That's exactly what our Communications Coordinators do every day. We get awesome photos in from them all the time, but unfortunately, there's no way we can use all of them. No need to let them go to waste! Here are some of the latest and greatest they've submitted.
Our Lusaka, Zambia community centers offer sponsored children medical and dental care, school tutoring and balanced meals, but many times, kids just come to hang out with their friends. I chose this photo not just because of the kids' smiling faces, but because of what they're watching on TV. Made me chuckle.
Volunteer mother Patricia Cuascota was leading Quito Communications Coordinator, Cecilia Carrión, around the neighborhood to take photos when she got a call that her daughter had fallen and hurt herself. She apologized profusely to Cecelia for not being able to continue the tour as she said turned to go home. No wonder Cecilia named this photo "Volunteering is an act of generosity."
Kids in our feeding program in Quezon City, Philippines aren't afraid to dig in! Photo by Carmie Carpio.
Patricia Calderón, Communications Coordinator in Barranquilla, Colombia couldn't help but snap a photo of cousins Andrea and Cheli. "They caught my attention when I found them coming back from running an errand, holding hands as if they were taking care of each other. They were wearing their uniforms and ready to go to school," Patricia says.
When Communication's Coordinator, Nivedita (Neenee) Moitra, takes her camera out into the neighborhoods of Kolkata, India, everyone wants to be in the picture.
Sponsoring a child through Children International is so much more than a monthly contribution, a photo and a couple of letters. It’s an entire network of sponsors and dedicated field staff who really care about each and every child we serve. Javier Cárcamo, Communications Coordinator in Guatemala helps us illustrate this point:
Sponsorship provides support for diverse circumstances and needs, and sometimes, it’s the only support that families receive when they face emergencies and tragedy. When the Children International team must cover an emergency, our involvement goes far beyond just doing our jobs. In moments of uncertainty, when families are confronted with a loss, framed by despair, poverty and the anguish of not being able to do anything, Children International is there to give support and a comforting hug.
This is the case of Ludwin, a sponsored boy of just 8 years, who comes from an impoverished family. Sadly, Ludwin passed away recently due to a prolonged illness. Since the detection of his illness, Children International - Guatemala made a series of efforts to help him improve his health - exams, tests, treatments, transportation to specialized treatment centers, medicines, food. But after several months, we got the devastating news; the specialists had given Ludwin only a few weeks to live.
This information pulled at the hearts of our committed staff at the community center. A moved Field Official, Nelson Cali, realized that Ludwin would not live to see his next birthday. With great sorrow, but the intention to give Ludwin a moment of happiness amidst the inevitable, staff members took up a collection of gifts so Ludwin could celebrate his last birthday properly.
The community joined the celebration full of happy moments, yet our hearts were heavy. There were dozens of gifts, toys, stuffed animals and items of clothing. A cake with candles. A clown who donated his regular performance fee to the family. Two piñatas, only one of which Ludwin was able to break open, and candy, lots of it, which little by little got a smile out of Ludwin. Only he knew the pain that forced him to remain seated during much of the party.
They were hours of joy for Ludwin. Perhaps this was the best memory that accompanied him until his last breath when he finally could rest from his suffering, surrounded by all of his gifts in his little bed.
The help that sponsorship provides in these heartbreaking cases allows families like Ludwin’s to get support for the funeral costs, which for a poor family is an expense that is almost impossible to cover. Many sponsors and donors don’t know that their support is the only thing that the sponsored families can count on when they are confronted with these situations, and only in this way is it possible for them to provide their loved ones a dignified last goodbye.
Right now there are dozens of cases of children who are receiving specialized medical attention around the world, and in other cases for various reasons, a loss is mourned. It’s comforting to know that when facing this pain, all the sponsored families can count on Children International to offer the help that sometimes is hard to talk about.
Children International Communications Coordinator, Javier Cárcamo, brings us yet another fantastic story from his Youth Reporters in Guatemala.
Hello, my name is Gabriela Pérez, and I’m a Youth Reporter.
Yes, I’m sponsored. I’ve had that blessing since I was little. I don’t really remember when that was, but for as long as I can remember, my mom has told me that it’s a blessing. Now I’m 18 years old, supposedly an adult. Sometimes I think about how I was forced to grow up fast, because my dad abandoned us. Maybe that’s why being sponsored was such a big help to my mom - and to me, of course.
