COMMUNITY SERVICE

ONE YEN Can Make a Difference

Accident Victim in Mongolia

The students in grade five have decided to donate the money raised in this year's One Yen Can Make a Difference Campaign to help an adolescent, in Mongolia, get medical treatment for injuries he sustained in a hit and run accident. The victim’s name is Monhksult Altangerel, and he was injured two years ago when he was sixteen years of age. Monhksult’s situation got the attention of the fifth graders when Mrs. Patricia Scroope (former high school English teacher at Sacred Heart International School) talked to the students about the work she is doing to help people in need in the ger district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The following is further information Mrs. Scroope sent us regarding Monhksult:

He has one older sister and one younger sister. His father is a security guard, earning $100 per month. His mother is a nurse’s aide, earning $150 per month. When Monhksult was 16, he was knocked down by a truck in a hit and run accident, on his way to school. The offender has never been apprehended. His injuries were severe and he has not been able to return to school. Monhksult was in 9th grade at the time of the accident and was top student in his class. He was also top athlete and was awarded many medals. His injuries involved broken hips, damaged back, and internal injury to the pelvis and urinary tract. Monhksult is confined to bed and rarely goes out, as he cannot walk without the aid of a stick and someone to support him. His future looks grim, as his parents simply cannot afford the necessary surgery that will enable him to walk again. Of the two surgeries suggested by Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, the one his mother says is the most urgent is the one that will repair his urinary tract system. He presently has to use a catheter, and that is not working very well for him. Munhksult is a lovely boy with a wonderful smile. He proudly shows you his awards from his schooldays and only his eyes reveal his sadness. He dreams of one day being a computer specialist and clings to that "vision," as his mother calls it. Maybe one day, with our help he will realise that dream!

The medical treatment Monhksult needs is not available in Mongolia. Estimates received from Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand show that the procedures he needs could cost as much as US$60,000, and this does not include costs to fly him to Thailand. We will run the one yen campaign for one month this year to raise as much money as possible to help Monhksult.

The Collection Begins....

  • Who: YOU with the 5th grade students and teachers
  • What: Collect ¥1 coins (and any spare change). NO FOREIGN COINS PLEASE (these jam the money counting machines in the bank)
  • When: Monday, April 28 - Friday, May 30, 2008
  • Where: NIS families: collection boxes to be returned to homebase teachers for deposit
  • Goal: To ‘Make a Difference’

You are requested to send the filled box to school as soon as possible, so that the box can be emptied and sent home to be filled again. Grade 5 students will be responsible for collecting daily deposits from homebases.

If you have been anticipating this project and have quite a large collection at home already, feel free to ‘haul’ it in at any time. We welcome ONLY Japanese yen coin deposits. However, bill donations are acceptable in any currency. If you have an opportunity to extend this project into your work community, feel free to request extra collection boxes. We would be more than happy to oblige.

Fifth Grade Students and Teachers thank you for your cooperation.