BOARD MEMBERS MEET ROBAN CHILDREN

The reports by board members who visited areas Christian Partners are actually sponsoring

We met our children in West Kalimantan ----by Ms.R.M and Ms.Y.T.(Board members of C.P.)

First we had to overcome the language barrier in Roban.

Rev. and Mrs. Yap told us of the present situation in Roban society with the use of standard Chinese. Mr. Andreas translated it into Indonesian and then Irene explained it for us in English.

Roban is situated north east of Singkawang. Most of the people living there were refugees from an inland district. They
had been rather wealthy merchants before, but unfortunately, they were accused of being communist and were expelled from financial opportunities with no hope of regaining their social standing in the future.

Older people do not receive any school education in Indonesia, so they do not learn to understand and speak Indonesian.

Mothers have no knowledge about vaccinations and are afraid of it, so they prevent their children from receiving them. They do not use birth control in spite of the high social necessity. Mrs. Yap asks her friend , who is a hygiene professional ,to educate them.

MIZORAM--MIRACLE

Visiting the new ministry frontier in India-----Reported by Mr.T.I. (a board member of C.P.)

HERMON CHILDREN 'S HOME

On the third day of our stay in India, we visited Hermon Children's Home.

This orphanage is managed by ZEF ( Zoram Evangelism Federation ) with the cooperation of Partners International. Established in 1979, it has accepted and is taking care of 105 boys and 64 girls.

How the children will have independent social lives after living in this orphanage is one of the most important concerns over here.
When we arrived, the children came out of the house to see us. Their ages ranged from younger than primary school to junior high. They welcomed us with their performance of singing and dancing in the hall.
The houses are constructed of concrete and wood without any luxuries.

They contain collective bed rooms with some individual space for personal effects, class rooms and work shops.

The children smiled happily. I was moved to pray that our sponsorship would mean something for them.

In the workshop some of the older children were having a training lesson in weaving cloth, a unique local product.

Other children were learning to type. The faculty told us that they were giving children only orientation here

and commented that in order to gain professional skills, children should be shifted to another training center in Calcutta.

In India ,it is indispensable to learn English for receiving professional training.
Isn't it wonderful that the donations from Japan motivated the faculty to start English lessons here.

Though it was a small amount God used it to bring forth a significant change.

ENGLISH COURSE STARTED

Ms. Drosy Larenpui is a young lady who has experience studying English in England.
She volunteered to initiate the English lesson supported by the donations from Japan.
She compiled teaching materials for all levels by herself and has succeeded to secure two helpers.

However, they have unfortunately not been able to reserve any rooms for concentrated teaching.