Saturday
AFRICA 2013
Florence before her surgery
Florence lives an impoverished life and without our help she
would've never have had the chance to live without ridicule. Her enlarged nose
has limited her from a normal life and future prospects. But most importantly
it was a health risk. As the nose continues to enlarge because of the bacteria,
Florence was at risk of losing the ability to breathe through the nasal passage
and could eventually affect other areas as well if the bacteria spread. I’m
very happy to report that Florence's surgery went well and that she has been
reunited with her friends back at the shelter.
Florence after her surgery
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This is Grace. She was raped when she was only 5 years old. Now she is 12 and is suffering from the terrible violence that was inflicted upon her at such a young age. Due to rape, Grace has these two growth/holes on her stomach where she leaks urine. She smells, so she is ashamed to be with others and to be in public. She needs an urgent surgery. If you would like to help her please contact Nara. Grace is getting her initial pre-surgery tests at a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya where she lives at our partner shelter.
Thursday
MONGOLIA 2011
From an early age, I knew that I belonged to my mom and dad. My parents like to tell of an incident that happened when I was around two years old.
After a failed attempt to secure a
babysitter, my parents braved to take me shopping. New Year celebrations were around the corner, so the shopping malls were hustling and bustling with people.
The first store
they had walked into happened to be a toy store. To their dismay, the center
arrangement of the store was a beautifully arranged baby doll. The clerk
managed to grab the doll and show a demonstration of its functions. The doll had
many tricks: it made a loud noise, it closed and opened its eyes, and it had
moving arms and legs!
All of a sudden, my
parents heard a distressed voice that said in Russian “Gde tvoya mama?”
meaning, “Where is your mom?” The store became quiet. In horror my parents
realized that I was no longer beside them. I had managed to escape from my parents
and was now standing by the sales clerk pointing to the doll and screaming
from top of my lung: ”MAMA, MAMA!”
Like a lioness
protecting her cub, my mom jumped across the room pushing and shoving people
left and right. In a moment, she was right beside me and hastily took me in her arms.
Of course the story doesn’t end with the rescue. When I didn’t stop shouting and pointing to the doll “MAMA, MAMA!”, my mother realized that I was calling the doll mama. My poor parents quickly paid a hefty sum for the doll and left the store in a hurry.
Of course the story doesn’t end with the rescue. When I didn’t stop shouting and pointing to the doll “MAMA, MAMA!”, my mother realized that I was calling the doll mama. My poor parents quickly paid a hefty sum for the doll and left the store in a hurry.
Every child longs for
protection, acceptance, love, and sometimes even longs to be spoiled. However, not every child is lucky to have
parents who care, love, and hug. Even worse, not every child has a place that they
can call home.
Reportedly,there are between 3,700-4,000 street children in Mongolia (UNICEF report of 2003) 1,200 of them live on the streets of my hometown of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
These children are known to locals as "sewer" children. The "sewer" children go without food, warm clothes, and schooling. Similarly, they go without
human touch, care, and love.
Let me introduce you to two of my friends. They are Sharaa and Namiraa. They are "sewer" children.
Let me introduce you to two of my friends. They are Sharaa and Namiraa. They are "sewer" children.
This is Sharaa. Sharaa is his street name. Sharaa means
“yellow.” He is 11 years old. He has been roaming the streets of Ulaanbaatar for
the last three years. He loves soccer. He loves stir-fry. He wants to be a
policeman. He sings on the street to beg for money that he uses to support
himself and his sewer family that consists of other children his age. Sharaa
has a beautiful voice, but he doesn’t dream of becoming a famous singer. He
dreams of a home. Home where his parents and his siblings can surround him.
Home where he can get hugs, bedtime stories, off to school kisses, and feel
that he belongs to someone.
This
is Namiraa. She is 13 years old. She lives in a world that she has created for
herself on the pages of her sketchbook. She is an artist. Namiraa draws everything that she feels and dreams on pages
of her sketchbook. Too often, however, her reality is too harsh and too unfair. As a consequence, she would rather live in
her dreams then in reality. In her scketches, she has designed her wedding gown dotted by white roses. Her
wedding dress will be a masterpiece. Because of her difficult circumstances, Namiraa has learned not to trust anyone! She
hardly talks to people and shies away from direct eye contact. The picture above was a rare exception. She is timid and
soft spoken. Her favorite food is Mongolian dumplings. When I ask her what she
would like to do when she grows up, she simply told me that she would like to
be a famous designer. Then she showed me
her sketches, which made me cry, realizing that her spirit is alive.
