One summer day in 2003, Sylvia decided to stop thinking about the state of the world and actually do something about it. Sylvia was concerned about the struggles this small country of Laos has been facing over the past 3 decades and decided to visit this tiny country in South East Asia alone in hopes of finding a way to help the children currently struggling there. As an artist, she sold some paintings to buy a plane ticket, packed her flip flops, and a copy of "Lonely Planet" and began her journey to Vientiane, the capitol of Laos. From there she managed her way through the mountains stopping along the way until she reached a village called Ban Kiukacham. Sylvia immediately felt that this was the village she had imagined and through a bilingual companion she met along the way asked the village chief if there was anything she could do to help this beautiful village filled with kids and hope.

The village chief responded with a tear and blessing as though a miracle had come their way. He immediately brought together other village leaders and proceeded to inform her, via her new friend and translator, about the state of their community. They spoke for hours and concluded with a promise and an agreement to help their children by offering them the tools needed to gain an education and promote hope that these children will become a positive influence in the future of Laos and the rest of the world. What she didn't realize was that this small village of Ban Kiukacham supported 10 surrounding villages located lower in the mountains with over 3000 children residing in poverty.

Somewhat overwhelmed, she left the village knowing that she had made promises to 10 villages and in essence adopted over 3,000 kids. Upon arriving back to Toronto, she registered her work as THE CHI-KI CHILDREN'S CHARITY, dedicated to raising funds towards the health and educational needs of children.

In starting this foundation, she learned that you have to go through the system to change "The System". Today, Chi-Ki Children's Charity builds educational infrastructure and structures development projects for public and private sectors. Sylvia is an ambassador for children; protecting their right to an education and brighter future.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LAOS BELOW

MAP OF LAOS PDR

MAP OF BAN KIUKACHAM ON ROUTE 13

 

From 1964 through 1973, this impoverished, landlocked country endured one of history's heaviest bombing campaigns. During the war, the US conducted 580,000 bombing runs over Laos - one every 9 minutes for 10 years. It is estimated that over 2 million tons of ordnance was unloaded on the countryside, double the amount dropped on Nazi Germany in World War II.

To this day, Laos (Vietnam's neighbour to the west) continues to be considered the most heavily bombed country in the entire world.

According to historian facts, the U.S. bombing was designed to cut the North Vietnamese supply lines that looped into Laos on a route to communist forces in South Vietnam and Cambodia.

Cluster bombs were the weapon of choice.

Cluster bombs, nicknamed "bombies" were used to penetrate the jungle canopy and cover vast acreage worth of ground. The bombing runs were designed to wipe out convoys or enemy troops beneath the trees. The United States dropped 80 million cluster bomblets on Laos. 10% to 30% did not explode, leaving between 8 and 24 million UXO (unexploded ordinances) scattered across the country contaminating 15 of Laos' 18 provinces.

"Bombies" irresistible to children

Children seem to find bombies irresistible, especially the BLU-24/B, kids call "orange" for its spherical shape. The Laotian government's bomb cleanup agency, UXO Lao, is trying to teach kids to stay away from unexploded ordnance, no matter how colorful. But it can be a tough sell says UXO Lao spokesman Bounpheng Sisavath: "It looks like food, an orange or an apple. They play; it explodes."

Recently, three Laoation kids, ages 10 to 12, picked up a BLU-26 submunition and tried to crack it open. Perhaps to use the pellets inside in their slingshots. Their prying detonated the bomblet and sent the pellets ripping into their bodies killing all three. These types of stories occur 2 to 3 times per week.

According to World Bank, the CIA's fact book (2003), Laos has a number of devastating facts associated with it's country and people. The presence of unexploded cluster bomblets and other ordnance limits economic development in Laos. As one of the poorest countries in Asia here are some economic and social indicators for Laos compared to the region and the USA.

Population of Laos - 5.9 Million / East Asia & Pacific - 1.8 Billion / USA - 288 Million

Life expectancy in Laos - 54.5 yrs / East Asia & Pacific - 69.4 yrs / USA - 78 yrs

Illiteracy (15+ that can't read) Laos - 33.6% / East Asia & Pacific - 12.7% / USA - 3%

Annual Income Laos - $310 / East Asia & Pacific - $950 / USA - $37,600

Deaths/1000 births Laos 87 / East Asia & Pacific - 33 / USA - 7

Phone Lines /1000 people Laos - 15 / East Asia & Pacific-207 / USA - 1,118

Phone lines include all fixed and mobile lines.

Data is 2002 with exception of phone line data (2001)

Despite their tumultuous past, Lao people remain peaceful, tolerant, and devout Buddhists. The villages we work with are very poor; they use primitive medical practices, and the children have the highest illiteracy rate in Asia. The children work everyday with open sores, bloody noses, and skin ulcerations.

Our goal is to aid them with education, economic development, health and hygiene, agriculture and basic sanitation, while allowing them to remain self-sufficient.

With your support, we can do more to help the children.