Charities For Children

We’re in for a special treat today at Children International’s world headquarters. Professional photographer and Children International sponsor, Gustavo Fernandez, is making a stop in Kansas City on his cross-country motorcycle ride to help needy children through Children International. He calls the program H.O.G.® For Kids.

Gustavo is making stops in cities like Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York taking pictures of children and asking their families to sponsor a child in the Dominican Republic like he does. His goal is to find sponsors for 50 children living in poverty, and we support him whole hog! (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

Visit Gustavo’s cool H.O.G. for Kids homepage to see more of his photographs, see where he’s been and learn more about his mission.

Gustavo with his sponsored child Erica and her mother, Santa, in the Dominican Republic.

Each year our Communications Coordinator in Guatemala, Javier Cárcamo, trains a new batch of youth reporters to write stories, conduct interviews and take photos and video. Here, 17 year-old youth reporter Edwin Canac Tzaj shares what life is like in his rural community and how sponsorship is giving him an opportunity he never thought he would have.

My community is a small and hidden place. We live at the base of a hill and all of the neighbors are happy, but you always have a desire to have a better life. Even though we are happy, it’s kind of difficult to live here, because there isn’t any work. Some farmers give work to day laborers so they can support their families, but there isn’t enough work for everyone. Some only find work in other villages, so they have to go far away early in the morning and they come home even more tired.

The women help their husbands working in the fields cutting peas and lettuce, and some just do whatever work they can find each day in the markets or at construction sites. Every morning the sun rises and women weave their güipils (a traditional Mayan blouse) to sell, although many women work in the fields too, carrying their babies on their backs.

Even still, life here is beautiful, but everyone hopes to have happier lives with good futures for their children and to be able to enjoy the weekends at church or just taking a walk around town.

Poverty in my community is due to the fact that there aren’t any good salaries or jobs. And that’s why many people can’t afford to send their children to school, much less give youth like us higher education - like my siblings and me, for example. Our parents don’t have any way to support us, although they have always tried very hard. But sometimes it’s been difficult to keep studying. I know we have to struggle and work for our futures, because many desperate youth have thrown themselves into vice, because they have no work, nor the love of a mother or father, or anyone to support them.

But sponsorship in my community is something that makes things different for many families. In my community there are more than 100 sponsored children and youth, and that has helped us to improve ourselves and have a greater possibility of becoming better people. I am very thankful to all of you, because you have lovingly given us help, and that is such a benefit for each household. You have helped us with school supplies and personal items.

Now that I have the opportunity to be a Youth Reporter, I feel even better about myself, because now I can communicate my community’s feelings. And this is something I never dreamed of before, because it used to be very hard for me to speak Spanish, because I speak an indigenous language. But thanks to the opportunity to go to school, I can write this –although I still get a little nervous. I am learning to take photos and talk to people without feeling embarrassed. And I’m really happy about that, and I’m very satisfied being sponsored by Children International. That’s why I wish you all success in each and everything you do each day.
 

Guatemala's Youth Reporters
 

Did you like this story? Want more? Send us a comment, and let us know. We’ll be sure to make this a regular feature.

While they may not sound like exciting gifts to you and me, for families living in poverty sheets, dishes, storage containers and towels are a pretty big deal. Just imagine trying to keep your water free from contamination when you have a dirt floor and a leaky roof. Or having to eat your food right off of the old wooden table because you broke the last plate you had. Even being able to snuggle your face into a soft new bath towel is a pleasure that few of our sponsored children get to experience. That’s why Special Hug Day really matters to poor children and their families.

Feeling huggy yet? Visit our Special Hug page to make a contribution.

P.S.  - Want to know what sponsored children will receive this year for Special Hug Day? For the inside scoop on gifts head to our Google Groups page and look for the “Special Hug Day Presents” discussion topic.


Photo by Communications Coordinator Anthony Lorcha.

We’ve recently been doing strategic planning at Children International. I think maybe this is the longest strategic planning process ever experienced by an organization as we began it about ten months ago! Shortly after we began “thinking strategically” way back then, the economic world as we all knew it changed dramatically. And not for the good, in case I need to add that.

