Bulgaria finished...on to Thailand!

So much good news to tell you! I've waited 5 years to have information like this to share with you!

We finished our 1st test of the B2F anti-trafficking materials in Bulgaria among gypsies and orphan children of various ages--and the 2nd test is well underway in Thailand at a safe house for very young children.

The reports are all great!

 
Remember, our goal in this phase is to test the 6-session wordless book (above) and 70-page companion curriculum with kids of all ages to find holes or anything we need to change. Once we get feedback from children and students, we'll make changes and begin printing.

Here's what the kids and teachers have told us:

Bulgaria

From the director: "Last week we finished testing your book and curriculum, and everyone is so impressed with it. Valeria kept their attention well; these children were orphans, ages 6-18. She taught three different classes. Here is a picture of those in attendance last week:

"We are all a part of Born2Fly now. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this process."

From the teacher: This skilled teacher took the story about Blossom [main character in the book], her life and her friends and ran with it! She found so many areas to expand on the lessons we taught in the curriculum and customized it for the specific situations that her children face--exactly what we wanted to happen.

This teacher, who is Bulgarian, even offered to help us expand the lessons if we want to add to the curriculum. She also offered to help us condense the material to a shorter format since she did not have 6 sessions with the kids. We're thrilled by her offer, of course!

From the director just today: "We used Born2Fly again this week as we hosted a new group of orphans from the northwestern part of Bulgaria. A sponsor brought them up here for a week at the Black Sea. They heard the lessons and did not want to leave here.  So Born2Fly continues to 'blossom' in Bulgaria."

 Thailand

We're testing at one of the safe houses that I visited when I was researching the B2F Project, so it's very exciting to know that the kids I met are now reading about Blossom. This is the home where one of the little boys spoke of the van that goes around the neighborhood taking children.

Here's what the teacher emailed me:

First report: "We did our first lesson last night. The kids enjoyed making up their own names for the characters. I'm telling the story in English. We had 3 kids who seemed to turn their attention elsewhere and I'm thinking it may be the language so, I thought I'd try it again with just those 3 in Thai.  

"They were all very interested in the story. So far so good. Thanks again for giving us a chance to participate in this. I really appreciate it."

Second report: "We just completed the second part of the first lesson. When I got to the part where Blossom put the note on the door, I thought the kids were going to rip the book right out of my hands to find out what happens next. They were so interested.

"I spoke in Thai this time and all eyes were fixed on the pictures. I think using their mother tongue really helped the kids who weren't paying attention the first time.

"[Kim] asked me if she could have a copy of the book when I was finished teaching it to them. Some kids have books they like to read over and over again. I think this is one of them. It's safe to say it's going well so far."

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Thank you for making all these wonderful reports possible through your encouragement, prayers, and financial support. You really are helping us reach kids before the traffickers do.

 

 

Comments

[Lusso Bags]

Really awesome! Love the idea of a word-less book for communicating with children. Also thought that videos could help communicate to kids in this techie-era--amazing how even in remote villages they often have cell phones and internet.

[John stanko]

Great feedback and progress. I know it's been slow, but you will never know the lives touched and changed by this work, nor will you fully realize what you have prevented from happening by enduring through this project.

Well done, good and faithful servant, saith the Lord!