Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Little Big Help Article in Yonhap International News


English teachers launch fundraising initiative on Jeju

JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- When Lindsey Lynch arrived on Jeju Island in March to teach as part of the English Program in Korea, she found well-equipped classrooms with high-tech aids and a focus on long study hours.

Having previously spent a month teaching at a school for underprivileged children in Thailand and several months traveling in India, she was struck by the contrast.

Lynch decided to help less privileged children while educating her students about lives far different from their own on Jeju, a semi-tropical island off the south of Korea that is a favorite with South Korean and Japanese honeymooners.

"I love children and I wanted to do something for children that were underprivileged," said the 30-year-old native of Rochester, New York. "I knew that if I had enough people who also knew about this, I could also get them to help as well."

While in Thailand, Lynch met Lindsay Stoffers, a former teacher on Jeju Island who told her about the Our Home Charity in Kerala, India. Stoffers volunteered at Our Home Orphanage and Good Shepherd School last year and told Lynch about the shortage of the school's supplies.

"In India, the kids were just happy to have a pencil," Lynch said, "and even paper was hard to come by. But here in Korea, we have touch screens and computers and use a lot of media. In India, the teachers have no supplies to teach the kids," Lynch said.

"I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've seen half-used supplies on my classroom floor or in the garbage can," she continued. "I see lunches thrown away."

Lynch started an initiative she called Little Big Help, with "the overall mission to help underprivileged children have a better education and a better quality of life."

She sings with a nine-piece band called Lobster that is made up of foreign teachers and Koreans, and initially planned a small fundraising event.

That concept quickly grew to a concert in early September that also included a traditional Korean percussion group, a Korean ska band, a group of musicians from Senegal, three slam poets and a slap guitarist from Canada.

Local businesses donated raffle prizes, and concert-goers gave more than 1 million won (US$900), which will help the Kerala charity buy school shoes and medication for the 40 orphans it cares for and school supplies.

The second part of the Little Big Help initiative is to teach Jeju students about the school in India and encourage them to donate a pencil.

Lynch prepared educational materials for any teachers wanting to take part, and she and at least two other teachers will travel to Kerala in February to deliver the donated supplies. Students on Jeju are also encouraged to write cards to send to the students in India.

Lynch held a series of lessons for her students after Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving. The holiday, which fell in late September, is a time when Koreans hold traditional rites for their deceased ancestors.

At Shinrye Elementary School, where Lynch teaches a total of 72 students, the response was greater than expected, she said.

"One student wanted to give more than one pencil. Another asked, 'Teacher, how will they sharpen their pencils?' and wanted to donate a pencil sharpener."

Lynch knows she is limited by how much she and her colleagues can carry to India themselves, but some of those involved in the project have solved that problem themselves.

Sachin Mahajan, an Indian-born American from Chicago, volunteered with Stoffers at the orphanage in late 2009.

"That was my 10th trip to India," he said. "I've been going since I was young. You see so much poverty, you see so many problems there, and I've always wanted to do something to contribute in some way."

"As a teacher, I thought that this is my chance. Teaching kids in Korea is great, but they're privileged. Any number of people can come here and give them what I can give them, but the kids that we worked with don't have those same opportunities. When we volunteered there, I could tell it was special to them and personally, it was definitely special to me."

Mahajan works for the Wee English Zone hagwon on Jeju, one of the many private teaching institutes that flourish in South Korea.

"We have so much that goes to waste," he said. "I have a box of half-used pencils that nobody wants to touch. The kids in India were using pencils that were down to just a piece of lead."

The hagwon director, Ok Jin-guem, plans to collect supplies for the Indian school around Christmas and pay to ship them there at her own cost.

"Seeing the kids at that school (in India), I know they didn't have pencils, and most of them didn't have something to write in," Mahajan said. "So small things like that will go a long way."

It is for that concept that the initiative was named.

"It's called Little Big Help because even such a little thing as a pencil can be a big help to an orphan who doesn't have anything," Lynch said. "It was the same thing with the donations at the concert. You donate just 1,000 won because that's all you can afford, but it's going to be a big help to someone who really needs it."

Lynch plans to expand the initiative to include Jeju orphanages.
-END-

Article By Tracie Barrett
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/n_feature/2010/09/30/41/4901000000AEN20100930005700315F.HTML

Friday, October 8, 2010

Writing letters to orphans


I have been so fortunate to have been able to teach the Little Big Help Lesson at my both my schools; over 300 children in total. The reactions from the students and teachers have been both moving and inspirational.

