Most Recent Blog Posts

• CLEAN THE WORLD CLEAN THE WORLD

  • From: CI_CommSTO
  • Description:

    At the end of last month, our agency was visited by representatives from the Clean the World Foundation, Inc. This charitable organization is committed to reducing waste generated by discarded soap and shampoo and preventing deaths caused by hygiene-related illnesses.

     

    The team promoted its mission among our sponsored population, and it was a good experience for all.

     

    Hand washing with soap significantly reduces the impact of two common and deadly diseases: acute respiratory infections and diarrheal disease. These are the two biggest killers of children under five years of age.

     

     For Children International in the Dominican Republic, contact with this organization represents a great opportunity for the recycling of soap to be become an important part of our prevention and hygiene work.

     

    The partnership with Clean the World represents a great opportunity for us to help distribute donations on a national and international level.

    What I liked about this activity the most was the pleasant and fun way that the visitors approached the subject with our children and sponsored families. With red and yellow capes, these global health promoters became superheroes.

     

    Receiving soap had never been so fun!

    

  • Blog post
  • 6 days ago
  • Views: 212

• This is harder than it looks! This is harder than it looks!

  • From: kmdemo
  • Description:

    “This is harder than it looks!”
    That was the general consensus when 24 sixth graders at Mill Creek Elementary School in Lenexa, Kansas got a glimpse of how the families we serve live from day to day.

    I got the chance to talk to my daughter’s class about the work we do here at Children International last week. I first showed them a film of one of our children and talked about the realities of global poverty. Fortunately, their teacher is also a “poverty lady” (as the kids dubbed us) and she has taught them all year about issues of global and domestic poverty. That allowed me to start at a higher level and talk about ideas like personal and communal priorities and solidarity. One statistic I gave the kids to drive home the point about our priorities as a community was that it would take $4 billion a year to get every school age child into primary school who is not currently enrolled…but we spend $40 billion a year on golf. We had a lively conversation about making choices with our money.

    After our classroom talk I took the kids outside and had volunteers carry either a load of firewood or a bucket of water on their heads as many of our families do. In the picture below, Cole is trying to carry a bucket of water on his head while carrying a baby (the pack on his back) and pregnant (the pack on his front)!! They all talked about how nearly impossible it was to do and they couldn’t imagine carrying things on their heads while walking over rough terrain barefoot!

    My primary goal for the day was not to “totally” embarrass my teenage daughter and encourage a really great group of future leaders to consider their role in the world and ability to make positive changes. I had a wonderful time and was grateful for a fun afternoon.

  • Blog post
  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 214

• Achieving a big goal at the ag Achieving a big goal at the age of ten

  • From: CI_CommJAL
  • Description:

     

    

    Concepcion is only ten years old and has already achieved one of her biggest goals in life: to go to school. Initially, it might be considered a common situation, but because of the girl’s situation, attending school became a goal that she recently reached.

         About a year ago I visited her home. Back then, while she led me to where her mother was, I asked her if she was going to school. The girl suddenly started to cry. It was a quiet cry, suppressed, but full of sadness. I found out later about her struggle to go to the school.    

         When Coni, as she is called at home, was 6 years old, she had to be enrolled in first grade. However, her parents Carmen and Raul didn’t enroll her. They never went to school and don’t know how to read or write, so for them it wasn’t important that their children attend school. Also, they work many hours every day making bricks to generate an income that barely affords them to eat twice a day.  

         As Coni grew older, she realized that some of the children of her community attended school and were learning to read and write. Meanwhile, she and her 6 siblings worked alongside her parents making bricks and helping them do housework. But at the same time, she was harboring the desire to go to the school and be like those children that she saw walking with their backpacks. At the age of seven, she asked her parents to enroll her in school. They told her that there wasn’t enough money to afford all the expenses: backpack, uniform, shoes, school fee, school supplies, etc.

         But Coni never lost hope and she kept insisting to be enrolled. Her parents started to realize that education was something very important to their child. “I said, ‘there are other children that cry because they are taken to school’ and she cries because she wants to go”, says her father. The girl was sponsored and started receiving the benefits of the sponsorship program, which encouraged her parents to enroll her in school. So over the next two years they tried to do so, but faced many problems. Some schools had no room for her; in another she wasn’t accepted because of her age; and others had school fees that were too expensive.  During that time, the parents only managed to enroll to the school the oldest brother.

