2008
March
Things have been moving pretty quickly since Dhane accepted employment in Yanji, China. He is now in the cold environs of the Chinese and North Korean border. Although far away in space, his heart remains 'close' to HTF Home School. His monthly donation for operation of the shelter (he pays for everyone's food) continues along with that of Wendy and Jason (previous visitors and supporters -- they pay the rent). So, life goes on and we plan anew for the future. Pat and Monique were genuinely inspired by their visit and the rest has become the history of the 'appeal' for establishment of the HTF Home School Shelter on the land pictured above. Pat authored the 'appeal' letter included below and sent it out to his friends and family. So far, the 'appeal' has collected 18 pledges and $1000 in cash. We hope to sponsor a group of 14 visiting students from International Student Volunteers to arrive in the fall and help us build the shelter. October is the target date. Dhane plans to be 'on site' for 2 weeks and supervise the efforts and education of the visiting students. With their contribution, we can already plan on a bamboo shelter that can be constructed for $3000. This is our bottom line but we are hoping for more money. The more money, the more permanent a structure we'll be able to build. So, please look into your own heart and see if there is any room for any of the kids supported by HTF. We hope you can find the 'warmth of heart' to make a donation or become a supporter. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Dhane Blue, March 26, 2008. You can follow Dhane on his travels around Asia here.
Dear Family, Friends and future 52B'ers,
We are all pretty comfortable. We all want the world to be a better place. We all want the homeless to have shelter and the loveless to be loved. For those of you who know me I don't think you would categorize me as a "Do Gooder". Like most of you I put my garbage in a bin and give to beggars if they are not professionals. I'm suspicious of top heavy "charitable" organizations and when I give I like to know what the money is doing…and you probably do to!
Well this is your chance. For our semester break Monique, Finn, Sophie and I were looking for somewhere different from the beaches of Thailand to go. We found on the net a site called: www.homesteadingthefuture.org that welcomed short term volunteers with kids. We took the overnight bus from Bangkok to Mae Sot located on the Thai-Burmese border and spent ten days with 15 children ages 2 to 15, who were refugees from Myanmar (to read about our experience there click this link: www.asianomads.info). The shelter was set up by Dhane Blue, an American teacher and run by a Burmese couple, themselves also refugees. The kids have only what has been given to them by the local community and some support by the occasional volunteer.
The shelter is in a house but when the landlord realized that it was housing the refugees he suddenly "needed" the house for his daughter who will return from Bangkok shortly. The lease on the house expires in October. They have signed a five year lease on a piece of land big enough for a house and a garden on the edge of the same village. They have plans for a house big enough to accommodate the children, the house parents and two volunteers with outside kitchen and toilet/shower facilities.
It
will be on concrete pillars with a wooden floor, bamboo walls and a
palm roof. Cost $8000 USD (including one squat and one sit–down
toilet.) You, my friends, are going to help us give them their
home and in return you will have the right to one week free
accommodations in the house you helped build! WELCOME TO THE 52 B CLUB!The 52B ('B' for builders) Club is a group of 152 people who care and DO to make the world a better place. We need 152 individuals or families to contribute $52.52 to make this happen. This will give us the $7983.04 to pay for the materials and labor to build the house. (The Donahueclan China has already put in its $52.52 but will add the extra $16. 96 to round it off to an even $8000!) In return, you will get:
· Lodging for one week any time over the next four years in one of the volunteer guest rooms for you and your family. Meals may be had with the children or in any of the local eateries in the village.
· Cost report on labor and materials,
· Access to photos of construction progress and end users (the children)
· That good feeling that 17 people without even papers to go through the police checkpoint into town have at least a secure place to live as a caring family.
This is a one time deal. No repeat requests. You can hook up with these people and do all you want for them. My quest is to, with your help, build them a house that they can make a home. Visit their website, see the photos from our experience and then sit down and write a check or money transfer. (Contact for details)
You can send direct donations to the accounts listed on the website but these may get eaten up by immediate demands and a capital fund might not be built up. It may be hard for them to track who contributed what for the house or other purposes. (If you want to contribute in addition to this appeal, for day-to-day expenses of running the shelter, go here)
Please email me to let me know you have contributed money for your door, window or toilet. I will put you on the list of contributors whose names will be carved into the supporting beam of the house.
Sorry, this is not registered as a charitable organization with the IRS, so no official receipt for tax deductions.
I will insure that all the money goes exclusively to the construction of the house. If time permits, we will take the building fund ourselves to Mae Sot and help with the building. You are all welcome! It is an interesting place with national parks, a gibbon sanctuary, mountains and refugee camps holding 40,000 souls. You are saving 17 from this alternative. They need the money now! Thank you for getting on it today!
Please send this on to people in your email list and let's get the ball rolling.
Apologies if this message reached you twice; we had some trouble sorting through our enormous and outdated address book.
Pat Donahue