Wednesday, May 22, 2013

A Time to Sleep




Don and Jen Knebel

On a recent trip to Christel House South Africa, we were given a tour of the grade school.  Just after starting the tour, we came to a class in which the children were all sleeping on the floor.  With no other easy way to get to our destination, we stepped over and around them.  But not a single one of the sleeping students so much as moved a muscle, let alone awoke.  When we later visited the homes where these children live, we understood the reason our intrusion went unnoticed.   Living with up to ten people in a single room does not allow much opportunity for young people to get the sleep they need.  Christel House, knowing that a rested body is essential for learning, gives its young students some time during the day just to sleep.

 Addressing all the needs of disadvantaged children and not just their needs for learning is why Christel House succeeds in educating these children.  Children who are hungry cannot concentrate, so Christel House feeds them.  Children who are ill cannot stay in class, so Christel House provides medical care.  Children who live in chaos cannot study, so Christel House provides time for students to study before they go home.  And students without shoes cannot walk to the bus, so Christel House gives them shoes.

This holistic approach to education works miracles.  In South Africa, where less than half of all students finish high school, nearly all the Christel House students who begin high school graduate.  In a country where even those who finish school have trouble passing the “matric” examination, all but one of the most recent graduates passed the first time.

The miracles that Christel House works in its students are why we support it.  In the months to come, we will talk more about those miracles and the activities that help create them. 

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Thursday, April 4, 2013

UIndy Student Business Leadership Academy raises $1,000 for Christel House



By: Dr. Matthew Will



The Student Business Leadership Academy (SBLA) at the University of Indianapolis, School of Business, donated $1,000 to Christel House during an event this past Monday. Christel spoke to an audience of 550 students about her career at Resort Condominiums International (RCI) and Christel House International. The SBLA officers had the opportunity to meet with Christel before the event at a private dinner, where she shared some of her personal experiences in business and running a global charity. Rather than give a traditional gift to Christel for speaking to the UIndy students, the SBLA officers decided to conduct a fundraising campaign and raised $1,000 to support students at Christel House South Africa. The award was a surprise to Christel, who was touched by the gift and thanked each officer individually for their effort to help educate children around the world.






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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Not Ready to Say Goodbye



By: Culver Academies India Trip 2013


Some of the members of the Culver Academies Christel House 2013 India Trip team have taken time to reflect on their experience:
Thoughts from Morgan about the visit at Christel House:
"This experience has been absolutely incredible. Words cannot fully describe the immense impact this visit to India has had (and will have) on me, so this simple summary is my best attempt. When we arrived at Christel House, I was somewhat nervous about the ability of our group to make connections with the students in such a short amount of time. We were paired with one or two students (mine was Pavheetra), and this one-on-one time quickly allowed us to make lasting connections. Through working with the students, watching them paint intricate designs on our collaborative murals, listening to them sing songs, and seeing the smiles on their faces, I've truly learned what it means to have hope and strength. The visit to the residential village brought me to tears, and my eyes were truly opened to how seemingly impossible and unfair life can be; and it just made me further realize how incredible and amazing these students are. This experience and the people involved have inspired me to go beyond my limits and be the best that I absolutely can be. I've learned what it really means to 'be the change.'"
Thoughts from Paola about the visit at Christel House:
In South Africa everything was already planned and scheduled, which was fun, but this trip was more natural. Its been easier to get to know the children here. Though both trips are great, I feel like I’ve gotten more out of this one. They’re different. South Africa is more Americanized. This trip has forced many of us out our comfort zone. Also, its nice to be able to connect with a younger group of students.
Thoughts from Lauren about the visit at Christel House:
As a first timer, its hard to have anything even close to compare this to. I’ve never been in a situation that has forced me to think about life in such a different way. Its awe inspiring to see how these children and their families not only surviving in these conditions, but keeping a smile on their faces. There’s nothing like the conditions we’ve been exposed to in the past few days. The children are adorable and just as excited for us as we are for them. Its been a wonderful trip that has exposed me to new amazing people and has caused many tears to be shed.
Mr. Behling's Moment (surprisingly it was not awkward it was cool): Mr. Behling did a wrestling demonstration for the students of Christel House. He successfully dominated the Christel House physical education teacher and surprised many of the 12th grade boys with his basic but powerful moves. 



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