    
    

         Upon learning about Coni’s story, Mayra González, a Field Officer at the Jalisco Agency, invited the girl to a Spanish and math tutoring session in the Service Area Center. Each week, Coni walked 40 minutes to take her lessons. She began learning to read and write, and that motivated her even more. Her parents, upon seeing the girl’s willpower and the support of Children International made a big effort to enroll her for this school year.

         Coni makes bricks alongside her parents and siblings. As the time for school approaches, her feet and hands are full of mud. She cleans them in a little puddle and enters her tiny brick and sheet house. After a while, she comes out with a big smile, wearing a really clean uniform and carrying a backpack that was provided through the sponsorship program of Children International.

          While I take pictures of her, she tells me that she is very happy because she goes to school. “I want to study hard and be a doctor so I can help sick children”, she told me. Behind her, a woman is making bricks. I see this as a contrast; it shows that without the will that Coni has demonstrated, her most probable future would involve brickmaking just like most of the people of her community. But her desire to succeed and continue receiving educational support can allow the girl to break free from the cycle of poverty and marginalization that repeats itself over and over in the brick factories.

  • Blog post
  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 261

• ON AIR ON AIR

  • From: CI_Comm_TAB
  • Description:

    Zaireen was a shy girl. She was the type who sat in the back of the classroom, the one who never raised her hand to say something. She had few friends and content with it. She did not want to have more. After school, she always went directly to their house. She believed it was just the way she was. Some people never run out of something to say. Some people never say a word unless asked to say something. She was the latter. Not that there’s something wrong with it. She had just accepted that she would remain to be an introvert for the rest of her life. But she never had the slightest idea that her life would suddenly change.

    She remembered that very day. She was already sixteen years old but it was only the first time she attended an activity with Children International. She would not have really come if not for her mother who was very insistent. “My mother’s firm words dragged me all the way to the activity. She ensured me that it would be good for me to attend. I gave in eventually,” Zaireen smilingly recalled. When she arrived at the venue, Zaireen found out that the activity was all about broadcasting. One by one, the participants were being called to read a news report in front of everybody. She wanted to leave but was also too shy to do so because she would attract attention. Then she froze in fear when her name was called.

    
    

    Zaireen was sure that the way she delivered the news report was very dull. She felt so embarrassed when she was going back to her seat. But that was only her self-judgement getting the best of her. To her surprise, she was actually selected as one of the few best readers at the end of the activity. Apparently, the committee saw in her a great potential for a broadcaster. And before she even knew it, she was already attending another seminar and workshop for youth broadcasters. She even got the chance to go to different local radio and television stations to feel and observe what it was like to be a real broadcaster.

    After the training, Zaireen couldn’t believe how her fate had suddenly turned into something she wouldn’t even dare to imagine: the committee informed her that she was the unanimous choice to be the female anchor of CI-Tabaco’s radio program called “Youth on Air.” From being timid and always afraid to speak, she was soon to become a real radio broadcaster. The idea was too big for her. She knew for certain that only a few days before, she seemed to die from embarrassment after reading a simple news report in front of a small crowd. Now, she learned that she was going to be a radio anchor who would be heard by thousands and thousands of people.

    
    

    As Zaireen was having her self-doubt again, the committee assured her that she would be an excellent broadcaster. Indeed, after the first day of being a radio anchor, all of Zaireen’s friends, schoolmates, teachers, and family members couldn’t believe that the voice on the radio was really hers. “They were all shocked. They found it hard to accept that the confident and fluent voice was mine,” Zaireen said. “I myself was surprised. Deep within me, I really didn’t know that I had so much to say, that I am full of words,” she added.

    
    

    The radio program ran for more than a year. Two hours each Saturday, from 11pm to 1pm, Zaireen and a fellow youth anchor, or sometimes with a veteran anchor, would discuss issues pressing to youth such as reproductive health, premarital sex, romantic relationship, peer pressure, domestic problems, academic matters, and even politics and current events. They also talked about the activities and programs of Children International. They would accept phone calls and text messages from avid listeners who needed help and advice.

    
    

    At the end of every radio broadcast, Zaireen was also getting to know more and more about the importance of speaking out. “I realized that we have to express our mind so that we can be an active member of the community. But we always have to be responsible for all our statements and comments,” she said while remembering that only a year ago she herself didn’t have the courage to speak out. “If not for the opportunity the Children International has given me, I would have not known that I am capable of doing this. Now my life has changed for the better and I am so thankful for it. I went out of my comfort zone and I discovered a better part of me,” she added.

