Nurses Sponsored at Nuzvid Nursing School

Many nurses at the Giffard Memorial Hospital and Nursing School receive Asian Aid USA assistance to complete their educational programs and are most appreciative of the many donors who have assisted them through the several years of their education leading to graduation at Giffard.

The hospital, with a capacity of 110 beds is located at Nuzvid, in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh state, India where it began operating in 1925.

Lydiamma, a sponsored nursing student, is shown here with Linda Severs one of the directors of Asian Aid USA who visited the medical institution in November 2001.

See also, "An Asian Aid Student's Success Story," below.
September 2002

New School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired Opened August 20

A school for speech and hearing impaired children and youth has been operated for several years as a project of Asian Aid Australia, but a new school building and student housing has been needed. Through the generosity of donors to AA-Australia, The Quiet Hour radio and television ministry, and Asian Aid USA, Phase I of the new school construction has been completed.

The long-awaited new school building was offically opened on August 20, 2002, with nearly 40 children ranging in age from six to 17 years of age. This number of students enrolled was expected to increase to 50 by the end of September, and still more have requested acceptance. Sponsors are still needed for these new applicants. If you are willing to help these deaf children get a Christian education, please contact Asian Aid USA or Asian Aid Australia depending on your country of residence.

Three teachers are able to communicate with the deaf children, two of whom have learned AMESLAN, the American Sign Language. In addition, several other adults assist the teachers and care for the children.

Scan down this page for pictures and other information regarding the construction of the Kollegal deaf school. Read a report from Asian Aid Staff in India about the opening day.

Deaf school children perform and throw flower petals for the several visiting dignitaries who attended the opening ceremonies.

Dorothy Watts of the Southern Asia Division of SDA speaking at the opening ceremonies.

Generosity Exists Even In Very Small Churches

Earl and Rita Owens of southeastern Nebraska, are two retired and dedicated persons who have volunteered to assist Asian Aid USA "where God can use us, and He's responsible for the outcome." Visiting campmeetings and churches in a number of locations in Nebraska and the surrounding area has been their passion for many months.

They report: "Recently we have been visiting the churches in SE Kansas. Most of the churches are small with memberships of 35-50 or less. But from members of these small churches, more than 60 child sponsorships and some very generous donations have been received for other projects. In comparison to the multitudes of needy people in densely populated places this doesn't sound like much, but when you go to a church where there are 12 people and you get 13 sponsorships ... we call that wonderful."
August 2002

Age — No Barrier For Sponsoring Children

Are you too old, too young to sponsor a child to received a Christian education? Consider the following, as told by the Owens':

A 96-year-old lady for 2 weeks awoke in the mornings with one word on her mind: "nurses. . . nurses. . ." She came to church the week that the Owens' were making a presentation in support of Asian Aid USA's projects in India and learned of the two nurses who needed sponsorships to complete their education. Hearing that, she then knew exactly what the Lord was trying to tell her, and has agreed to sponsor both of them "until the bark slips!"

One elderly gentleman, of 94 years, wanted to sponsor 10 children, but took the advice of his family who encouraged him to start with 5—just in case he doesn't see them through to college. He prays for his "new family of five" every day and sends them gifts for their birthdays and other special occasions.

But you don't have to be a near-centennarian to be a sponsor—children want to help children, too! "While at ASI this month there was a little girl about 11 or 12 years old helping her mother at the next booth. As she heard us make our presentation, she became so interested in our booth that she wanted to help pass out our brochures. Not only did she sign up for one child, but got her mom to do so, too. Then she canvassed a young man and his daughter who also agreed to sponsor another child." But even that was not the end of her enthusiasm—she wanted her friend to sponsor her little child's sister!

Sponsorships can be paid by a small contribution each month, or by a lump sum, in advance, for a year or more.
August 2002

Report From the ASI Convention

Recently Earl and Rita Owens represented AA-USA at the August 2002, ASI Convention in Columbus, Ohio.

Commenting on their experience, there . . . "ASI is an event that all [SDA Church members] should be able to attend. The meetings were very inspirational, and the music exceptional. What impressed us most, as AA-USA representatives, is the fact that there are so many other people who are doing similar work, and we're all working toward the same goal."

As a result of their efforts at ASI, 21 new sponsorships for needy children in India were pledged.

While there, the Owens' met several pastors from as far away as South Carolina and Texas, requested them to come and make presentations in their churches. That, of course, is not possible given the great distances and expense.

If you or someone you know in your church is willing to volunteer and take up the challenge of representing Asian Aid USA in your area, contact us toll-free at 1-866-569-7933 and ask about the availability of promotional materials.
August 2002

"Thank You!" -- From Yesugi Village, India

The original Yesugi village SDA Church which served the faithful members for 24 years.

The new church, dedicated on March 5, 2002, was built so it will not be "washed out" as was often the case with the older building.

Arrayed with colored lights for the evening dedication celebration, a custom in that part of the world, the new church backdrops most of the grateful congregation of 50-plus members and children.

Many Donors Help Many Children in India — Many More Still Waiting!

The "Good News:" As of May 24, 2002, Asian Aid USA has received donations and continuing sponsorships for more than 600 children. The "Bad News:" Applications for 187 other children have been received and are awaiting continued sponsorships. Will you help a needy child get a Christian education? Will your church develop a project to sponsor several children?

More "Good News:" To date, 640 donors have supported various Asian Aid USA projects. Active sponsors live in three countries: Canada 9; British West Indies 1; USA 290.

