Sponsor a Child
Highest Rated Blog Posts
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Breaking the cycle of illitera Breaking the cycle of illiteracy
- From: CI_CommTAB
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Description:
When the school year opened this June, most kids saw it as the end of the blissful summer days when they can sleep and play all they want. But for some, the first day of school was a day they have long waited for.
Of course, who wouldn’t get excited over the thrill of wearing a new pair of shoes and uniform, a fresh set of school supplies and a new set of books? At least for the nerdy types, that is. But more than the buzz of writing on the first pages of a new notebook or doodling on a crisp notepad, for sisters Maricel and Noela, going back to school is all they ever wanted.
These two girls came from a long line of people deprived of an education. Their father can barely read and their mom can’t even write her full name. He is a farm helper and she is a housemaid. Of their three older siblings, Noel and Norlyn are already fortunate to even make it to first grade. Noli wasn’t that lucky; he didn’t experience going to school at all. In fact, their mother Norma couldn’t remember a single relative who finished high school. For their family, this seemed like a fate they have long accepted and getting stuck in menial jobs was a fact they’re already resigned to. It was true for the generations that came before them, it’s still true for them today.
But when Maricel and Noela became part of the sponsorship program in 2008, it gave them a chance to hope… that things can be better, that maybe, there is a possibility that they can break away from the crippling cycle of illiteracy that runs in their family.
With the help of sponsorship, their mother Norma is convinced that life could be different for her two youngest daughters. The educational support that Children International provides to sponsored children encouraged her to send her girls back to school. Maricel and Noela, ages 12 and 8, are now both in Grade 2. They maybe lagging behind compared to the students in their batch but their eagerness to learn more than makes up for it.
Talking to these girls, I saw how badly they wanted to learn. At first, they seemed aloof and couldn’t even meet my gaze but they warmed up eventually and started sharing their thoughts with me. They said they both wanted to go to school but their parents just couldn’t afford it so they had to stop. Noela, the more outspoken one of the two girls, told me how she loved being in school because they get to meet new friends and most of all learn how to read and write. She proudly demonstrated how well she could write her name and filled an entire page in no time.
Maricel, on the other hand, brought out the story book she got from CI last Christmas and read me a paragraph from her favorite story. She loves books and history is her favorite subject, she told me.
Looking in their eyes you can see that the thirst for learning is so real you could almost touch it and their enthusiasm so high you can’t help but root for them. If the writings on this wall are any indication, these girls will go a long way… all they need is a chance.
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 700
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First time sponsoring First time sponsoring
- From: margaretpeebles
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Description:
I have always wanted to sponser a child. Since I was a child myself and saw images of children living in poverty, even to my youthful sensibilites this seemed like an incredible injustice in this world. Years went by...recently, after having my own children, the idea of sponsoring a child kept returning to me again and again. I discussed it over and over with my husband and researched different organizations offering sponsorship opportunities. I kept coming back to Children International because of their mission and examples of success in the field. Finally, my husband must have gotten tired of me just TALKING about sponsorship, because at Christmastime, he surprised me with a girl he sponsored in my name from Columbia. What is even more special, is that this little girl has the same birthday as me! I've corresponded a few times, mostly with her mother because Nyelis is still so young (and adorable!) I'm so excited to continue along this sponsorship journey and have it enrich my life and share this journey with my own two boys as well.
Here she is: Nyelis!
- Blog post
- 4 months ago
- Views: 689
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The Joys of Sponsorship The Joys of Sponsorship
- From: yelkcub
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Description:
One of the most enjoyable aspects of sponsorship is being able to visit with your sponsored child. I sponsor two boys in the Dominican Republic (Bianny, 10 and Roberto, 12) and I’ve been fortunate to visit with them 3 times in the past two years and to spend time with them and their families.
One of the things I enjoy most about these visits is the opportunity to spend time with the boys and their families in their homes which allows you to see first-hand how they live. The CI staff are very flexible in allowing you to choose how you would like to spend your time. When I go I like to take everyone out for something to eat and then to go shopping for groceries and clothes.
With each visit I’ve been able to see the changes in the boys as they grow.
The field staff in Santiago is fantastic. On each of my visits I’ve been fortunate to have the same CI staff member with me. Yaseni goes out of her way to make sure the visits are memorable.
Being able to visit with your sponsored child adds much more to the relationship and I would urge everyone to try and make the effort to do so. Just seeing the looks on their faces brings reward enough.