Her spirit is radiant. She suffers hunger, physical pain, abuse, and
mistreatment daily living on the streets. However, no one could kill
her desire for greatness, for light, for love. I believe that she will marry one day. She will
look beautiful in her wedding dress. She will succeed. How many 11 and 13 year olds do you know who are living on the streets and in the sewers? How many 11 and 13 year olds do you know who have been discarded like rags by their parents, or abused physically, sexually, verbally, and mentally?
Well, now you know two of them: Sharaa and Namiraa.
To help children like Sharaa and Namiraa visit www.care4kidsworldwide.org or contact me at nara@care4kidsworldwide.org
Saturday
MONGOLIA 2010-Infant Street Children
Last year I wasn't able to visit street children who are between the ages of 0-3 years old. These children live in a state run facility with tight security. It's very hard to get in to see the children without right connections. This year I was able to pull some strings and get an inside glimpse to the world of infant street children.
The facility has strict rules, so the suitcase full of clothes that I brought in had to be examined, counted and put to the side. I couldn't hand deliver them to the children. However, after a nice conversation, the lady in charge of giving me the tour whispered to me: "Maybe you can take a few clothes to give to the children yourself."
The bedrooms I visited were clean and guarded by sliding glass doors. It felt awkward to look at kids through the glass doors, as if they were on display. The youngest classroom had 4 infant babies, 2 of whom were twins.
These children were abandoned on the streets, located by the staff of "The 1st Station" and transferred to this location. I was able to give them some gifts that a friend from Utah put together as if she knew I'll find some infants on my trip.
The children were too young to talk, so I just held them tight. One bedroom housed street children with severe disability. The teacher was very happy to have a visitor. She told me that she hardly sees outsiders. They were 8 street children with disability, 2 of whom didn't have any mobility, so they stayed in bed most of the day.
I tried to keep myself from showing too much emotion, however, when I saw this little boy start to take off his shoes to try on his new socks, the tears came rapidly. I knew that this was his Christmas and his birthday! I have never seen a child so happy with a pair of ordinary socks!
The facility, although with an old, rundown building seemed to be a safe heaven for these abandoned babies. All the teachers that I have met were soft spoken and attentive to the children. Some requested more clothes, socks, and shoes, some were just happy to have a visitor. At the end, I was asked to visit them often and if possible to ask kind hearted people in America for educational toys and chairs for children with disability.
Wednesday
MONGOLIA 2010-Returning...
I couldn't wait to go to Mongolia! The shelter for street children that I work with was closed this summer. I knew that the shelter didn't have the money to fix the building so I was hoping it would open in October at the first sign of cold weather. This shelter, known to locals as "the address locator" or "the 1st station," has the capacity to house 58 children. However, it usually houses 60 children. One time they even had 120 children, half of them sleeping on the floor.
The shelter takes in children ages 3 and up. The street children younger than three or children with disability live in a different facility that I was able to also visit on this trip. I'll tell you about this facility in my next letter.
"The 1st station" is the only refuge from brutal winter months for children who live in manholes of the capital city of Ulaanbaatar when temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. During winter months, the children on the streets suffer frostbite, injury, and sometimes even death due to this dangerously cold weather.
I prayed for the shelter to be operational so that the children who find refuge there can still call it home. Upon my arrival, I found out that the children were divided into two groups and were housed in 2 different locations:
1) the "chosen" group of 35 children
2) the "left out" group of 25+ children
The "chosen"35 from the shelter were enrolled in a state-sponsored program and were housed in a three story house. This program, successfully tested in many countries for street children, was designed to "reach" the street children through music.
The "chosen" 35 are enrolled in school during the morning hours and three college students tutored them in the art of various musical instruments during the day. The children looked clean, well fed, well dressed, and even happy!
The children have learned to play traditional instruments well and sounded like a professorial group of artists during their special one hour concert they put on for me and my friends. I recognized 2 children right away and eventually made out eight more as I had sometime to look at each of them while being mesmerized by their performance.