And so, rather than try to craft a plan that would take us out the next five to ten years during a time when the playing field was shifting violently, we decided it would be prudent to take our time and keep our eyes on the horizon while not ignoring that big, nasty wave that was about ready to crash over the ship!

And we’ve succeeded in that pretty well, having come up with a pretty sound preliminary plan draft that has the goal of helping more children, better. And obtaining more contributions from more sources to make that happen. Our commitment to one-on-one sponsorship is stronger than ever.

And because of that, many of our strategic goals surround the objective of making the sponsorship experience even more gratifying and enriched for our sponsors, as I have always been committed to rewarding the generosity and commitment they demonstrate with their selfless acts of support for their sponsored children month in and month out.

A very good way of delivering and enhancing that personal sponsorship connection is through the Internet and our site at www.children.org. If you’re reading this blog, you “get” that. But my concern is that a lot of our sponsors don’t, for reasons that no doubt run the gamut, but the fact is, they don’t visit the website where they could enhance and deepen the sponsorship experience through the many opportunities it offers.

Our website has constantly expanded and improved over the past few months and years and, as I hope you agree, has a lot to offer. Even as you read this, we’re hard at work to make it more content-laden, and to take advantage of new and better technology so sponsors can have better information sooner about their sponsored children and the communities where they live—in short, to make visits to the site an even more exciting, texture-rich experience that sponsors want to enjoy often!

Beyond the sponsor’s own experience, a benefit of their greater involvement via the website is, we hope, more and easier advocacy which translates directly into more children being reached through sponsorship. Our challenge, then, is to somehow get as many sponsors as we can to visit www.children.org on a regular basis. Their increased involvement that way can only result in good things for them and for children out there on the waiting list!

If you, our blogging family, have any thoughts about how to better engage sponsors and contributors on www.children.org, we’re very receptive to weave your ideas into our strategies!

Well, you’re in luck! July eNews is brimming with information on our child sponsorship program. This month’s publication includes stories about sponsored youth who were invited to visit the United Nations for International Youth Day, our efforts to support good health, a look at our redesigned country pages and your personal invitation to throw a house party.

Intrigued? Read on.
 

With the support of Congress and the Courts, Honduran President José Manuel Zelaya was ousted by the military on Sunday, June 28. The Supreme Court and members of Congress deemed the president’s efforts to seek a second term illegal and unconstitutional.

Rest assured our child sponsorship agency staff in San Pedro Sula reports that our agency is operating normally and does not anticipate any disruption of benefits or services to sponsored children or their families. Agency director Blanca Estela Rodriguez described the mood of the city and the population in general as “calm.” Preliminary reports from the field indicate that all sponsored families appear to be fine as well.

We will continue to provide updates on Honduras as the situation progresses. For breaking news, alerts and the most up-to-date information on the areas that we serve please visit Children International’s homepage.

Reporting by Deron Denton.

By Damon Guinn

Let me start by saying I’m new at this. As of last week, I’ve been a dad for only two years. And even though my second child is in the works, plumping up like a nice little bun in the oven, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the voice of authority when it comes to fatherhood. I don’t have a collection of ties to prove my tenure as the World’s Best Dad. I don’t even have the coffee mug. What I do have, though, is some fresh perspective, along with eight years of working to support children in need.

During my brief time as a dad, and my history at Children International, I’ve come to understand one principle above all others: the importance of simply “being there.”
 

Before my daughter, Ellie, was born, I racked my brain trying to plan the perfect approach to Papadom. Would I need classes on advanced diaper changing? When should I start teaching her to read? How would I keep my cool when she had her first inexplicable, Chernobyl-sized meltdown in public?

Now I realize fatherhood is mainly about being available for my daughter whenever she needs me – to help instill in her confidence and a sense of security. And that seems to be the same role sponsors serve for the children they support.

Sponsor David Medeiros brought that point home to me during a recent interview. After losing his son in a drunk driving accident, and lapsing into an alcohol-induced depression, David discovered a new purpose in life. He became a sponsor and rekindled those fatherly instincts he thought had died with the premature loss of his son, Bobby.