Thanks to sponsorship, I’ve always had a feeling of security - that no matter how bad things got at home, I was always going to be okay. The truth is that sometimes we didn’t have anything to eat. I’m not exaggerating. There really was nothing. We didn’t have a refrigerator. We couldn’t store food other than vegetables and a few jars of salsa.
My older brothers worked hard along with my mom so that we had money, but even so, they shut off our power a lot, and we spent up to three months just using candlelight. The hardest part was when I had to do my homework and the sun went down. It was really difficult not to just give up, because aside from the fact that my eyes burned, I was scared. Don’t laugh, but at night my neighborhood is creepy. Electric lights are scarce, and fear is abundant.
But every day I feel fortunate to be alive. The best part about becoming a teenager is that I could enjoy sponsorship in a whole new way. Thanks to the Youth Program, this year I was chosen to be a Youth Reporter. That made me so happy.
“Professor Javier” taught me lots of things. He gave me the opportunity, the medium to reach all of you. I hope you read what I write and that you realize that without Children International, I might be washing the dishes in some rich family’s house. But no. Here I am, sitting at my little kitchen table, writing in the hopes that my sponsor can read it and feel proud of me. And that lots of sponsors read it and realize that I have a voice now, that I dream of a better future.
The benefits that Children International gives us stay with us throughout our sponsored years and for many years to follow. I have these dreams, these hopes that everyone who works at Children International have sowed in my heart. They believe in me, and so does my sponsor who has made an investment in me. And I won’t let any of you down. I promise you that.
October 16th is World Food Day, and from 1981 on, it has been creating awareness of the problem of hunger and malnutrition around the globe in the hopes of alleviating hunger.
Providing nutrient-rich foods to malnourished sponsored children is an important part of Children International's child sponsorship program. In addition to inviting these children to have healthy lunches in our community centers, we teach parents how to prepare balanced meals that won't break the budget. Volunteer mothers help us keep our costs low by becoming the lunch ladies during the week and cooking and serving nutritious dishes for the children who need it.
And when times get truly desperate for our sponsored families as the cost of food rises, Children International's Lifeline Food Program is there. Through the program we are able to provide families in need with food baskets that they can take home when the cupboards are bare - without a doubt, an enormous relief for parents struggling to feed their sons and daughters.
To see just how Children International helps malnourished children regain their health, view our slideshow "Something Good to Eat."
Photo by Marelvis Campo, Communications Coordinator in Cartagena, Colombia.
Children and families in the Philippines are still struggling to recover a measure of normalcy in the wake of typhoons Ketsana and Parma.
Staff from Children International’s Manila and Quezon City child sponsorship agencies continue to carry out disaster relief efforts – an overwhelming challenge due to the enormity of the losses, which, sadly, include the lives of a sponsored child and most of her family.
Manila Agency Director Cynthia Tiotuyco visits with flood victims.
Two top-priority efforts are food relief and medical assistance. Thousands of dollars of food items have been distributed to affected families, and thanks to the generosity of a local drug manufacturing company, children and families have also benefited from the donation of thousands of dollars in medicine.
Staff works to keep families healthy despite difficult circumstances.
Preparing to distribute emergency food supplies.
Our agencies are also helping with in other ways. Families who lost everything they owned are receiving help with materials to repair their houses; additionally, many children and families are receiving items like blankets, clothing, footwear and – of critical importance – school uniforms and supplies, so no more time is lost from school than is absolutely necessary.
Replacing children's lost or damaged school supplies is critical.
We are looking at ways to make life safer for families in the future. Our agency staff is working with local government officials to identify more secure sites for settlements that, prior to the typhoons, were located in flood-prone areas such as riverbanks and sewage canals. The agencies have also registered with the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs and the National Disaster Coordinating Council to ensure all relief efforts meet international and national standards.
Grateful children smile after receiving emergency rations.
Our sponsored youth are no less involved. Local Children International youth council members are working to launch preventative education efforts to address issues like improper garbage disposal, which has been identified as one of the factors that contributed to the widespread flooding during the typhoons.
Please check back Monday for a special message from Children International President Jim Cook.