    
    

  • Blog post
  • 4 weeks ago
  • Views: 315

• Manila SOA Stop TB Campaign vi Manila SOA Stop TB Campaign video

  • From: CI_CommMLA
  • Description:

    The Manila agency is part of the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT), a national network of government and non-government agencies fighting to stop the spread of tuberculosis. The coalition launched a music video competition this year to help spread awareness about the disease. We have mobilized our youth theater organization to help plan, direct and shoot the video with supervision from staff.

    I share here a link to the entry of the Manila agency on Youtube. 40% of the total score goes to the entry with the most number of likes on YouTube and other social media.  

    You can help us by logging-in to your gmail accounts and liking the video using the link below.  

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gVhuzU8tPU

     

  • Blog post
  • 1 month ago
  • Views: 232

• Meet Maria Veronica Alvarez Meet Maria Veronica Alvarez

  • From: CI_CommMLA
  • Description:

    Maria Veronica Alvarez coordinates sponsorship services to more than 3,000 children and youth in Service Area Center 8 in Bulacan. She is a social worker by profession. This is her 20th year of being part of the agency. We share with you parts of an interesting conversation we had with her recently.

    How did you begin to work with the Manila agency?

    Before I joined the Manila agency, I worked in a social service project of the Jesuits and then in Freedom to Build, a low-cost housing program. Mostly, I worked in the office. I wanted to be engaged in community organizing, so I accepted to be a social development worker in the programs department of the Manila agency.

    Did you have any first impressions?

    There was strong focus on programs. We trained parents on effective parenting, we had sports and youth activities which encouraged camaraderie. I was in charge of 300 sponsored children when I started.

    What are among the most challenging experiences?

    Programs staff play a big role. Children International programs are global in nature. So it rests on the worker to implement the services according to local conditions and standards, to add value to make them even more meaningful and cause lasting effect. This responsibility made us to consider always the quality of programs and not just the numbers. It helped us finds methods of carrying out programs that produce the best results for beneficiaries.

    How do beneficiaries appreciate the programs?

    Their appreciation is varied. Some appreciate health, others material support or the HOPE scholarship. But now Into Employment is one project which creates a lot of impact. Our help begin when they are young and we continue to support that until they learn skills and then get a job through the Into Employment program.

    Do you see change in the lives of children?

    When sponsored youth strive, they finish their studies and become professionals with the help of our education program. They become employees like us. At times they even get better than us. And then they come back and thank us because they got an education. Many do that, they come here and say how grateful they are. 

    Can you cite a person who can personify the change sponsorship can do?

    I used to be the social worker in charge of Tupe (Kristoffer Balallo). I wanted to recommend dropping him from the program because his mother did not attend meetings. I said how can I help this boy if I cannot even meet and discuss program matters to his parents. He had the streak on an artist. He was very polite. He was very persistent and very active. But he persevered and went to college. Then I invited him to share his experience to other youth during our career guidance seminars. He is very proud that he is a sponsored youth. I am happy that I now work with him as a co-employee here at the agency.

    What made you stay here for 20 years?

    (Laughs). I ask myself that question sometimes too. I spent 5 years in my first job and 2 in my second. Because I love my work, if not, I won’t stay this long. I went through many things and I am still here. I like our focus on children. I am happy seeing them grow. I am used to working here, even if it can get very stressful at times, I persist. For the employees here too, it is not difficult to get along with them. Even if there are differences, there are really no factions, we remain and stick together.

    What would you say to those who support children?

    Continue helping children. Everything you hear from us is true. We work for it. What you give gets to the children you give to.

  • Blog post
  • 1 month ago
  • Views: 348

• A Word from the President A Word from the President

  • From: CI_CommQZN
  • Description:

    An encounter with the President and CEO of Children International inspired our Youth Council President to write about it and to share her realizations on the positive impact of empowered youth. Zharina, who was elected to the council by majority of her fellow sponsored youths two years ago, juggles her time for school, church, family, and the youth program of CI in which she has gained a wealth of friends and experiences. Here is her piece:

    I had the great privilege of meeting the President and CEO of Children International, Mr. Jim Cook.  The visit was a great honor for me, being a sponsored youth and the Agency Youth Council President. It was a once-in-a-life-time experience in my more than 10 years of sponsorship. Finally, I’ve met the head of the organization that brings real help and real hope to children worldwide.             