- Blog post
- 7 months ago
- Views: 1601
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My Ugandan Brother My Ugandan Brother
- From: Gkenyon
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Description:
In September of ‘07, an email changed my life.
It was written by a 15-year-old Ugandan boy named Jemba. He wrote to CI because his grandfather had recently passed, leaving him alone in the world. His dream, he said, was “to be a sponsored child.”
We weren’t active in Uganda, so it wasn’t possible. I’d only worked at CI a few weeks, and wasn’t aware we had a department that answered emails. I feared this boy would get an impersonal form letter that would crush him. It bothered me so much I couldn’t sleep that night. First thing the next morning, I replied to Jemba.
Thus began a deep friendship. For several months, we exchanged emails daily. I gradually learned Jemba’s story – how he’d lost both parents at a young age, was nearly killed by the Lord’s Resistance Army, faced starvation and other threats. How he was taken in by his poor grandfather, who taught Jemba to be a good person. How their roles had eventually reversed when Jemba had to care for his sick grandfather. And how, even now, he felt his grandfather watching over him.
Jemba never asked for help. He said he valued our friendship because I genuinely cared, and he felt comfortable talking to me about anything. Sometimes, he needed a sympathetic ear; other times, advice. I did my best to give him both.
But it wasn’t enough. As our relationship developed, I was learning more about CI and sponsorship. Seeing, firsthand, how it improved children’s lives. It would’ve been the perfect solution for Jemba. But without an agency in Uganda, it was impossible. I’d have to think of something else.
When I decided to send money, my friends were skeptical. Knowing my trusting nature, they wanted to protect me. “If Jemba’s so poor,” they asked, “how can he email you?” I’d never asked. When I did, I wasn’t surprised to learn that Jemba volunteered at a shelter for battered women. In return, he got to use their computer. “But how do you know he’s telling the truth?” my friends continued. I felt I could trust Jemba, but I agreed to be cautious.
Using the web, I located the women’s shelter in Jemba’s village. No contact info was listed, but I learned the shelter was funded by a New York agency. It took 2 weeks and several emails, but I finally reached the shelter’s director. I asked if he knew a boy named Jemba.
He responded enthusiastically, describing Jemba as a remarkable youth who “always has a kind word for everyone.” He said many youth in Jemba’s situation would lash out with violence, or drugs, but Jemba used his energy to help others.
That sealed it. My fiancé and I didn’t have much money, but we scraped together a little to send to Jemba. When I told him about it, he said his eyes were “filling with tears.” He wrote a long “thank-you” note to us, and then went to pick up the money.
Then, complete silence.
The Scare
For 2-weeks, my emails went unanswered. Before long, concern turned to panic. What if something happened? What if Jemba had been mugged, or worse? Finally, through shelter’s director, I got my answer.
After picking up the money we sent, Jemba bought some groceries and went home. He didn’t show at the shelter for three days. When another volunteer went to check on him, he found Jemba laid low by malaria – too sick to move. He was rushed to the hospital. I later learned that, on the way, he begged someone to send me an email so I wouldn’t worry, but the message got lost in the moment.
Two weeks later, Jemba wrote. He said the money we sent had allowed him to stay at the hospital and buy the medication he needed to recover. Malaria is one of Uganda’s biggest killers, and Jemba was convinced that, if our gift hadn’t arrived when it did, he would’ve died.
Now Jemba is part of our family. I call him little brother, and he calls me big brother or my American brother. At home, a picture of Jemba hangs among those of our relatives, his big smile lighting up our apartment. At night, it's become a tradition that, as we go to bed, we look at his picture and say “Goodnight, Jemba” before turning out the lights.
Jemba thinks that I’ve been a miracle in his life. The truth is he’s the miracle in mine.
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 513
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My First Experience with CI My First Experience with CI
- From: eguinto
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Description:
Hello LiftOne!
This would be my very first post to my blog in this amazing social network that helps the helpers. First of all, I just want to say that this website looks very nice and is easy to use. I haven't play around too much on the site, but I what I can say so far is that this social network has so much potential and can reach more people than expected.
I have a big respect for everything that has to do with websites (social networks, onlline search engines, blogs, tweets, etc); the reason is that it has bring so many benefits to "connect" people. Of course there is a downside of these technologies, such as identity theft, lack of information security and privacy issues to name a few, but there will always be pro's and con's to everything. WE have the choice to use these technologies for good and WE have the choice to enjoy all of its benefits.