Photos by Children International's staff in the Philippines.
Just ask any mom or dad of kids in our child sponsorship program what is the best hope of their child overcoming poverty, and the answer you're likely to get is, "Education."
Education really is a powerful tool for children living in poverty. Sponsoring a child is not just about giving material aid such as food and clothing; it's about opening the door to a better future. Through education, our sponsors help open the door to success for their sponsored children.
Every day glimmering jets fly past 31-year-old Soledad’s* home on a steep hillside in Quito, Ecuador. Soledad watches wistfully as the planes take flight and sail into the distance, all the while wishing that she, too, could fly away and forever flee her grim circumstances.
From her lofty vantage point, you’d think Soledad was on top of the world – but the truth is, she’s near the lowest point in her life. And she finds it hard to rise above her station.
At the tender age of 13, Soledad’s parents traded her for a bottle of moonshine. The man who acquired her – a man twice her age who calls himself her husband – has threatened to kill her if she ever leaves. He not only robbed her of her value as a human being, he immediately impregnated her, and continued to do so until the prospects of leaving were too costly to consider.
But Soledad does dream about leaving and taking her six children with her. If only she had the means. Very few landlords will rent to a single mother with more than two children, she says. So she does what any good mother would do. “I make myself struggle for the sake of the kids,” she confides.
While her husband is off getting drunk, Soledad works long hours as a maid to pay for her family’s food, utilities and $70 monthly rent. She manages to scrape together about $110 each month, but that barely covers the needs of eight people.
Still, she fights on, going so far as to challenge her husband about his lack of support. “I said if you’re the father, then help them go to school. And he said, ‘Well, they’ll go if they want, or if they won’t, they won’t.’ I’m not going to stand for that! They’re going to have school one way or another.”
*Names have been changed to protect the indentities of those mentioned.
Damon Guinn is a senior staff writer with Children International. Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of Damon's post.
Pinched cheeks. A painfully thin body. No way to correlate her size with her age. A disposition that could swing from heartbreaking eagerness to disconsolate sobbing in a split second.
Hunger has a name. It's Tania, and I saw her the other day in Ecuador.
On the rare occasions her alcoholic father shows up at home, the family cowers in fear. Mom is sick; she considers her own life to be beyond help, and she desperately hopes for something better for her children. Some days they don't eat at all.
You've probably already received a letter from our president, Jim Cook, explaining to you about our Lifeline Food Appeal.
For the sake of many children like Tania, please read it.
Note: If for some reason you didn't receive Jim's letter and you'd like to help feed a child like Tania, please visit our website. Thanks.
My favorite Bloggers, Sarah and Kelly, have gently reminded me that it’s time for my first-of-the-month blog contribution. I knew that. They also suggested that, since it’s Labor Day weekend, I might want to weave that into my entry.
And so it shall be. Gladly.
As I’ve been thinking about this it’s pretty obvious that labor is one of the dominant themes in the lives of our sponsored children and their families.
Those families have at least some kind of chance when Dad and/or Mom is able to find work. Often when I’m visiting the families of the sponsored children, I ask the mothers (the dads are often out working!) what kind of work the husbands do and how much they earn.
As often as not, the answer to what they do is “day laborer,” often some type of job in construction. The answer to “how much does he earn in a month?” is often a dollar amount ranging from not very darn much to just a little more than that. And that answer is invariably, quickly, followed with, “When there is work.” And the dads I’ve met, the few times they’re home and not working or looking for work, don’t expect a handout. They want to work and are happy to find work when it is available.
As far as Mom’s work…if she doesn’t have a “real” job such as doing housekeeping for another family, taking in laundry or doing some type of “cottage industry” such as making anything from hot pads to tortillas, then she is, I guess, what might be called a stay-at-home-mom…except when she stays at home, she works harder than I’d care to…and she does it every day, seven days a week. Her “stay at home” job likely includes cooking not enough food over a wood stove, burning wood that she may have cut, bundled and carried, balanced on her head, for over a half mile.
And the water she uses in cooking she may have had to collect in large buckets and, like the firewood, lugged to the house. Water is about eight pounds per gallon…a family of five goes through a lot of gallons…the math makes my back hurt.
