The Jingjieniao Home provides services for the mentally handicapped from poverty-stricken families. The organization is dedicated to improving their spirit and living standards and advocating for every disabled individual to have adequate access to social resources
Volunteers from the International Organization of Pediatric Dentistry visited the Home to check the teeth of the children here. They taught them how to maintain oral health. It was the first time many of the children saw a dentist. Thank you volunteers! Original article written by Zhaohao Feng, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang The Burma Humanitarian Mission supports community based health-care and education projects that improve lives of the Burmese people. Read more about the Burma Humanitarian Mission here.
This past week, the nation's most popular marathon sold out in record time: 30,000 bibs gone in 2 hours and 27 minutes. Incredible. A lot of runners, however, were frustrated as the registration website crashed on them and they couldn't get into the race. Countless folks felt cheated out of the chance to run the Marine Corps Marathon. Well, there are still thousands of opportunities to run: Charity teams. Why joint a charity team? I've run a dozen marathons. My first 6 marathons...I ran for myself. Lots of pride. Lots of people encouraging me. Then,I started running for charity. It changed the marathon. People respected me for taking on the challenge of a marathon. When I asked folks to support my run...they extended a warm degree of admiration...to give meaning to my miles and transform my run into doing something to help others. Whether they gave $10...$100...or nothing but kind words...their support was unlike the casual comments of support when I ran just for me. Then, during my training runs...during the marathon...when it got tough...I recalled those supporting me. I couldn't and wouldn't let them down They were now part of the marathon...and my legs were theri legs to get to a shared finish line of 26 miles, 285 yards...and helping others. An when it got really really tough, I thought of those I was helping...the pain they endure...how often they were forgotten and had no hope. I kept running...because I and all my supporters had NOT forgotten them. So, hit up the charity page for the Marine Corps marathon...or your local road race. You'll find a cause that speaks to your heart. Every one of them is good. And, if you do have a bib...join a team anyways! Most will extend to you their special perks/benefits. You don't have to run the Marine Corps marathon...or any marathon. You can run for charity in any road race....of any length....any where. Sure, Burma Humanitarian Mission has bibs for the Marine Corps marathon. We also have a team in the San Francisco Marahton, Half Marathon and 5k on June 16t. Come join us! Put a reason in your run. You will not be the same...nor those who support you and those you are helping. See you at the start line...and finish line! Original article was written by Michael Isherwood. The Burma Humanitarian Mission supports community based health-care and education projects that improve lives of the Burmese people. Read more about the Burma Humanitarian Mission here.
On Monday, April 22nd, the European Union considered a permanent lifting of sanctions on the Burma regime. Citing promising signs of freedom, European leaders feel the end of restrictions on the regime is warranted. Yet, one week earlier, the regime’s army wrecked havoc in Eastern Burma. On April 14thand 15th, the Burma soldiers arrested and beat 15 adult men – beating several until they were unconscious. The soldiers destroyed one man’s vehicle and robbed another. During this same time, an army unit fired 10 mortar rounds into Loi Zay village – injuring a 20 month of boy and an 8 year old boy. Further south, another army unit fired 40 shells into the village of Mong Kay, damaging the school and numerous homes. Apparently, not satisfied with the destruction it caused, the soldiers indiscriminately fired automatic weapons into numerous homes. As a result, in the first weeks of this month, more than 400 villagers have fled their homes, seeking sanctuary in other villages or the jungle area. They are cut off from their food supplies, meager medical support and schools – not to mention economic livelihood. Sadly, all this occurs far removed from the media spotlight. It creates a permissive atmosphere for the brutal regime to act with impunity. The EU’s action only reinforces and encourages such activities for their failing to hold the regime accountable. This reality reinforces why cross border organizations, like BHM’s Backpack Health Worker Teams, remain as critical today as they’ve been for the past 14 years. Where there is violence, we shall bring compassion and care. My thanks to those who support us! Original article was written by Michael Isherwood. The Burma Humanitarian Mission supports community based health-care and education projects that improve lives of the Burmese people. Read more about the Burma Humanitarian Mission here.
We have returned to the Thai Burma border once again. This trips affords us the opportunity to connect with our friends in the Backpack medics. We learn quickly that the postiive news out of Burma is only partially accurate. On the positive side, many in the eastern Karen state feel it is easier to move around. The Regime is providing travel documents, allowing them to travel within Burma. At the same time, Army units do extract a tax, complicating necessary travel. What is missing from the reports is the violence that the Burma army continues to inflict in the eastern states, where a ceasefire is more an allegation than a reality. In Y_____ village of Mantong township, Burmese soldiers raped two women in April. Nearby, in Tangyan township, a number of people were forced to act as guides and/or porters for army units. Three young girls, under the age of 16, were forced to lead a patrol to a new village. The trek lasted overnight and the girls were given no food or shelter. A few days later, a group of 5 villagers were forced to guide and porter for an army unit. To ensure they didn't escape, the 5 were tied together. As the soldiers camped over night, they ordered the villagers to fetch water. One young boy reported the tragedy that followed: "When we went to fetch water, my father stepped on a landmine and died. immediately in front of me. My friend's father also died. There was nothing I could do." Death visited those in the east in other forms. Also in April of this year, three soldiers from one of the ethnic group's militia returned to their village in Namsan township to help with the harvest. Despite the donditions of the ceasefire, the Burma army arrested all three and tortured and killed them. Faced with this level of violence and the regime's attitude toward the Karen, Kachin and others, the people of eastern Burma still are confronting violence and instability. The only health care provided to them comes from the backpack medics, who brave the risks to care for their own. Original article was written by Michael Isherwood With the principles of “serve the society, dedicate love, help others and delight ourselves,Changzhou Volunteers Association actively promotes volunteerism around the city.
