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Celebrating the Universal Day of the Child

Friday, November 20, 2009 by Kelly Nix

Fifty-five years ago, the United Nations proclaimed November 20 as Universal Children’s Day.

Of course, at Children International, every day is Children’s Day. But today we’d like to ask you to take a little extra moment to remember the world’s children.

CI had already been helping children for 18 years by the time the UN’s proclamation was issued. And today we’re going stronger than ever – and by “we,” I mean we – that is, the combined power of all our donors, field staff and volunteers.

With your help, we’re making the lives of over 335,000 children in 11 countries better. So keep up the good work…and happy Children’s Day!

Photo by Cecilia Carrión, from our agency in Quito, Ecuador.

Happy Veterans' Day!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 by CI Staff

Today is Veterans' Day, and it got me thinking about one of my favorite veterans, Children International employee emeritus Ted Smith.

After a decorated career as an Army officer, Ted came to work for Children International in 1981. The organization was new to the child sponsorship arena, and Ted was instrumental in the start-up of many of our original sponsorship field agencies. In fact, they still refer to him as “godfather” in some of our service areas. (I guess he made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.)

I traveled often with Ted – from 1993, when I began working at CI, through 1999, when he retired. Together, we visited India, the Philippines, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. Some of my fondest traveling memories are of dinners with Ted Smith, raconteur extraordinaire. After a long day in the field, he’d regale us with stories of his world travels, punctuated with his signature exclamation, “Gawd!”

But when you traveled with Ted, you never forgot that you were with a military man. Every detail of every trip was conducted with absolute precision, duly scheduled and executed to the letter. And wherever we went or whatever we did, I never forgot the one action that was unacceptable in the Ted Smith Handbook. Don’t. Be. Late. And so I never was – not because I feared his wrath, but because I wanted to earn his respect.

When a trip ended, we’d head to the airport, exhausted and ready to go home. After checking in and making it through myriad security checkpoints, someone would invariably look around and say, “Where’s Ted?”

The answer: marching away from us and toward the VIP lounge to which he’d earned passage with his hundreds of thousands of frequent flyer miles. Mission accomplished, he would soldier off for some peace and quiet. Heavens knows he deserved it after putting up with us time and time again!

A trek past Mount Mayon in the Philippines, 1999. Ted, as usual, is better prepared thatn any of us with his umbrella to protect against the sun.

A trek past Mount Mayon in the Philippines, 1999. Ted, as usual, is better prepared than any of us with his umbrella to protect against the sun.

Ted’s service to his country mattered to him, and I used to send him a note or email every Veterans' Day to let him know that it mattered to me, too. I haven’t done that in awhile, which I deeply regret. Maybe this will help make up for it.

So thanks, Ted. And thank you to all our contributors who are veterans or currently serving their countries. You honor us with your dedication to helping us fight a different kind of battle…the war on poverty and its effect on the world’s children.

Gretchen Dellett is a writer and long-time employee of Children International.

The Help That's Hard to Talk About

Monday, November 9, 2009 by CI Staff

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.

Staff Bio: Meet Patricia Huerta, From Guayaquil, Ecuador

Monday, October 26, 2009 by Kelly Nix

Patricia Huerta graduated from the Catholic University of Guayaquil, Ecuador with a degree in interior design. However, her early career took a very different course, leading her to work for the Canadian consulate in Guayaquil as well as serving in Human Resources and as an assistant manager at two different banks.

She and her husband welcomed a daughter…and then another. Recognizing the importance of spending time with her children, Patricia took a break from her career to become a full-time mom. But after her daughters were older, she returned to the professional world – this time to work for Children International. Although she started as the director’s assistant, in 2007 Patricia took on the challenging role of Communications Coordinator for our Guayaquil agency.

“I love visiting children and youth at their homes and to be in their neighborhoods with their special particularities and similarities,” shares Patricia. “I like to talk to them and listen to their thoughts, wishes and ideas. I feel proud when our sponsored children and youth express themselves better than many kids with better economic resources and education; maybe they're more mature because of the difficulties they face in daily life, and they do recognize and acknowledge the support CI is giving them.”

Going to the field for stories involves advance planning, particularly to secure the use of the agency vehicle and its driver – who also serves as Patricia’s bodyguard in the sometimes dangerous neighborhoods she visits. “Before an interview I go to the community center to collect the staff who will guide us to the house to be visited, sometimes the Supervisor, other times one of the assistant and in many occasions, the volunteers go with me to the houses,” she reflects. “Talking to the volunteers is the best; they're nice and they know helpful information that could lead to a good story. We visit the houses, take photos, talk to the family and go to the next house or return to the community center. If the driver doesn't have other vehicle requests, I stay in the community doing interviews, talking to children and taking more photos. I love my job!”

Sometimes the job is incredibly rewarding, as was the case when a former sponsored youth, Diego, stopped by to let the office staff know of a prize he is being awarded by the Nobis Foundation for his service when he was in the sponsorship program. And some days it’s incredibly sad…like when she got the news about a sponsored youth who lost his battle with tuberculosis. “I visited him twice, as I heard he had tuberculosis; I wanted not only to write a good story, but to know if he was taking good care of his health with the help of the Agency doctors. Unfortunately he couldn't make it and I feel so sad because he was a valuable young man whose only illusion was to return to school and to rejoin the youth group at the community center – activities he had to leave when he became ill.