And then there is the typical housework…I’ve seen moms determinedly sweeping dirt floors and most houses I’ve dropped in on are quite orderly and well kept. There’s laundry for the family—often done under very difficult conditions, given the lack of available water. It’s just one hard, often back breaking task, after another. That their spirits are as good as they are is a testimony to the human spirit and a person choosing to have a good attitude.
Children in this environment tend to learn to contribute to the family toil at a young age…I’m sure there isn’t a lot of whining, not that I remember my own kids ever doing that! Our sponsored children are happy to help out when needed…and thankful for the opportunity to be able to attend school and not get a “real job” to help supplement the family income. That’s often a tough choice the families make. But most of our sponsored children are able to attend school and big reason for that is parents typically really believe education is the best chance the kids have for a future better than what the parents are experiencing. And our staffs work hard to reinforce that concept!
So, however you spent your Labor Day, whether enjoying a picnic with the family or “laboring” around the house or in the yard, it’s nice to remember how central labor is to the families you’re helping through sponsorship!
Hope you had a nice and safe Labor Day!
Jim
Jim Cook is the president and CEO of Children International.
As a former Communications Coordinator for Children International in the Dominican Republic and coming from a poor family myself, I thought I knew everything there was to know about extreme poverty; and, therefore, that it wouldn’t affect me all that much to see once again the way sponsored families live. Until now, that is...when I had the opportunity to travel to Ecuador with some staff members from Children International. It was a trip that made me face once again the reality of living in extreme poverty.
I was very moved by some of the stories of the families that we visited during our first trip to the field in Guayaquil.
I saw very nice people trying to make ends meet out of very little. We met families with sponsored children that have serious health conditions; families that survive day by day with only the bare minimum; volunteer mothers who care about their communities and believe in the sponsorship program; sponsored youth who have a chance to step up and build a better future for themselves and their families; and sponsored children have faith in their sponsors’ contributions.
We also confronted the reality that there is a lot more to be done for these families. I realized that yes, there are differences among countries, cultures, food and ethnicities; but there is also a common reality that they all face: they desperately need help. But despite the sadness of these situations, I noticed that the families we visited were always so grateful for the little they have, always with a smile on their faces, always welcoming and trying to accommodate us and make us feel comfortable in their tiny houses. It was a valuable lesson that made me think about how much we have, and how sad sometimes people's lives can be...
I was also very impressed at how the staff interacted with the sponsored families, always trying to get the best interview, the best picture, and the best story. And I was happy to know that with the support of Children International’s programs and their sponsors’ contributions, these families have at least some of their needs covered.
I am so glad for this great opportunity and for experiencing for myself – this time as a visitor – how amazing, helpful (and sometimes life-saving) is the support that Children International provides to the sponsored families. This is, without a doubt, a sponsorship program in which I personally believe.
Vilma Nebel, a former Communications Coordinator for Children International in the Dominican Republic, is traveling with the CI team in Ecuador. Check back tomorrow for an update from Senior Staff Writer Damon Guinn.
This is the first of a two-part series by Children International employee Vong Hamilton, who accompanied the International Youth Day delegates from around the world as they visited New York City.
DAY 1 I fell headlong into humility in -- of all places -- a pizzeria in downtown New York City. And that was just the beginning.
I watched two of our youth delegates, Ranjit and Chengo, each order two slices of pizza, a cheeseburger and fries. I thought to myself, "Seriously...can they eat that much food?" To my surprise, they did!
As I listened to Chengo talk, something triggered a faraway memory, though I knew it could only have been drawn from my imagination as I'd never been to Zambia before except to lose myself in photos. I envisioned Africa’s poverty and desolation; and in that desolate place in my thoughts, I imagined what Chengo's life must be like.
I pictured him 24 hours prior, living in his squatter community with his mom, who is very ill. I pictured him in front of their shack, his little sister peeping from behind, and the rest of the world going on without them as they stared down the lonesome road, anxiety mirrored on their faces as they waited to see what they'd have for their next meal.
And there was Chengo...in New York...in a pizzeria...eating fries. Fries that I never think twice about throwing away if they get cold. Chengo and Ranjit couldn't believe they could choose anything off the menu. And I started to really reflect on how different their lives are from mine. How I get the liberty of having choices... deciding what to eat, what to wear and where to go; whereas, perhaps they just take what they’re given and are grateful.
