Sponsor Children

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.

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!

Right now here at Children InternationaI we’re into budgets for next year. That generally gets a lot of “ughs” from around the building. Not from me. I kinda like it. Not because I have an abnormal fondness for paperwork involving numbers and columns—no, far from it! Two reasons, really. One, I don’t do a lot of the minute detail that a lot of my associates do better than I could. 

Two, and the better reason, is that my part of the budget has me looking ahead at plans and activities for next year. For instance, Budget Princess Danielle and her Budget Sergeant, Barbara, insist on my providing them with my travel schedule for the upcoming year so they can put it in the budget.

And that always gets me thinking about the field locations and how much I enjoy visiting them. From my office as I ponder my travels, I think of the joy of visiting children and their parents, seeing our volunteers, meeting with and being blown away by our older sponsored children—our youth. 

I think of renewing old friendships with long time field staff, from the director level to the people who clean the offices (the latter being some of my favorites because if I’m real nice to them, they’ll make me a cup of coffee when I visit the field offices!). 

Things I conveniently don’t think about as I’m enjoying this travel fantasy are missing my family (and the dogs), the seemingly endless hours waiting in airports, the cancelled flights, jostling lines in security, taking off my belt, my shoes and anything else the rules of the day command before going through the metal detectors…(and then putting everything back on while trying not to hold up the line behind me)! I’ve also forgotten the severe sore throats which usher in severe colds that I get just about when I’ve recovered from jet lag.

And so, as they say, hope springs eternal! It’s a bit like spring training before baseball season…no matter how bad your team’s going to be, you can just about look past the weaknesses and convince yourself you’ve got a pennant contender.

Fortunately, my trips really do end up much better on balance than our local baseball team! Seeing the children and interacting with them and learning anew what a difference sponsorship is making far outweighs the minor annoyances of travel!

And they send it too! Not an hour ago, I got paged to the front desk. Was I in trouble? Who could possible want to talk to me? But when I got there a big, sugary surprise was waiting.

Children International’s Google Group has really taken off this year, and our members amaze me continually with their generosity and dedication to the sponsorship program. Recently on the Google Group, sponsor Steve Hogan announced his plans to travel to Chile to visit his sponsored girls, and extended an invitation to fellow group members. He graciously offered to meet with and take pictures of their sponsored children in Chile. Many took him up on the offer too.

So why the cake? Well, our staff in Chile organized a little party for all of the sponsored kids who were making the journey to our community center to see Steve. Naturally, our Google Group members were touched by the thoughtfulness of our Chile staff and Lori Kays, our sponsor visit coordinator. When this post from sponsor Stephanie came across my email screen this morning, I was definitely curious:

I've cooked up a surprise as a thank you to CI for throwing a party for our kids in Chile and for working so hard to make sure that they can meet with Steve. I think it's going to be a great day for the children and I hope the surprise will make day the day fun for CI as well. :) So any CI people reading this....Shhhhhhhh! Don't spill the beans!

“Oh, I can keep a secret,” I smugly thought to myself. Little did I know that this fabulous cake was on its way to our headquarters!
 

 Sarah Trapp - Google Group moderator, Greg Jones - Sponsor Services Representative and Lori Kays, Sponsor Visit Coordinator pose with the cake.

This gesture is just one more reason why I know that Children International sponsors are the best. Thanks for the cake and for everything you do for your special needy children...Now guess what I (and many other staff members) are having for lunch?

To join Children International’s Google Group and interact with our wonderful sponsors, please visit our group.

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.

Inspired by recent editions of our Journeys magazine and their daily tasks with sponsored children, volunteer mothers in Guatemala took it upon themselves to write their own stories about the trials of living in poverty and how Children International is helping them get by. These simple, handwritten letters, short stories and even one multi-act play show us the honest and giving nature of the families we serve and the volunteer mothers who make everything possible. Here are just a few excerpts from these lovingly-written pieces:

Once upon a time there was a poor family with a mother who was struggling along with her three children. Then someone told her that there was an institution that helped many needy families. One day when she least expected it, the help that she needed came when one of her children got sponsored... – Iris de León

Thank you so much to all of the people that work for this program. May God bless you and help you find people with big hearts to continue helping the families that need it the most. – Elsa de Paz Tepaz

[María Elvira] feels so happy and thankful for the letters that her sponsor sends her...and that motivates her to keep moving forward in school...She wants to achieve all of the goals she sets for herself in life...She thanks her sponsor and Children International for having made her dream come true. – Hercilia Pérez, María’s mother

Once upon a time there was little girl who cried a lot because her sister was sent pretty cards because she had a sponsor in the United States... [One] day she received word that she had a new sponsor, and the sponsor had sent her a package. The little girl jumped and laughed with excitement and happiness, because no one had ever sent her what her sponsor did. – Keilin Aquino
 

Mothers unable to pen their own stories were aided by volunteers like Carmen Duarte and Claudia Beltetón, pictured here with volunteer coordinator Wendy Ávila (center). These and other mothers helped to ensure that their stories were told.
 

Helping children write letters to their sponsors, delivering messages, managing sometimes hectic gift distributions, cooking food for malnourished children in our feeding programs... the deeds of these hardworking volunteer mothers (and some fathers) are endless. Without a doubt these special parents are what keep our child sponsorship program moving forward.

To learn more about our volunteer mothers in Guatemala, check out our “A Tribute to Motherhood ” slideshow.