Their angelic voices and command of their newly acquired music skills were sharp to a tee. In a mere six months, the children were transformed into accomplished musicians and singers. They looked confident and happy. After the concert, the children who recognized me came by to say hello and to take pictures with me. It was a reunion made in heaven. I toured their new home and heard happy reports of their new living conditions.
However, it breaks my heart to know that these accomplished musicians will go back to their manholes at the end of this year when the funding stops on December 31, 2010.
In contrast, when I visited the main shelter, my first impression was that it was awfully dark, quiet, and gloomy! I walked through the long and narrow hall in pitch black to arrive at a door that led me to the dining/used-for-everything room. I saw the children gathered around a small-screen TV that was showing one of Mongolia's free channels.
At first, the children didn't even notice me come in - as if they were all somewhere deep in their dreams. I said "Hello everyone!" Then I saw the familiar faces of children whom I met last year. All of the sudden, I felt at home.
I brought some fresh fruit and arranged with the shelter to cook 3 course meals for children. I paid for children's meals and afterward asked the director if there is anything else I can do for the children. He said, "There is nothing here for the children to do. They have been glued to the TV 24/7. Is it possible for you to buy a ping-pong table for our shelter? They talk about the table all the time!"
Seeing the children watching TV all day long, I thought that the ping pong table was a good idea. Right away, I started to look for a ping-pong table. It took me three days to locate the only store in town that sold such tables.
The children were dumbfounded when they saw a huge box brought in on a truck! When they learned that it was indeed a tennis table, they wanted to open the box and start assembling the table right away! Christmas had come early for them. But they had to wait until after dinner, which couldn't come fast enough!
I made sure that the kitchen prepared a three course meal for the days I was there. The children were served vegetable soup, steamed dumplings, and fresh fruit. The fruit platters were always emptied first. I didn't get the chance to take pictures of kids eating as much this year because the kids were bombarding me with questions from all directions. Some wanted to know about America, some wanted to know why I smelled so good, and some just wanted my attention for no reason. They were all seeking love and attention.
To make sure they felt of our love, I even brought a treat that many don't experience very often - cake! They hovered around me when I was taking two cakes out of their boxes. They wanted to know the flavor and the prices. They even liked the boxes! Some of the kids snatched them up right away. I saw some boys making up different games with them. What a treat to see their imagination at work!
It's very difficult to say "Good Bye" to the children knowing that difficult challenges await for them at every corner. It's heartbreaking to see children with broken bones, skin rashes, open wounds, cuts and bruises and know that they will never get the medical attention they need. One of the boys at the shelter had a broken wrist. The only thing the staff could offer was a string to elevate his arm. Why? Because the shelter's meager budget allots a mere $20 for monthly medical expenses. Truly, there are many ways we can bless their lives.
After dinner, I heard some loud cheering in the hall. Apparently, the kids assembled the table and were trying to get everyone organized in lines to play table tennis.
I decided to show the kids my moves!
The children cheered me on as I got into the championship round. That's when the little mute girl came to my rescue!
Seeing her laughter and excitement made my heart beat with hope for an imaginary trophy! Yes, you and I can make a change. The little things to us mean so much in the lives of these children.
The age of the children at the shelter range from 3-16. The children don't look their age. They are shorter and smaller compare to typical kids their age. Malnourishment and rough living situations have pushed their bodies into a survival state only.
There are so many stories that I learned as I spend time with these children. Most of the stories are sad, but let me share one funny story I heard from the kids on this trip.
From the the time I saw this little boy, I knew that he was a character - a funny little fellow. He and his "buddies" at the shelter told me stories of him escaping from his abusive home numerous times. The last time he escaped was through a small hole in a traditional Mongolian tent called a "ger." I pictured the scene of his escape, and despite the horrible conditions in which he lived, his escape caused an outburst of laughter! I suppose it's healthy for them to find humor in the smallest things and to remind us that we can find joy in even the toughest of circumstances.
Another story that I could share with you is not so colorful. I met this boy last year. He goes by the name "Tumruu" Last year, when I met him, he told me that he had lived on the streets for five years. But he sounded optimistic about his future. He wanted to talk to me and asked questions about America. He wanted to know about my family.
