Summer / Autumn 2008

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Support for the people of Myanmaris more desperate now than it hasbeen in the past because of the recent

uprising and military action. The 3rd Annual GraceWorksGolf Day is being held on March 17 at the Ringwood GolfClub. This is a great opportunity for regular sponsors andnew and old players to have fun and help overcome some of the challenges for the people of Myanmar.

Daily life has become a battle for survival for manyorphanages and poor people who are so reliant on our funding.

Food prices have increased dramatically. A bag of rice hasrisen from $15 to $25 and transport costs have skyrocketedwith fuel increasing 300 per cent.

Due to ongoing shortages in the supplies of rice, cooking oiland fuel many children are only receiving one meal per dayand in some cases one every second day.

GraceWorks desperately needs your support. If you cansponsor a hole - $500 – it will provide food support for amonth for 50 children. An entry fee of $80 will feed eightchildren for a month. GW supports food programs forapproximately 700 children.

Enjoy a round of golf on Monday March 17 and play yourpart in supporting the children of Myanmar. For enquires andentry information call the GraceWorks office on 9872 5242or 0418 108 056, email: info@graceworksmyanmar.org.au

STOP PRESS! GraceWorks Annual Golf Day on againMonday 17th March 2008

GraciousLives• GraceWorks Education centre that includes Kid-Land

preschool has moved to larger premises.

• We have provided funding to purchase more land for one of the Children’s Home. This purchase will enable the staff to have goats and plant fruit trees.

• Electricity has been connected to one of the larger homes for 120 children.

• Christmas celebrations including individual presents for more than 600 children and a Christmas Day lunch for 400 children plus leaders.

• Dorcas Sewing Centre, renamed the “Yangon Fashion House”, has commenced three-month dressmaking classes. In conjunction with the sewing course are computer classes. GW has funded the purchase of several computers for the Centre.

TAKING ACTION - What GraceWorks has been doing:

"GraceWorks Myanmar is a Christian based organisation and functions according to Christian principles and ethics " .

Dressmaking at the “Yangon Fashion House”

From theChairman’sDesk

Recent events in Burma have attracted worldwideattention with the media giving daily reports of civilunrest particularly during August through toDecember last year.Many questions have been raised concerning peopleand the well being of the nation. I visited Yangon inDecember and January encouraging the GraceWorkspeople and observing the effects of the recentdisturbances. ‘What’s going to happen now,’ is the most commonquestion. ‘Is it safe to go and what about GraceWorksin Myanmar?’The answers are very simple. There is little changeother than a huge increase in the cost of essentialitems such as fuel and rice. The burden of poverty is ever present as it threatens the lives of so many. Our freedom to travel has not changed and we haveaccess to some areas, with restrictions in others. United Nations sanctions in the wake of the uprisingshave had some effect but only on the poor and the innocent.The people of Myanmar care deeply about theircountry and passionately talk about it. They also place a huge price on their freedom. Theydesperately need our support.GW continues to respond to the needs whereverthere is the opportunity and resources are available.This is not a time to despair.The will of the people carries them forward in theface of insurmountable odds. Yet they remainincredibly successful in what they do by creating alifestyle with no support. How much value do weplace on one meal a day or fresh clean water? These issues are for many their daily challenge. There is a tremendous hope among Myanmar’speople. They want to share this hope with you asthey cling so desperately to their friendship with GWand its supporters. For most of these people it is allthey have. Many have asked me to convey thismessage to YOU.Your support is incredibly important and cannot be measured in monetary terms alone.

Peter Simmons(Chairman GraceWorks Myanmar)

Our mission is to providehumanitarian aid through health and education programs, to improve the quality of life and well-being of the people of Myanmar

Ken Doutch projectKen Doutch from Yarrawonga together with the generous support from Hadar Homes has been influential in changing the lives of orphan children in Myanmar.

Ken has headed a carpentry project that built billy carts and a playground for various orphanages in Yangon. During the construction he conductscarpentry classes in which he involves the older children as an education project.

Now children for the first time are enjoying simple pleasures gained from aswing, monkey bars and sea-saw.

Next April, Ken along with Gary True and Phillip Seccull from Hadar Homeswill travel to Myanmar to build more playgrounds and equipment.

Each playground costs about $500.00.

If you would like to support this project you can arrange a direct debit or post your donation with the form from the back of this newsletter.

Alternatively you can contact Ken direct on 0429 442 735.

