Education is the Key to our Kids Future

Our meetup this evening was mainly to discuss about our last visit to San Damiano Kiulu last week. Our Steemit Ambassador @danieldoughty @veenang @chanelcalestus @beverlyjoe @nickychu @arwine @viverridae @melindajamulis and @gelfire came to this meetup

Most of the members said that they're deeply touched and almost in tears that day especially the part where the boys singing their gratitude and goodbye to us. When it comes to my part of sharing, I talked about my conversation with Brother Vincent on his mission to support kids that are much more younger than these boys.

This lead me to share about my experience in Tg. Tepalit, Baram, Sarawak, about how kids and parent sacrificed for the sake of their children's education.

So, I'm going to write about their sacrifices here while the idea is still fresh in my brain. Let the other members do the writeup on our meetup, later I'll do mine.

During our last visit to Tg tepalit, I was supposed to be assisting @kilathecla in teaching the ladies in the village in making karipap and Wan tan and also making beg from plastic strap. However due to our partner's Project Manager from The USA not well versed in Bahasa Malaysia, I was assigned to be the translator. Our partner Project Manager needs to interview at least ten members of the community about the advantage of having a Micro Hydro Power before and after the completion of the project.

In the interview, I learned a lot about the community tradition and their source of income. How the kids in the village acquired education and the community agreement condition with the logging company.

Kids in the village

This is the third time I went to this village and still I noticed that there were only few kids in the village. I got curious the first time I came, so I asked one of the lady about it. She informed us that all the kids are at the boarding school in another village about 40 minutes ride on a bumpy logging road. She told me that kids as young as six years old have to stay at the boarding school. They only able to come back to the village during the weekend and long school holidays.

Transportation

The main transportation to the village is by a four wheel drive. Only a few of the villager owns one. The four wheel drive can only accomodate about six people including driver. So, those kids who wanted to go back to their village during the weekend need to sit or stand at the back of the four wheel drive. I feel pity for this kids. Just imagine riding at the back with bumpy and dusty road, and holding on for your life. By the time you reached home your hair and face are already covered with dust...as if somebody put a flour on your face.

Sacrifice

Imagine you're separated from your parents at the age of six or seven, where you're still considered a toddler. You still need hugs and kisses from mummy and daddy. You still woke up and cried of fear at night and look for them. These kids still need their parents but for the sake of education, the parents and these kids needs to sacrifice for better life.

Kids are our future

I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside." - Whitney Houston

As adults, we realize that the real future lies in the hands of our children and grandchildren. They're born to be happy, they're born to grow up, have a dream and build a future. What they need most is love, affection, respect, to have fun, to be listened, to be seen, your presence, a hero, lots of hugs, the chance to make mistakes, room to grow dreams, encouragement to try again, to be trusted, guidance and so many more.