I wanted to point out my interest and respect for these technologies because that is how I found "Children International". I googled "sponsor child" and it came up a webpage called "children.org" (clever isn't it? =). I started by looking around the stories shared on the site, the definition and motto of the company, as well as the stories from sponsors and their kids.
I said "ok, it seems that this company has a very good intention, but I need to see other reviews of the company". That's what I did, I googled "children international reviews" and I found MANY good reviews and only a few bad ones. So that gave a little bit more confidence of the accountability of the website and the whole company.
So I registered and start looking around for a needy kid. I am from Mexico, but I didn't want to sponsor a mexican kid because I think I can help my community in other ways, maybe joining a volunteer team or a disaster recovery association to help others here in Mexico. So I looked for kids born in India and I found this kid called Pradip, I don't know the real reason I picked him, his photograph and story moved me and I didn't think twice and click "sponsor this kid". I put my credit card information, billing information and something about me. A few minutes later I received an email saying that my sponsorship to a kid in India has begun!!! I was so happy to read that.
A few weeks later, I received on my mailbox a photo of my kid and a report of the contitions he is living in, it shocked me, mud floor, no electricity, family income of about $30 dollars a MONTH!! I would have never considered meeting a family living in those conditions, but when I read that my kid will be provided with food, clothes and medical treatment he needs filled my heart with joy!
I started writing letters to my kid, always telling him to thank all the help he is getting by HELPING others less fortunate than him. We'll always be with at least 1 other person more fortunate than us, but we'll always be with at least 2 other persons less fortunate, and our opportunity is to help them.
It has been almost a year since my first donation. I feel the same way I felt when I first joined. I feel that there are so much Hope in the world and every drop of help counts. I hope to sponsor another kid in the near future and maybe someday visit my kids to their homes! That would be soooo much fun! looking forward to it.
I will finish this post by writing a quote from a movie (I can't remember the name).
"Do for others more than you do for yourself"
Take care and thanks for reading this.
- Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 360
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Sponsorship goes further than Sponsorship goes further than you ever imagined!
- From: CI_CommJAL
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Description:
I feel really proud and excited when I tell people about where I work and what our organization does for people.
One thing that not everybody know about our work is that it isn’t just about giving a pair of shoes and school supplies to the kids once a year, but instead it’s about helping not just the children but the entire family, and moreover, the whole community.
Once, I was interviewing a mother, who has three sponsored kids, actually two of them are really involved in the youth and sports programs. I was happily surprised when she told me that she has seen a good change in her community over the last few years. She said something like, “You can see the difference between kids who aren’t sponsored and the ‘new generation’ of sponsored kids [the agency has been working there for the last 5 years]; they are more responsible, they aren’t into drugs, and now, with the sports program, I’ve seen that they’re more committed to the program. I’ve seen good changes in my family and also in the way they act in school”, says the mother.
We’ve seen how the communities have been improved in different ways. For instance, with our community participation program in which volunteer mothers are involved, they have been developing social projects in their neighborhoods. They have gotten the money to improve a sports center for the kids, and they are also helping a nursing home, applying strategies in favor of the environment and promoting family values.
In addition, youths are also starting to develop social projects aimed at ecology, sports, etc. We want them to become real leaders.
You might wonder why this is important for us… well, because we see how this ‘chain of help’ grows and grows. Our families which -without a doubt- face a daily struggle due to their disadvantages, at some point understood that their future is in their own hands, and they also feel responsible for sharing this ‘good news’ with their peers.
And this amazing and real change started when someone, one fine day, thought: ‘Yeah, I would like to sponsor a child. Why not?!’
- Blog post
- 4 months ago
- Views: 909
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The Costs so Far The Costs so Far
- From: gtaero
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Description:
Sponsoring two children so far: $242
Special Needs Gift in January, February, and May: $320
Cost of a college guy finding the courage to buy stickers out in public for the sponsor kids: A few sweats and a few dollars, that's all
Hand-written letters from sponsored children: Priceless
Encouragement from their positive attitudes: Priceless
Seeing them have hope for their future: Priceless
One-on-one connections: Priceless
Smiles on their faces when they receive Special Gifts: Priceless
Their effect on my life: Priceless
Children International: Priceless
- Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 458
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Elizabeth can attend school! Elizabeth can attend school!
