You will never be ready….
Northern Thailand.
My wife and I are sitting on the verandah of the trekking lodge that Grey Man provided the initial funding for and was then finished with help from Nike, Thailand. We are taking a break from our hectic schedule of checking on Grey Man projects and kicking back with a cup of coffee and admiring the view. As the sounds of the village below drift up to us I have a chance to reflect on what can be accomplished when people who care enough choose to take action.
The trekking lodge
A few years ago this village was very poor and had the unenviable statistic of having the highest incidence of AIDS in Thailand. Sad but true. Our friend Sila took me to the bamboo grove just outside the vllage where they bury their dead. So many gravesites, so many deaths from AIDS. So many good people. Young girls lured to the cities and into prostitution, trafficked often by relatives or people they knew.
Every time I pass a certain house in the village which is more elegant than the bamboo huts surrounding it I am reminded of the girl who went to Bangkok to work in a karaoke bar , only to catch HIV and come back to the village to die. This house is the one she built for her mother before she died.
However, in just a few short years, our partner agency Kids Ark has helped turn the statistics around through education, HIV/AIDS awareness and alternative income sources. Each time I come here the village quality of life has improved just a little bit more.
One view from the verandah of the lodge
This trekking lodge that Grey Man started now provides full-time income for one family and part-time income for another 23 families, including 3 school-girls (Nana (12), Ima (12) and May(11)) who help with the cooking. It also contributes funds to the community health centre, the village temple, regular sports days for the school kids, upkeep of the toilets, and assists with taking trekkers and locals to the district hospital if sickness or injuries occur.
Our initiatives to transport kids to school and support kids education, including assistance to their families, in this and other villages has reduced the chances of trafficking to virtually zero.
One of our school buses
Think on this. These initiatives were started by people who took action even when the obstacles were daunting. They were never ready to change the world but they did change it for this village. You will never be smart enough, capable enough, organized enough or strong enough to make a difference in the world……so stop waiting till you are and just do it anyway:-)
John.
Tags: Add new tag, child trafficking, Grey Man, Lahu, thailand, trafficking, trekking
February 25th, 2009 at 12:21 am
How great is it that The Grey Man and you try to make a difference. Our organisation also tries to make a difference and whilst only in the South Pacific region at present, we would welcome working with you if you come to this area. Keep up the good work.
May 11th, 2009 at 11:24 am
So true, will never be ready… Thank you for bringing this to our attention and for giving it your time and expertise. For now we will be ’silent partners’ by sending money when we are able and by trying to raise awareness for this cause.
We live in safety and relative financial security, with access to free health care and education. So much that we take for granted.
Thanks from our family.