Continued financial support of individuals and church or other groups is much appreciated, especially by the children and adult recipients in India and Nepal. Check out the Projects page and plan to support one or more of them today.
May 2002

Phase-1 of New Kollegal School Building Nears Completion

A new school building at Kollegal School for the Deaf, in Karnataka state, India, is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by mid-July, 2002. A previous report about this project appeared in the January 2002 Asian Aid Newsletter.
May 2002

A recent photograph of construction progress on the new Kollegal Deaf School building. On the left and lateral wings of the "U-shape" are classrooms. The right side houses the kitchen, dining room, girls' dormitory, and a guest room. The Phase-2, second-storey will be added when funds become available, and will include the boys' dormitory and other facilities. Two stairways to the planned upper-level will be constructed where the wings join.

A workman plastering the exterior of the school building. The main floor is four to five feet above ground level to avoid water seepage and run-off from the nearby roadway, which is several feet higher than the building's floor level. Plan to make a donation toward building Phase-2 of this much-needed new facility for hearing-impaired children.

New Boarding School Opens in Tamil Nadu

A new boarding school facility opened in June in the town of Chittode in the Erode District, Tamil Nadu state. Funds for the buildings on this approximately two-acre property were provided by donors in several western European countries. The facilities are designed for 50 children, but will open with 25. Sponsorships for these children are now being solicited by Asian Aid USA. Thank you for helping a worthy child in this new location, today.
May 2002

A view of the newest Chittode boarding school building ready for occupation by 25 children in June 2002. At the time this photograph was taken, basic landscaping had not been done. Orphans and other children cared for in this new housing facility will attend the recently opened SDA Matriculation School, below, which is located on the same property.

A group of students, with some staff members, who were among the first to attend the recently-opened SDA Matriculation School.

One Year of Progress at Asian Aid USA

In its first year of operation, Asian Aid USA has received funds from generous donors across the United States and Canada to assist more than 600 children who are receiving sponsorships in more than 40 schools and orphanages in India. In addition, children at two new orphanages have been added to the Asian Aid USA sponsorship lists. The total list of schools and orphanages being assisted by AA-USA and AA-Australia, is substantially more than 100. Several other ways that persons and institutions are benefitted through Asian Aid USA are listed on the Projects page.

Due to the rapid growth of Asian Aid USA it has become necessary to hire a full-time person, with benefits, to handle the volume of sponsorships received. In addition, several volunteers give their services regularly. Every effort is made to keep operation costs to a minimum so as to maximize the dollars available for our several projects. Your contributions towards operating and administrative costs will allow Asian Aid USA to continue to grow and assist more needy children and destitute people. If you are willing to help with operating expenses, please indicate so on the downloadable Donor Information Form, or contact the Asian Aid office. Thank you for this much-needed assistance.

Administrative costs in India are very low. Currently, US$1.50 per child per month is paid from funds received. The remainder of donated funds received for sponsorships directly benefits the child at the institution where he or she is in attendance.
May 2002

AA-USA Representatives Visit Churches

Does your church need a special project that will show immediate results? Contact our office to have Earl and Rita Owens or other personnel visit your church to present the current and future work of Asian Aid USA, and to show you the good that can be done with your one-time or monthly financial contributions. The Owens are retired, but find fulfillment in doing this volunteer work for the needy in India. Their efforts to date have seen 50 children sponsored, who, with your help can now get a Christian Education and look forward to a more productive life. Many more eligible children are still awaiting sponsors.
May 2002

One Orphan's Story

David, his newly acquired name, had his seventh birthday a few weeks ago. His father and mother died when he was just two years old. David's grandmother took care of him until he was five, when she died. Since he had no other known relatives, some neighbors took him in, using him as a slave shepherd-boy. One of the village pastors recently heard of him and, seeing his plight, brought him to the recently-opened Asian Aid USA Sunrise Home Orphanage at Bobbili, Andhra Pradesh. There he is being lovingly cared for and educated to prepare him for a better life. Your sponsorship dollars DO change children's lives.
March 2002

Additional Sponsors Urgently Needed

Requests for more than 200 new child sponsorships have recently arrived in the Asian Aid USA office. Continued monthly contributions to these new children, in addition to those already sponsored, will be greatly appreciated by those who will be able to enroll in the school best suited to their needs. Sponsors for boys are especially needed for both Day and Boarding schools. See the news notes, below, for more details: Urgent Need: Sponsors for "Day Scholars!" and "Still Needed: Sponsors for Boys."

Sponsorship requests received are given below. Numbers are as of the date received, and as other requests continue to come in the need for additional sponsors increases:

114	Day Students (12 at Vishak school for prostitutes' children)
108	Boarding Students
3	Blind Children
9	Sunrise Home Orphans
16	College/Nursing Students

Thank You. Jayanthi Raymond Special Needs Fund Closed.

Sufficient funds have been received from generous Asian Aid USA contributors to pay Jayanthi's school fees, which will allow her to complete the nursing degree in March 2002 free of debt. This fund is now closed. Any excess funds received will be redirected to another Special Needs project. If you have a project preference, please call our office.
26 February 2002

Update on Jayanthi — Appreciation to her donors. Some funds still needed.

Several generous persons have contributed funds to help Jayanthi complete her training at Sampoorani College of Nursing (see September "Special Needs" entry, below). As of February 10, 2002 US$450 is still needed to cover her school expenses by March 2002.

Linda Severs, one of the directors of Asian Aid USA, who has returned from the recent trip to India, comments, "Jayanthi rode a bus all night and waited most of a day just to see us and thank us for our (meaning the Asian Aid USA donors') help. She is one of the Sunshine orphans who has blossomed into a lovely young woman. Jayanthi is an excellent student and is looking forward to the spring when she will be able to sit for her final examinations and will be qualified to work with a Bachelor's degree in nursing."

Your willingness to contribute to help Jayanthi finish her nursing studies will be much appreciated here at Asian Aid USA—and especially by Jayanthi.
February 2002