When an outside news organization decided to visit Children International's child sponsorship agency in India to see firsthand how an international children's charity functions, they encountered a model of efficiency. See for yourself the results of their visit.
By Erin Anderson
The swine flu outbreak created fear and caused panic. Now the H1N1 virus is inspiring fashion and charitable giving in the form of surgical masks.*
Graphic designer Irina Blok of San Francisco recently created a line of masks after being laid off from her job. She had some extra time on her hands and decided to use her skills to help raise money for Children International’s child sponsorship agency in Mexico, the country where an outbreak of swine flu occurred recently.
“I thought what can I do as a designer to save the world,” Irina says half-jokingly. “I used the power of design to take something very sterile and unintriguing like a surgical mask and turn it into something that brings a smile and is a little humorous.”
The masks – available with designs, including a pig snout, a skeleton, a beard and one with the word “oink!” – have garnered more interest than Irina bargained for. After a mention in a blog, word quickly spread, and Irina was fielding calls from newspaper and television outlets.
“I realized from the blog post that they become viral, more viral than the flu itself,” Irina quipped.
She attributes the interest to the uniqueness of the product and the need for levity during a time when the swine flu was creating fear.
“Overall, it caught that whole media frenzy about the swine flu, and it became something fun to talk about other than the statistics,” Irina points out.
The masks are $10 each plus shipping and handling, and proceeds will benefit international children's charity Children International. To purchase a mask, visit www.iloveblocks.com/swine.html. Photo by Adam Eisendrath.
*As Irina states on her website, please note that these masks are for decorative purposes only and not for the prevention of disease.
The swine flu outbreak created fear and caused panic. Now the H1N1 virus is inspiring fashion and charitable giving in the form of surgical masks.*
Graphic designer Irina Blok of San Francisco recently created a line of masks after being laid off from her job. She had some extra time on her hands and decided to use her skills to help raise money for Children International’s child sponsorship agency in Mexico, the country where an outbreak of swine flu occurred recently.
“I thought what can I do as a designer to save the world,” Irina says half-jokingly. “I used the power of design to take something very sterile and unintriguing like a surgical mask and turn it into something that brings a smile and is a little humorous.”
Irina Blok (right) designed a line of fashion masks after an outbreak of the swine flu.
The masks – available with designs, including a pig snout, a skeleton, a beard and one with the word “oink!” – have garnered more interest than Irina bargained for. After a mention in a blog, word quickly spread, and Irina was fielding calls from newspaper and television outlets.
“I realized from the blog post that they become viral, more viral than the flu itself,” Irina quipped.
She attributes the interest to the uniqueness of the product and the need for levity during a time when the swine flu was creating fear.
“Overall, it caught that whole media frenzy about the swine flu, and it became something fun to talk about other than the statistics,” Irina points out.
The masks are $10 each plus shipping and handling, and proceeds will benefit international children's charity Children International. To purchase a mask, visit www.iloveblocks.com/swine.html.
*As Irina states on her website, please note that these masks are for decorative purposes only and not for the prevention of disease.
Eric Newman, Director of Sponsor Administration for Children International, recently had the opportunity to visit our child sponsorship agency in Manila, Philippines. Below he gives us a glimpse into his trip.
The smiling face of a sponsored child eating a warm bowl of chicken soup and a plate of rice in one of our Manila feeding centers that feeds hungry children was great to see as we visited one of our Service Area Centers in the Philippines. And it was equally rewarding to see a group of sponsored youth giving an energetic, enthusiastic presentation, proudly telling about their many activities, which include service projects, leadership training and community education. But then I was pleasantly surprised to learn about a new aspect of the sponsorship program…something of which I had not previously been aware.
