Borneo Children's Blog

donate - ammado

2010-09-03T14:21:00.000+08:00

donate - ammado

Lahad Datu KIds dancing Bamboo Pole Dance Singkil

2010-08-22T23:24:00.000+08:00

Lahad Datu Sports 2010

2010-07-05T09:30:00.000+08:00

Facebook | Borneo Child Aid Society/Humana

2010-06-16T16:55:00.000+08:00

Facebook | Borneo Child Aid Society/Humana

UNICEF Visit - Borneo Child Aid Society - Picasa Web Albums

2010-06-14T18:49:00.000+08:00

UNICEF Visit - Borneo Child Aid Society - Picasa Web Albums

Masa untuk bergambar..:)

2010-01-27T21:25:00.001+08:00

Masa untuk bergambar..:), originally uploaded by RosleeKarim @ Spylens Studio.

2010-01-27T21:22:00.001+08:00

, originally uploaded by RosleeKarim @ Spylens Studio.

Baturong 3 Kids and parliament members

2007-01-21T11:12:00.001+08:00

Sports06 048, originally uploaded by tor_ven.

We had a visit by 9 members of Indonesian parliament.
Please see also gallery on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/borneochildaid-org

School Bus2

2007-01-21T11:08:00.001+08:00

Sports06 158, originally uploaded by tor_ven.

School Bus - Borneo Style

2007-01-21T11:07:00.001+08:00

Sports06 151, originally uploaded by tor_ven.

Children are transported by the plantation company to school every day in this trailer.

Canon Donation

2007-01-21T11:01:00.001+08:00

Sports06 187, originally uploaded by tor_ven.

Canon Area manager for Sabah Mr. Jonathan Lee Visits our project with donationof 300 school bags and 30 new Canon printers.

Graduations Sakilan

2007-01-21T10:57:00.001+08:00

K7501 540, originally uploaded by tor_ven.

Min of Edu Seminar in Lahad Datu

2006-12-19T19:40:00.000+08:00

Teachers Night

2006-12-15T12:36:00.000+08:00

New school in Balung Eco Resort

2006-12-14T10:44:00.000+08:00

Graduates in Luangmanis

2006-12-08T18:14:00.000+08:00

Tangkulap graduates

2006-12-07T16:37:00.000+08:00

2006-12-07T16:19:00.000+08:00

2006-10-24T17:00:00.000+08:00

2006-10-23T01:11:00.000+08:00

Borneo Child Aid Kids Singing

Children in Learning Centre Pegagau Estate.

2006-10-15T20:13:00.000+08:00

Borneo Children Concert

Adrianus Yakup, Teacher in Maywin 2 with his fabulous Children.

Breaking fast with indonesian teachers.

2006-10-13T19:06:00.000+08:00

Pak Iskandar indonesian consul invites in Lahad Datu.

Lineup Teachers meeting in Morisem 3 IOI

2006-10-10T13:06:00.000+08:00

New school in Cantawan

2006-10-06T19:26:00.000+08:00

New schoolbuilding in Melangking.

2006-10-06T01:28:00.000+08:00

Our good friend Chee with Mark of course.

On the way across the Kinabatangan River

2006-10-06T01:19:00.000+08:00

Sports in Maywin 2

2006-09-29T01:53:00.000+08:00

Great Sports event in Maywin 2, hosted by senior teacher Adrianus Yakup.

New Indonesian teachers doing a good job there.

Borneo Child Aid/
Humana Child Aid Society Sabah
www.borneochildaid.org
P.O. box 61850
91127 Lahad Datu
Sabah Malaysia
Tel: (+60) 089-866857/019-8084402
Fax: (+60) 03-21784113
Email: info@borneochildaid.org/tor_ven@yahoo.com

Fordeco Learning Centre

2006-09-11T00:21:00.000+08:00

Children and Indonesian teachers at meeting.

Winners of Pegagau Sports 2006

2006-09-10T21:21:00.000+08:00

Surprise Winner Madai with teacher Rosmi and runners up, Aida And Cherry

Letter to the Ambassador of Finland to Malaysia

2006-09-09T01:16:00.000+08:00

Lahad Datu 09/09/2006

To Mr. Lauri Korpinen
Ambassador of Finland

Dear Ambassador,

Thank You again for your unwavering support, which has helped us to continue our project and to reach many hundred more children in Sabah’s plantations.

