I don't mean for this next line to be false humility but truth be told, there none more amazed at the maturing and the success of GIBTK programs. This morning I had breakfast with a friend from the US. Who has moved here and has some crazy "ideas." My first thought and words was it would NEVER work! Not in Vietnam! Too much work..., Impossible!
Gratefully something inside of me whispered / reminded, "you sound like all the older NGOs did when you first told them your ideas. Your telling him what they told you. I quickly took a few words back and said Shaun, you go for it. Don't listen to all the voices that say it can't be done. Let me connect you with those who may help.
I visited one of those "crazy ideas," Dorothea's Project Legacy before departing for Saigon. For years I've known that some kids in our homes are there not because they don't have some family member, but more because their family felt their children would have a better life if they lived with us.
For years I have heard about local children who did not have to opportunity "our" kids had. Neighbors would tell how fortunate our kids are to have tutoring and the love. Many of the poor do not have this. In fact often kids have to fend for them selves.
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| Math tutoring class |
Project Legacy was the beginning of GIBTK addressing some of these issues.
A legacy is not what we have done in past, that's history. Legacy is what have we begun that will continue. My late wife had a passion for people, all people but kids and women had a special place in her heart. She loved flowers and place to sit and chat (for hours....)
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| Tam spending time in Legacy garden sharing abut life skills |
Project Legacy was a way to keep her dream and passion going. Honestly it "blows my mind" to see how it has taken hold in the community. As many know we were able to secure the building next to Hal's Home. The 2 buildings were fenced in creating a compound of sorts. The kids were housed upstairs in the buildings, leaving downstairs for Project Legacy.
Here is a quick update on a crazy idea this pizza guy came up with that the gibtk team took to heart. Downstairs we currently have 5 classrooms where we are providing much needed tutoring, life skills and emotional health classes.
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| Learning to identify and process emotions |
Four full time teachers have joined our Project Legacy community outreach program. Teaching 85 students of all ages. Making up 12 English classes, 3 chemistry classes, 2 physics classes, 11 math classes and 4 computer classes. Reports are showing marked improvement in their grades.
We are working very hard to bring the classrooms up to a standard of excellence Dorothea would be proud of. Dorothea loved art and we have classes to develop kids art skills
In keeping with last summers basketball camp we have put in a half court with a hoop. The kids like playing basketball and learning taekwondo for the physical development. There classes a week teaching life skills and emotional health.
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| Teakwood class |
My wife loved sitting and chatting. She liked seeing others spend time with each other. A garden has been planted with lots of areas where kids and team can sit and talk. Build relationship and discuss what they may are learning in their emotional health classes.
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| Legacy garden with plenty of spots to sit and chat or just hang out |
Project Legacy is bustling with activity. We make sure it is a place for kids to come and fell comfortable. To create an environment for them to thrive. A couple times a week, we host a movie time. Most often cartons in English, a fun time, simple but still building English skills into kid's lives.
One program still in planning stages' is "A mother's Love." Just thinking of this program brought a flood of emotion to me. It will be to identify and meet needs of young single moms and their children. Much like our unwed mothers home but so much more. This program will focus on girls in crisis but still have family they live with.
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| Our first group for Project Legacy!!! |
Project legacy will work to create stronger families. The success of what I've written about today is surprising to me. Dorothea and I spoke of a program like this for years. Now we are seeing it, as the kid's generation would say. "It's off the hook!!!"
So crazy ideas? How many of you have some crazy idea? I gotta wonder how many have had answers to life problems and only decided "who are they to try something like that!" It's to big, too much work, impossible for... How can I encourage you to take a chance, try a crazy idea today!!! As my friend Robert Barriger so often says, "what part of go don't you understand?
><((((º> BBlessed
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If you can help support ongoing work in Project Legacy or any our programs donations can be safely made online at www.gibtk.org
Sincerely,
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Robert Kalatschan
www.gibtk.org
Giving It Back To Kids
