East Villagers Non-Profit Community News » Country

Meet New EV Interns: Kaitlyn Cheung

kaitlynn — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:00:43 +0000

“世上无难事，只怕有心人。” –Unknown

Hi! My name is Kaitlyn Cheung. I am currently enrolled in Mountain View High School as a sophomore. Some activities I find interesting and enjoyable are dancing, painting, track and field, and writing. I also love to watch Asian dramas, jam out to Korean pop, and shop until I literally drop to the ground with exhaustion. I am definitely one of those people who look forward to being trampled on Black Friday. Some see me as introverted and quiet while others see me as outspoken and headstrong.

I grew up in a family of four with a younger sister, and as a result lugged around the burden of playing the role of the “good influence” 24/7. The young childhood version of me feared the dark unknown, and admired those who were daring enough to plunge into it. Although urged by my parents and peers to simply loosen up and do something crazy for once, I did not yield. I was sensitive to who I was seen as through the eyes of others and had problems saying “no” to others. As a result, I was often walked over. Then in the midst of it all, a spontaneous event occurred that changed my old ways.

Moving to Shanghai, China, changed me for life. Shanghai, considered as one of the most modernized and prosperous cities in the country, the major financial center, the Oriental Pearl. I cannot bring myself to say that I was exuberant upon hearing the news that I was going to attend public school half way across the world, but it sounded somewhat glamorous to me. I expected the city to appear similar to downtown San Jose, but with an innumerable population and an uncontrollable humidity. It all seemed true when I first arrived; I found myself gaping at the looming skyscrapers across the Huangpu River, the ancient buildings on the Bund etched with history of imperialism, the fanciful restaurants and the savory food. Although strikingly industrialized, there were things I could not help but notice. Resided adjacent to my neighborhood was a large cluster of shacks. I remember walking past it every day, not failing to note that the roofs were peeling and falling apart. The size of one of them might have even been less than the area of my kitchen back in America. I knew this, having been inside of one, since one of my classmates lived there. Beggars were a daily sight. Some would roam from street to street, person to person, shaking a tin can while murmuring incomprehensive Chinese. Some would kneel by the sidewalk, hopelessly begging passersby to spare a yuan. I saw children, adults, elderly, and handicaps among them. The native people did not find it shocking, for it was such an ordinary sight to see, but I was completely dumbfounded. All this time, I had been living in the refuge of a protective bubble, and at that moment it was popped, exposing me to the harsh reality of the human race. That year, I was eleven years old.

As a fifteen year old adolescent, I am here because I want to make a difference. Being an EV intern means more to me than simply representing my generation. It gives me the opportunity to take action and responsibility for what I saw three years ago in the country of my roots, the opportunity to spread awareness about those who live in the darkness. Together, we will be strong. The pitch black room will soon be illuminated with dancing lights, helping them find their way out of the dark to bask in the glorious sunshine. I understand that the world will never be a flawless utopia and we cannot mold it into one, but what we can do is make it a more beautiful place to live.

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Meet New EV Interns: Sophia Huang

sophiahuang — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:10:02 +0000

Imagine Michael Jackson’s “Cry” music video in 2000, the human chain linking every race, color, and gender together as one. The power of unity, working together to aspire change. This human chain image marks my existence. I believe I exist in order to contribute to a change that unifies our world as one, ending poverty, discrimination, and the hate in mankind.I am seventeen years old and a junior in high school. My favorite subject is art. It is my passion, because it give me the ability to express myself in levels beyond words. Art is filled with so many dimensions that allow people to explore and create. As for my background, I consider myself an Americanized Chinese. I live with my mom, dad, and my brother is in college. I am a family oriented teenager, and I believe that a successful family consists of flaws. We can love, fight, hate, and laugh because that is the definition of a family. Besides art, I enjoy playing field hockey. I have been playing school field hockey for three years now. There is so much action and fulfilling vitality that comes with the sport that I cannot get enough of. I love taking on new adventures and risks. I believe that in life, you are suppose to take that extra risk because you never know how great the outcome could be.Starting from a very young age, I had already questioned why equality did not exist in our world. Why do some families drive around in a car worth three houses, while some cannot even afford a home? I remember watching Haiti clips during my freshman year, the pile of destructed cars and airplanes from above looked like broken toys. I always felt hopeless as I skimmed through the photos on Yahoo! headlines. I wanted to do more than donate my money to these causes that were killing my brothers and sisters across the world.I joined East Villagers to become a part of a change. I know that creating a unity, a human chain cannot happen overnight, but just by becoming a part of such an organization, I can actually help make a difference. I am so honored and thankful to be a part of East Villagers and am looking forward to a year of stepping down and looking at the world in a different perspective. From my EV internship, I hope to become more acquainted of the world’s circumstances and gain abilities to help fight social injustice.

