Would you help this child?

Marites wrote me a letter asking help for her neighbor’s daughter, who is in need of a HEARING AID.

Dennis and Marites are both handicapped. They are now making greeting cards to help support themselves. They have kind hearts, and always look for ways that they can help others.

Dear Ma’am Elisabet,    How are you ma’am?..Its been a long time that I never see you.I hope you are doing fine together with your family.I’m so glad meeting your friends who visiting us here in our house,especially Ma’am Mette.She is very kind and nice person.You know Ma’am,she bought my cards.The money that I earned from her I was used buying the medicine of my father and payment for the technician who fix our TV. I write you because I miss you Ma’am, also I have something to ask you. I hope you can help me about this. I have a neighbor who is a child. Her name is Maria Joanette Balansag. She is three years old now. First time I meet her I never know that she has a problem about her HEARING because she act like the normal child. One time I was able to talk to her mother and through our conversation I knew the STORY of the child. While I’m listening her I felt so pity to the child. The mother told me that the doctor told them that the child needs a HEARING AIDS as soon as possible if they can buy it.Because if they can’t have the hearing aids maybe the hearing of the child will becomes worst.The doctor said that there’s a possibility  that the child will become complete DEAF-MUTE.The mother told me that she wants her child grow up in a normal life,and she  want her child to go school as what other children do.You know Ma’am,she said this with tear eyes.Because it sad to say that they can’t afford to have the HEARING AIDS. I try to share this to you Ma’am because,maybe you have friends that can help this child.I want to help them but I don’t have nothing to help them.I write you about  this because maybe through this I can help them in a little way.I hope Ma’am you have friends with a kind HEART that willing to help the child. We miss you Ma’am..take care always..God bless you always!.. Love lots, Marites You can help Maria by giving a donation to our Rise Above Paypal Account and we will help Maria get a hearing aid when we have enough money for it. You will receive a personal letter in return as a thank you for your contribution. Please send us an email to – elisabet@riseabove-cebu.org – with information of the amount you sent and your home address. We really appreciate your help with this. YOU CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

DENTISTS WORK AS VOLUNTEERS IN CEBU

Sabah Hussain and Rachel Adams are 26 and 27 years old. Both of them graduated as dentists in 2007 and have worked as dentists in England since then. In August 2010, they decided to work as volunteers in various parts of the world.

Dr. Rachel and Dr. Sabah in the Rise Above mobile clinic, which among other places was set up in a 40 foot container at the BBRC Women's Prison in Cebu.

The two dentists have during their time in Cebu worked in several institutions. The last place they treated patients were at the BBRC Women’s Prison , and prior to that, they treated children at a rubbish dump, at an institution for abused girls and for criminal youth. The most emotional experience they had was at the youth prison “Operation Second Chance”. Here they treated children and adolescents between 13 and 18 years old. It was a fantastic experience treating them, as they took time to listen to some of the youngsters sad and tragic stories. It was the first time any of them had seen a dentist as it is rare to receive free treatment. Daily they felt gratitude and joy from the youngsters, and they got a glimpse into their every-day life in the prison. Sabah said: “Where else in the world do you find a Prison with karaoke and dancing. ”

 

Rachel and Sabah enjoyed working together with their two assistants Mars and Johnny, 2 Filipino volunteers who had never worked in a clinic before, but who learned fast. They were excellent assistants, said Rachel and Sabah - just as good as any assistants they had had working for them in their clinics in England.

Both girls were volunteers at Rise Above 4 years ago in connection with an internship during their education and found their stay so rewarding that they again this year joined the Dental Mission in Cebu. It will not be the last time the girls will do voluntary work. As Rachel said, “I feel so much more useful here” and Sabah adds: “People are so positive”. For Rachel and Sabah voluntary work is not only an experience; it is an alternative to their profession.  “It’s an alternative to a traditional specialty … And also a way to keep my interest alive “, says Sabah.

The article is written by Rasmus Vincent Boas Fich, a Danish volunteer with the Rise Above Foundation in Cebu.