High Cloud Foundation - Because Dreams Come True

By Justin Warren
A High Cloud Ambassador bringing joy to children in Peru and India!

This past November, the High Cloud Foundation provided humanitarian support to several orphanages and schools just outside Kolkata, India.

Although our train was nearly ten hours late getting to the station, smiling members of the Society for Educational and Environmental Development (SEED) were there to welcome the five of us (Matt and Adriana Anderson, Adriana's mother Mimi, Lais Lacher, and myself) and take us to the orphanage.

As we arrived, more than thirty boys immediately attacked us with smiles and hugs as we piled out of the car. After spending time with the children, Alam (our main point of contact at the orphanage) showed us around the building. We were able to see that although the infrastructure was solid, there was a lack of furniture and equipment for the children. After several discussions with Alam, High Cloud is currently providing the orphanage with tables and sports equipment.

During our stay, we awoke at 6:00am to join the children for their daily routine of outdoor exercises followed by a meditation session. During the meditation, the kids would pause from their deep concentration, entertained by the foreigners doing their best to meditate with them.

Next, Adriana, Mimi, and Lais led the kids in a knowledge workshop, teaching English and Spanish words to the kids through the use of a catchy song. Though the kids spoke Bengali and only partially understood English, the fun style of the lesson brought everyone together and broke through the language barrier.

Matt and I worked with the boys in the afternoon, conducting workshops in nutrition, hygiene, and sports. As the kids sat attentively with their notebooks, we taught them the importance of washing their hands, recycling, and properly disposing of trash. The older students, who understood more English, translated to the younger kids, and everyone enthusiastically wrote down what they had learned. I taught them about different sports and athletes from around the world--they now know Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods--and they taught us about the famous cricketers of India. They said that in addition to soccer, they loved cycling, so I taught them about Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France.

The best part of our stay was being able to get outside and play soccer with the boys. Children everywhere love to play outside, and High Cloud is providing new sports equipment in order to continue the athletic education of the children in India.

Our trip was too short, but yet was very productive. Seeing first-hand the needs of the kids in India allows High Cloud to best utilize its volunteers and funds. High Cloud hopes to send more representatives this summer and extend the wonderful work being done for the amazing children we met.

On Saturday, High Cloud will host a simultaneous 2K race for children and orphans in Colombia, South America representing the intrinsic relationship between yourselves and the children being supported by the Cloud Snapple Half Marathon.   



"Unless you test yourself, you stagnate. Unless you try to go way beyond what you’ve been able to do before, you won’t develop and grow. When you go for it 100%, when you don’t have the fear of “what if I fail,” that’s when you learn. That’s when you’re really living." - Mark Allen

As you run on Saturday, know that you are serving as an inspiration to children who live in extreme poverty to also run and that they look up to you as their role models - challenge yourself to make a difference in the lives of others!

OUR CHILDREN IN HAITI NEED YOUR HELP AS THEY HAVE NEVER NEEDED IT BEFORE.

The Orphanage that High Cloud provides support to is composed of 11 orphans from the village of Cyvadier located just outside Jacmel, Haiti.  The boys stay in the Peter Yarrow Room, and the girls in the Doreen Nurse Room.  Fortunately the children are in good condition compared the remaining community however there is no electricity, no potable water and food is extremely scarce.  Medication is lacking and simple things like band aids are in short supply.

Tax-deductible gifts may be made at the following website:

To join a Team fundraising for Haiti:  click here

Or

http://www.highcloud.org/donate    (specify that you are donating for Haiti)

Or

http://www.firstgiving.com/highcloud