We were introduced to a young man named Michael, one of the newly elected officers of the recently created CI-Manila Alumni Association (CIMAA) for former members of the international children's charity. Just formed in December, this group is comprised of graduates of our sponsorship program. I learn that the fledgling group already boasts 57 members, which include a teacher, a nurse, an architect, an art director and a call center agent. There are members who meet locally, as well as members who now live abroad and communicate with the association through an E-group. The members of the group have tasked themselves with serving as mentors – big brothers and big sisters – to the sponsored youth in their area. One of their first endeavors has been to provide job interview training for the sponsored youth who are preparing to enter the workforce. What an inspiration to see the alumni of our sponsorship program not only achieving success in their own lives – breaking the cycle of poverty – but also giving back and passing their experience and lessons learned on to our sponsored children! My guess is that we’ll see this concept continue to spread, and we’ll be hearing more about the CI alumni in the future.
Finally, as we left the Center we passed through a large crowd of very young children with their mothers, all eagerly awaiting their turn to register with our sponsorship program. Our staff, teamed with volunteer mothers of current sponsored children, was working hard to sign up this next group of needy children, who will soon become sponsored children and receive nutritious meals, grow into energetic youths and ultimately graduate and become the next teacher, or nurse, or architect.
As you're probably aware, a little less than a week ago several of us from CI were in the Dominican Republic.
Because I've visited the Dominican Republic (or "The DR," in CI lingo) a number of times in the past, I can't say I was surprised at the poverty. Saddened, yes...but not surprised. Neither was I surprised at the heart-rending stories of incredible hardship that we heard over and over. That generally goes hand-in-hand with poverty, and it's an ugly reality.
But I'm happy to say that I wasn't surprised, either, at the way those stories usually ended. Moms, kids, families...practically all of them emphasized how hopeful they are. They also unfailingly mentioned the incredible impact sponsorship has had on their lives and how they credit their sponsors with giving them the chance to rise above their circumstances.
And it didn't surprise me when one of our doctors called me into her office to discuss several children with critical medical issues. But I'll confess that made my day -- maybe even my trip...not because of the medical issues, which are all tragic, but because of the obvious confidence in the doctor's face. She was certain the sponsorship program would be able to help, because we've developed a track record of doing just that.
To some, helping save a child from disease through reliable medical care, helping save children from poverty by providing access to education, and helping children in poverty by showing them the way to a brighter future might seem to be the stuff of superhero fables. But when you have the privilege of working with an international children's charity like Children International, it's an everyday reality.
No surprises there.
P.S. Did you see Wednesday's post by Sarah? Oscar sure could use a sponsor. Will you help us spread the word?
Because I've visited the Dominican Republic (or "The DR," in CI lingo) a number of times in the past, I can't say I was surprised at the poverty. Saddened, yes...but not surprised. Neither was I surprised at the heart-rending stories of incredible hardship that we heard over and over. That generally goes hand-in-hand with poverty, and it's an ugly reality.
But I'm happy to say that I wasn't surprised, either, at the way those stories usually ended. Moms, kids, families...practically all of them emphasized how hopeful they are. They also unfailingly mentioned the incredible impact sponsorship has had on their lives and how they credit their sponsors with giving them the chance to rise above their circumstances.
And it didn't surprise me when one of our doctors called me into her office to discuss several children with critical medical issues. But I'll confess that made my day -- maybe even my trip...not because of the medical issues, which are all tragic, but because of the obvious confidence in the doctor's face. She was certain the sponsorship program would be able to help, because we've developed a track record of doing just that.
To some, helping save a child from disease through reliable medical care, helping save children from poverty by providing access to education, and helping children in poverty by showing them the way to a brighter future might seem to be the stuff of superhero fables. But when you have the privilege of working with an international children's charity like Children International, it's an everyday reality.
No surprises there.
P.S. Did you see Wednesday's post by Sarah? Oscar sure could use a sponsor. Will you help us spread the word?
By the time you read this, I'll be on my way to the DR.
No, I'm not sick...at least, not any sicker than the thousands (millions?) of other unfortunate souls sniffling and sneezing their way through allergy season.
"DR" is the CI nickname for the Dominican Republic. And my Children International colleagues and I are getting ready to spend what promises to be an incredible week visiting our projects there.
The last time I was in the Dominican Republic, I caught the tail end of a tropical storm. That was an experience...
