Loyola alum brings hope to orphans
Issue date: 4/27/05 Section: Closer Look
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Paul Bissler, Loyola University Chicago Class of 2003, is endeavoring to improve the lives of children who lost their parents in the Asian tsunami. In addition to distributing meals to survivors in Sri Lanka, Bissler is raising money for Gokulam - Bhaktivedanta Children's Home, a haven for 100 tsunami orphans
Bissler is a volunteer with Food For Life Global (www.ffl.org), a humanitarian organization dedicated to uniting the world through food. FFL, the world's largest vegetarian food relief group, has distributed more than 350,000 freshly cooked meals in India and Sri Lanka since the Dec. 26 tsunami.
Arriving in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 22, Bissler began by helping distribute food in Maratuwa, where hundreds of people lost their homes due to flooding from the tsunami.
"It is quite an experience to see the devastation first hand," Bissler said. "These people have lost everything, their homes, their jobs, and most importantly the people they loved"
As the survivors of the disaster begin to rebuild their homes and lives, the children who lost their families need more help than ever. For this reason, Bissler is now working to raise funds for a local orphanage that is taking in 100 tsunami orphans, more than doubling its previous capacity.
"Children are the most marginalized group in any society. Children without parents do not have any voice. We're trying to give them a shot at a successful future," Bissler said.
Before moving to Sri Lanka, Bissler was living and working in Chicago, Il. After the tsunami, he decided to leave his job with Enterprise Leasing Co., where he was an assistant manager at one of the largest branches in the country.
"It was a good job, but I felt a calling to do something more with my life. I remember first hearing at Rockhurst the principle of the Magis: 'To whom much has been given, more is expected.' I have always tried to live up to that ideal," Bissler said.
Bissler, who began his Jesuit education at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., is using his business skills to help the orphanage. Along with other volunteers, he has started a child sponsorship program for Gokulam, launched a grant seeking program, and designed a new user-friendly Web site (www.gokulam.org). His most exciting project is COTTAGE, or Children Of The Tsunami - Arts, Gifts and Education (www.cottageyouth.org). The venture will include greeting cards and other gifts designed by the orphans of the Home, and will be available for sale online in the coming weeks. T-shirts are already available at www.helpsrilankakids.com.
These and other fundraising activities will allow the Home to pay for the necessary expansion of its facilities and services to accommodate the incoming tsunami orphans.
"We are really starting to get the ball rolling on these programs. My goal is to help Gokulam extend its quality care to more children so that they are able to have the same opportunities as others who have not lost so much," Bissler said.
-source: Food for Life Global
Bissler is a volunteer with Food For Life Global (www.ffl.org), a humanitarian organization dedicated to uniting the world through food. FFL, the world's largest vegetarian food relief group, has distributed more than 350,000 freshly cooked meals in India and Sri Lanka since the Dec. 26 tsunami.
Arriving in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 22, Bissler began by helping distribute food in Maratuwa, where hundreds of people lost their homes due to flooding from the tsunami.
"It is quite an experience to see the devastation first hand," Bissler said. "These people have lost everything, their homes, their jobs, and most importantly the people they loved"
As the survivors of the disaster begin to rebuild their homes and lives, the children who lost their families need more help than ever. For this reason, Bissler is now working to raise funds for a local orphanage that is taking in 100 tsunami orphans, more than doubling its previous capacity.
"Children are the most marginalized group in any society. Children without parents do not have any voice. We're trying to give them a shot at a successful future," Bissler said.
Before moving to Sri Lanka, Bissler was living and working in Chicago, Il. After the tsunami, he decided to leave his job with Enterprise Leasing Co., where he was an assistant manager at one of the largest branches in the country.
"It was a good job, but I felt a calling to do something more with my life. I remember first hearing at Rockhurst the principle of the Magis: 'To whom much has been given, more is expected.' I have always tried to live up to that ideal," Bissler said.
Bissler, who began his Jesuit education at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., is using his business skills to help the orphanage. Along with other volunteers, he has started a child sponsorship program for Gokulam, launched a grant seeking program, and designed a new user-friendly Web site (www.gokulam.org). His most exciting project is COTTAGE, or Children Of The Tsunami - Arts, Gifts and Education (www.cottageyouth.org). The venture will include greeting cards and other gifts designed by the orphans of the Home, and will be available for sale online in the coming weeks. T-shirts are already available at www.helpsrilankakids.com.
These and other fundraising activities will allow the Home to pay for the necessary expansion of its facilities and services to accommodate the incoming tsunami orphans.
"We are really starting to get the ball rolling on these programs. My goal is to help Gokulam extend its quality care to more children so that they are able to have the same opportunities as others who have not lost so much," Bissler said.
-source: Food for Life Global