Operation Dig is Finished!

I just received news this morning that the well at Panti Asuhan Sinar Kasih is complete.

It looks like the nursery school kids are getting their first baths with the clean, on-site water!  My dear friend Novi (who sends the great pictures) tells me the water tastes wonderful.  

I can't be more over-joyed with the success of this project.  Thank you to everyone who showed their support financially and to those helped get this project off the ground (in the US and in Sumba).  If you didn't get a chance to donate, or would still like to make a contribution, please feel free to send your donation.  I will make sure it gets to these fantastic children to help with school supplies and nourishment.  

I will keep everyone posted as SYI moves forward.  We have some big decisions to make in the future.

Great job!!!  

PASK has water!

I received an update (and some new photos) a few days ago from my contact on the ground, Novi.   She tells me that the crew hit water!

They will dig a bit further to ensure a large reservoir has been reached.  The well depth should be just under 20 meters.   During the dig, they have found many shells - a sign have how the island Sumba was formed!

The kids are super excited about having their own well at the orphanage.  No more lugging water in the hot sun from the stream. 

All donations for the well have been received and the last installment has been sent to Sumba.  The crew will begin capping the well and installing a pump to bring the water up!  I can't tell you how exciting it is to see this project actually being completed!!!

SYI will continue to accept donations to fund other projects at the orphanage.  If you choose to send a little help their way, let me know if you prefer to help with building/ground maintenance, education fees and supplies, or food!

Easter Egg Extravaganza

The Nixon crew has returned to the States, but work continues at PASK.  The bathrooms are complete.

Digging of the well continues.  I am told that the crew was about 25 feet down (halfway to estimated depth).  Progress has been slow due to rain, but moving forward nonetheless. 

Since my return to the US, I have been speaking at area churches and to local student groups.  Let me know if you or your organization would like to hear from me in person and we can try to arrange something!  In addition, my Mom concocted a little fundraiser.  We made chocolate-covered Easter Eggs and sold them locally in SE Ohio.  The fundraiser was more successful than we imagine and in fact we had to STOP taking orders as we did not have the manpower to fill all of the requests.  In just two weeks, SYI made a profit of $740 from the Easter Egg Extravaganza!  This money will be used to put the finishing touches on the well and to pay for school fees and supplies.  How FREAKING FANTASTIC!!!!

I will post pictures of construction progress as soon as I unpack my camera!

Construction is underway!

 Digging has begun at PASK.  The crew was able to dig almost 2M (just about 6 feet) on the first day through rock!

They have constructed a guard rail out of bamboo around the well site to keep curious children from playing in and around the large hole.  I am pleased with their work ethic and the thought they put into step of the construction.  

We have run into one issue with the placement of the well and its proximity to the restroom facilities at PASK.  In choosing the site, I inquired as to where the drain from the toilet was.  It is important to be sure there is at least 10M between the well and any drains for sewage.  This distance is required for the water to be cleaned and purified by the soil before it reaches the well water supply.  

What I discovered was that the existing restrooms are no longer functioning and in fact the toilets are beyond repair.  "Outdoor" facilities are currently being utilized.  This alteration raised even more red flags for me.  Without one specific spot for sewage, there is no way to be confident about the quality of the water let alone the hygiene of the grounds surrounding PASK.  

SYI has decided to include construction of 2 new restrooms at a safe distance from the well as part of Operation Dig.  This construction has begun as well for several reasons.  

1.  It is important to have new facilities in place before the water from the well is being utilized.
2.  Digging for the well can be halted periodically due to rain.  During these periods, the construction crew can work on the restrooms.

With the addition of this new aspect to the project, we are still in need of an additional $300 to complete construction.  If you are someone you know would like to help support this project, email us sumbayouthinitiative@gmail.com or click on the donation button in the side bar!

Berdoa Air

Staying true to Sumbanese tradition, A Berdoa Air ceremony was held at the Panti Asuhan Sinar Kasih.  For this celebratory ceremony, all of the kids were dressed to the nines in traditional sumbanese attire.  They even had an outfit for Colby to wear (though he wasn’t interested).  The children took turns singing songs for our entertainment.

We feasted on local Sumbanese fair of vegetables, rice, and fried chicken.