Hereby an Update of the project, which you have helped to keep afloat during the past 3 years.
We have had a very busy year with opening of more centres in the plantations, and specially the opening of a centre for 120 local Bajau fishermens’ children on Timbun Mata Island off Semporna. The parents cannot afford to send their children to the nearest government school, which is 2 hours away in a small boat.
We have started the project in cooperation with the local assemblyman, Datuk Mohd Lan Alani.
We have also planned to start some “sea-based” schools for the indigenous group, the Bajau Laut or Sea Gypsies, who traditionally live all their lives on boats on the sea, and only go ashore to be buried.
Many of their children have no chance of schooling, and end as outcasts or beggars in town.

We started the centre in Pintasan 8 in January this year with 40 children
The Centre in Kg. Tandoan officially opened in March with 120 children.
In June we opened one more town school in Dam Road in Lahad Datu for 150 children.
In July we opened a school in Cantawan Estate for 60 children
In August we opened the first of the 3 schools in Permodalan Estate with 60 children.
In September we will open Labuk with 80 children,
Nam Hing with 60 children,
Laukin with 60 children,
Permodalan 3 with 60 children,
Balung River Eco Resort with 80 children.
And there will surely be more to open before the year has passed.

Children in Primary One Children from Andum Plantation, receiving first . group of teachers from Indonesia.

It is of lifelong consequence for these children, that they get this chance, and the money and time we spend, cannot be spent any better in my opinion.
Your support during the past 3 years and at this time for our children’s education project has meant a lot. It may result in even wider reach now, especially as under an agreement between Malaysia and Indonesia, the Malaysian Government is now asking us to facilitate the posting of Indonesian teachers to help teaching the children in the plantations. It means that we will get a lot more to do, and that a lot more children will get the chance for a basic education.
We have received the first 25 teachers, and will on monday receive 26 more teachers to be posted in our plantation learning centres in Sabah. The first group are committed and well educated young people, so we have high hopes for the future.

I just had a communication with Mr. Børge Petersen, the Danish Ambassador to Malaysia. He was happy to hear of your continued contribution to our work. I hereby also wish to express my hope, that the crucial support, which we have been receiving from your side will continue.

I have understood that Finland’s presidency of the EU is giving you a very busy time, and that you may not reach a visit to our centres in 2006. We will look forward to receiving a visit from you in the first part of 2007. Should your time allow it, you are of course always welcome to visit our project personally with your family or any representative from the Embassy.

Yours Sincerely

Torben Venning
Handphone +60 13 8884402
Borneo Child Aid Society
P.O. Box 61850, 91127 Lahad Datu Office: +60 89-866857 Fax: +60 3-21784113

New Indonesian Teachers with children from Andum Plantation

2006-09-03T00:40:00.000+08:00

Indonesian teachers present themselves

2006-09-02T21:51:00.000+08:00

2006-08-01T23:32:00.000+08:00

Tomanggong Sports

2006-07-28T21:56:00.000+08:00

Evening Program

2006-07-28T16:21:00.000+08:00

Rainy Sports in TMG

2006-07-28T16:00:00.000+08:00

Opening of Sports in Tomanggong

2006-07-28T15:45:00.000+08:00

All managers

2006-07-15T15:10:00.000+08:00

Sports Festival 15/7 2006 in Syarimo, IOI Corporation.

2006-06-26T18:37:00.000+08:00

Founding Meeting with Datin Shuryani and committee about starting joint project in Semporna.

2006-06-24T12:29:00.000+08:00

Here is location of new centre in Lahad Datu. On top of local shop houses. 200 children of foreigners will study here.

2006-06-01T18:49:00.000+08:00

Sky Over Lahad Datu

2006-05-30T18:10:00.000+08:00

Lahad Datu

2006-05-24T12:48:00.000+08:00

Kids from Balung River Estate

2006-05-24T11:49:00.000+08:00

Class

2006-05-22T09:13:00.000+08:00

Our staff in Lahad Datu. Eva Alfanta, Pepe Retes and Radzna Nurami.

Wooden Towns for charity

2006-05-22T03:14:00.000+08:00

Borneo Blog

Dear All,

These are some of the first finished wonderfull wooden toys, which we will market in order to make money for our project. The package will contain 25 different houses and 2 tins of paint and a small paintbrush.
Inquiries are welcome: info@borneochildaid.org

2006-05-21T13:44:00.000+08:00

Toys we are making to create income for the project. Here a wooden town.

2006-05-21T12:02:00.000+08:00

Children from Pegagau

Thanks for the Presents to the Indonesian Edu Dep

2006-05-21T11:54:00.000+08:00

We received a lot of good school materials from the Indonesian Education Department through the Indonesian Consulate in Kota Kinabalu.

It brings a lot of happiness for our deserving children!

