EVER since childhood and witnessing the images from a famine-ravaged Ethiopia, Cooee Bay mum Helen Haidle dreamed of being able to help.
Earlier this year, she had the chance to visit the little girl she'd sponsored for seven years and only knew from a photograph and letters.
"When I saw those harsh images on television it used to break my heart. I thought one day I have to do something," she said.
Seven years ago, Helen responded to a World Vision promotion, outside her shop on the Sunshine Coast.
"I thought if this isn't a nudge, I don't know what is," she said.
Helen sponsored seven-year-old Hnin who lived in a village in Myanmar (Burma).
"I always wanted to visit her. My husband realised it was something I had to do," she said.
Hnin lives in the village of Thanbyuzayat and travelled 12 hours to the city of Yangon to meet Helen and Grahame.
"They'd never been on any transport; they'd never seen a shopping centre.
"It gave them the opportunity to come to a city for the first time and experience that ... to go to the zoo, to have dinner," she said.
Hnin is learning to speak English but real communication was made possible through a World Vision interpreter.
"At first she was a little shy and hadn't slept all night because she was so excited. We were so nervous.
"I kept thinking about how I was going to be with her. I didn't want to be overbearing, but she came to me," said Helen.
"She talked about her home and her dream to be an air hostess or a teacher."
She knows she's going to get an education. She has so much hope and she's gutsy enough that I know she will go to college.
Helen said Hnin's mother, Daw, became quiet at that point, then talked about her fear that her daughter wouldn't have the opportunity to get the education she needed to do those things.
"You don't even think about our kids not having an education," she said.
Hnin walks an hour and a half each way to go to school and appeared to be a very clever and spirited girl.
"I'm even more emotional now that I'm home. It's really touched me," said Helen.
"She brought out a bundle of photos and letters we'd sent her over the years and I was shocked at how much of a treasure they were to her.
"I hope we've always appreciated the simple things in life, but it's made us more respectful of little things."
Helen said it was clear that sponsorship had given Hnin hope.
"She knows she's going to get an education. She has so much hope and she's gutsy enough that I know she will go to college.
"It's a good time, the country is opening up ... it's a very backward, but a very amazing and beautiful country.
"There are things we can learn from them too, about sustainability and about sharing.
"Saying goodbye was so hard. She held my hand all day and I didn't want to let go.
"I just told her to work really hard at school and now she writes and tells me how well she's doing."
World Vision
To sponsor a child, go to www.worldvision.com.au.
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