Children are like bins of apples…

Posted by Ember Mumaw, Intern

…Sometimes they need sorting. So we began our time at Ulan orphanage this year in two ways, with a carnival, but also with a visit to update our Kids Connection program. Each year we get an update of the children at the orphanage as some move back with family, graduate, or run away. Those updates are recorded and sent to their sponsors. Ulan can sometimes be especially confusing, so we got advanced lists, gave advanced notice, and ensured the kids being there as we also gave out gifts.

And it was simply AMAZING! We had such an easy time. Finally, after years of working at Ulan, the caretakers welcomed us in, the majority of the kids were there, and it was as smooth as butter. Our lists have been updated and the kids got the tee-shirts and shoulder bags the August delegation had brought for them. We were happy our lists were complete, and the kids were happy at their gifts.

At Ulan, we still have many children needing sponsorship. Sponsorship allows us to do big projects like replace floors, purchase mattresses, or update heating systems, blessing the whole orphanage. Sponsorship is also about letting each child know that they matter. Here in KZ we hold birthday parties for the children and coordinate summer camps. On the U.S. side, sponsors write letters and/or send small gifts that children will hold onto for years and years. Just knowing that someone cares individually about them can make a huge difference. If you are interested, check out our Kids Connection sponsorship program.

Here are some pictures from our day!

Ulan Carnival

Posted by Asel Orumbayeva, Receptionist

Last Sunday, on the 21 of September (my one year anniversary of working for Interlink), I went to Ulan Orphanage with the Kid’s Connection department.  The event was "Ulan Carnival". It was a wonderful and warm day.  The air was so fresh and the sun was shining. We took a lot of different games to play outside. Also we had helpers from PTL (Polytechnic College were many orphan graduates study) and the Youth House (a home for orphans between the ages of 18 and 25 that are working or studying).

We divided into groups and each group was in charge of one game. We arrived at Ulan orphanage. There is a big yard there and after everybody had found a place for their game we called the children. In my game children had to throw bean bags into a board with holes.  It was a clown and the holes were its eyes and nose. Every kid had three chances to throw the bean bag. If a child hit even one hole, he or she got a prize. 

 It wasn’t my first experience working with these children, but it was the first time I had the chance to work with them without Sara or somebody from the Kid’s Connection department.  The game began!  I am sure that children had a lot of fun!  Children were standing in long lines and everybody wanted to get a prize.  I liked so much when children got a prize.  Their faces became so happy!  Some of them sometimes came, made sad faces and asked for a gift and it was so difficult to say “no”, especially when it was a little 5-6 year old kid.  But then Sara told me that I shouldn’t worry because the youngest children were 9-10 years old!  They know that they look young and the kids sometimes try to take advantage of it.  So interesting.

These children are different, big and little, shy and self-confident, but all of them need love and care. And I am so glad that even sometimes I can contribute a little piece of my heart to this great job that our company does.  

Many Hands Make Light Work

Posted by Sara Coggins, Kids Connection Manager

As part of our Kids Connection program, we try to make each child's birthday a special day to remember. Normally, we hold one large birthday party at each orphanage every month. Our parties usually include games, cake, gifts, dancing, and fun times together. We look forward to these parties as we get to spend time with a smaller group of children and we are able to make them feel special for a day.

In order to prepare for birthdays, the Kids Connection staff has been busy purchasing gifts for the children. This year we decided to give each child a pack of school supplies. These children look forward to the start of the school each year. We think that whenever their birthday is they will be excited to have a brand new pack of school supplies of their own.

In order to prepare the gifts, the whole office came together. We set up an assembly line and were able to get about 140 packs of school supplies ready in less than 30 minutes. It was fun to have everyone working (and laughing) together.

Turning Vacations Into Donations

Posted by Theresa Knauss, Board Member

Knowing that the majority of Americans (as well as people in other countries) consider the internet their travel agency, when Interlink was presented the opportunity to have its own online travel site, we jumped at the opportunity.

Interlink's travel website is:  www.interlinktravel.com.  If you go to it you will notice that it looks very similar to other big online agencies like Orbitz or Travelocity.  The difference is that instead of commissions going to the big companies and then back into advertising, with Interlink Travel 60% of commissions go directly to Interlink to use as needed for our work in Kazakhstan.  Thus the phrase, "Turning Vacations into Donations".

One of the greatest features of this fund raising program is that the trip you book will be exactly the same booked on Interlink Travel as it would be if you booked it through one of the other online booking engines, or even with a traditional travel agent.  This means the same seat on the same plane, the same berth on the same cruise ship, the same room at the same hotel, etc!  Please understand, we are not asking you to pay more for your vacation in order for Interlink to receive a donation.  The reality is, many times you will find a lower rate on Interlink Travel than you will find elsewhere!

When you go to www.interlinktravel.com you will notice that in addition to travel there are multiple venues for supporting Interlink.  On the site you can order flowers, buy sporting or event tickets, register for your dream honeymoon (this includes a free website where the bride and groom can post pictures and stories), even buy a car!  No matter what you purchase, Interlink will automatically receive a check for commissions on everything ordered on that site.

While you are there, sign up to receive the Deals and Steals newsletter which will send you a weekly e-mail with specials for the week, which will help you remember to use Interlink Travel for all your travel needs.  Please share this site with all your friends and neighbors, too, as this is a way to increase revenue for Interlink without costing anyone a penny more than they would already be spending on their travel, and in many cases it will save them money.

Sometimes it can be difficult to even find all that is available on the site so if you need help you can e-mail Theresa at TheresaKnauss@comcast.net or call (765) 216-7206 for help.

The link to Interlink Travel is also found on Interlink's website so even if you forget to bookmark it right now, you will be able to find it again by going to our website www.interlinkresources.org.

So, when it is time to book that next business trip or family vacation please remember to check out Interlink Travel and if prices are comparable, book with us to turn your trip into a donation!

Medical Instruments

Posted by Chic Silver, Delegate 

Along with visiting several Medical facilities with Interlink in 2000, I had the privilege of meeting Dr Nurgali on my first visit to Kazakhstan. He took extra time out of his busy schedule to give me a tour of his facility and introduce me to many members of the medical staff.  Of all the wonderful medical personnel I met, Dr Nurgali seemed to have a special compassion and genuine concern for his patients and his staff.  In touring the Operating Rooms (Surgical Areas) I noted a particular need for basic surgical instruments. During the next year we were able to fund and secure several sets of instruments for major and minor surgery.

In my second visit in 2001 our delegation was able to bring these Instruments with us and we were able to meet with Dr Nurgali again for "personal delivery".  Although very busy in his hospital duties we were able to spend time together and discuss their use.

In the spring of this year (2008) we again made contact with the hospital.  Dr Nurgali is now the Chief of Staff and the hospital is now a Regional Trauma Center.  He gave several of us a personal tour and showed us the many improvements made to the facility.  We discussed needs and he indicated that he would consult his staff.  They were able to provide a new list of surgical instrument needs. These were also funded and a portion of them were recently delivered to the hospital - with more instruments to follow.

During our discussions, questions were asked as to why we were doing this.  I indicated that I believe that I  have been particularly blessed and am responsible for passing those blessings on.  I appreciate the genuine compassion and concern that Dr Nurgali has and am happy that we were able to bless him in return.

I hope to be able to continue to work with this wonderful compassionate surgeon and his staff!