Photo and reporting assistance by Javier Cárcamo, Communications Coordinator in Guatemala.
 

By Erin Anderson

Several nights ago the electricity went out at our house, and I have to admit that it ruined my evening. Four hours without a working stove, TV or Internet. I honestly didn’t know what to do with myself. I couldn’t get my nightly news fix or even make the dinner I had planned.

Then I started thinking about Children International, our sponsored children and their families. Some of them have never known what it's like to live with power. They use flashlights or candles to light the way and make do with an open fire to prepare meals. Games or a radio may be their only forms of entertainment.
 

Those lucky enough to have electricity often have wires precariously strung through their homes. They might rig up a small TV. Or a fan to provide a little relief from the sweltering heat.

Still, laughter often abounds in the tiny shacks many impoverished families call home. They are joined together by their common struggles and desire for a different life. A better one. One that Children International and sponsors can help make possible.

Four hours without electricity is all it took for me to realize how much I rely on essentials that others consider luxuries. If I had to live each day without power and all the conveniences it brings, could I cope with it?  I'm not so sure.

Next time the lights go out at our house, I hope I handle it with a little more dignity and grace, like the families in our program handle poverty each and every day...with smiles on their faces, finding comfort in just being together.

Photo by Javier Cárcamo, Communications Coordinator in Guatemala.

Next Tuesday is National Teacher’s Day in the United States, and we at Children International understand how important an education is to needy children around the world. Leopoldo Montecinos, Communications Coordinator in Valparaiso, Chile, brings us just one example of the many outstanding teachers who help our sponsored children to better themselves each day.

Victor Martinez is an outstanding student who was benefited with a HOPE Scholarship.  He sacrificed his entire summer vacation to receive training in a course on “Building, Maintaining and Repairing Computers” from the prestigious Duoc-UC Institute of Higher Education.

As the days went by, Victor began to stand out for his participation and interest in the subject material. He attended every single class, allowing him to further deepen his knowledge in each area. Through his hard work, he earned the recognition of his teacher, Mr. Franco Cancino. “Victor quickly became an excellent student. He was the best in the class,” commented his proud professor.
 

The change in Victor was so obvious that during the certification ceremony, his teacher (out of his own pocket) gave Victor a laptop as a gift of appreciation. “I didn’t give anything away,” said Mr. Cancino regarding Victor’s great attitude. “Victor earned it.”
 

“I’m very happy. I came to get training, to take advantage of this opportunity, and I’m leaving with knowledge...and a laptop that I never expected. I was so suprised. Thank you so much to Children [International] for the opportunity and also thanks to my professor for this valuable gift,” concluded Victor.
 

By Clementina Chapusha.

Clementina Chapusha, our communications coordinator in Zambia, Africa provides this report in observance of World Malaria Day, which is tomorrow, April 25th. This year’s theme is Counting Malaria Out, and is a part of a global outreach program to educate people on the impact of malaria and efforts to stop it.

Malaria is responsible for nearly 1 million deaths annually, and infects  hundreds of millions more around the world.

It starts with a shaking chill, followed by a fever that can exceed 104 degrees. A severe headache, body aches and nausea or vomiting then takes over. The fever typically breaks after several hours, followed by drenching sweats. The fever then become intermittent. If not treated in time it starts causing damage to vital organs, particularly the brain.

“Malaria kills an African child every 30 seconds.” These are chilling words from the National Malaria Control Center. To bring it closer to home, CI-Zambia last year lost six sponsored children to this deadly disease.

Seven-year-old Patson Mvula, a sponsored child from Kanyama, is a victim of recurring malaria. He is frail and rarely smiles, the pain he suffers shows on his face.
 

He sleeps on a chair the whole day listening to his friends playing outside and dreams of joining them. But his pounding headache and weak limbs leave him prone most of the time, too sick and exhausted to stand.

Patson was tested at the center using the newly acquired Rapid Malaria Testing Kit. He was found positive and immediately put on medication. His recovery may take some time but, thankfully, he is now out of danger.
 

According to Children International doctor Lalick Banda, Patson’s recurring Malaria could mean that his immunity is low or that he does not sleep under a treated mosquito net.

Thousands of children like Patson suffer from Malaria every month but without treatment they face possible death. In children below the age of 5, particularly infants, the disease tends to be more severe.  Pregnant women are also more vulnerable since their immune systems are less capable of protecting them from the disease. And for the unborn child, maternal malaria increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, premature delivery and low birth weight - a leading cause of child mortality.

Malaria is a parasitic disease that is transmitted between humans through the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. It is endemic to Zambia and continues to be a major public health problem. It causes severe social and economic burden on communities, especially on the poorest and most vulnerable households.

In communities like Kanyama and Chibolya, which are overcrowded, Malaria is very prevalent because of poor sanitation, uncollected garbage and lack of drainage; all these offer conducive breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Children International-Zambia has made it mandatory to fight Malaria among sponsored families by providing insecticide treated mosquito nets. Recently the agency also purchased rapid testing kits in an effort to quickly diagnose and treat sponsored children, dramatically decreasing the potential severity of the infection.

April 25 is a day of unity in observance of the global effort to provide effective control of Malaria. CI-Zambia will join the rest of the world to mark World Malaria Day and continue working toward a time when we’ll all be “Counting Malaria Out.”