Seasons greetings! Hope this will be a great one for all! Giving it Back to Kids has had a great year. Of course there has been challenges. The kids we work with are growing up and as many know teens can be challenging.
Vietnam and Cambodia is going through many changes. When we first began the needs were so much different. As the changes come so has the needs. From needing a bowl of rice to now social problems are more prevalent. Human trafficking is growing, drugs and all types of social problems are everywhere.
One of the exciting things we are doing is our anti-trafficking awareness. We have been going in remote areas, getting kids as well as parents together to make them aware of what to look for traffickers.
Dorothea's Project legacy is a key tool. We recently opened a second project legacy. At these centers we provide tutoring for the poorest of the areas. Enabling kids to do better in school/ in addition we are teaching life skills and emotional health. In recent times, much like in our own country, teen suicide is growing in alarming rates. Through the emotional health program kids are taught tools to deal with emotions and learn they are valuable! The life skills helps kids to learn simple things that they need to do better in this "new SE Asia.
This past year we have been invited to a couple University's to teach seminars on life and emotional skills. We had several hundred students turn out each time we host these events. We were approached by Dept. of Foreign Affairs. They said they have heard much about our life skill and emotional health program, and want us to prepare a curriculum for elementary and high school kids. We did and it has been approved and just need one more stage of getting the license to do it. This should be a simple step. Getting this into the schools is huge! It has the potential to transform the nations and change a culture. A culture that all too often says that your value is based on what you can do for the family, rather then your valuable and dream dreams. That you can achieve these dreams!
We have continued to provide funding for heart surgeries. This past year we funded --- bring a total of 756 heart surgeries! Through the generous partnership with Free Wheelchair Mission we have given the gift of mobility to over 13,000 this past year, bring a total of over 150,000 wheelchairs! Through FWM donation of medical supplies we have been providing free or discounted orthopedic surgery. To date we have helped over 9000! Many are adults but in most cases it frees children to not have to care for them.
Our homes are going great. We have 2 homes for "at risk' girls in Cambodia. To homes for kids in Vietnam and 2 college dorms. We have had 89 graduate! Most working in the field of study. And have 46 attending currently in University or "higher level" vocational training!
At The Father's House. A home for single moms in crisis can come and have a safe place to have their babies, be provided proper health care. Taught how to raise their babies, and we strive to get these singles girls an education so they can raise their child with financial dignity. It's such a joy to see these single girls come in, heads bowed and living in shame to raise their heads, smiles that come from their hearts! Seeing them regain their dignity! To date 75 babies have been born there. Vietnam is in the top 5 in abortions in the world and has the highest teenage abortions in Asia. Yeah God!
We continue to do all our other programs and I want to respect your time. If you have any questions please email me or give me a call. My mobile number is 714-423-3515
This is the time of year you are flooded with requests for donations. If you are led to partner with us you can safely donate online at www.givingitbacktokids.org or mail your donation to GIBTK, 10112 Stonybrook DR. Huntington Beach, Calif, 92646.
I pray that 2019 but the best ever!
Thank you for being Giving it Back to Kids!
Sincerely;
Robert Kalatschan
