When the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” was crafted, surely volunteers are essential part of that village.

In the 28 years that Children International has been operating in Tabaco, Philippines, volunteers have been there from the start. Today, their role in realizing our mission of serving underprivileged children is as significant as it was back then.

Mostly mothers and fathers of sponsored children, each volunteer plays a significant role in delivering vital services to the children and communities we serve. There are volunteers assisting at the clinic, conducting health and nutrition classes, administering medicines during anti-parasite campaigns and to Pulmonary Tuberculosis patients, and sector volunteers who help in community organizing.

Among these tireless individuals is Sharon Dacuno, a mother of two sponsored children living in far away Batan Island. She started volunteering for CI 3 years after it began in Tabaco – that was way back in 1987! From then, she has probably held every volunteer position there is: secretary, coordinator, extension health worker, barefoot doctor and now, a sector volunteer.

In the 23 years of her volunteer service, she has undergone several trainings that prepared her for her changing roles. The knowledge and experience she has gained through all these years had not only helped her carry out her duties well but also developed her as a person. “Before I started volunteering, I was very timid and I can barely participate in public discussions but after years of exposure, I learned to become confident enough to speak in a crowd. Being a volunteer made me a better person. Now, I am no longer just a housewife…I felt empowered,” she says.

Sharon also shared some of her unforgettable moments as a volunteer which include bringing her baby along on the field and being caught by a storm at sea while carrying out her duties. She explains that her continuous service to CI is her way of giving back for all the help her family has received. With the help of sponsorship, her eldest is now a Civil Engineer. A small income family struggling to raise five kids and dreaming of giving them a bright future needs all the help it can get that is why Sharon is deeply grateful to CI.

Being a volunteer for more than two decades, she had her share of challenges but she didn’t let any of it stop her. “I’m happy with what I’m doing that’s why I’m still here. Somehow, volunteering makes me feel that I’m doing my part in realizing a greater good and that makes me feel good inside.” She added that the friendships developed with other volunteers over the years are invaluable and they have become their own unique support group.

From only 17 children in 1987, there are now more than a hundred sponsored children in her small island community. For Sharon, “as long as there are children to serve,” she will be a CI volunteer - always ready with her warm, toothy smile.