In This Issue

Keeping the Dream Alive

Of my painting collection adorning the walls of our home, my favourite is a 1.20 x 1.80 m. graphic painting of three boxes containing angelic faces saying Help the Children, Help the Schools, Help the Villages. Simple, but I think, powerful and at the same time most endearing. This logo has helped focus the attention of clubs of D3400 to dedicate their year to serve the children. It has served as an identifiable symbol for the alleviation of the plight of children resulting from what is now termed the Asian meltdown, with Indonesia being the worst affected.

Of 38 million school children, a few million will have to drop out. The government, with their obvious limitations can only help a portion. The rest is up to us. The problem is overwhelming. Would our well meaning effort end up like , as us Javanese would say, nguyahi segoro, or adding salt to the ocean. But a few drops in the ocean is better than no drop.

We dared to dream, because maybe that was all we felt we had at that time. With determination, but not without some trepidation, we launched the program, traveled, promoted, and finally hoped for the best. Our prayers were answered. President James Lacy’s Children’s Opportunity Grant was a Godsend, a dutch GSE team mobilised large sums of club to club assistance, matching grants flowed in from a number of countries, including Malaysia, and just recently an e-mail from my contemporary IPDG Datuk Stephen of D3310 pledging support.

Thank you. This newsletter is dedicated to all of you who have been part of my dream. God has answered our prayers through the hearts and minds of you blessed people. For a moment just think of what you’ve done for us. In total some USD XXX,000 have been raised for the Help program. Going through each proposal, with pencil and paper we look at the number of children affected by each project; library projects, benches and desks, writing books and utensils, food supplement, school fees, the list goes on and on. Adding them all up, our Help Program is touching the lives of nearly 40,000 children!

A drop in the ocean? I certainly don’t think so. This may be one reason the program has been designated a three year undertaking for the district. This media is intended to provide updates on statuses, news, reports and accountability from the Help Committee.

I believe in the legendary Long March, a hundred miles starts with one step. That first step has been taken.

I am asked constantly asked whether I am relieved now that I’m an IPDG. It seems to be a difficult question to answer since I have this recurring thought in the back of my mind

the woods are lovely dark and deep
but I have promises to keep
many more miles to go
before I sleep
many miles before I sleep

this is one promise I have to keep

IPDG Mustain Sjadzali
Executive Chairman, Help Project