The Cause
The Baguia Orphanage is in a tiny mountain town, in remote East Timor. Timor has been the site of violence and civil unrest for many years and continues to rank as the poorest country on the human development scale in Asia. The majority of the Timorese people live on less than $1 a day in extreme poverty and due to the country’s violent history and poor conditions an extraordinary 42% of the population are under 15 years old.
The Challenge
There are 70 orphans in Baguia, living in a run-down building with just two dormitory rooms, a study room, a mess room, and an outdoor fire kitchen. There is no running water, sanitation or electricity. The living conditions are poor and the children rely entirely on support from Australian donors and volunteers. With just two full time carers, giving each child the love and attention it needs is nearly impossible.
“A message from Caroline Pemberton (Miss World Australia 2007)”
“It always surprises me that it doesn’t take a lot of effort to make a huge difference. The purpose of our visit to the orphanage over the New Year was first and foremost, to simply be with the children. To listen and talk with them, to help them with their studies, share cuddles and laughs. To sing and play soccer. To just let them be children for a change. The atrocities these kids have faced, and the tough life they lead mean their childhoods have been robbed. We spent a magical week in the mountains learning and having fun with the kids.
Most of our days were spent at the local school teaching English and tutoring both the orphans and the village kids. Every other waking hour we spent attempting to play soccer, frisbee or jump rope. We would sing together as we walked to and from the village collecting firewood or as we went down to the waterhole to take the kids swimming.
With Techhead’s help we were able to purchase a text book, pens and pencils and paper for each child at the orphanage to start their new school year. As we handed them out the gratitude in the eyes of the orphans moved us to tears. A simple exercise book was the greatest treasure.
Seeing the orphan’s smiles and hearing their laughs and feeling the pride as they dedicate themselves to their study is indescribable. To the team at Techhead; please know that you are part of their successes and a cause for their happiness.
How You Can Support The Baguia Orphanage
Caroline and the orphans would greatly appreciate any support you can offer:
A $10 dollar donation can provide one of the orphans a proper mosquito net to aide prevention of malaria
A $70 dollar donation can feed the entire orphanage for a day, including meat and vegetables
A $100 donation can provide de-worming tablets for all the orphans
A $5,000 donation can help to rebuild the orphanage.
Contact Caroline Pemberton for more details: caroline@carolinepemberton.com.au
Caroline teaching the children of Baguia Orphanage and alongside many of the children.