2009 
2010
This year, however, his optimistic demeanor was replaced with skepticism. He no longer laughed and spoke with ease. I had to sit him down to get him to talk to me again. Something terrible must have happen to him to strip him of his innocence and to cause his childhood to end abruptly. Oh, how I wished to take his pain away!!!
I noticed older boys hanging together in the restroom. They didn't see me at first, but when they noticed me and turned towards me I saw them smoking. Some just looked right into my eye as if to say, "What are you gonna do?" Some though, felt embarrassed so they threw their cigarettes down the drain very quickly. Some even ran away from me. I wasn't sure if they were afraid of me punishing them (as if I would) or whether they didn't want to hear me lecturing them (which I probably would have because I love them).
As I looked around the shelter, I noted that restrooms and the kitchen repairs were not done. They will have to wait again!
I saw the following sign, which directly translated means, "A child is our bright future."
At that moment, I remembered a saying from my favorite movie "Kung Fu Panda." In the movie, master Oogway said, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but TODAY is a gift. That is why it is called the present." I'm not sure what awaits these street children in the future, but I know that they need our love, care, and compassion TODAY. Thank you for your generosity and love! More than any appreciation I could render, the street children of Mongolia thank you and have a special love for you in their hearts. May the Lord bless you for your wonderful acts of charity. May He bless them to have a brighter tomorrow.
Some of the photos in this post were taken by my friend, an amazing photographer, So Pepper. I wish him the best in his future work.
Care 4 Kids Worldwide, is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, therefore all of your donations to "Street Children" are tax deductible. More importantly, these children appreciated your donations!
Care 4 Kids Worldwide, is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, therefore all of your donations to "Street Children" are tax deductible. More importantly, these children appreciated your donations!
MONGOLIA 2009
OVER 3000 CHILDREN LIVE IN MANHOLES-SEWAGE- TUNNELS UNDER THE STREETS OF MONGOLIA.
THE WORDS ARE AT LOSS WHEN TRYING TO DESCRIBE THE GLOOM AND DOOM OF EVERY DAY EXISTENCE OF ABANDONED CHILDREN ON THE STREETS OF MY HOME TOWN OF ULAANBAATAR. THIS IS MY PERSONAL JOURNEY TO CLOTH AND FEED SOME OF 3000 SO-CALLED "SEWER" CHILDREN IN THE SUMMER OF 2009.
My first task after I landed in Mongolia in August, 2009 was to make contacts with operating shelters and half-way homes that specifically serve street children. My heart sunk each time I open the door to different shelters because I saw faces of children full of sadness and hopelessness.
My heart sunk each time I open the door to different shelters because I saw faces of children full of sadness and hopelessness.
Then one day I came to a small one floor building that from outside looked to be a rundown kindergarten. I was told right away that this place was different from other shelters because it was one of two centers funded by the state, and it was known to everyone as the “Address locator" or the "First Station”. The director of the facility, Mr. Auyrzana, warmly greeted me in his office and gave me detailed information about the center. 
The main purpose of the center is to locate the relatives of children that they bring off the street. This center only provides six months stay to 58 children. This number and the faces of children change every hour because some children are given to their relatives, some arrive off the streets, and some end up in long term shelters after unsuccessful search of their relatives. The staff at this center comprised of dedicated police men and women who have seen much during their line of duty, but who in their own words ”have never seen such tragedy, hopelessness, and sadness."
Upon my request to meet some kids, Mr. Auyrzana happily obliged by escorting me to the west wing of the building. The west wing housed the dormitory with its only bathroom, bedrooms, kitchen, and the cafeteria. I was surrounded by kids of all ages as soon as I stepped across the threshold. They looked at me with their curious, timid, and untrusting eyes and for a moment, I felt their judgment upon me. All the kids’s heads were shaved or they wore very short haircuts. “Are they all boys?” I asked the director. He smiled and turned my attention to a skinny sluet that stood beside me. She was wearing a skirt! My heart melted instantly! “I wish I can see her long hair,” I thought and I quickly hugged her. She didn’t hug me back.
Seeing my determination to talk to them, some boys started to ask questions like “Where are you from?” “Are you going to be our teacher?” I told them that I was checking out their behavior and if I liked their behavior I was planning on coming back again, again, and again. They all liked that answer, so they put on a serious look and a grown up demeanor.