2006-05-21T11:15:00.000+08:00

Borneo Child Aid Society (Reg 123/96)

P.O. Box 61850, 91127 Lahad Datu

Office: +60 89-866857 Fax: +60 3-21784113

www.borneochildaid.org

Email: info@borneochildaid.org

H/P +60 13-8884402

Posting from my cell phone!

2006-05-20T23:10:00.000+08:00

Pintasan 8

2006-05-19T01:21:00.000+08:00

Children from Pintasan 8 with teacher Budi

Severe Flooding

2006-05-17T01:44:00.000+08:00

Borneo Child Aid Weblog
Lahad Datu 14/5 2006

Dear All,

Just back from meeting in our centre in Pintasan 8 Estate (Kwantas Corporation, Lahad Datu), which only today was properly initiated, since it has been isolated and under water for about 3 months. The rising river created a vast lake several square kilometers big and surrounded the labour lines as well as our learning centre,.
In spite of this more than 40 happy children of plantation workers have been going to school there every day for the past 4 months with their teacher Budi Osman.
We brought with us presents for the kids given to us by the Indonesian consulate, which created great happiness among the kids, who even under normal conditions still live far inside through mud roads and crossing a few rivers on the way (Orangutan, Sumatran rhinoceros and wild cows roam the forests around, which connect to the famous Danum Valley Lowland Rainforest).
A most enjoyable experience, and an important event for the deserving children in Pintasan 8 Estate.

Best Regards

Torben Venning

____________________________________________________________________
29. April Kota Kinabalu

We had a beautiful ceremony, where the Carlsberg Corporate Affairs Director
Mr. Chin Voon Loong handed over a cheque of M$ 15,000 from the Golf Tournament arranged by Carlsberg. 7 Children and their teacher James Paul, all from Tabin Estate delivered a beautiful musical performance, so no eye was dry. First a song about the Children of the Future and then a Choral Speech about the basis for a good society.

Thanks a lot to Pearl Lai for arranging.

The Kids had a wonderful trip, sleeping at Mount Kinabalu, later at the seaside, then visiting Poring Hot Springs on the way back home.

Torben Venning

Visitors from Jakarta and from Indonesian Consulate in KK

2006-04-30T13:49:00.000+08:00

In April we had visitors from Indonesia to Balung River Estate.

2 Children died last month due to Dengue Fever and Snakebite.

2006-03-05T23:22:00.000+08:00

Borneo blog

I am sad to break the disturbing news, that we have had two fatalities among the children in the Humana Learning Centres during the past days. Since the tragic death of our teacher Suprianus Diro July 2004, we have been spared of fatalities among both children and staff.

One is an 11 year old girl, who has been a pupil for 5 years in our centre in Linbar 2 plantation under IOI. She was bitten by a cobra inside the family’s kitchen only 3 days ago (I was informed the day after). Linbar 2 is at this time flooded, so that even our teacher could not attend our last meeting. The staff transported her by 4 WD car through the only open route to the hospital in Sandakan, where she died 4 hours after being bitten. I understand that anti venom must be given within one hour of being bitten, and due to the circumstances, I think they have done their very best to save her. Only a helicopter might have given her a chance to survive.
The other child was a new pupil in the school in Kg. Tandoan, Timbun Mata, who was admitted with Dengue Fever to the hospital in Semporna and died soon after. The health authorities have been there to take precautions, so that this should not spread.

We are making a collection among all parents for the families of the two children. The money collected in Lahad Datu will go for the child in Kg. Tandoan, while we collect for the child in Linbar 2 in the Sandakan schools. Teachers and staff in Humana will also contribute.
If anyone else is interested in contributing, you are welcome!

We are advising all teachers to take special precautions agains these and other dangers, that face our children.
But the two deaths are tragic exceptions, as there is no doubt that the health situation for plantation children has improved a lot compared to 10 years ago, where malaria fatalities where normal. I am at this time looking for a nurse, who we will employ, and who will have the job to travel to each of our centres and register the health situation of each child, and to give advises as to proper hygiene.

Yours sincerely

Torben Venning

Borneo Child Aid Weblog

2005-12-18T18:48:00.000+08:00

Finally through all 49 children's houses graduation and recognition exercises. Ending at the far children's houses of Sandakan 2 with some beautiful performances by the children, dressed up beautifully in costumes. It cannot be expressed in words the experience coming through 50 km's of oilpalms with often desolate labourlines and then to enter the children's house beautifully decorated and with parents and kids dressed up. Linbar, Maywin, Tangkulap and Terusan Baru all highlights and more.

Borneo Blog

2005-12-07T02:22:00.000+08:00

Education going on. Teacher Suriani, Baturong 3 in action.