    On the day of the visit, I did my best to present the current activities of our Youth Program, especially our very own social network, the “QZN YouthConnect.” We invited Mr. Cook to the awarding ceremony for the winners of our Photo-Blogging contest. Specially-designed mugs with the fresh signatures of Mr. Cook and of Mr. Ramdas Pai (Asia Regional Director) were given away to the winners.

    As a token for Mr. Cook’s visit, we gave him a simple gift that we made for him. We were surprised when he asked us to sign our names on the token. With this simple act, we felt so happy and blessed.

    

    Being the Youth Council President has given me great opportunities and encounters with inspiring people, This experience also helped me fulfill my dreams and make things possible. I am proud to have developed the passion for the field of social work and to involve myself in my community. I learned a lot from different people, places and events that I have been to. Excellence, humility and giving out my best are always on my mind as I handle different youth activities and as I represent my fellow sponsored youth.

    “When an opportunity knocks, grab it,” many people say. May I just add – “give it your best, for tomorrow it will be your treasure in life!” I know that my leadership experience here will be useful to me as long as I live.

    I hope that as my term ends, I have set a good example as a leader and have imparted vital knowledge in the hearts of young people. I now leave my legacy of showing excellence, humility and passion to the next generation of sponsored youth leaders. When we keep the fire burning among sponsored youth, we are able to overcome our limitations and to serve others. I will always look back to this experience, when I saw and realized that good leadership brings great results, and that the power of the youth can truly make a big difference.

  • Blog post
  • 1 month ago
  • Views: 398

• TB Awareness TB Awareness

  • From: CI_Comm_TAB
  • Description:

    This month is world tuberculosis awareness, and Children International-Tabaco has joined the worldwide campaign against this deadly disease. Visit the STOP TB PARTNERSHIP for more information: http://www.stoptb.org/events/world_tb_day/2013/

  • Video blog post
  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 485

• (Update) On The Threshold of a (Update) On The Threshold of a Dreamed Future

  • From: CI_CommMLA
  • Description:

    I was documenting a Game On! activity held in a local elementary school some weeks ago. As I stepped back from the crowd to review my photos, I saw Jonathan approaching with a big smile. “What are you doing here?” he asked me. “I should be the one asking that question,” I replied, knowing he did not live in the area and there must be something that he came for. “I am supervising the construction of this school,” he said pointing to a three-story building in progress in the school’s campus.

    From the ensuing conversation, I gathered Jonathan decided to work for a company which undertakes infrastructure projects for this city’s government. He also supervises another classroom-building project, road construction and other structures for public use.

    “How is it being employed?” I asked him. “I am learning new things. On occasions I join in the manual laborers like those who do the painting or mixing the cement. I am also learning many new things from them. I am enjoying work,” he says.

    I left the place with a very palpable feeling that Jonathan has taken a very appropriate attitude not only to work but also to life.

  • Blog post
  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 468

• Sponsored boys, girls and yout Sponsored boys, girls and youth, opened their first savings account

  • From: CI_CommCAR
  • Description:

    

    35 boys, girls and youth who receive benefits from the social and financial education program, Aflatoun, made part of their dreams true; they opened their first savings account.

    With a lot of expectations and happiness the sponsored children, went to the bank Caja Social in Cartagena-Colombia and with the support of the staff members of the financial organization, they opened their saving accounts, created their PIN number and learned how to use them responsibly.
    There were a lot smiles in the faces of children who filled with happiness the labor day of the staff members of the bank also because of their innocence. These little protagonists expressed a little
    about what they wanted to do with the money they’ve saved:

    

    “I want to buy with these savings items to go to school, supplies, because sometimes my mom can’t afford them or buy to all of my siblings” say  Yuliana Morales Bello and Danni Rodriguez de las aguas
    
    

    

    

                             “I want to study a career when I grow up” say Yanidis perez Arrieta
    

    

                         “I want to buy notebooks, shoes and school supplies”say  Winni Johana Silva Torres 
    
    These dreams, become in hope for our sponsored children, with the support of Children International, they hope to obtain better life conditions.
    

     

    

     

     

     

    
    

  • Blog post
  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 333

• Teaching from Childhood Teaching from Childhood

  • From: CI_CommBRQ
  • Description:

    

     

     

    By: Patricia Calderón Ospino

     

    At the beginning of the 2000s, Sol was one of the most outstanding Child Agents of Change when she would give talks about values to other children in private schools in Barranquilla. Her development caught the attention of everyone who saw her. Her intelligent was notable, as well as her sweetness and charisma.

