ON THE ROAD REPORT FROM ISABELLE LA MOTTE

On Monday, we traveled three hours by van to the north of Laos. Our
destination was an orphanage that we knew was much worse off than the one we had been working at for the past week in Luang Prabang.

When we arrived, the kids didn't have the same bright smiles on their faces like the kids at Deak Kum Pa. We could tell that they weren't used to outsiders coming to lend a hand and we knew that it would take some work for them to be able to open up to us.

We brought them shampoo, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and came back the next day with fresh food and toys.

A lot of kids that end up in orphanages in Laos aren't actually orphans, but their parents can't afford to take care of them. During the summer the kids who can go home and visit their families do.

The 15 kids we met have families to go home to during the summer break, but instead they are forced to stay at the orphanage for an extra month and a half to protect it.

At first, we weren't quite sure what this entailed, but we soon learned that the kids had to watch the orphanage at night in order to make sure no one stole their food or anything else from the grounds.

This means that the boys, some who look as young as seven years old, are expected to fight off thieves who may be armed. I still can't wrap my mind around this.

We also learned that during this month and a half they only get two meals of white rice a day -- meanwhile there are chickens and turkeys on the grounds that the teachers own, but the students don't have access to.

The condition these kids live in is disturbing to me.

Tonight we will meet with Andrew Brown and make him aware of the conditions at this orphanage.

I really really hope that there is something he can do to help these kids.

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at July 12, 2012 09:36 AM

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