This is Erika, 8 years old from Tabaco, Philippines, and with Jackeline, my most recent sponsored child. She has the typical interests and activities, and is in second grade. She apparently is both left-brained and right-brained, liking both Math and Writing. The whereabouts and history of Dad is unknown, and she lives with her mom and five siblings on $44 a month. There is an interesting age divide with the children. She has two brothers and a sister aged 14, 16, 20, she is 8, and there is a 1 year old brother and 2 year old sister. She has never been sponsored before. They live in a 3 room concrete block home with corrugated metal roof, running water, no electricity available, a coal stove, and an outdoor latrine. They sleep on the floor on mats.

I had been looking at the Philippines and India after hearing from several people the importance given education in those cultures. I wanted to help someone in poor enough circumstances that they could really need the help of CI to stay in school and do well.

Erika's family size and income made her stand out from the rest, but so did her wonderful expression. I confess to knowing little about the different ethnicities in the Philippines, so I can't surmise anything about her background, but while other little angelic-faced kids disappeared from the site, Erika hung out waiting on me. She was quite patient, all things considered. That's my good luck! She looks so frail and pensive in this shot, I want to not only help her with school, but maybe even fatten her up a little and put a big old smile on that awesome face!