Suddenly I felt appalled at all the materialism in my world…and yet appreciative at the same time of the simple things I overlook on a daily basis. I wished so much to do something special for the kids…as if a material gift could diminish their poverty. But I knew that, for them, being a part of something as special as sponsorship and getting to experience the trip of a lifetime was more than anything they could ever wish for.
Be sure and check back tomorrow as Vong finishes sharing her reflections on a trip that forever changed her way of looking at life...
My experience during the International Youth Day conference was to say the least overwhelming. With every sponsored youth’s arrival there was a new feeling of excitement and amazement. I can’t tell you how many times I heard the phrase, “I can’t believe I’m here!” These delegates are a delight to be around. They are so smart, sensitive, determined, caring and without a doubt will achieve every goal they put their mind to. There was no language barrier on this trip; you wouldn’t believe the bonds made by all!
Monday afternoon, after I had the last group in the taxi, we took the subway and made our way to meet the rest of the group at Coney Island. All the kids wanted to do was walk on the sand barefoot!
Tuesday we started our tour early. They were in amazement gazing at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Rockefeller Center. Everyone really enjoyed the lights and excitement of Times Square! Of course we took in souvenir shopping every chance we could, visited Chinatown and Little Italy and took lots of photos!
Wednesday came with great anticipation, the first day of conferences and workshops at the United Nations. I’m sure I was only one of the many that felt so proud of our youth during the workshop presentations given by Melvin from Manila, LaToya from Little Rock and Jazmin from Guayaquil on Youth Leadership Training. This workshop was so well-received, and the delegates were given an enormous amount of positive feedback by those in attendance. Later that same afternoon our delegate from Honduras, Karen, was selected to speak as president of her youth council during the plenary session. What a tremendous opportunity to speak before the entire assembly!
Thursday and Friday were filled with subway rides, conferences at the UN and always, smiles and laughter. We got a big smile out of our delegate from Guatemala, Virginia, too when she won the award for Outstanding Youth Achievement for her community projects. Quite an accomplishment, drawing from a group of 700 kids from around the globe! She was even invited to a special luncheon event at the UN that afternoon.
Friday evening the kids wanted a pajama party. What a great evening! We ordered pizza and bought junk food, a Twister® game - they really bonded. We swapped stories of our most memorable experiences along with who had the most blisters on their feet. Near the end of the evening the tears came, translated goodbyes and long hugs.
I feel lucky to be given the opportunity to be involved in such a special event. Our youth shined - I can’t say that enough. I am so proud to be a part of our organization. It’s hard to express all of the little details in written words; I will never forget these delegates: Chengo, José Adriana, LaToya, Melvin, Ana, Jazmin, Karen, Ranjit, Valeria and Virginia.
Blog by Cheri Watson, Administrative Coordinator for Children International’s Program Services Department. Photo by Vong Hamilton.
Children International’s communications coordinators are the field correspondents who serve as the eyes and ears of the organization at each agency. Because they are the reporters who feed us the material you later read in Journeys, eNews, our website and our other publications, we thought you might enjoy getting to know them a little better. This month we chose to introduce you to Patricia Calderón, the communications coordinator from Barranquilla, Colombia.
Patricia holds a degree in Journalism and, prior to joining Children International, served as an award-winning television reporter and program host in Barranquilla. She also served as the Director of Communications for the Barranquilla Carnival Foundation.
We found a couple of her answers to be particularly engaging:
What is your favorite memory of your job as communications coordinator? One day as I was interviewing a 9-year-old boy, I asked him what made him feel happy and he just laughed very mischievously but didn’t answer. I repeated the question and he laughed even more, but he still didn’t answer. I asked him again and he came close and whispered, “Being close to María Alejandra!” I laughed and asked him who she was, but he put his fingers to his lips and went “Shhhh!” and let me know through gestures that it was a girl sitting at a table next to us at the community center library. We both giggled and I told him I’d keep his secret.