Borneo Child Aid Weblog

2005-12-06T01:16:00.000+08:00

Borneo Child Aid Weblog

2005-12-05T14:22:00.000+08:00

Today in Syarimo 7. Very nice performance by Junecels Kids. Well, she does not have it from strangers. Her dad is our senior teacher and "cofounder". Beautiful view from Childrens House over 20,000 Ha of Oil Palms.
Now sitting in Syarimo 2, waiting for parents to come back from field, so the show can commence. More people should experience this. Sending this over gprs with my mobile phone.

Another Graduation

2005-12-04T00:33:00.000+08:00

Graduation in Mewah Plantation this evening with teacher Ericson Antolin. The Children's House is one of the most miserable, so fortunately the plantation intends to provide a better house next year. But now basically an old store with holes in floor and roof and only a few small windows. So much more the contrast when the 50 or so children carry out an evening with beautiful dresses, performances, theatre, dancing, singing and high spirits. A good education can be carried out in an old shed! The MC's of the evening were a 12 year old boy and a girl at the same age. Fantastic program, even though it stretched in time far beyond what we normally allow. The Assistant manager held a good speech, where he said that the old saying "like father, like son" should not aply here. That the son of an oil palm harvester need not grow up to be an oil palm harvester again. He could become a manager, as long as we provide him the chance for an education.

Borneo Child Aid Weblog: Moderator

2005-12-03T07:24:00.000+08:00

Borneo Child Aid Weblog: Moderator

Dear all,

Back from 18 hours in bustling KL, very good meetings with JM and head of UNICEF Ms. Gaye Philips and Danish Embassy, attended beautiful graduations in Tomanggong Estates, on the way to Lahad Datu through Tabin Wildlife: Close encounter with at least 4 Elephants, borneon pygmy elephant, as the species is officially named. Pygmy, though does not seem to be the right word, when you encounter them. Awe made me loose the opportunity for photo evidence. Only got a shot through the dense foliage after they entered the forest. Sorry.

Conference

2005-12-03T06:54:00.000+08:00

20/11 2005
"Regional Conference on stateless/undocumented Children in Sabah"
Dear All,
We have just been part of a big 3 day conference arranged by Tenaganita of Malaysia trying to find answers to the pressing questions about what should be done for the more than 10,000 stateless/undocumented children in Sabah, of which we have 3,000 in our Children's Houses.

1) The conference participants were besides from the active ladies of Tenaganita, a number of local and regional NGOs and Church organisation as well as most of the relevant government agencies, such as the immigration department, the Federal Special Task Force, the Health Department, The National Registration Department, The Sabah Commisioner for SUHAKAM, Malaysias Human Rights Commision was there and furthermore representatives from the Philippine Embassy and from the Indonesian General Consulate and also the UNHCR and UNICEF.

2) Of the organisations Borneo Child Aid/Humana Child Aid Society was the organisation with "hands on" the problem of caring for these children. We were also the only organisation, which actually brought 2 children to the conference.
We were as such the only organisation presenting a part solution to the problem of the thousands of stateless/undocumented children.
At the fine start of the conference, where our two child participants initiated by lighting a candle for each member and giving their story, and further after our presentation on thursday, we were almost overwhelmed with the positive response from the other participants in the conference for our work .
The presentation of the Children's Houses was also a contrast to the more academic discussions, which probably is a necessary part of such a conference. It cut right to the bone in our pictural demonstration of how education for these children can be achieved with very few means and at very low cost. Our comparison of the price of having one child in school in Denmark to the price of running an entire small school for 50 or more of these children (RM 1250), showing that the first is considerably costlier, hit home.
Also the pictures of our children performing and in their uniforms took away the tendency to look at the undocumented children as a menace. Suddenly even a few local anti-immigrant representatives' voices started talking with some degree of respect about the children.
3) Results from the conference:
The conference recommended that a task force, comprising government and NGO representatives should be formed, and that the children should be given a legal status, which they do not have now (since plantation labourers are not supposed to marry and have children). This will depend on the local government taking up the invitation.
The conference decided to form a "Undocumented Children Network for Sabah", which means that we will maintain an unoffical contact between all parties. This was taken up very positively by the members, and can eventually result in the forming of a Children's Right Organisation in Sabah, which there is none of now (except for us). This we will of course participate actively in.

All the three major newspapers in Sabah carried articles about the conference in which our work was highlighted and the two children's stories were told. Borneo Child Aid/Humana Child Aid Society Sabah been exposed as never before.

It has been a good experience also to see that we, besides from you, have other allies in wanting to do something for these children.

Yours Sincerely

Torben Venning info@borneochildaid.org
Project Manager Borneo Child Aid/Humana Child Aid Society Sabah

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