    

    Today, 11 years later and now a woman, Sol carries out the same activity, but in the professional arena. She is a teacher at an important school in the city, a profession she had chosen as a child. "I think that being a Child Agent of Change and being in front of groups like I was then had a big influence on me, because I feel like it was the basis for my profession today. That’s where I began to discover my vocation to teach, for the art of teaching. I remember that the Foundation would train us to give speeches to other children. I think that those were the first steps towards me doing what I do today. Each task that we carried out at that time was really useful to me, because now I take that with me as part of my job experience. Now I repeat the same lessons, but with even more professionalism. That was my destiny - what God wanted for my life. And I’m very happy because I love what I do," she said with emotion.

    

    Today, Sol recognizes more clearly how valuable it was for her to be sponsored by Children International, because the training she received as a child was the key for her to achieve the success she has today. "I really believe that the Foundation’s programs are very important because they are directed towards people with few economic resources who come from neighborhoods where one never sees anything good. And with this kind of programming, youth set off on a path towards a better life. One thing that the Foundation did for me was to plant that enormous seed, so that today I can be a professional. I think that the Foundation’s programs are directed at vulnerable communities, because they are areas where there is evil, and the Foundation rescues children and youth so that they can become good people. It instills values in them, so that, despite of the environment that those children and youth live in, they can become useful people in society," she expresses wisely.

    

    Sol considers herself a very fortunate person because she had the opportunity to rely upon an organization that led her to discover her professional career. She is sure that sponsorship transformed her life, and that it is all thanks to the sponsors. "Today I’d like to tell all of the sponsors not to abandon this important cause, because, in my experience, I can say that it’s a great support and that many youth are good people now because of that support that they received since they were children. So don’t lose heart; God will repay you for the enormous support that you give to poor children. It’s really a beautiful labor of love that stays with us throughout our lives," Sol. concludes.

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 1177

• Youth Entrepreneurs Youth Entrepreneurs

  • From: CI_CommSAH
  • Description:

    Tenacity, ambition, hard work and focus are some of the characteristics common amongst the sponsored and graduated youth of the sponsorship program. Children living in deplorable conditions, with our support have graduated from the Sponsorship Program to become teachers, engineers, army personnel, entrepreneurs, etc., all shining beacons of achievement in their communities. I interacted with two such young men recently and wanted to share their story with you:

    Sambhu Sardar,

    Artist, Cartoonist, Art Teacher

    I am Sambhu Sardar. Born into a very poor family of 6 members (two brothers and sisters, including myself and my parents), I grew up in difficult conditions in a village in West Bengal, India. My father would do paintwork at construction sites and my mother stayed at home and took care of us. My father’s occupation didn’t fetch him enough money and so he had to toil very hard and the income thus generated was also not enough for him to provide his family with proper meals, clothing and the minimum basic education. With most people being daily wagers in our village, education was not a priority, especially when livelihood was at stake. Perhaps I too might have been compelled by the prevailing family circumstances to drop out from school had Children International-SAHAY not extended the needed support then by including my name in the sponsorship program. That was in the year 1996.

    As a sponsored child I received support towards good health and nutrition, a regular education and some other benefits. From a very young age I was keen on drawing and painting. The sponsorship program provided me with the opportunity to learn art, drama, etc. and I also received prizes for my art work in the agency level art contests as well as other art camps organized in our area. After completing my school education, I joined the Fine Arts College in Kolkata for a degree course in fine arts. At this crucial juncture in my life I received even more support from the sponsorship program in the form of a scholarship to complete my studies and buy art material needed for the course work. In 2005, I graduated from the program at today at the age of 26 I am proud to say that I am a self-reliant sponsorship graduate. I started my career by working through a contractor who would hire young and upcoming artists to do artwork as required by the Indian railways. As my work started being appreciated, I no longer need the help of middle men to get such government commissioned art work, as I now directly get the government contracts. I also make cartoons on various awareness issues for high visual impact of the issue in focus.

    Today, I know it is possible for me to lead a financially comfortable life solely based on what I earn through my art work. I have been in this field for ten years and have slowly established myself as a selling artist with my artwork being sold in fairs and amongst friends. Through my art work I earn about Rs.5000 per month. That apart, I also teach art to students at home. I believe that if the Children International-SAHAY sponsorship program had not stood by me, I would have never made it this far. I would have probably joined the ranks of so many hundreds of unemployed school dropouts. The program has my deepest gratitude for ever and I always keep in touch with the organization and the program people. I have learnt another important lesson from the program and that is to always help others – and I try to follow this to the best of my ability.

