PNDO

Orphaned Burmese Children's Home

Jace Hobbs resides in Maui, Hawaii, and spends part of the year in Thailand, particularly along the Thai-Burma border. During Jace’s travels in the region, he was impressed by the work of community-based organizations that were serving children, men and women who had escaped from Burma due to the ongoing conflict. He decided to volunteer his time, skills and resources to advance the mission of Pao National Devleopment Organization (PNDO) that works with ethnic Burmese communities that are rebuilding their lives after escaping violence and devastation. Jace is helping PNDO on several projects, including building a toy factory that will produce teaching aids and toys for the children, renovating classrooms and dormitories, as well as building kitchens and storerooms.

About the Champion

Jace is from a Quaker heritage, and it seems the fruit doesnt fall far from the tree. All his skills as a builder, designer and public presenter seem to have placed him in the perfect position to help thousands of Burmese refugee children and their families. "My respect for their culture and human rights propels me for their welfare," says Jace.

Jace serves these kids by supporting the indigneous people’s self-help groups that help them. Sometimes he also teach them volleyball or just cheers them on in their activities. He adds, "My quiet hug that I can see helps an orphaned child, my personal encouragement of young talent that would otherwise be lost in this generation is so satisfying that I cannot find a word to convey it."

To fully register all the refugee children in the area in Thailand where he serves so that they would not be exploited ($4000 needed)

To finish the building of innovative dormitories for children attending our schools ($12,000 needed.)

To fully initiate the microcredit bank that I am beginning for the larger ethnic village ($4000 needed)

To provide communication in the Burmese refugee camp with the outside world and for the leadership school that we support there ($6000 needed)

In the Words of the Champion

Why do you think we need Champions in the United States?

My work has shown me that the most effective way to help deserving children in disadvantaged situations is for one person to make it his/her responsibility to make their lives better. True devotion to others is an unstoppable force.

What is your vision for children of the world?

The children I serve were suffering in their childhood and were in harms way of becoming child soldiers in Burma or sold into the sex industry. That I could fundamentally change their lives for the better created my mission, and my joy.

Who is your source of inspiration?

My father took me to my great grandparents home that had a trapdoor used for housing runaway slaves on their way north to freedom. My ten year old mind did not understand exactly what the Underground Railroad was at the time but my pride in them and others who risked personal well being for the freedom of others has never left me, or those that support my projects.

How did you get started with this project?

I was volunteering in a center for refugee Burmese children and I realized how my skills are so perfectly matched to helping them on a larger scale. My efforts on their behalf have been so successful and satisfying to myself and those that support my projects that we just move forward alleviating hardship one project at a time. I have not been able to put down the mission since and look forward to more service