THANK YOU ROTARY

On behalf of the families in Chamkar Chek Village in Cambodia, THANK YOU to the Rotary Club of West Seattle for your grant to support the Khmer Village Program.

Report from Peter Royce, Project Manager (volunteer) of the Khmer Village Program.

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Recent activity

Owing in large part to the tire bin donations and clean-up activities, village residents have maintained greater care of the environment to date, keeping areas around their homes mostly clear of litter and natural debris. Congruently, conditions inside homes improved with mosquito free sleeping areas and less intrusive monsoon rains thanks to contribution (from Rotary) of roof panels and treated bed nets. And since our village classes began in January 2011 with Rotary granted school materials, over sixty children have attended, studying English, Khmer, and Math. Every 2 to 4 months, students who attend class regularly enjoy a community day trip to the waterfall, pagoda, beach, cinema, or skating with their teachers and parents, while receiving incentives aligned with project goals such as raincoats, school bags, and badminton sets. In addition to the village classes, five more private school tuition scholarships were recently awarded from donors in the U.S. and Holland, and twelve children unregistered in state school were finally enrolled in October.

Extracurricular activities have included village parents and a local donor developing a now popular soccer field on land adjacent to the village. Skype video sessions with American donors and students, and university students volunteering to teach soccer, badminton, and dance. Last month we hosted two events: we had a village donation and performance event. Children participated in singing, dancing, and musical chairs competitions; then received clothing donated from Kids Without Borders, multivitamins from an individual donor, and school materials from local groups "Khmer For Khmer", University of Management and Ecnomics, and Norkor Khmer School. Back in December, 48 students and 14 volunteers auditioned for our performances at a local school, visited a new beach, then went to dinner.

Peter Royce (center back row) and the children in Cambodia

National Volunteer Week April 15-21, 2012

Kids Without Borders is celebrating National Volunteer Week - April 15-21, 2012. 
You, our volunteers, have helped making a WORLD of DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU

Meet one of our young volunteer caring for an orphan in the Go Vap Orphanage (Viet Nam).

THANK YOU Volunteers

A Big THANK YOU to volunteers at the Computer Drive benefiting Kids Without Borders on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Special recognition to students from Pine Lake Middle School, Newport High, Eastside Catholic, and Rachael Carson Elementary. And many thanks to the City of Sammamish, our board member Dawn Sanders, and Interconnection.org .

Operation Babylift 37th Anniversary

April 4, 2012
37 years ago on this day, many lives lost and survived after the crash of the first Operation Babylift flight just outside of Saigon (Viet Nam)

Photo of a memorial at the crash site, taken at the 35th

anniversary memorial (April 2010)

Operation Babylift was the name given to the mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to the United States and other countries (including Australia, France, and Canada) at the end of the Vietnam War, from April 3–26, 1975. By the final American flight out of South Vietnam, over 3,300 infants and children had been evacuated, although the actual number has been variously reported. Along with Operation New Life, over 110,000 refugees were evacuated from South Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War. Thousands of children were airlifted from Vietnam and adopted by families around the world.

A C-5A Galaxy 68-0218 flew the initial mission of Operation Babylift to bring Vietnamese orphans to the US in the few remaining days before the Republic of Vietnam fell. The C-5 departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport shortly after 4 p.m. on April 4, 1975. Twelve minutes after takeoff, there was what seemed to be an explosion as the lower rear fuselage was torn apart. The locks of the rear loading ramp had failed, causing the door to open and separate. A rapid decompression occurred. Control and trim cables to the rudder and elevators were severed, leaving only one aileron and wing spoilers operating. Two of the four hydraulic systems were out. The crew wrestled at the controls, managing to keep control of the plane with changes in power settings by using the one working aileron and wing spoilers.The crew descended to an altitude of 4,000 feet on a heading of 310 degrees in preparation for landing on Tan Son Nhut's runway 25L. About halfway through a turn to final approach, the rate of descent increased rapidly. Seeing they couldn't make the runway, full power was applied to bring the nose up. The C-5 touched down in a rice paddy. Skidding for a quarter of a mile, the aircraft again became airborne for a half mile before hitting a dike and breaking into four parts, some of which caught fire. 138 people were killed in the crash, including 78 children and 35 Defense Attaché Office Saigon personnel.

Some of the returning adoptees from around the world

(April 2010, 35th anniversary reunion in Saigon)

Make Agent Orange History

March 14, 2012
Holy Names Academy - Seattle, Washington
Peace and Justice Day

Presenter: Son Michael Pham, founder of Kids Without Borders
Topic: Make Agent Orange History

Thanks for your clear presentation of the effects of Agent Orange on children, as well as on the environment.  Forty years seems like a long time ago, but in the lives of those affected, the time is very short.

Kids Without Borders does represent ways in which others can offer support to those miles away from us.