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Meet New EV Interns: Isabel Auyeung

Isabel — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:08:15 +0000

“Let yourself be open and life will be easier. A spoon of salt in a glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake is almost unnoticed.” –Unknown

Hello! My name is Isabel Auyeung and I am currently a Junior at Saint Francis High School. I’m just a normal teenager striving for a spectacular life, trying to make a difference in this world. I love playing soccer, making music, attending Interact events, fellowshipping with friends, and eating food. My ideal day is a delicious picnic at the beach with friends followed by a relaxed time of talking and fellowship. I value the sweet and simple things in life.

I was first introduced to the topic of social injustice my Freshman year when I went to San Francisco with my church for a retreat. Our main focus for the weekend was to work alongside a church and reach out to the homeless. Inititally, I struggled with going out of my comfort zone to interact with them. But once I learned more about their lives, I was truly able to empathize with their situations.

I confirmed my passion for helping others when I went to Belize in the summer of 2010. It was a 10 day short term mission’s trip with my church in July. The majority of our time there was spent at a Youth Hostel , a place where youths who had committed minor crimes or who were thrown out of their homes were placed. During those couple days, I was able to learn a lot about their individual lives and the hardships they had to go through. They experienced things that I wouldn’t even imagine happening in my life, yet liked the same things that I did, and enjoyed the same hobbies. I realized that the reason that they were in such hard situations was because of social injustice, and it was unfair that they had to be placed in this environment.

When I first heard about EV, I was immediately drawn to it because of its mission and purpose that was so similar to what I wanted to achieve in my life. I’m looking forward to learning more about myself: my beliefs and passions, as well as learning more about the social injustices currently plaguing others and finding practical ways of approaching them. Social injustice is everywhere and the things I learn this year can be applicable in many aspects in life. Having grown up in my protective bubble, I wish to learn more about the reality of brokenness in this world. And through EV, gain knowledge about simple steps I can take in my own life to impact the lives of those around me or of those halfway around the world.

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Meet New EV Interns: Emily Cheng

emilycheng — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:06:05 +0000

Hi! I’m Emily Cheng and I am a junior at Los Altos High School in northern California. I enjoy listening to music, making art, reading fiction, writing poetry, blogging on Tumblr, and drinking pearl milk tea. I have played piano for eleven years and am involved in the worship team at my youth group. I’m interested in business and am involved in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). I sprint and high jump on my school’s Track and Field team. I volunteer with Key Club International and National Honor Society (NHS). Above all, I value spending quality time with my family and friends.

I became interested in social justice when our church sponsored Kexin Zhou, a little girl from China who had congenital heart disease but could not afford the proper treatment. Barely able to speak English, her mother brought her all the way to New York to get help, and she was later transferred to David & Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. I was very young, but it left a lasting impression on me. I still remember the little blue bear that I won at the carnival held at my church to raise money. In the end, we were able to meet the financial need, but unfortunately Kexin died after treatment. Her mother’s efforts were very touching, and despite Kexin’s death, it was still a success story in terms of garnering support from the community. This was my first exposure to poverty and disease, and it broadened my worldview beyond my small town in the Silicon Valley.

In the summer of 2011, I went on a week-long missions trip to Belize, a poor country in Central America. We organized block parties for the poor neighborhood kids and held a Vacation Bible School for the kids at a Chinese church. We also built a computer lab at a youth hostel, which houses teenagers who committed minor crimes or could not live at home. During this time, we met some girls who were forced to live at the hostel because of physically or sexually abusive parents and/or relatives. I realized that they are victims of social injustice, and without a good education they are stuck in a helpless cycle. When I returned home, I realized that these problems aren’t limited to foreign countries; they are everywhere and affect everyone. This missions trip was a blessing because it taught me to stop ignoring social injustice and face the harsh reality.

Through this internship with East Villagers, I hope to learn more about social justice issues around the world. But more than that, I want to learn what I can do to help, whether it be through raising awareness, fundraising events, or organizing projects. Having grown up in an affluent area, I am particularly interested in the uneven distribution of resources and its effects on society. I look forward to this exciting opportunity this year with my team!