    Ajay Das

    Sweet Shop Owner

    Whenever I meet someone from Children International-SAHAY, this opens a floodgate of memories of the bygone days…

    We were two brothers and one sister. My father had a small poultry and the income from this was not enough to meet all our needs. While we had enough to eat, there was never enough money to fund our education. I faintly remember that day from my childhood when the members of the Children International-SAHAY sponsorship program visited our home to include my name in the program. This was way back in June, 1997 when I had just started school. Once I became sponsored, all my educational needs like school uniform, books, copies, pens, pencils etc., were taken care of by the sponsorship program. Apart from this, there were regular health check-ups and gifts from the program. Once I became a youth, I also received many age appropriate trainings aimed towards life-skills development. My mother too joined the women’s group and became involved in different kinds of work.

    With the constant support of the sponsorship program, I studied till class VIII and then felt that it was becoming more necessary to generate an income for the betterment of the family. At this juncture when I had quit my studies and was thinking about what means of livelihood to pursue, my parents bought a small shop in the village market place after making a lot of sacrifices and enduring phenomenal hardship. It was decided to make this into a sweet shop (not a candy store, but a shop selling Indian desserts)and the shop was named “Jamuna Mishtanna Bhandar”(Jamuna Sweet Shop). Initially, only sweets (Indian Desserts) of various kinds would be kept here. As we did not know the art of sweet making, we had to keep a person skilled at this which ate into our profits, making the shop unsustainable. At this point, with support from the agency, I could get in touch with such people who could share with me the knowledge of making quality sweets/desserts. From here-on there was no turning back. I hired a helper and started making sweets myself and could soon make enough profits to give sufficient financial support to my family. Today, after three years the shop is thriving and apart from sweets, I also keep cold drinks and snacks in the shop. At the age of 20, my income from this shop is between 12 and 15 thousand rupees ($240-$300, Rs.50=1$) per month. I graduated from the sponsorship program in 2011 and looking back firmly believe that I could take the challenge of setting up a business venture at such a young age because of the various character building and life-skills development trainings that I had received by being a sponsored youth. These trainings strengthened my character and increased my self-confidence so that I could meet challenges head on. My sister too is a sponsored child and because of this is able to continue her studies smoothly.

    I am ever thankful to Children International-SAHAY for helping me move forward in life.

     

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 234

• Real Help and Real Love Real Help and Real Love

  • From: CI_CommMLA
  • Description:

    After nine years of being in a relationship, Arcio Salom and Ruth Balasa exchanged marriage vows in a ceremony held last 8 February, 2013. Both are former sponsored children who are now working for the Manila agency.

    Ruth Balasa was registered to the sponsorship program on 9 September 1989. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Sienna College, with honors. She joined the agency on 3 June 2003 as a field officer and now works in the sponsorship relations department.

    Arcio, “Archie” as we fondly call him, is the first former sponsored child to join the Manila agency as an employee. He was an active youth leader and assisted in youth sports and other activities. He finished his bachelor’s degree in banking and finance. On 6 May 2002, he started as the agency’s photographer but now works in the accounting department.

    Manila agency personnel are witnesses both to the individual growth of Archie and Ruth and to the blossoming of their relationship. We were happy to be present and show support to the new couple. The wedding was held in the chapel, near the old central office of the agency, where Ruth accepted Archie’s proposal.

    Best wishes to Ruth and Archie as they begin a journey of life together in marriage.

    

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 1318

• Life By The Drop Life By The Drop

  • From: cferrara
  • Description:

    I grew up around water, and I have many memories of playing on the beaches of Long Island, Cape Cod and New Jersey as a kid. At the time, water was easily accessible and safe for drinking and swimming. Even the semi-cloudy lake water in Highland Lakes, NJ was fine for an afternoon dip in the hot summer. I would often swim to the open docks and fish for hours, without any worries in the world. I would come home and wash off the sand with a nice long shower. I was fortunate to have easy access to clean water - all at the turn of a tap.

    On a team trip to Honduras, we met several sponsored families in the field and it gave me a fresh perspective of how we consume water every day. For many, access to clean running water was limited, and their stories were a powerful reminder of how easy we have it. One family had an open concrete basin to store their water, a gift from the family's sponsor. According to the mother, they only had access to water twice a day on select days. We captured one of those moments on video. Here’s the clip:

    
    
    This moment served as another reminder of the importance of clean water for all. As World Water Day approaches on March 22nd, let's all take the time and think about the families who are struggling every day and living by the drop.