After lunch, a prayer was said by the couple that run the orphanage to ask God and their Sumbanese ancestors for permission to dig into the Earth.  Even though most people from Sumba are Christian (Catholic or Protestant), they still pay respect to traditions of time gone by.  For this ceremonial nod, siripina (beetle nut) was placed in the ground at the well site as a gift to their marapu ancestors, and a chicken was given to Daniel the overseer of the construction crew hired to dig the well.

Everything is officially ready!

Ready for School!

SYI would like to send a BIG Thank You to the Women’s Mission Society from Torch Baptist Church for donating enough money to purchase new uniforms for all 40 children at the Panti Asuhan Sinar Kasih. 

THANK YOU!!! 

SYI was able to purchase 1 school uniform with a hat, 1 pair of socks, 1 pair of shoes, 2 pairs of underwear, and a new backpack for each child from pre-school to high school living at the orphanage.  SYI on-site liason, Esti, lead this project.  She negotiated with a retailer to come to the orphanage so that each kid could try on their new uniform and shoes and pick out a backpack.  Our other on-site liason, Novi, took many photos of the fantastically organized chaos. 

The girls tried on their new outfits first.

While the boys patiently waited in the lesson area. 

My own sweet boy Colby helped to keep them entertained with chicken antics.

The pre-school kids were thrilled with their new duds!

The kids all managed to stay clean while they waited for each and everyone to be outfitted in a spiffy new uniform.  It didn’t stop them from modeling for the camera, though!

Water Test: Agus Mole

Agus Mole, the resident water guy in Waitabula, performed “The Test” today to check for water and the best location to dig at the orphanage, and to estimate the approximate depth.  He did this with a divining rod. 

 (I am not sure why he left his motorbike helmet on!)

I know there is much controversy as to whether or not divining water is possible.  The scientist in me squirmed the entire time since I am unaware of any reliable data indicating that water diviners are any better than pure chance.  In Sumba, however, tradition must be adhered to.  No respectable construction crew will begin digging a well until a “test” has been performed.    

My estimate and budget are based on existing wells near Panti Asuhan.  Wells at the top of the hill are close to 40M deep.  Wells further down the hill only go about 25M.  Given the elevation of the orphanage, the depth of the water table is most likely in the 20M-25M range.  I calculated the budget with a digging depth of 40M to ensure ample funds for well completion.  Regardless of my research, certain customs and traditions must be followed here.   

Mr. Mole met me at the orphanage 3 days ago to determine the best spot for the well and estimate the approximate depth of the well.  Mr. Mole and his divining rod (and at one point two green tree limbs) determined that a spot near the cooking area would be the best spot, and he estimates that we will only need to dig approximately 17M to reach water.  He recommends digging an extra 3M to ensure a large reservoir of water.  This estimate is in the ballpark of the depth my research indicates.  If Mr. Mole’s estimation is correct, SYI will have money leftover to make some much need repairs at the orphanage.  Including, some safety repairs to their “playground” as well as repairing the gutters around the house.

First, water!  SO..... when are we going to break ground?  If you take a look at the sidebar....Go ahead and check out the sidebar, I’ll wait......

See!  Isn’t it great??  SYI received a flood of donations this weekend.  

Now that we have more than $1500, I feel comfortable beginning well construction.  The digging starts this week!!!   I will post pictures of the progress as often as possible!.

Looking for some handmade love

We are collecting handmade items for the Panti Asuhan Sinar Kasih! 
Our current campaign is for two specific categories:
1. twin-sized blankets: We are in the tropics so light weight fibers only.  All blankets will be handwashed with whatever detergent is available.  Please keep these parameters in mind when selecting yarn for your project.
2.  toys:  These children have few, if any, toys.  They would love a squishy, toy made with love.

Currently, there are 39 kids living at the orphanage.  20 girls and 19 boys ranging in age from 2-19.  I can provide a US address or an Indonesian address for shipping.  Deadline for this campaign is March 1st!  Please email sumbayouthinitiative@gmail.com if you would like to participate!








 Also.... Operation Dig is still underway!  Digging is set to start next week!!  We still need donations to purchase the materials to finish the well (solid, cement walls, and a cement cover - for safety!) and to install a pump to bring the water up!