“I think that bringing the stories direct from the field, and sending a photo of the reality our children and youth live in, is one of the best resources CI has to let the world know the importance of its labor to help needy children,” adds Patricia. “I feel so good when I see one of my photos published in Journeys or in other CI publication; it's like a dream come true for me.”

Something to Munch On - World Food Day

Friday, October 16, 2009 by Sarah Trapp

A sponsored girl enjoys a refreshing drink with her meal.

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.

Recovery Efforts Continue in the Philippines

Friday, October 9, 2009 by Kelly Nix

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.

A Life Half Emptied, Slowly Being Filled (Part 1)

Thursday, September 24, 2009 by CI Staff

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.

Small Victories against Poverty in Mexico

Monday, September 14, 2009 by CI Staff

On September 16th, Mexico will celebrate its Independence Day...a day remembered in Mexico as "El Grito" (The Battle Cry) because the indigenous people rose up to secure autonomous rule.

But sponsored youth in Mexico have another kind of independence to celebrate as well: an exciting victory in their struggle to overcome poverty.

Recently, a group of teens in Mexico sponsored through Children International received the first HOPE scholarship ever. The endowment ceremony was a happy event where 30 young people including Ana Fajardo, who was one of the youth delegates attending the United Nations Youth Assembly, received a scholarship to help them pay for tuition, school supplies, and books. The scholarship recipients may use the funds to pay for vocational training or university fees.

I was fortunate enough to get to know Ana in New York last month. She is a funny yet driven young lady who upon meeting me presented me with a business card and resume on matching floral stationery.

With the help of the HOPE scholarship, I am sure Ana will become the self-reliant adult she is driven to be.

Blog by Dolores Quinn Kitchin. Photo by Alejandro Bonilla from our child sponsorship agency in Jalisco, Mexico.

A Reflection on Ecuador

Friday, September 4, 2009 by CI Staff

At the waistline of the World, half a league over seas and oceans, the mottled outline of Earth's tectonic bosom cradles the city below. I behold, through wispy haze, the vestiges of a conquistador’s Elysium…

The mountainous area that surrounds Quito is shockingly gorgeous. Its Andean air is a pleasure to breathe, while succulent clouds tease the eye from greater heights. And yet at city-level, the reality of human life smothers the carnival of emotions swirling inside of me.

Before long, thoughts start to grind their way through my head, reducing my ego to pulp. Here I stand in a neighborhood located in a single section of one city of a developing country among many around the world. How many more people are out there – how many more instances of abused and abandoned children, of battered and desolate mothers, of families imprisoned within labyrinthine grids of cold concrete, cane, and dirt so dismal they would make Daedalus smile?

While I bask in sunlight, there are so many more who soak in clammy darkness. And rather than blind myself with the light of a good life, I continue squinting toward the mouth of that pit and tighten my grip on the small piece of rope in my pocket. There are very long pieces in the hands of a few, but I should not wait for them. I should tie mine to the small bits of many others who share theirs, and together, we may have enough to lasso the Moon.

These baroque allusions are nothing but a smoke screen for my lack of answers. The hope I have in humanity's ability for compassion and charity, regardless of our source for inspiration or however we might find them, is one of the few antidotes to my paralyzing frustration regarding poverty.

David Nebel is a translator and photographer for Children International. In this post, he reflects on a recent visit to the children and families of our child sponsorship program in Ecuador.

Thoughts from Ecuador: Confluence

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 by CI Staff

This is my first trip to Ecuador, and – as always – we met some amazingly resilient people on our first day in the field here in Guayaquil, Ecuador. We’ll be writing stories about the families we met in the weeks and months to come. But I just thought I’d share a small insight I gained today.

I learned that the city of Guayaquil is named after the Guayas River. Two large rivers – the Daule and the Babahoyo – merge here, making the Guayas.

As we left Guayaquil proper on our way to visit sponsored children and their families, we crossed the Daule River. Patricia (our communications coordinator extraordinaire) pointed to the wealthier homes on the bank from which we had come. Even from a distance, we could see that the homes were large, well-constructed and neatly spaced apart, much like what I am used to back home in Kansas City. On the other side – the one we were approaching – we could see the rickety shapes the poor call home, tightly bunched together in a seemingly haphazard way.

After a day of visiting with the families on the “other” side, I thought of the confluence of humanity that merges in every city around the world, like the two rivers that make up the Guayas. I was pensive as we headed back to the hotel...asking questions that – for me – have no satisfactory answers.

You know: the “why” questions.

But, as is the case each time we make a trip to the field, the families we spoke with had a gift for me. They may not be living in that big, sturdy, expensive house with the expensive TVs and furnishings, but their homes are often filled with generous spirits, a love for one another, beliefs and bonds that help them stay strong, and a gratitude for what they do have.

And every one of them mentions that the help they receive from sponsorship is one of the things they are grateful for.