What is the most touching experience you’ve had in your job? I was covering the announcement to a family that lived in horrible conditions that they were going to receive a house. The sponsor requested that they find out the news through a letter he had written, so we sent word for the whole family to gather. The Sponsor Relations Manager went to the family’s house and read them the letter. As the family of 10 heard the news they became more and more excited, until finally they all burst into tears. They were hugging each other and crying and couldn’t believe such happy news. The family’s excitement was so great that even those of us who went to break the news ended up crying to see how overjoyed they were.
Patricia concludes, “I’m happy to be doing this job because it allows me to put into practice a lot of the areas I studied. Besides, I feel like I’m contributing a little to the neediest families by making their stories known, which gives them an opportunity for change in their lives.”
When Kelly and I started Children International’s Google Group, we knew it would be a great place for sponsors to get together and share ideas. But slowly it has evolved into something more – a group of friends who support one another ... and each other’s sponsored children as well.
The sponsors on the group share the stories of their sponsored children and the needs they face. Reading the stories and seeing an opportunity to help even more, sponsors set up fundraising projects, and the results have been pretty amazing. Some of the smaller projects funded include fundraisers for beds, food, school items, tuition, nutritional supplements and clothing. Sponsors have also raised money for Income Generating Projects which allow families to start up businesses to help them break free from poverty. As sponsor and fundraiser organizer, Heather puts it, “We are working as a group to change the lives of many families.”
These smaller projects understandably get funded much faster than the larger ones, but they are all so worthwhile. Currently Heather and company are working to build homes for two families living in poverty. You may even recognize them from past articles from Children International. First is the Mulangu Family in Zambia, a family of orphans who live in a borrowed home with the constant threat of eviction. The other is Jenie, a sweet little girl in the Philippines who lives under a bridge with her family alongside drug dealers and gangs. With the help of the fundraisers, both families can have the joy of a modest, but safe home.
If you would like to help with any of the group’s ongoing projects or see photos of the difference these fundraisers have made, please visit http://makeachangemac.webs.com/. Pages like these are just one more reason that I know Children International's sponsors are the greatest.
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.
After talking to my boss, Children International CEO Jim Cook, we decided to wrap up the last month’s series of disasters affecting several of our agencies by commending them for their stellar response to extreme adversity.
When a cyclone ravaged the coastal area of West Bengal, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake rocked villages in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and the threat of a pandemic completely closed down a country (Mexico), Children International staff in each of those regions passed Mother Nature’s test.
In Mexico, our Jalisco staff complied with government mandates and limited public contact while quickly rushing emergency food to sponsored families.
When Cyclone Aila destroyed homes in West Bengal, Sahay staff rushed food, water and medicine to the shelters where victims were staying.
After the shocks from a 7.1 quake near San Pedro Sula were felt as far away as Belize, San Pedro Sula staff quickly assessed the damage to the sponsored familes there and is helping them with repairs to their homes.
One or two of these disasters alone would have tested even the most seasoned disaster relief organizations; but with emergency plans in place at all Children International agencies, we are proud of our professional staff who at times forego their own safety to protect children and families already living on the edge of poverty.
Dolores Kitchin is the Director of Public Relations for Children International.
Well, our awesome family of sponsors quickly stepped up to help nearly all of the waiting children we featured in a recent slideshow. The key words here – after “awesome” – are “nearly all.”
Fifteen of the 18 children – all of whom have been waiting for a sponsor – have a new friend to help them traverse the rocky course of an impoverished childhood.
But about those other three children living in poverty…
To be honest, it’s possible that 5-year-old Bantoni, from Ecuador, might have looked too happy in the slideshow. His beaming smile may have disguised the harsh reality of his daily life.
One look at his drafty and dilapidated home makes me worry about the longevity of that omnipresent smile. (And did I mention that – last we heard – he had cavities in his front teeth and his family cannot afford to send him to a dentist?) Having a sponsor, and the material benefits that come with that relationship, would mean a lot to Bantoni.
Six-year old Neyder, the eldest of four children, has been waiting for a sponsor for nearly a year now. When we spoke with his mother in Barranquilla, Colombia, she said she and her husband had trouble scraping together enough money for food. Yet, when asked why she’d most like to see her son become sponsored, she mentioned educational benefits. The implication is that they may not be able to keep him in school without the help…
Last and certainly not least is 5-year-old Francisco, in Valparaíso, Chile. It tugged at my heart to hear him talk about seeing his older brother receive gifts as a result of sponsorship…gifts that his family can’t afford to buy. And we aren’t talking about anything extravagant, like expensive jeans or video games. Just having new shoes to go to school, he said, would be really nice.
