Saturday 30 June 2012

The Special People

Seattle Special Olympics
A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100 yard dash.
At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race, to the finish, and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl with down’s syndrome bent down and kissed him and said," this will make it better."
Then all nine linked arms, and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and cheered; the cheering went on for several minutes.
People who were there are still telling the story. 
This may not be an entire true story, but for one like me who works with people with special needs, this story actually tells of the courage of our athletes. Winning is secondary, but to be out there to show the World what they can do and to be given the opportunity to be out there; these make a lot of different to the special needs community.
They may be different, but they can do it, as long as WE believe in them. 


Special Olympics is an organisation providing sporting opportunities for people with intellectual disability. It inculcates the importance of allowing people with special needs to showcase their sporting ability to the community out there.
Special Olympics had programs over 170 countries and if you are keen to volunteer, please do not hesitate to call in at any of the Special Olympics office near you.


Special Olympics -  http://www.specialolympics.org/
Special Olympics Singapore - http://www.specialolympics.org.sg/

http://youtu.be/HTNVXlirF4Y - Don't Laugh At Me (Something that I always share with my students)



"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt" ~ Special Olympics Oath

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Friends of Peaceful Children Home - A Sponsorship program



Peaceful Children's Home is a place where happiness can be found in abundance, but do you know that these happiness actually make my heart ache so much, so much? When I thought that life had not been fair to me, God allowed me to meet these 'Angels' who soon became part of my life journey.

These children make my heart ache for them
When they show no emotions when I asked them about them visiting their real families
When they tell you that their only Home is Peaceful Children's Home, not anywhere else
When they long to go home, in the arms of their real family, but they cannot

Looking at them made me ask why these children have to go through so much, just as a child
When they have to use lit candle to study in the dimly lit dormitory room
When the 13, 14 year agers tell me their favourite food is Hamburger when I expected something more
When they tell me they want to be doctors and lawyers so that they can help their people, their country

Hard their life journey may be; they never fail to keep my heart warm
Seeing their smiles, no matter how difficult things may be
Witnessing their love, for their little brothers and sisters at the Home
Hearing them say "see you again" sincerely at every departure, even though that 'again' may not come
Feeling their appreciation, no matter how small the gift they received is
Watching them pick themselves up, despite falls in the course of chasing their dreams

Friends of Peaceful Children's Home (FOPCH) is a Sponsorship program started in Holland for individuals to sponsor a child on a monthly basis. The amount sponsored will go to the food, daily necessities, medical and school materials. Do take a moment to read on and find out more about the Homes and the children.

FOPCH is looking for more sponsors, and if you are keen to sponsor, please do not hesitate to contact any of us to find out more or even to find out how you can make a trip down to the Homes to visit these lovely children and place:

Feikje (Netherlands) - FeikjeL@hetnet.nl
Linden (Italy) - LindenH@alice.it
Jinnie (Singapore) – jinnie_lim@hotmail.com
Adeline (Singapore) - ilovetolaugh_@hotmail.com


These Angels had taught me so much about Life and Living and I hope, these little things that I do for them, can help them even more in life.









"We can do no great things, only small things with great love" ~ Mother Theresa

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Peaceful Children's Home 1 and 2, Cambodia

A little preview of Peaceful Children Homes, Cambodia (Home 1 in Kandal Province and Home 2 in Battambang Province). The Homes are run by the Khmer Foundation for Justice, Peace and Development.

http://vimeo.com/9878962

A day at the Peaceful Children Home from Joachim Ottow on Vimeo.

Cambodia, the place that is close to my heart

The Kingdom of Cambodia is an independent country with a population of more than 7 million people. With a surface area of 181,035 sq. km and once a French colony, is the least known Indochinese country. Cambodia has a distinct geographical personality: it is a wide basin surrounded by highlands. In this basin the farmer has created a simple life - an original civilization and philosophy of mildness. Cambodia is divided into 20 provinces and 4 cities.


Cambodia was once know as “The Pearl of Asia”. As a consequences of the War in Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge cam to power. During their 5-year reign of terror, 2-3 million people died and the country was left devastated.

Today, Cambodia remains to be one of the poorest countries in Asia, with hundreds and thousands of orphans and street children. ~ http://www.asiatravel.com/cambinfo.html
The Kingdom of Cambodia is fondly known as my Second home. Sandwiched between Vietnam, Thailand and Laos; it is a little known country even to Asians. Not known to many is also that this Kingdom has a charm that cannot be put into words. Many friends asked, "Why does Cambodia attract you so much?", I always reply, "Visit it and you will know why, it has a charm that needs to be experienced first hand."


And yes, I had been charmed.

Charmed by its people... Their smiles, their happiness regardless how hard life had been on them...



Charmed by its landscape... The serenity, the peace, the calmness...



Charmed by its history... the majestic, the tough times and how its people overcame the difficulties...



Most importantly, I am charmed by these people who have so much impacted my life... The people of Peaceful Children's Home (Khmer Foundation for Justice, Peace and Development)



To find out more about these children and how you are able to help them, do stay tuned to the next post...

Till then...