day.

Terima kasih Endang!