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 309

• On the Threshold of a Dreamed On the Threshold of a Dreamed Future

  • From: CI_CommMLA
  • Description:

     “This is new start for our family. I was in school for 15 years. I was not able to contribute anything. I was always spending. This is now the beginning of the future we dreamed when I was young,” Jonathan says.

    This is how Jonathan Manacho assesses his life. He has completed bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Polytechnic University of the Philippines in May (2012). And this November, he successfully passed the licensure examinations for civil engineering, scoring a convincing 85% rank. Third, he has job interviews on schedule.

    A father’s dream

    “Initially, I wanted to be a musician,” Jonathan recalls. “But my father wanted me to be an engineer, although he did not force me into it. I needed to be realistic. Making a living through music is tough. I knew I can take the academic rigor of studying engineering. It serves a broad and growing industry, so I decided to give take it up.”

    The biggest challenge

    Jonathan considers losing his father the biggest challenge to his dream.  “I was first year in college. He was the one pushing us to study,” Jonathan says. “He worked hard with my mother to support us. When he died I wondered how my education can go on without him,” he recalls.  

    A wealth of support

    “But when everything settled down, I realized my father left us a circle of family and friends who are as encouraging and supportive as he was. I am the eldest. I and my younger brother Jayson had an agreement that he will work to support my studies. I will support him to school when I am through,” he reveals. Other relatives helped too.

    Children International was also there to see him through. “Sponsorship played a big role, financially. Sponsorship helped see me through college, especially with my HOPE scholarship,” Jonathan says. “I used the support from sponsorship for transportation, paying for school fees, projects and other expenses. It also provided my needs like clothes and shoes. All these helped turn my dream into a reality,” he adds.

    Beyond the material support

    Aside from the financial support though, Jonathan sees the intangible support from the youth program even more significant.  “Before that, I just kept at home. I was very shy and quiet. But upon the insistence of the volunteer leader in our area, I agreed to attend a youth meeting. I was eventually chosen as leader. The trainings and activities gave me self-confidence. I learned to take risks. I began to socialize and learned to work with others,” he says.

    Crossing the threshold

    Having passed the licensure examinations and equipped with a confidence to take up new roles and learn new things, Jonathan believes he has crossed the stage to a new life for himself and his family. “My plan is to get a regular job. This will help me to pay for the education my siblings. But my long term goal is to save and study how the construction industry works. Many of my relatives are construction workers. I want to put-up a company for small project contracts, where I can employ my relatives” he says.

    “I am now currently considering a few job offers, I want to take care in choosing my first job. I am not in a hurry,” he notes.

    Summing up sponsorship

    Asked to sum up what sponsorship did for him, Jonathan has this to say: “Looking back, what sponsorship did was teach me to take risks. When you take risks, you grow, you begin to think outside the box and is forced to move out of your comfort zone. Doing all that means becoming a better person and achieving your dreams.”

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
  • Views: 932

• Youth Health Corps' Social Med Youth Health Corps' Social Media Campaign

  • From: CI_Comm_TAB
  • Description:

    The Youth Health Corps here in Tabaco City has started using social media sites to promote healthy lifestyle. Not only that they go from community to community, spreading vital information on how to achieve a healthy mind and body; now they can reach much more audiences, especially the youth, through the help of the internet.

    The use of vices such as illegal drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol is one of the biggest health threat to the youth here in Philippines. But there is one ominous concern today that requires much attention from the Youth Health Corps—the rising number of AIDS cases in the country. The Youth Health Corps has been very strong in its campaign to prevent AIDS cases in the community. And now they have decided to make their presence on the internet.

    Successfully, one of the information materials by the Youth Health Corps has been selected as a finalist in a national short film contest for youth advocates on sexual health. The video has been spreading around Facebook, YouTube and other social network sites. The film contest is called “Sexual Health: Shout or Shush?” and was launched to hear the voices of the youth regarding one of the country’s most controversial issues today—the Reproductive Health Bill.