This time, however, we expect the weather to be more cooperative. So Andrea, Scott, Garrett, David and I will join the local CI staff for five intensive days of driving, interviewing, photographing and -- best of all -- meeting some of the great kids that make up our child sponsorship program in the Dominican Republic.
That's one of the great things about working with an international children's charity. Helping children in poverty can be an adventure!
I've been to the Dominican Republic several times. One of the places we'll be visiting is a community built right along the river. The locals say there are crocodiles in the river...but don't tell Garrett. This is his first time to go, and we don't want him to be nervous.
Look for us to blog from the field. And if you're on twitter.com, look for users named "andiwaters," "scotterman" and "CIContentGuy." If we get into any interesting situations, we'll try to let you know right away. See you soon!
No, I'm not sick...at least, not any sicker than the thousands (millions?) of other unfortunate souls sniffling and sneezing their way through allergy season.
"DR" is the CI nickname for the Dominican Republic. And my Children International colleagues and I are getting ready to spend what promises to be an incredible week visiting our projects there.
The last time I was in the Dominican Republic, I caught the tail end of a tropical storm. That was an experience...
That's one of the great things about working with an international children's charity. Helping children in poverty can be an adventure!
I've been to the Dominican Republic several times. One of the places we'll be visiting is a community built right along the river. The locals say there are crocodiles in the river...but don't tell Garrett. This is his first time to go, and we don't want him to be nervous.
Look for us to blog from the field. And if you're on twitter.com, look for users named "andiwaters," "scotterman" and "CIContentGuy." If we get into any interesting situations, we'll try to let you know right away. See you soon!
Photos and blog by Clementina Chapusha, Communications Coordinator in Lusaka, Zambia.
Children International- Zambia, Africa with the help of generous donors, Robert and Deborah Holmes, recently renovated and furnished four community schools in the Chibolya and Kanyama Compounds. Before Children International’s support, the classrooms had no floors, and children were sitting on the ground during lessons. The classrooms were unpainted and lacked windows for ventilation.
With the donations the inner and outer walls of the schools were plastered and painted, and concrete floors were put. New latrines were built and old ones renovated. Windows and doors were added to the classrooms as well. Desks were purchased and delivered to all the schools.
“Our school has changed. The environment is now conducive. Teaching and learning is now enjoyable. If there is any better friend we have now, it is Children International,” Libonene School Manager, Wilbrad Moono said. Libonene is among three other community schools that were listed for renovation. The others include Chifundo and Fight Poverty Community Schools.
The International Children's Charity also built a classroom for the Chibolya Community School which only had two classes that catered to nearly 500 poor children. The school lessons were done in three sessions everyday, and each class had over 80 children per session.
Precious Mulilo has been at Chibolya Community School since first grade and is now in grade seven. She is about to leave the school to go to a secondary school and remarked:
“We only had two classrooms and very few desks. What Children International has done is a very nice thing. I now have hope that one day this school will be a secondary school.”
Children International- Zambia, Africa with the help of generous donors, Robert and Deborah Holmes, recently renovated and furnished four community schools in the Chibolya and Kanyama Compounds. Before Children International’s support, the classrooms had no floors, and children were sitting on the ground during lessons. The classrooms were unpainted and lacked windows for ventilation.
With the donations the inner and outer walls of the schools were plastered and painted, and concrete floors were put. New latrines were built and old ones renovated. Windows and doors were added to the classrooms as well. Desks were purchased and delivered to all the schools.
“Our school has changed. The environment is now conducive. Teaching and learning is now enjoyable. If there is any better friend we have now, it is Children International,” Libonene School Manager, Wilbrad Moono said. Libonene is among three other community schools that were listed for renovation. The others include Chifundo and Fight Poverty Community Schools. The International Children's Charity also built a classroom for the Chibolya Community School which only had two classes that catered to nearly 500 poor children. The school lessons were done in three sessions everyday, and each class had over 80 children per session.
Precious Mulilo has been at Chibolya Community School since first grade and is now in grade seven. She is about to leave the school to go to a secondary school and remarked:
“We only had two classrooms and very few desks. What Children International has done is a very nice thing. I now have hope that one day this school will be a secondary school.”
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