One of the boys wanted to show me his bedroom, so I followed him to his room. The bedroom looked bare with old wooden bunk beds stacked to the sealing as the only furniture. The next stop was the kitchen. I was told that older kids help cook and clean in the kitchen. When I asked to see the restroom, the director warned me of an unpleasant smell and the rotten condition, so to that end I can’t say much because he was right! It was a sad room that I held the urge to run to the nearest store and buy some cleaning supplies and air refreshers. It was unbelievable to hear of their meager budget which sustained the livelihood of so many children in perils! On the spot I was moved to tell them that Care 4 Kids Worldwide will take care of one day’s meal including breakfast, lunch, and dinner and provide them with much needed materials like soup, air refreshers, clothes, towels and shoes.
When I was leaving the shelter the children started to sing for me. As I listened intently the words “Thank God for sending such kind people” was the chorus of the song. I mastered few smiles that in reality were holding back flood of tears. I knew that I was coming back the next day.
I couldn’t wait to come back to the shelter with my hands full of goodies and gifts! I wanted to see smiling faces when the kids saw colorful tables and amazing gifts from America!
Some kids kept wanting to take pictures with me. They waited patiently until I was done teaching others rock, paper, scissors and answering questions left and right. Then there were TV reporters from the National TV station and TV9 station that wanted to interview me for their evening news segments.
When I finally got done with everyone, I was impressed to see a few of the kids patiently waiting to take pictures. So here I am with some handsome faces that make Mongolia beautiful!
It’s hard to describe in words the gratitude, happiness, and smiles I saw that day. Kids were initially afraid to touch their plates, full of nutritious, home made food.
The instructor had to “order” them to start eating. Some children asked me pointing to a fruit platter “What’s this?” ‘How do you eat it?” “Does it taste sour?”
When I opened the cake boxes, the room became quiet and I heard whispers of children asking each other “Have you ever had cake?” Everyone looked at the cake I chose to cut like it was an extraterrestrial, weird item. When I asked some boys that sat next to me” When’s your birthday?” They just shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders.
Before I could even cut the cake, one boy swooped a small piece of frosting with his fingers and quickly put it in his mouth. His face lit up like fireworks.
It was terribly hard to say goodbye to the kids. All the kids were holding their gifts and drinks in their hands. They held them so tight as if to say “Don’t touch this. This is mine”
In particular, I can’t forget a special little boy. By accident, this boy was handed a gift bag that was intended for older children so the shoes he received were too big for his small feet. When I offered to exchange the shoes for a smaller pair, I was stunned to get a firm, “No,” in response. When I asked him why, he told me, “How will I know that you’ll bring back my shoes? I might never see you and the shoes again.” I couldn’t say anything because words failed me completely.
Tears flowed freely when the kids got together and sang “Thank you God for sending such kind people.”
FUNDRAISING FOR "SEWER" CHILDREN IN MONGOLIA
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
JULY 16-17. 2009
My name is Nara Thompson. Today we have an opportunity to add smiles on children’s faces. Please join me in saying “YES” to feeding abandoned street children in Mongolia’s capital city Ulaanbaatar this summer.
Since the fall of Communism in Mongolia in 1990, the State has failed to provide an adequate welfare system to FEED the poor of Mongolia. The BIGGEST number of poor in Mongolia consists of abandoned children called STREET CHILDREN.
The LATEST statistics show that there are over 3,000 abandoned-street children roaming streets during the day and sleeping in underground tunnels during the night in major cities of Mongolia. At the moment the best short term solutions to providing basic necessities for street children are offered by international organizations, local police, and private individuals.
I have been touched by generosity and support from friends and family who encourage my projects in Mongolia. This summer I have decided to take on a new challenge of raising money to FEED street children with warm, home made, nutritious meals.
Please join me and my friend Valentina Anderson who has graciously volunteered to host a garage sale at her house on July 16, 17, 18 from 8-12 am to benefit children in Mongolia!
Thank you once again for extending your love unto the children in far away Mongolia! I encourage you to involve your whole family in this project including the little ones. The only way we can teach our children kindness and hearts that ache with pain when they see the misfortune of others is when they get to do something with their “hands” to buffer the pain of others.
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