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Lightning conductors for the Goducate children’s home in Cambodia

In 2009, we saw the construction of two brand-new dormitories, the purchase of two vans, and several other projects sponsored by our local and overseas corporate sponsors for the Goducate Children’s Home in Cambodia.

Installation of one of the lightning rods
Installation of one of the lightning rods

One of our concerns was the safety and well-being of the residents, especially for the more than forty children we now have at the children’s home. The wet season in Cambodia stretches for a long six months, from around April to September each year. Thunderstorms are common, as well as floods in some low-lying areas.

The children’s home is situated on high ground and is not susceptible to floods. What it may attract, however, due to the new buildings recently constructed, is lightning strikes during heavy rainfall and storms. That was why we requested our sponsor in the States to sponsor a couple of lightning conductors.

The installation of the lightning conductors at a total cost of US$8,500.00 was completed last week, just before commencement of the wet season. Our generous sponsor, upon seeing these photos, commented that “…Those are some serious lightning rods they are putting up. None of us here have seen lightning rods like those before!” Well, probably not in the States, but lightning storms are pretty common in our part of South-East Asia, and we need ‘serious lightning rods’!

Each of these rods cover an area up to a diameter of around 80 meters. We do hope that with the installation, our children can rest easy in their dormitories when it rains outside! By the way, seven new children arrived at the home a few weeks ago, and we are looking forward to meeting them during a visit we will be making next month. Three of these children are orphans where both parents are deceased.

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Why do people give to charity?

I was in Taiwan having a holiday with my family last month. While visiting a busy night market in Taipei, we saw a beggar with no arms bowing repeatedly to the people who passed by. He has a little bowl with a few coins placed in front of him. My daughter was moved to stop and dig into her wallet to give some money to this poor man who has no arms.

I could understand why my daughter stopped to drop a few dollars into the empty bowl. I think she felt sorry for the poor beggar.

I could understand how she felt because I also felt sorry for this man. Here is a busy market with so many people enjoying themselves. They enjoy the shopping and the good food. But what does this poor beggar have? He does not even have any arms? How does he earn a living? How does he take care of himself? I felt sad to see him like this.

That’s right, we feel sorry and we give something to do what we could to alleviate someone’s suffering or plight.

When the Sichuan earthquake struck China in 2008, hundred of millions of dollars poured into this province to help the poor survivals who had lost everything. Many people were moved to donate money just like the present Haiti earthquake which killed over 200,000 people.

We often give to situation like this because we can feel and see the sorrows and sufferings encountered by others.

Dramatic events such as a catastrophic earthquake or flood moved people to give and do their part because they feel sad. They just wanted to do the little they could to alleviate the pain they saw.

But why do people give to charities? People give to different charities for different reasons.

I decided to ask around and I came to the following conclusions:

  1. Guilt – People feel guilty about a situation or plight encountered by someone else and donate money in order to sooth their own conscience.
  2. Religious reason – I think some religions like Christianity and the Islamic faith actively teaches people to give alms and help the poor. Giving is taught as a virtue in these religions. I think there are also religions that teach people to give buy redemption to get to heaven when they die.
  3. Hope– People gives to Cancer or HIV research foundations to give hope to others. They hope that their money can contribute to the advancement of medical science and help people who are suffering from cancer or HIV.
  4. Association– Some people may come from poor background and they can associate with orphans or the needy children. They give to orphanage or the needy because they know what is like to be poor.
  5. Friends or Peer influence– You may have heard of social events or dinners where the rich people are invited. These people give to charity because of the influence of friends, peers or someone with strong social standing such as a movie star or a politician.
  6. Love– I doubt I can say that there are many people who give money because of love. Perhaps an auntie may give a love gift to her nephew who is in need because of love. I also heard that there are many Christians who give to their pastors or church members because of love for these people. I think they call this ‘agape’ love.

I don’t think everyone will agree with my conclusion for the reason listed above on why people give to charity. Can you share with us your view on this matter? It will definitely help us to understand our donors better.

Goducate-Helping Poor Asians

(Photograph of 3 orphans at the Cambodia orphanage. The two boys in front are twins (Jacob and John).

I really like the way the smile when I took this photograph.

There are many children and poor Asians out there who are in need. We are hoping to raise money to help them.

Volunteers like me volunteer to help Goducate because we have visited some of these places like the orphanage in Cambodia. We are moved to do our part. We hope we can make a little difference for these poor children who have lost their parents.