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Meet New EV Interns: Ally Nguyen

alysianguyen — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:45:32 +0000

“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance… Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.” – John Lennon

Hello there! My name is Alysia Nguyen, but it would be much easier to refer to me as Ally. I am a junior at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California, where I soak up the sun as much as possible before winter dawns. Whimsical and vivacious, I can easily be found representing the Area 13 Neon Ninja Turtles at Interact events, performing at speech tournaments, volunteering anywhere and everywhere, singing or dancing without a care in the world, and trying to be more than just a someone in this crazy world we live in. My joie de vivre leads me to seek adventures and new opportunities in all I do, so do not fret if I appear lost or confused – I am merely trying to discover an alternative perspective with which to see the world. My innate love for words and ever-burgeoning curiosity are just minor constituents of all my idiosyncrasies.

I grew up with both parents and an older brother, all of whom have attempted to shelter me from the “monstrosities” of the outside world. Because of their restrictions at a young age, I have now attained a fervent desire to explore the unknown or “improper” facets of the world. This has prompted me to ask a multitude of questions and immerse myself in as many activities as I can possibly handle. Through countless explorations and a gradual maturity in my thoughts, I’ve discovered my truest passions: interacting, writing, and volunteering.

By working with East Villagers, I hope to expand my horizons and grasp an even better understanding of what it means to serve others before yourself. Additionally, I want to learn more about issues that too many are ignorant about and consequently spread awareness about the injustices of the world. I look forward to meeting with NGOs and others who have devoted their lives to the sole cause of benefiting the unfortunate, and I hope I can join them in their mission. Through this internship, I hope to inspire the minds of others to promote the “fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life” that is necessary for us to live in a better world. As cheesy as it may seem, together, we can make a difference.

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The 5th Amendment

Sharon Li — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:00:12 +0000

America has a law that people can’t be trailed for Double Jeopardy; it’s not just a law, it is the 5th of the First 10 Amendments. My friends and I were having a discussion about Casey Anthony…Although many people have forgotten about this incident I still remember it, after doing so much research about the horrific evidence.
My friends and I believe that she did murder her child, but the judge decided her not guilty. No Double Jeopardy is when a person cannot be trialed for the same thing twice. So if someone was in court, and they were proven not-guilty, but later they confessed or real evidence was found saying they were, they could not be put in jail for it. The words that are in the Bill of Rights would be “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.[1”]
I thought that if Casey Anthony ever confessed that she really did murder Caylee Anthony, then there would be nothing anyone could ever do about it. Many people have mixed feelings about this law seeing that there could be possible murderers, kidnappers, robbers…etc. on the loose and they could be living right next to you. I believe that this law has its pros and cons to it. Because the court would have made a mistake and it is sometimes the government’s duty to take care of things like this. But also, although the person cannot be trialed for the same crime, they can be for another crime, but just waiting for a criminal to perform another crime is bad enough as it is.
This Amendment has been the point of many debates all over the United States and still continues to do so. And although it does have reasoning behind it, it also has many consequences as well.

http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/5th-amendment.html

http://www.google.com/imgres?

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America Education Cons

Sharon Li — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:10:46 +0000

Although America’s education allows any children opportunities that other kid’s from other countries are not able to have, it also is actually very behind other countries.
I was shocked when I read an article how “15-year-olds in the U.S. placed 25th out of 30 countries in math performance and 21st in science performance.” America gives kid’s a lose grip on what they want to be, this country has many opportunities with children who want to be more creative when they grow up as well. I think this is great, and it’s a large contributor to the fact that many people move here from oversees to give their kid’s a wider variety of choices. Unfortunately, we are also far behind other countries academic skills.
I suppose it all depends on what and who is being compared to places. It’s proven that by the end of 8th grade, students are two years behind in math studied by other students in other countries. And over 50% of students cannot read at their grade level and most likely, never will be able to catch up. Although, others believe that we are better-rounded than other countries that offer academics and basically nothing else, he still are beginning to drag behind as well.
Not only this, but because of the recent budget cuts, students find themselves with less opportunities to choose from as well. Over the past couple of years, I’ve noticed that the graduation rates of students have declined, not too noticeable for others, but around .9 percent. Because not every job available has a good strong education required, many people drop out, believing that they can still get whatever career that they choose.
A documentation called “Two Million Minutes” is about two students from three countries, China, India, and America. One of the Indian students comments how American’s education “seems like a dream”. The movie has the top students describe what their life is like and is compared to the other students from other countries. It was astounding how hard and dedicated the kids from China and China seemed to be, and although I had originally thought the American students worked diligently (not that they don’t) it seemed as though all the other students did was study.
Nowadays, people describe that America’s education lacks the strength and drive of other students oversees, and are not globally “aware” of the standings of countries around the world.

http://www.studentsfirst.org/pages/the-stats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bFmWlyBcrs

