Nov/Dec Update:

Martin did not stay at the Catholic Boarding school that NLLB arranged. While we are disappointed in this, we are happy to report that the local village school near his home has agreed to allow him to attend there. Previously they had said he could not attend due to his crippled legs. He remains in high ranking in his class!

Martin is the second child of 7. His father is a farmer and they are quite poor. When he was 4 he got polio. Many people do not realize that polio vaccine is not 100% effective and in fact he had the vaccine. He was ill for several months and was not able to walk. He had to relearn to walk, although his muscles deteriorated. Today he walks with a very poor gait and can fall easily.

Martin has very loving parents. As is the normal case in rural village life, a child works on the farm with the family, often carrying fire wood for cooking, carrying water to the house and working in the fields when not in school. Martin was unable to participate in these types of work activities, but was asked to care for his younger siblings while his older brother and parents worked in the fields and managed the outdoor heavy lifting work.
Martin is a very bright young man. He has a thirst for education and enjoys reading.

Polio affects the limbs. Martin's legs are very thin and weak, which can cause him to fall. In 2011 Martin was brought to Singapore where he lived with the York family for 3 months while obtaining AFO's (plastic splints) to help stabilize his legs and walking. Dr. Kevin Lim from Singapore's KK Women's & Children's Hospital's Orthopedic Department cared for Martin. Kevin is a compassionate and caring doctor! During Martin's time in Singapore he quickly picked up English and read as many books as the York's could provide!

NLLB sets up "REMOTE LIBRARIES", often in the homes of "handicapped" individuals. Pleasure books are rare and many schools lack text books, let alone libraries. Libraries in Indonesia "rent" books. A "Remote Library" provides for a small income for the child/individual, as well as provides for learning for the child and the local community. Books are rented in exchange for a small sum or the exchange of a food item. Over the years, NLLB has seen how this simple project brings the community to the individual and they soon realize that even though the person may have a "disability" they are bright and capable, often the only child with a business. It has proven to be an amazing path to gaining respect in a community for these children, as well as providing them with knowledge and resources.

Martin returned to his family in 2011 with his "Remote Library". He has read every single book and rents them out to children in the village. He loves reading and this has been a wonderful way to provide him with books and interaction with others!

Update: April 2014 Linley visited Martin and took a new walker to him (she brought from the USA). This will help him to walk the 1 km he walks to school with more stability and more safety from falling. The walker is a heavy duty model with strong wheels and a basket. He was very pleased.

Linley met with the Head of the Catholic Boy's Boarding house and school in a larger village nearby to ask if they would consider accepting Martin into their Middle School this fall. Martin is ranked #2 in his class and considered one of their brightest pupils. The School Administrator agreed to accept him and said they would provide him with a ground floor private room. Most of the students sleep in large rooms with up to 40 boys. NLLB will be fund raising to provide for the nearly $1000/year for his boarding and school fees. Martin's local Middle School informed his family last year that they were not willing to accept him due to his disability. He is completing Elementary school this July and NLLB wants to support his further education! This is a very bright boy!

Update August 2014:

Martin's first semester tuition has been paid and he is moving into the dorm this weekend to attend school at an all boys Catholic school with high standards. An error in communication caused a slip up in the boarding fees being paid and the money is in Jakarta waiting to be paid. The school trusts NLLB and Martin will begin school and be in the boarding house and we are arranging the payment for later this month. The school does not have its own back account and we prefer not to send the money to the Headmaster's Personal Account, so we arrange it to be hand carried.

The school has been very welcoming to Martin and have provided a ground floor room instead of the usual second floor. We are working on getting Martin vitamins and he has taken his new (used) heavy duty walker from the USA with him. This is an amazing opportunity for him... to attend Middle School.. and especially one that is of such level.