From April 23 to 25, days before International Labor’s Day, the Association held activity themed with Labor is glorious for migrant workers, making dumplings for the migrant workers in Changzhou. It was a three-day activity, we visited places inhabited by the migrant workers, construction sites and sanitation office. We brought about 5000 pieces of dumplings and cooked on the sites for them. They came to the city and work to make a living. They are normal workers working at the constructions sites in the city or elsewhere on the roads, cleaning the city. They live like ordinary people, but their contribution for the city development cannot be ignored. Our beautiful streets, landmarks, nice and warm apartment, etc., all of the buildings we are proud of are inseparable from their hard work. They are part of the city. On the occasion of the Labor’s Day, we brought bowls of dumplings to them, hoping they would spend a warmer festival. Original article was written by Yuan Kong, translated by Maggie Li, and edited by Yanyan Zhang Warm & Love Home works with people with disabilities in the rural areas in China by means of online chat groups. The online chat groups give them courage and respond for their needs.
Xingxing (star) is 30, who suffers from severe scoliosis. She is strong mind, optimistic and indomitable. The family could not afford to treat her scoliosis earlier, so most of bones were transformed seriously. Her illness caused incontinence and she has been lying in bed for over 10 years. The transformed spinal pressed her nerves and she has to live with unbearable pains day and night. She often got fevers due to poor immunity. Bedsores on the body cannot be recovered well because of malnutrition. To save medical bills, she even learned some medical knowledge and made prescription for herself, but it costs about thousands of yuan for each prescription. She also wanted to help to ease the burden of her parents. She runs an online shop to sell cross-stitch pictures. She has to put up with the pain and make cross-stitch picture every day. In her shop, there are not only cross-stitch pictures, but hand-made bracelets and mobile phone recharge cards. With an old laptop on the bed, she earned not only her medical bills, but part of her brother’s school tuition. Original article written by Haizhen Wang, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang Xingzhi Migrant Art School is a non-profit organization that offers art lessons for the children of migrant workers who otherwise would not have this opportunity. This update was written by Director Gu, the founder of and a teacher at the Art School.
We had English speaking class today. Teacher Luo gave us a topic—self introduction and introduction of friends. She gave each of us a model conversation. After learning some sentences, we began to practice within group. Then we had 5 minutes to select our topic. It’s time to do presentation. We picked up the group losing in paper, stone and scissors game to do presentation first. Each group would speak no less than 3 minutes. No Chinese during conversation. Some students set their scene in the classroom, some of them in the library or birthday party. Teacher Luo said English learning can be flexible. The scenes can be various. Our pronunciation developed a lot through practice. TFish support our English communication course and 25 people were benefited from the course. Original article written by Xiaochen Gu, translated by Maggie Li, Edited by Yanyan Zhang Warm & Love Home works with people with disabilities in the rural areas in China by means of online chat groups. The online chat groups give them courage and respond for their needs.
I have a home. When I think of her, I feel warm and encouragement deep in my heart. I have a home. When I come home, I feel her love and care, which always moves me to tears. She is a home of love and made up by a group of self-motivated people with disabilities. It is also a developing grass-root organization. We are from different parts of the country, but we are brothers and sisters. This is my home and a home full of love. I am a disabled girl. I used to be self-abased and depressed. I did not see any hope to live on. I could not even face the disability. I refused to go out and speak to strangers. I felt all people were mocking me and all people looked at me strangely. I had to face unemployment when I graduated from the college. The stress of survival made me out of breath. Seeing my classmates got married and started their careers one by one, I could not help thinking of being marginalized. I did not want to contact them and closed my heart to the outside world. I became numb and self-closing. Was I disabled physically and mentally? Iseek Cultural Center is a public welfare organization initiated by patients with PAH (pulmonary artery hypertension), which aims to provide support and service for people with invisible disabilities as PAH. Yesterday, it became warm in Beijing. We joined a charity sale at the campus, for it is graduate season and many people take out their belongings and sale at low prices. Some clubs raise money for Ya’an earthquake, but we raise money for World PAH (pulmonary arterial hypertension) Day. It is also kind of campus activity. I have been in Foreign Trade University for the activity twice. We have participated in “blue lips” activity last year, so we are familiar to the people here. Someone bought a T-shirt with 60 yuan which was sold 55 yuan. The buyer offered 5 yuan more for the donation. There are many international students in the university, but they are still curious about the English words “Get Breathless For Pulmonary Hypertension” on the T-shirt. Lack of public attention for PAH is the situation in the world. World PAH Day let us to work together for 25 million PAH patients. Original article written by Huan Huang, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang Little Red Scarf provides financial support and encouragement to children suffering from congenital heart disease. In addition, they provide families with post-operative care and help the children sustain a healthy lifestyle.
To welcome the coming of Mothers’ Day, TFish American Office held Mothers’ Day Fundraiser Campaign for poverty-stricken mothers suffering from congenital heart disease. The activity received attention from many people. Net friends from American conveyed their wishes for the mothers. By 0:00 of May 12th, 2013, 172 persons paid attention to the activity and donated total 172 dollars (1060 RMB) for the young mothers. Zhuanzhuan is still in her recovery phase from the surgery, so her husband accepted the donation for her. Original article written by Ying Guan, translated and edited by Yanyan Zhang |
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