    The video of the Youth Health Corps is called Responsible Sexuality by Michael Jerard Honrado. Unfortunately, something went wrong in the upload which made the video appear pixelated. The video has this screenshot:

    
    

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
  • Views: 494

• A Fair with a Difference A Fair with a Difference

  • From: CI_CommSAH
  • Description:

    Poverty and ill health are synonymous. Globally, being poor means not only being deprived of financial resources but also lacking access to basic needs such as education, health, clean drinking water and proper sanitation. Crowded living conditions, inadequate sanitation, malnutrition, inadequate, inaccessible, or non-existent health care etc, make the poor more exposed to infectious diseases and can also hinder their recovery and exacerbate the disease. Our health program  addresses the above-mentioned causes of ill health, and aims to reduce them through the three main thrust areas in health care viz. Curative Care, Preventive Care, and Health Education.

     

    

    As healthy children become healthy adults our Service Area Centers organize health fairs to develop in them a sense of responsibility for healthy living for themselves, their families and communities. Recently, on 7^thNov a health fair was organized at one of our SACs with 500 children up to age of 11. The main objective of the fair was to create health related awareness in the community, and inculcate a sense of personal hygiene among the sponsored children and their families. This was done with the hope that the children of the community could be assigned roles and responsibilities to bring about change both at home and in the community.

    

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The main attraction was the games stalls which were run by the Youth Health Corps Peer Educators. There were three board games focused on reproductive health issues and the parents of the children and youth of 14 years and above were encouraged to go to the counter and play the games. The Peer Educators disseminated information to the youth and adult who ask for it on sanitation, hygiene, reproductive health and AIDS with other youth and other members of the community.

     

    

    

    The response of the community was very positive. There was free eye check-up for the children, a general check-up stall, a general hygiene stall, apart from the games stalls. The entire fair was decorated with handmade posters and banners by the youth. There were also quiz competitions, and extempore speaking organized by the YHC members. The childrenalso took part in an art competition where the theme was “wellness”.

    Every one enjoyed the program very much and the community children, youth and adults alike participated in all these events and went back with a better understanding of health issues facing the youth of today.

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 454

• EN GAME ON... TODOS VAMOS A JU EN GAME ON... TODOS VAMOS A JUGAR

  • From: CI_CommSTO
  • Description:

    Para Children International en la Republica Dominicana el año 2012 ha sido un año de grandes actividades. Una de ella fue la realizada a finales de noviembre en la que más de 400 niños, niñas y jóvenes de Mendoza, Los Tres Brazos, La Caleta y Tanquecitos se dieron cita, en el área de juego y deportes de nuestro centro comunitario Larry Phelan en La Caleta, participaron de una impresionante  jornada deportiva del proyecto Game On (A Jugar).

    

    Los y las chicas pudieron compartir de un intercambio deportivo sano, no competitivo y sobre todo muy divertido.

    

     

    Me gusto mucho el espiritu de los y las atletas que participaron del evento: Alegria, solidaridad y mucho compañerismo caracterizaron las competencia.

     

    

    El proyecto Game On, o A Jugar como le llamamos en dominicana, es una estrategia que promueve valores claves en las relaciones humanas como son la solidaridad, el respeto a la diversidad y el trabajo en equipo.

    

    A Jugar tiene cuatro principios basicos: Diversion, Aprendizaje, Maxima Participacion y Exito...

    

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 219

• A Christmas message for you... A Christmas message for you...

  • From: CI_CommGRU
  • Description:

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 461

• YHC Commemorate World AIDS Day YHC Commemorate World AIDS Day

  • From: CI_CommMLA
  • Description:

    

    By January 2012, the Department of Health of the Philippines recorded to total of 8,576 cases of HIV infection since 1984. By April, four months later, the same government agency recorded 9,396 cases nationwide. The Philippine HIV infection rate increased 25% annually since 2001. For the month of January this year for example, there were already 212 new reported cases.

     While this figure is low in relation to the total population of the country, there is still a serious concern because the global figure is on the decrease. The Philippines is one of only 9 countries reporting a 25% increase in new HIV cases, according to a November 2012 UNAIDS report.

    The Youth Health Corps members are helping respond to this situation by educating their peers and communities so that they gain an understanding of the disease. During community sessions, they conduct discussions on how people can protect themselves.

    Yesterday, December 1, the YHC gathered to commemorate World AIDS Day. This was a chance to review their efforts in spreading knowledge on health issues affecting young people, HIV/AIDS, most especially. It was another opportunity to share information and urge their call to friends to protect themselves, especially since about 25% of those new HIV infections are persons who are between 15 to 24 years old.

    Last year’s similar activity was featured in one of the country’s papers. You can access the article through this link: http://www.mb.com.ph/node/343486/caloocan-qc-world-aid#.ULwmEGclfCY

    

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 443