A young girl’s first Christmas Colourful, beautiful, enthralling. A sea of faces.Sharing has never been difficult. It is the way things are done here. But today is different. It is special.Time is beginning to erase some of my sad memories. Life is so much better now. For the very first time my gift will be mine. It will belong to me. It’s so excitingbecause all my family here will have there own gift as well.We sit quietly except for the boys who are always noisy. Is it time yet? I can see the presents piled up at the front and I wonder which one could be mine. Still we wait but now something different is happening.I have never seen this before. People have told me it tastes sweet and beautiful. Ice cream. Everyone has one. It’s so quiet as we realise we can eat it. It does taste so nice. I am going to keep my cup for next time. I will hide it under my chair. Is it time yet?I can hardly wait. Now we are being called to the front one by one. I hope they call me too.At last it is my turn to come forward. My present is wrapped in special paper. It’s so pretty I don’t want to damage it.I am so excited. I will open the present one side at a time. Finally it’s open.I don’t know what to do; someone will have to help me put it on. My very own blouse. It’s so new and bright and pretty. Everyone seems to be looking at me. I must take care of my new blouse and wrap it carefully back in the parcel.I will wear it Christmas day. I hope I still look beautiful then.

GraceWorks Chairman Peter Simmons, his wife Margaret and daughter Laura spentChristmas and New Year in Myanmar. They visited eight orphanages and inspected GW projects.The highlight of the time was the distributing of gifts to the children who had never before received aChristmas present. They had Christmas lunch with more than 400children, the leaders and staff.Peter extends a huge thank you to all who generouslycontributed towards the purchase of the presents.

$0.50In Myanmar

Penicillin inoculation tosave a baby’s life

In AustraliaSoft serve cone

$1.50In Myanmar

10 School exercise booksIn Australia

1 litre carton of fat reduced milk 1 can of soft drink

$3.00In Myanmar

Longgyi (traditional wrap-skirt)In Australia

1kg packet Crinkle CutSuperfries or 1 McDonald’sHotcake

$4.00In Myanmar

Educate 1 child for a monthIn Australia

1kg packet concentrated laundrypowder or 1 McDonalds QuarterPounder

$6.00In Myanmar

1 Mattress and a pillowIn Australia

3kg packet dry dog food or Big Mac Meal

$10.00In Myanmar

1 Laying chickenIn Australia

250g Jar Decaffeinated Coffeeor KFC Family Bucket

$15.00In Myanmar

8kg bag of rice orSupports 1 child for 1 month

In Australia1 Adult Movie ticket or AFL Football Beanie

$45.00In Myanmar

Bunk bed for 2 childrenIn Australia

Family Movie Pass

$60.00In Myanmar

Teacher – per monthIn Australia

Playstation or Xbox Game

$?What yourmoney can buy:

Please return to:

GraceWorks MyanmarPO Box 245

Blackburn VIC 3130Ph: (03) 9872 5242Fax: (03) 9873 5031

or

Donation SlipI would like to make a donation today: ! $25 ! $50 ! $100 ! $250 ! Other $

You can donate direct debit to GraceWorks Account: BSB 083 132 Account No: 57–084–3050Bank: National Australia Bank – Blackburn, Victoria

! I have enclosed a cheque / money order or please debit my: ! Mastercard ! Visa

Card no.: !!!! !!!! !!!! !!!!Cardholder’s signature: Expiry date: /

Title: First Name: Surname:

Address:

Postcode:

Email: Telephone:

Please send me more information about:! Becoming a volunteer ! Leaving a bequest in my w ill to GraceWorks

Don’t forget to visit the GraceWorks website at www.graceworksmyanmar.org.au Also, let us know if you have heard the GraceWorks radio promotion on 89.9 Light FM

MerchandiseYou can help spread the good news ofGraceWorks by wearing clothing carrying the GraceWorks logo.

Many different items of clothing are availablefrom EmbroidMe including dress, tee and polo shirts as well as women’s blouses andpolo jumpers.

For the full range check out EmbroidMe’swebsite www.embroideme.com.au/ 3134 orcall EmbroidMe Ringwood on 9879 8787 and speak with Melissa or Debbie.

EmbroidMe are one of the proud sponsors of the GraceWorks Annual Golf Day.

GraceWorks Myanmar now has NEW contact numbers:Phone: (03) 9872 5242 Fax: (03) 9873 5031

Australian Embassy Grant:brings comfort to orphansGraceWorks has received the fantasticnews that the Australian Ambassador inYangon has approved a grant to one of the GraceWorks orphanages as part of the Australian Government Direct Aid Program.

This money will enable GW to purchasebunk beds (the children currently sleep onthe floor) including mattresses and pillows.A further part of the allocation is thepurchase of desks and chairs sohomework does not have to be done onthe floor.

We have been advised that a further twoof our applications are “on the books” for consideration in the next round of allocations.

The advice and encouragement of theEmbassy staff has been a tremendous voteof confidence for GraceWorks projects.