A Tale of Two Cycles

Imagine a cycle where no child has ever gone to university.  Manual labour, sure.  Menial service jobs, maybe.  A small business, if they’re lucky.  It’s all hand to mouth, day to day. Just like their parents, and their grandparents.  An existential grind.  Then ... their community disappears.  Just like that.  Within minutes.  5395 die, 2822 are missing, 7003 hectares of land are laid waste.  

Now imagine another cycle. Kids in university.  Future doctors, teachers, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs. Reinvestment in the next generation.  More doctors, more engineers, more entrepreneurs.

The first scenario ... squeezed and limited.  The second ... hopeful and boundless.  

Ah, but the second cycle could only be possible because they didn’t experience the same devastation.  

Or did they?

Out of the massive tragedy that started at 9:30am on December 26th, 2004, was formed Imagine Thailand.  Within a year the Lighthouse Learning Centre opened its doors.  Kids from all over the community came to be tutored in academics, mentored in life, and encouraged for success.  15 years later, some are indeed in university, the first ever in their families.  Becoming a teacher or engineer is within their grasp.  Some are in leadership positions in their universities/dorms.  They and others like them engage in service trips back to their communities.  Students serving students.  Kids become leaders becoming mentors.

And all that despite debilitating socio-economic backgrounds and even the third largest tsunami in history.

A tale of two cycles.  Will you help us tell the right one?  Will you join us as we imagine hope, provide encouragement, instil dignity, affirm life and, especially in this season, give thanks?