Some quotes from my class:

“Why can’t I donate more than just one pencil? I have many pencils?!”
“How will the children in India sharpen their pencils? Can I donate my pencil sharpener too?”
A really hard question from Grade 6: “Why do parents not want the children anymore?” I was stumped and had to gulp back a feeling of tears welling up inside me. I hadn’t planned on a a question like that…

By teaching this lesson it has made me realize some of the things I lacked as a child in my own education. I never really had a realistic picture of the world. I was only in my little primary school bubble and my parents gave me everything; I never realized how fortunate I was.

Since beginning this project I came to believe the reality; we need to education our children about how the world really is. This way, at a young age, children can grow up with a vision of appreciating what they have and further to extend a helping hand to those whom need it. Even if it’s something small - you can always give…you can always help someone whom needs it.


It’s a real challenge to put compassion as one of your objectives in your lesson plan; it’s something you must experience in your own heart. I hope I provide this light for my students and they find their way down a path of helping others and being thankful for their lives.


I have asked my students to write cards for the children at Our Home orphanage. I was really touched after reading what they wrote - it was truly amazing. My vision on compassion worked! Here’s the letter from Ha Kyeon, Grade 5, (minus some grammar corrections) ☺

“To Friends

Hello! It’s nice to meet you. My name is Ha Kyeong. I come from Korea and I am 12 years old. I saw a video about you and Our Home in English class.
I think India is very different from my country. I want to visit India someday.
I prepared a little gift from my heart (pencil). I hope it is helpful.

Ha Kyeong”

Ideas on collecting pencils from your students to donate to Our Home


My kids created a pencil donation box out of an old A4 printer box and decorated it. Children are encouraged to donate their pencils here if they feel compelled to do so.


This way there is no pressure and it's easy. If children want to they can take it upon themselves to donate!!

Letter to Jeju English teachers for Bring A Pencil to School Day

Dear Jeju Island Teachers,

I hope you are as excited as I am about teaching the ‘Bring a Pencil to School Day’ lesson. Feel free to contact me about teaching materials to use while leading your class through this beautiful philanthropic journey. I have created a powerpoint slideshow you can use to teach this lesson. It has many pictures, making it easy for the students to understand.

Many of the discussions will happen in Korean because the students simply do not have the English vocabulary to express themselves. I have tried to include some Korean so your students will still get the point if you don't have a Korean co teacher to help you.

The movie I am showing to my classes shows many of the orphans and students at Good Shepard School . It’s a tear jerker…..I love it!! It is obvious the children there are happy with so little. http://vimeo.com/4775593

You can also use the pictures I have posted (you can find them in the photo section of the Little Big Help Face book group) to talk about individual orphans. I have included names, ages and a short description/story about each one of the children I selected to talk about.

Lastly, you can have your students write letters, birthday cards and Christmas cards. These children have never had birthday presents or parties or letters – they will love it and will be so happy to receive them. I am willing to bring the letters and cards with me so let your students be creative!

Some things to remember: If your students wish to help Our Home by donating a pencil please collect only new, unused pencils and only ONE PENCIL PER STUDENT. I will be receiving many pencils and plan to bring them all with me in my backpack. Due to limited space in the backpack, please collect only pencils and not other school supplies.

If you need any advice on how to approach your schools, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You might get some push back, and you may have to really sell this event, but please remember this lesson will allow your students to contribute to a humanitarian project, while also teaching them about learning conditions in other parts of the world. It will help them realize the importance of education and how lucky they are to have it. It will show them that they can help others in need…sell this vision!

I hope you are motivated to participate and believe in what you are about to do wholeheartedly. If you do, we will succeed and you will be a leader delivering a beautiful message to your students and colleagues around you.

Best Wishes,

Lindsey

Little Big Help meets Jeju Island - Local youngsters lend a helping hand


Little Big Help Charity Project made the local papers in English and Korean!!

Jeju Weekly English Newspaper -
http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=924

Korean Halla Newspaper -
http://www.hallailbo.co.kr/searchview.php3?no=341696&read_temp=20100910&section=36

Little Big Help Charity Concert - SUCCESS!!




Congratulations to all participants for helping to raise 1,040,000 won ($892) for Our Home orphanage and Good Shepard Primary School.


After a successful night of music, poetry and dance we have made a difference in the lives of under privileged children in India! This money will go towards basic needs of the children like food, clothing, and shelter.

Thank you gratiously to all participants!