A Great Time with the Volunteer Club

As I mentioned before some of my students in the volunteer club work with local disabled people on a monthly basis.  We just go to an area to help them play bocce ball  and chat with them. They love having the kids there...they bring lots of energy and help out a bit.  For the kids, it is a great way to get to know people they never would have.

The people who can throw the balls do.

 Those that cant use a little ramp.  One of the kids moves the ramp up and down, side to side.  The player holds the ball and lets it go on the ramp.

This month was special because there were new students and participants.  Of special note was a man with an incredible smile, great skin, and minuscule legs and tiny, disfigured, non-functioning hands.  He could not do much except kick everyone's but in Bocce ball.  Turns out he has the most incredible eye for the game.  He would have the helper adjust the ramp and then tell them where to put the ball on the ramp to get the proper speed.  Then, he told the helper to let go.

I told all the kids to remember him.  Even if someone is severely disabled, he or she can have some hidden talents.

It is funny how going to volunteer here each month has affected Sandy, me and the kids.  Before I would be uncomfortable when I was around people who were disabled.  Now I see them and I am looking forward to something interesting.  As usual, you get more than you give when you volunteer.

Movie Night For a Boy's/ Girl's Operation

I wrote a couple of times about a boy, Min Se Teu, who drank acid who needed operations in Thailand. We decided to help him again.

The school festival was last month and the school let us have a movie night in the gym after the festivities.  We sold tickets, made and sold brownies as well as drinks and popcorn.  We ended up raising enough money to pay for an operation for a little boy.

The problem was, the little girl I mentioned before,Hnini Woot Hlwa , went to the doctor and they said she needed an operation on her eye right away to save her sight.  She needed a new lens put in and my friend decided to use the money for her.  It was the right decision and the kids do not mind.  We need more money to pay for both operations, but I think friends will be helping with this.

Speech Contest Update 2011

Nearly three months have past and the kids are finally nearly ready for the contest on Saturday.  It has been three months of advising, scolding and laughing with the kids. I come to school a couple of hours early each day to meet with kids, I spend my lunches scarfing down food so I can meet with them during that time.  I am exhausted.

There will be about 24 kids this year, not bad, but less than I had hoped for. This year started with lots of kids, but almost all of the 2nd year students dropped out.  I think the ones who really wanted to do it, did it last year.  The others realized what a huge commitment it was and decided that they should spend their time on their studies.  A badly timed school trip also caused about 4 kids to drop out.

In the end, I am sure the contest will be like all of them.  Some kids will surprise me how well they do, others will forget.  In the end, I hope it will be a good time.  I will try to write again once it is finished.