Sponsorship gave David the break he needed to take the focus off himself and instead place it on a young, innocent child who desperately needed someone to look up to. It’s given him so much joy, in fact, he now sponsors six children.

“I love these children like my own,” David brags, “and I treat each one of them differently. Each letter is different. And it’s personal between each one of them. To do what I’m doing...I love this! It’s a gift!”

A gift indeed. To be given the opportunity to guide the growth and development of a young life who counts on you for support and encouragement is a unique privilege – especially on Father’s Day.

So...if you haven’t bought dad something special for his big day, check out David’s story, “It’s Never too Late,” and then consider giving your own dad a gift sponsorship.  It’s way better than a tie, and it’ll give him the chance to share his wisdom and experience with another boy or girl who could definitely use a positive male role model.

By Garrett Kenyon

Strolling through the halls of Children International, the first thing one notices are pictures of children adorning every wall and decorating individual cubicles. It’s hard to be negative with dozens of beaming, beautiful kids smiling down at you. But not all the pictures show happy children.

As a writer, I’m faced each day with images of a different kind: hundreds, sometimes thousands, of poor, unsponsored children. Looking at so many sad kids can eventually inure one to the emotions such images generate. But occasionally, a picture brings all those feelings back again. You put the picture aside and try to get back to work, but find your eyes repeatedly slipping back for another look. You stare into the child’s sad eyes and try to imagine what their life might be like.



Each child has their own story, a unique set of harsh circumstances that has stolen the ubiquitous smile of childhood from their face. The photographs tell that story, and with a little practice, you learn to read the image like an open book.

The picture of Paola Mendez that arrived on my desk yesterday had that effect. Her image stayed in my mind all day, until I had to see the picture again. I examined it more carefully this time, letting my eyes go deeper to see what information I could glean about her life from the photograph.

The picture appears to have been taken in an alley. In the background, you can see canvas that serves as walls for Paola’s home. With scant protection from the elements, her nights must be cold and sometimes wet. A large metal post is visible, supporting a structure barely visible overhead, suggesting that the family lives under a bridge or in the shadow of an industrial structure. There are cooking utensils visible – hinting that the family has no kitchen. Kitchens are generally the second most important room in the house, so we can speculate that the members of this family do their living and sleeping in one room.

As if to highlight the unsanitary conditions, a puddle of what looks like urine snakes up to the foreground, just over Paola’s shoulder.

Next, we look at Paola. She wears a hair band, indicating that someone cares for her. However, the band has slipped and her hair is tangled and frizzy, suggesting she might not be getting the attention she needs. The dirt on her face and hands isn’t the kind a child picks up playing, but the kind that comes from being unwashed for days. This means the family probably has no bathroom or running water. Paola wears a thin, faded shirt, and her eyes are moist, as if she was recently crying.

Most disturbing is Paola’s expression. If joy was ever reflected in her face – it’s long gone. She seems unable to muster even the hint of a smile. The happiness that most of us associate with youth seems to have been stolen from this child.

From these observations, we can make some assumptions about Paola’s situation. The lack of sanitary facilities or a solid home indicates poverty at its most extreme. Her family struggles to survive, and she could be facing malnutrition and frequent illness. But disease and starvation aren’t the only dangers facing Paola.

On the streets of her city, she’s like a minnow among sharks. Mexico is home to some of the world’s largest and most violent drug cartels. The violence associated with such gangs often spills over into urban neighborhoods, where innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire. Nearly half the population of Mexico lives in poverty, and poor families are often the hardest hit by crime and violence. When you add drugs and social diseases into the mix, a grim picture develops. Without help, Paola could be doomed to live her life in this alley, devoid of hope.

Luckily, that’s not how this story has to end...

Check back on Thursday to see the drastic changes that would occur in Paola’s life when she becomes sponsored.

To become part of Paola’s story by giving her the gift of sponsorship, call: 1-800-888-3089.