Can you help one of these children get a sponsor? If so, please visit Children International's Waiting Child slideshow to learn more about them. Or you can call us toll-free at 1-800-888-3089 and speak with one of our friendly sponsor representatives…they won’t be the only ones happy to hear from you!
There is no doubt children bring joy to our lives. That is good reason to celebrate them, and in Ecuador every June 1st is the occasion to honor those little blessings of life. On this day, all sorts of activities take place to convey that children are important and valuable, and as a reminder of everyone’s responsibility to make their wellbeing possible.
Families like to honor this special date by offering children presents, taking them out to have their favorite food, going to puppet and magic shows, or simply sharing games and fun at a park. At school, teachers and parents usually help throw little parties for the kids; there are choreographies, contests or games prepared by classmates and they also share something tasty to eat. No matter what is planned for this day, there is only one thing in mind: make this day unique for children.
Sometimes when I watch children around me, I have the impression they are full of things to tell and they are eager to reveal them, but they hold back like there is no point because we wouldn’t understand anyway. That’s when I wonder if it is them not showing what they have inside, or if it is me not trying hard enough to see it.
I’ve noticed that when we give children reasons why we tell them to do this or that, we frequently expect them to understand things from our point of view. There is no way for a child to see things as a grown-up; it is not time for them to do so yet. I believe it would be better if we put ourselves in children’ shoes instead. We all know what it is like to be a child and how hard some things can be, and that knowledge helps them trust us to hold their hand and help them find their own way through life.
The significance of the Day of the Child should be taken beyond the day itself. Day after day we should do everything possible to be close to the hearts of children around us; we need to start seeing the world through children’s eyes to get a deeper understanding of what they need and want. Let’s show children we have a soft side too; let’s prove to them they can trust us. I feel that is the way to show children how important they really are…and if we get closer to them then we will see joy come to children’s lives.
Cecilia Carrión is the Communications Coordinator for Children International’s child sponsorship program in Quito, Ecuador.
One of the best ways to find out the straight skinny on anything is to ask someone who does it. And for those who want to know the inside story on child sponsorship, there’s no better source than the people who sponsor and the professionals who run the sponsorship programs.
Does such a definitive resource exist for people who sponsor through Children International? The answer is yes!
The Children International Sponsors Google Group is a place where sponsors and professionals from CI get together and talk. You’ll hear sponsors share their happy stories…and some sad ones also. And you’ll get a chance to communicate with people like Neeta Goel (Director of Program Services), Paul Hooper (Regional Director for Africa), other staff from the Program Services department, Greg Jones from Sponsor Services, and many others.
So if you’re curious about how to sponsor a child in Africa…what CI is doing to help feed starving children through our nutrition program…what it’s like to visit your sponsored child in Guatemala…and any number of other questions, check out the Google group today. You’ll like what you see. Most importantly, you’ll get a chance to share your ideas with other sponsors just like you – people who have decided to make a difference…and are doing it!
Today’s update to yesterday’s Cyclone Aila blog…this is an excerpt from a report filed by our field operations director, Niraj Agrawal:
“80% of our families [in the area the staff visited] have been affected and amongst them 60% families have lost their homes. Families are still living in camps/flood centres in the night because of the fear of accidents due to wall collapses and snakes and rodents. Families are still wearing the same clothes since Monday. Families are however spending most of the morning time in front of their lost/damaged homes feeling very emotional and attached to their land and damaged house. [italics added by me] Food grains, tarpulins have been purchased locally.”
You can picture this hopelessness and anguish pretty clearly from this description. I’m sure the Children International staff presence helps to provide some comfort…NO ONE wants to face something like this alone!
October 16th is World Food Day, and from 1981 on, it has been creating awareness of the problem of hunger and malnutrition around the globe in the hopes of alleviating hunger.
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.
Sometimes when I watch children around me, I have the impression they are full of things to tell and they are eager to reveal them, but they hold back like there is no point because we wouldn’t understand anyway. That’s when I wonder if it is them not showing what they have inside, or if it is me not trying hard enough to see it.
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