The rock and hole game

The boys are thrilled to be eating in their new dining room and cooking in the new kitchen. Thank you Sunneva Mohr and Felicity Jack for your generous contributions to make this a reality. The boys are much safer in their new environment.

I recently came back from a 2 month visit to the orphanage. While I was there the boys participated in a local cricket tournament. They were so excited when they won that they carried their trophy around to some of the local merchants to show off. They are very proud of all of their accomplishments.

Speaking of accomplishments, four of the orphans recently took their SSC exam which allows them to pass from 10th to 11th grade. Three of the four passed with an A and we are very proud of the hard work that they put in to their education. Congratulations to Abbas, Anowar, and Manick.

There was recently a mumps outbreak at the orphanage. Bangladesh provides some immunizations but an MMR is not one of them. One of the boys was very sick and had to go to the doctor several times. Another boy had to spend a night in the hospital after sustaining a head injury when he was hit by a motorcycle. We have another boy who will eventually need surgery on his arm because of an old break that did not heal properly. The injury occurred before he was admitted but the orphanage is very concientious about providing good medical care for the children.

The boys have planted a garden in the corner of their court yard and they take great pride in tending it. They have planted marigolds, bouganvilla, chilis, beans and a papaya tree. They love to take clippings of the marigolds and plant them all around the dusty court yard in order to brightn up their surroundings a little.

While I was their I observed a game they play by digging holes in the dirt and putting small pebbles into them. I coud not figure out the rules to the game but they would spend hours playing it in the hot sun. They also play a game a little like jacks but they use peebles instead of a ball and jacks. They are very resourceful in making games for themselves.

The orphanage recently admitted 10 new boys.  There are still 10 boys on the waiting list but we are at capacity and do not have the room for them. We hope to be able to expand soon in order to accommodate the needs of the community.

As I was standing at the rail of the ferry waiting to depart, I noticed a group of dirty, disheveled children in waist deep water cutting the roots of the trees from the rapidly eroding river bank. They were using large curved knives that looked like they came from the Tales of the Arabian Knights.  When I asked what they were doing I was told that they were cutting the roots to use as firewood.  At that moment I was so thankful that our boys have the ability to attend school rather than scrounging around trying to make money to feed themselves. Hopefully one day our educated boys can become pillars of their community and help to alleviate the poverty that is so rampant in their country. Please consider helping them.

This year we are looking forward to moving into the new diningroom/kitchen. The work is almost completed and we hope to be in by next month. We also expect to admit 10 new boys into the orphanage, we are growing!

Thank you everyone for making 2011 a great year, we look forward to 2012.

Some of the boys proudly wearing their new shoes

Our second annual Bangladesh Bash tennis tournament was another huge success. We were sponsored this year by String Along with Vince to whom we are very grateful. With the proceeds we will be able to complete the construction of the new dining room/kitchen which began this summer. The new facility will also have a new room for the women’s sewing cooperative thanks to Felicity, our friend from Australia.

This summer we also hired a new housemother. Her name is Rahima. Her duties are to clean the dormitory, bathe the younger boys and get them ready for school, and assist with some of the food preparation. She is working out very well and we are pleased that the boys like her very much. Another addition to the staff is a cook’s assistent. There was much too much work and not enough pay for the cook to prepare three meals a day, seven days a week for 60 boys. The salary for the cook’s assistent is being paid for by our very good friend from Australia. Thank you Felicity.

The boys got new shoes this summer for which they are very grateful. Previously, they had been wearing only flip flops or sandals tied together with string, which made it difficult for them to walk back and forth to school and work in the fields. Their feet are now thanking the generosity of our donors.

We had one setback this year.  The cows had an out break of hook worm and we lost two of them before we were able to get medication. The boys were happy to get the treat of eating some beef, but we mourn the loss of the two cows. The good news is, one of the cows just gave birth to a new calf and we have another one on the way, so the herd is replacing itself.

The boys do have one request, and that is for backpacks to carry their school books. Like children everywhere, they have a pile of school books which is difficult for them to carry while walking to school.  A donation of just $250 would buy them each a backpack and make their lives much easier. Such a small request for such a big difference.

Happy Holidays everyone, and thank you for all you have done for us. We are grateful to each and every one of you.

The Boys wearing their new shoes

Here is a picture of the boys proudly wearing their new shoes.   The shoes make the trek to school and the fields much easier. It is also easier for them to work in the fields being properly shod. Thank you donors!

We recently hired a new housemother to clean the dormitory and bathe the younger boys and get them ready for school. Welcome Rahima.

The older boys recently competed in a swimming competition and they won 15 of the 20 prizes. Our boys are truley winners.

The Orphans Welfare Foundation of Bangladesh recently donated pens and school books to the orphanage. The boys should now be all set for the new school year and we are greatful to the OWF for their generosity.

I recently sent out a newsletter asking for donations to buy the boys new shoes as they were wearing old flip flops or sandals tied together with string. Our donors came through with the $350 needed and the money was just sent to them. It is the little things in life that keep us happy and I think they are more excited about new shoes then the new dining room. They send hugs and kisses to all who helped.

Another good thing that has happened is that we are sponsoring a women’s sewing cooperative to teach local women a trade and help to raise them and there families out of poverty. The sewing machines were donated by Felicity Jack, our very generous friend in Australia who also built the new dormitory for the boys. We are providing the cooperative a building on the orphanage grounds and paying for their electricity. In exchange, we will get a percentage of what they sell. Not only are we helping the women of the area but this will put us one step closer to our goal of becoming a self sustaining entity.

Two of the boys recently required surgery. Abdullah had an inguinal hernia repair and Al Amin had surgery to remove a tumor from his throat. The surgeries both cost $450, which is a pittance by American standards, but they took a bite out of our budget. We are just thankful that the boys have both healed well and are back to school and play.

On March 26, 2011,  Bangladesh celebrated 40 years of independence. The independence day celebration included an athletic competition which involved all the schools in the area. The boys were disappointed in their second place finish, but a good time was had by all.

We have another pressing need to address, and that is to build a new kitchen/dining room. The boys are still eating in the condemned building and it is rapidly deteriorating.  It is becoming more unsafe each day and we are very concerned for their safety. Please consider making a donation so that we can provide a safe place for the boys to eat their meals.

Lastly, the boys have made one selfish request, and that is for a decent pair of shoes for each of them. They are all wearing old flip flops or sandals that are tied together with string. They walk to school everyday and frequently make the 3 mile trek to the fields, so a new pair of shoes would go a long way in improving the quality of their lives. It will take only $400 to buy them each a pair of decent shoes and their feet will be very appreciative.

Thank you for your support!

One of the boys, Abdullah, required surgery for a hernia repair. His recovery is progressing well and he is now able to walk around
the orphanage grounds. Several of the boys have recently experienced very high fevers which required doctor visits. We are thankful that they are all doing well now, it is a priority that we keep the boys healthy so that they can grow into strong and productive young men.

We have much to be hopeful for in 2011. We hope to build a new barn for the cows as they are becoming sickly living in the cold and damp. We would like to build a new diningroom/kitchen so the boys don’t have to eat in the condemned building which is at risk of collapsing. And as always, we hope for a tractor/tiller so the boys don’t have to do the agricultural work by hand with only primitive tools. With your help, these dreams can be realized.

Wishing everyone a prosperous, happy and healthy New Year.