“Love alone gives worth to all”—Teresa of Avila

Sister Mary Annette Dworshak, SNJM

Holy Names Academy

For more information: Make Agent Orange History

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami - One Year Anniversary

Sunday March 11, 2012
Seattle, Washington
A Day of Remembrance - One year anniversary of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks on behalf of my country. Through your kindness and generosity, you have shown us the true meaning of friendship, and we are so very grateful.
Japan Consul General Kiyokazu Ota

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2017712423_guest11ota.html

THANK YOU to donors and volunteers.
Through your support to the Friends of Meysen project (Friends of Meysen), aids were provided to thousands of victims in the greater Sendai area.

Photos from 'A Day of Remembrance' event in Seattle on Sunday, May 11, 2012 at the Seattle Center Kobe Bell.

International Women's Day 2012

March 8, 2012

Today is International Women's Day

The UN theme for International Women’s Day 2012 is Empower Women – End Hunger and Poverty.


International Women's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day on 8 March. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. In adopting its resolution, the General Assembly recognized the role of women in peace efforts and development and urged an end to discrimination and an increase of support for women's full and equal participation.

Sample events around the world celebrating International Women’s Day:

AUSTRALIA

Date and time: 01 March 2012 18.00
End date: 31 March 2012 17.00
Event: THE BRIGHT, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
About: An exhibition curated as a bright and colourful celebration of female Indigenous artists young and old from across the country. The artworks and the artists have all been chosen to represent an inspirational and powerful group of Australian women.
Venue: Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery 31 Lamrock Avenue , Bondi Beach, 2026
Organization: Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery: Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery is Australia's oldest exhibiting Indigenous art gallery. Since first working with Aboriginal artists in 1981, Coo-ee Gallery has curated and organised more than 300 Indigenous art exhibitions in Australia and overseas involving individual Aboriginal artists and community groups.
http://www.cooeeart.com.au
 
GRENADA

Date and time: 08 March 2012 4.45 to 6.00
Event: HARMONY THRU MOVEMENT
About: Men, women & children of all-levels welcome! Harmony Thru Movement, is an outdoor yoga session in honour of all the women in our lives! Donations go to Cedars Home for Abused Women. Sign up www.spiceharmony.org
Venue: Camerhogne Park(Rain Location: The Youth Center), Grand Anse
Organization: Spice Harmony Yoga Studio: Spice Harmony Yoga was founded by a mother/daughter team that has a passion for sharing this fruitful practice with their communities
http://www.spiceharmony.org
 
VIET NAM

Date and time: 06 March 2012 0.00
End date: 12 March 2012 0.00
Event: "WOMEN & INTERNATIONAL TRADE" FAIR
About: A better understanding of International Trade for Vietnamese Women.
Venue: Convention and Exhibition Center, Tan Binh Market (TBECC) - 446 Hoang Van Thu, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City
Convention and Exhibition Center, Tan Binh Market
Event Link

 
SOUTH AFRICA

Date and time: 08 March 2012 8.00 to 3.30
Event: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY FOR YOUNG WOMEN
About: Seminar for Young Women to celebrate achievements and to listen to issues and challenges young women are faced with to achieve their goals and aspirations
Venue: Athlone Civic Centre, Klipfontein Road, Athlone,, Cape Town, 8001
Organization: City of Cape Town: Social Development and Early Childhood Development is a Directorate of the City of Cape Town that creates enabling environments for communities to better their lives.
https//www.capetown.gov.za
 
GUATEMALA

Date and time: 08 March 2012 19.00
End date: 10 March 2012 15.00
Event: CONNECTING WOMEN - INSPIRING CHANGE
About: Spoken word presentation on IWD Mayan Women's Leadership Assembly Screening of documentary Justicia Para Mi Hermana with the director Public festivities including music, demonstrations, exhibits, sales, and theater
Venue: Casa Kaqchiquel, Calle 14 Febrero, Panajachel
Organization: Thirteen Threads (Oxlajuj B'atz'): The mission of Oxlajuj B'atz is to facilitate processes for Maya women artisans to bring about change, through their own efforts, that will alleviate the adverse effects of poverty and improve their quality of life. Our mission is guided by the principles of harmony, democracy, and sustainability.
http://www.thirteenthreads.org



NORWAY

Date and time: 01 March 2012 9.00
End date: 09 March 2012 19.00
Event: ARCTIC WOMEN'S CHALLENGE
About: The first and only multi-national team of women from Dubai, Oman and Hong Kong at 78 degrees north in the Arctic on IWD !
Venue: Norwegian Arctic Circle, Svalbard
Organization: Mountain High: Adventure challenges for women aligned with Humanitarian causes
http://www.mountainhighme.com

INDIA

Date and time: 07 March 2012 11.00
End date: 08 March 2012 15.00
Event: SEMINAR ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
About: we arrange open discuss, declamation contest
Venue: Nehru Yuva Kendra Patiala, Patiala, 147001
Organization: youth federation of india: a social welfare organigation since 1998, doing work in very remote village area. a youth organigation
http://www.nyks.org