Paula Malyon, President of 'Give Children a Future asbl',
helps impoverished children from the Third World.

She has done voluntary work and fundraising activities for over 35 years.

When did you first become involved with voluntary work?
Paula Malyon:    I´ve undertaken a variety of voluntary work over the years from assisting in a mental hospital whilst still at school, later working with Oxfam and more recently with those effected by cancer under the guidance of ´Fondation Luxembourgeoise Contre Le Cancer´. Since 2005 I’ve also worked on construction projects in the Third World.

Can you explain more about the Third World charity work with which you are involved?
PM:    My efforts in the Third World have been concentrated on charity associations which send teams of volunteers for one month per year, to provide hands-on manpower to improve the lives of people in the Third World.

Why does this particular approach appeal to you?
PM:    The volunteers pay all their own travel and subsistence costs, work and interact with the local communities and those in need. It´s a very enriching cultural exchange. The self-funding approach ensures than 100% of the money raised through the charity goes to the project costs for the renovation or building of schools, orphanages and dispensaries.

What projects have you worked on?
PM:    My first “on site” project was in Colombia to build a school. Although we were conscious of being in a dangerous country we hadn´t realised the likelihood of being the target of violence so we were surprised to find the police accompanying us everywhere. The next project was in Cambodia where we built a dormitory in an established orphanage enabling a further 30 children to be taken off the streets. We also built a school in Snor village, Cambodia, laid piping from a nearby well to bring water to the new toilet block and donated school desks and chairs for children. In addition we renovated an existing school building, previously built by UNICEF.
In India, the project was similar in that we renovated a school, built a toilet block again, sank a well to provide clean drinking water. We accomplished a great deal in a short time establishing lifelong friendships.
One of my most recent construction projects took me to Rwanda, it was very emotional to be able to help people in a country with such a tragic history. The dormitory we built now accomodates 150 orphans who previously lived in not only poor, but threatening conditions, especially the girls.

Impacts on children?
PM:    It's amazing how happy, smiley and friendly the children are despite their proverty and limited facilities. They enjoy going to school and are thirsty for knowledge. Nevertheless the surroundings and facilities are not always conducive to learning (or healthy) and we have at times seen more than 50 children crammed into areas that would normally accommodate 10-15 children. So yes, we do have an impact on their health, well being and improve their chances for the future.

Spare time?
PM:    In our spare time in Cambodia, myself and one member of the association visited villages in the area and tried to help the most needy. As part of our personal project, amongst other things we bought two piglets, countless chickens and ducks, gave a fishing net to a family with nine children, repaired houses, sunk four water wells (providing a well means children no longer have to walk miles with a small canister to collect water every day) ...etc. I was also able to spend some time with the two children that I sponsor in the orphanage in Kompong Thom which was a big bonus but heartwrenching to leave them again. In Colombia, I also arranged for one little girl who had a disfigurement to have an operation, this changed her life.

What is the most rewarding part of participating in these projects?
PM:    Obviously the completion of the building and seeing the joy on the faces of the children is extremely rewarding but the little things I do for some of the poor people in the villages are actually very emotional and always leave a deep impression on me and were in fact one of the main reasons for creating the new association.

New association?
PM:    I have established Give Children A Future in Luxembourg in order to widen the net of donations, attracting funding from local companies and individuals. And to be able to concentrate on some small action, big impact initiatives.

What are the association-planned projects?
PM:    Our short term goals/targets are:
*    To sink 150 wells in Cambodia. 1 well can provides clean water for 3 or 4 families at a time, enabling them to have access to safe drinking water. It enables them to grow their own vegetables, reduce the risk of disease (particularly diarrhoea & typhus) and frees the children to attend school (no longer absent due to illness or being constrained by fetching water from long distances everyday). This project is already underway!
*    To provide fishing nets for needy families in Cambodia. Often several families share a fishing net as they are unable to buy their own. This means that the catch of the day is divided into 3, 4 or 5 and each family comes home with less than enough to feed themselves. There is certainly nothing left over to sell and earn a living. By providing fishing nets to needy families they are able to give better nutrition to their children and generate a small income.

Do you keep in touch with the children whose lives you have changed?
PM:    Having to leave the children is just heart-wrenching, especially in the Cambodian orphanage, I wanted to bring all 150 of them back and adopt them! I sponsor children all around the world and I receive several emails each week from the children in the orphanages, they usually begin 'Dear Mum...' which is lovely.

Have you learnt any skills through your voluntary work that help with your life?
PM:    Tolerance, patience and teamwork.

Can you sum up in three words what voluntary work means to you?
PM:    Making a difference.

How can individuals help your association?
PM:    We are obviously raising money to purchase materials and equipment for the projects. We can guarantee that 100% of donations will be put towards the projects, as our 'work teams' are all volunteers funding their own travel/accomodation costs.
Additionally, if someone would like to become a member of 'Give Children a Future asbl', the membership fees will help us with the basic administration costs of the association.

Thank you.
PM:    On behalf of the communities whose lives we are going to change, thank you to anyone who will support the association.