It made me wonder how easily I can come up with a list of all the things I should appreciate....

Deron Denton, staff writer for Children International, is currently on the ground in Ecuador with a team from CI's Creative Services Department. Look for an update each day this week through Friday.

The Return of Supergringo (Part 2)

Monday, August 17, 2009 by CI Staff

Only 13 at the time, Walter Mendoza had been hit by a garbage truck on the streets of Guayaquil and had awakened from a coma unable to walk or talk. Confined to a wheelchair that was all but useless on the steep, craggy dirt streets of his barrio, Walter found himself in a strange new world – incapable of functioning without another caring soul to direct his every move. I felt like I could relate, if only a little.

Lucky for Walter, and a hapless gringo like me, Raul Yunga was there to lead the way. As the veteran staff driver for the Guayaquil agency, Raul showed up every week after Walter’s accident to take him to physical and speech therapy and provide moral support. The two became fast friends, and as a result of Raul’s guidance, Walter now stands on his own two feet.

I can’t wait to ask Walter about the recovery he’s made when I meet him in person again today. And I hope Raul will be there to escort us to his young friend’s home and relive the memories. It’ll be a great way to kick off a return visit to Ecuador.

And this time, as I sit in the hotel lounge and read what Walter himself has to say about the help he’s received through sponsorship, I’ll take comfort in the fact that even when we feel vulnerable and alone, with the right support and determination, we can all stand tall. Right, Frank...

“For what is a man, what has he got?/ If not himself, then he has naught./ To say the things he truly feels;/…The record shows I took the blows/ And did it my way!”

***

Read the original article about Walter’s accident and the help he received from Raul and the sponsorship program.

Damon Guinn is a senior staff writer with Children International. Check back every day this week for updates from the team that is currently on the ground in Ecuador.

Learning Life Lessons...From French Fries (Part 2)

Saturday, August 15, 2009 by CI Staff

This is the second 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 2
All week at IYD, my already humbled worldview was continuously broken down and rebuilt. A few things I learned from being around the youth were that:

1. overcoming the choking barriers of language gives you an exhilarating freedom to laugh and make new friends;
2. you are never too young to lead and teach;
3. you are never too old to learn from a younger generation;
4. your future is what you make of today.

On the last night, as the youth held hands and imparted their best wishes on each other, the tears flowed freely. A moment I will never forget, and couldn't even imagine most adults doing for each other, was watching Chengo's tears stream down his face and the hand that extended to wipe them away. Ranjit had reached out to dry the wetness on his new friend’s cheek. The two boys who started out in that pizzeria as strangers were leaving as life-long friends.

And I...I have a new appreciation for the job I do. Now I picture those 11 faces and know that every bit of effort I put into my job, albeit small, is making a big difference to someone else across the world.

Special note: A team of employees from Children International is on its way to Ecuador today. Starting Sunday and lasting all week, look for daily posts from the field. It's going to be fun!

Learning Life Lessons...From French Fries (Part I)

Friday, August 14, 2009 by CI Staff

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...

A Dream Come True

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 by CI Staff

In case you hadn’t guessed, International Youth Day activities are in full swing at the United Nations in New York, and eleven of Children International’s sponsored youth are in attendance. This is José Enrrique, our delegate from the Dominican Republic:

"I am very excited about this trip to New York. For me it's a dream come true. This is a unique and special trip because not everyone can have this opportunity that I have. They chose me because I have shown my dedication. I am a very lucky person.

My family supports me a lot, and they give me the confidence to do it well. I have a lot to share about the environment and the youth in my country. I'm going with an open mind, so that I can learn from others. I am very excited."

Check out our latest youth slideshow, “Bridging the Gap”.

Speaking for Youth

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 by CI Staff

Sponsored youth, Ranjit Jana will be giving a speech at the United Nation's International Youth Day. Here is a little snippet:

Being part of the Youth Health Corps has afforded me many advantages – confidence and education and especially this trip and honor to represent Sahay at the United Nations. But only a few months back there was a disaster called cyclone ‘Aila’, which affected our village. My family’s farm was flooded and poisoned by the cyclone’s salt water. Children International extended maximum support to our community, and on behalf of my community members I would like to express my gratitude and thanks towards Children International. My sponsor has sent a special donation to seek other means to support ourselves in the meantime. I hope I am making my youth council proud! There is so much I have seen that I can’t believe. Thank you for the experience. It has already changed my life forever.

Ranjit, center, with members of his local Youth Program in India.

Children International's Youth Program

Friday, July 31, 2009 by CI Staff

Next week our sponsored youth delegates will be at the United Nations in New York for International Youth Day. Melvin Yubal, our delegate from the Philippines expresses what the Youth Program means to him:

The Youth Program is very important. It achieves a lot purposes. The youth program develops us. It gives us the chance to use of our talents and skills. In the program, we learn how to create, share our time and talents and nurture friendships. We learn to work together. We come to know a lot of information we can use when we are in difficult situations. The youth program functions as a support group too for those who want to change. This is also a venue for us to be involved in doing our share in addressing the issues that confront our fellow youth. All in all, the youth program accompanies young people in the process of growth.