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American Education Pro

Sharon Li — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:54:09 +0000

America’s education is something many people take for granted. Growing up in the United States made me believe that everyone had the same opportunities as I did. As I wrote in some of my blogs from before, China’s education excludes many activities that involve the child’s creativity side to come out. Also in many parts of the world, it’s difficult to even get a good public education at all.
When I visited my friend from New York, I was surprised to discover that almost everyone went to private school, whether they could afford it or not. While I was walking around the city I saw run down beat up public schools that I, frankly, was afraid to go in. Because New York City and other cities in the state are some of the busiest, most crowded places in the United States; it’s difficult to find a well-run public school.
Although we do have some kinks that we have to work out, America’s educational system is something, I believe, has improved a lot over the years and is still on its way to getting better. Children here have such a wide variety of places to go from, there are schools within walking distance or biking distance, or if not, the ability to take the bus for free, then things like free and reduced lunch for kids who sometimes cannot afford it.
I was looking at a world map the other day, of the percentage people that are literate around the globe. America, Canada, Argentina, 4/5ths of Asia, Europe, and Australia are all pretty much one hundred percent literate. But as for Africa, a large portion of it remains for most people being illiterate. Other countries in South America, and the ones unlisted follow somewhere between 60% to 95% literate.
America is really working hard on having a higher percentage of graduating students and lower of student drop outs as well.

http://broadeducation.org/about/crisis_stats.html

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Kidnapping Rates

Sharon Li — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:48:26 +0000

Right now a child just reported as missing or abducted in the United States. In another forty seconds the same thing will happen. Imagine that. Many times, we find it hard to believe that anything like this would ever happen to yourself or someone in your family, but every single forty seconds, another person is realizing that that is not true.
Kidnapping is a large contributor to why children go missing annually. Over forty percent of children who are kidnapped end up being killed and four percent are never found. For those children who are murdered, they are usually murdered within three hours of the kidnapping. And in ALL cases, the victim was assaulted in some sort of way. Forty six percent of the time, he/she was sexually abused, thirty one percent is physically abused and the remaining percentage is when some weapon was used.
Seventy one percent of kidnappings are when the kidnappers are total strangers to the child, and the other remaining twenty nine percent is when the kidnapper is a slight acquaintance. And most of the time, the kidnapping occurs within less of half a mile of the victim’s home.
So who is the kidnapper? Although many times, the kidnapper is never found, the average kidnapper is a male that is under the age of thirty, usually three fourths of the time, this is the case. But who do they kidnap? More than sixty five percent, the victim is a girl under the age of 20, and older than the age of 6. Interestingly enough, if the victim is a boy, the usual age of kidnapping occurs when he is either three to nine, or fifteen to twenty one. The usual age for girls is ages eighteen to twenty one, highly more popular than any other age.
Although there are still too many kidnapping and reported missing children, the crime rates have drastically fallen since 1990’s where there was a huge spurge of criminal activity all over the U.S.

http://kidsfightingchance.com/stats.php

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Libya

Sharon Li — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:47:44 +0000

Muammar Gaddafi has been the ruler of Libya, an oil-rich nation located in North Africa since 1969, from seizing power by leading a group of young military officers against the King. After King Idris was overthrown and had fled the country, Gaddafi began a monarchy, which led to a series of events. His time of power has been the fourth longest ruler that was not ruler since 1900. It has been forty long years for Libyan people being ruled under a dictatorship. Some things he has done over this large span of time included hiring assassins to “eliminate” all opponents of his or others who tried to go against him, restricting the lives of Libyans by taking away some of their rights as ordinary people, holding a monopoly over the economy, and so much more other things, like beginning several wars and very inhumanely ruling for his time.
America’s standing in Libya is on the side of the rebels. As of the end of February near the 24th or 25th, the Unites States has been fighting against Muammar Gaddafi and the rest of his force, also known as the Libya Loyalists. Although at first, the government was unsure about where it should stand in this war, after nine long days, President Obama decided to take part in it.
So currently, there has been much talk of the Libyans on the way of overthrowing their dictator. In Tripoli, Libya fighters have already begun their march to where they think Muammar Gaddafi and his three sons are in hiding. Many believe that he is underground, waiting for the riot to “pass” over; but about one hundred miles away in Tripolo’s main square, hundreds and thousands of people of all ages are celebrating Gaddafi’s forces being run out of the city, a little over a week ago. Although the country has been with war with itself for quite some time now, the people of Libya are still on the verge of succeeding.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/sunday-review/what-libyas-lessons-mean-for-nato.html

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