Aceh still needs help
Why does Aceh still needs help - Natascha
Life took an unexpected turn for me with the birth of my twins, moving to Thailand, the pandemic lockdown and homeschooling the children. During this period, I lost access to my emails and we lost our website. I apologise for my absence.
I need to thank the amazing teachers and community for continuing to work hard, taking on the extra load in my absence to keep our Educational Support programs up and running. A very special thank you to Kak Fani who took on the additional role of fundraising on a local level, her dedication and commitment to the children in Aceh knows no limits.
When I first went to Aceh in early 2005 the 30 year conflict was still on going. I knew then if I wanted to create something meaningful and lasting it’s vision had to include it being able to run and function without me being present. Chance International was created for the Acehnese and run by Acehnese. These past few years have proven the sustainability of that vision but they do need our support in continuing to make significant difference in the lives of so many.
As I learnt how to set up a website the last couple of weeks, sorting through nearly 2 decades of photos and writing about what we have done; I am struck by how far we have come, the amount of children we have helped in so many ways. I asked myself ‘Why after nearly 2 decades of working in Aceh do we still need to help?’ The answer is we are ‘creating a future, child by child’ we have not changed society or village level poverty yet.
The change is tangible as Maulida (featured in the Gulf News article) is now at university studying to be a nurse. Her parents didn’t finish school with her father leaving at primary school age. Mawardah who wrote a very moving account of her life at the age of 14 is now a mother and has a small business. They are breaking the generational cycle of poverty through their education, they dared to dream, they are making their futures.
Chance International, is dedicated to empowering the children of Aceh by providing them with the tools and resources they need to make their dreams a reality. By supporting these children, we are not only investing in their future but also creating a ripple effect that will benefit their communities contributing to the long-term development and prosperity of the entire community.
Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of these children, giving them the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.