By Patricia Calderón, Children International's Communications Coordinator in Barranquilla, Colombia

In Barranquilla, Colombia, we began promoting the Let’s Win (A Ganar – in Spanish) program on May 7th. Twenty sponsored youth will benefit from this pilot program. The Let’s Win program, driven by Brazilian soccer star Pele, makes use of the impact of soccer and other team sports as an effective tool to support at-risk youth – particularly athletes – to help them develop values and basic skills, prepare them for work and foment a new generation of youth who will actively participate in the country’s progress.

Let’s Win aides in combating the unemployment problem among the youth population through integral labor training based on soccer skills and imparting practical, interpersonal and technical skills.

This program, which is supported by Partners of the Americas, has as its goal to develop leadership abilities and a self-starter attitude in the participants thereby increasing their chances of finding work and earning an income. The program also creates innovative and interactive professional training for at-risk youth. The training includes values like teamwork, emphasis on results, self-realization, communication, respect and discipline.

By Scott Cotter

Every year about this time, I start thinking about May 4th.

We’re still a few days away but I’ve already been replaying it over and over again like I always do. The filmstrip in my mind might be a bit jumpy at times, but 32 years has done little to dull the images of that day.

As I lay underneath a wrestling mat in a crumbling gym all those years ago, an angry black cloud spun along the ground in my hometown, clawing up the earth and pulling ancient hardwoods from the dirt like daisies, ripping homes from their foundations and tossing cars through the air like so many Hot Wheels.

Under the false protection of that purple and gold mat, we giggled while the tornado turned away from our school and leveled two others, one in which my younger brother was cowering. When the flying glass, shattered wood, airborne shingles and debris-choked wind settled, a large swath of the town lay in ruin. Sadly, there were two deaths but, fortunately, only minor injuries in those two battered schools.

Almost immediately, the National Guard started pouring in, helping sift through the wreckage and protect what was left from looters. The Red Cross showed up to provide food and emergency first aid. And insurance company employees came by the busloads to help put lives back together.
 

To us they were heroes...strangers who came to help in our time of need.

That’s how I think of Children International's sponsors. And not just when typhoons toss bamboo homes like dry kindling, or mudslides crumble tin and plastic structures...but all the time. Sponsorship is there to support needy children and their families through a variety of hardships, to help them put the pieces of their lives together every single day in hopes that they, too, will walk away from the crosswinds that batter their lives.

That’s why, to them, you’re heroes. I hope you remember that on May 4th. And all year long.

By Damon Guinn

The Midwest is probably the last place you’d expect to hear diplomats debate worldwide hunger and international food relief. So it may come as a surprise that Kansas City was the site of this week’s International Food Aid Conference, sponsored by the USDA and USAID.

In a sense, Kansas City could be considered the agricultural epicenter of the nation. It’s home to a major board of trade for agriculture and is surrounded by states that produce a bounty of cattle, corn, grains, pigs and poultry. What better setting then for interested parties to take a place at the table and talk about the future course of food aid?

During the conference, Tom Vilsack, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, announced that the USDA will nearly double its support of a $95.5 million food aid program that benefits starving and hungry children in poor countries.

Speaking on behalf of President Obama, Secretary Vilsack reiterated the importance of providing food relief to children in need. “The president understands that if we do that and do a better job of it, then it will make (eventually) all of us much safer, because if these kids are well-fed and well-cared for at the beginning of life, then they will see that there are boundless opportunities for them.”

The announcement is good news for Children International, considering our efforts to reduce malnutrition in several of the world’s poorest communities.

Last year, we appealed to many of you for help in providing emergency food relief to sponsored children and their families, and your response was overwhelming. We raised nearly $1 million worth of food relief for struggling families who have seen the prices of food items like rice, corn and cooking oil skyrocket – in some places as much as 75 percent.

With your support, we have been able to deliver food relief when, and where, it's needed most. And our ongoing nutrition workshops and nutritional rehabilitation programs make it possible for us to take direct action in curbing hunger and malnutrition.

In a world where a child dies of hunger every 5 seconds, your support through sponsorship is a key component of a global initiative to save lives. And that can give us all a little more food for thought.

Learn more about world hunger, and what Children International is doing to curb it, by clicking the links below:

• Facing Up to a Global Food Crisis
• Global Food Crisis: Three Families Fight for Survival