- From: bammertheblue
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Description:
Today I received word from CI in response to the email I sent them about Elizabeth, in Zambia, who does not attend school because her family/guardian cannot afford to send her. Well, I am so happy to say that CI visited with Elizabeth's family and gathered the information for me, and all it will take to enroll Elizabeth in nursery school will be $135! This will cover school supplies, a school uniform and sweater, shoes and socks, PE clothes, and the school fees. What great news! It makes me so happy to know that soon, Elizabeth will be able to start school. which is SO important for her future. And I'm so fortunate that I'm able to help her with this!
It's just an all-around good day! - Blog post
- 4 weeks ago
- Views: 241
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YEEIIHHAAAA!! FIRST LETTER!!!! YEEIIHHAAAA!! FIRST LETTER!!!! :-)
- From: frumor
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Description:
Geraldine, age 11, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Our mailman has crept around our mailbox in the last weeks trying avoiding us and our tedious inquires as the poor mailman in Mrs Hyacinth. We have been even worse than her!
In the 7th week after starting sponsoring Geraldine we received the first letter from her. I can tell it's all worth the waiting.
She is sponsored by my husband ("godetomater"). For strange reasons we chose to sponsor a child each and not together as my husband wanted to sponsor a girl and I wanted to sponsor a boy. I am sponsoring Daniel from Chile and still awaiting his first letter
But of course Geraldine is 'my girl' too, and I will make this blog for her knowing that my husband will make her an even fancier one. So I am sure you will get to know Geraldine, La Princesa de Guayaquil!!
Her story is heartbreaking: We asked CI for the sponsor history, as the photos in the album was dated from 2007 and the last picture was taken in Dec 2009. CI replied that Geraldine had NOT been sponsored before and Debbie was so kind to clarify the answer on the Message Board. She wrote:
I did a little more digging on this Geraldin and Daniel and found that Geraldin was enrolled in our program on 5/31/2007. We sent her information to to 17 potential sponsors and no one wanted her. On January 13, 2009, we assigned her to sponsor whose first child had left the program. On that date we notified our staff in Guayaquil to begin giving Geraldin benefits. So she waited about 18
months from the time she enrolled until she began receiving benefits.
As jenkinsg (a Lifter here) explained, out staff would have visited her home to make an appt. for her to come to the community center to update her personal information, have a new photo taken and get her first medical check-up.
Unfortunately for Geraldin, the sponsor she was assigned to did not want to sponsor her either, so she was placed back on our waiting list. We did not find another sponsor for her until June of this year ( We were the lucky ones to find her!). However, because we had notified our field staff that she had a sponsor, she began receiving benfits in January 2009 and they continue to this day. -----------------------------
Further to this the family record tell us that the mother abandoned family! and the father is listed as separated and not present and with an empty line for "Occupation"Geraldine has an older sister listed on the record. They live with relatives.
It still bring tears to my eyes, and even more when we received the letter. She is such a strong, intelligent, lovely girl. I hope she has received the SNG we sent end June. My husband asked the staff to find something personal for her, that would make her happy and the reply from CI was very personal and warm as if the staff have kept an eye on her?(Our confirmation on the SNG for Daniel was more formally, maybee just different standard letters from the different fields but we WANT to believe that she is treated specially, she deserves it so much!)
Her name is Geraldine but she is listed at CI as Geraldin, so I have spelled her name wrong from time to time. That will not happen again ;)
We sent an online letter to her early after we sponsored her, but I dont think she replies to that, this is more a presentation of herself.
She has the most beautiful handwriting. I will scan the letter as soon as I can.
Her first letter in translation:
I thank you for choosing me as your sponsored child! I live in Guayaquil and I am writing these lines from my beautiful city. Let me tell you(this was the pre-printed part) that I am in the 7th year of school (which is explained as 6th grade, equivalent as 7th basic year). I have good grades. My favorite subjects are: Mathematics, Language and Science. I like very much to study at school. I have many friends (amigos y amigas) with whom I share my emotions and games, for example I ride bycicle and play with the dolls. I also play in the park and other games. My favorite food is rice with beans and roast chicken. I also like Ceviches de Camaron and Encebollado (pictures) I like animals like dogs.Says good-bye with affection (cariño)Geraldine.
And no one wanted her????????????Annette
- Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 365
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Sponsorship Brings Perspective Sponsorship Brings Perspective
- From: dkitchin
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Description:
Forgive me for copying and pasting into this post, but this is a great story about sponsorship.
Courtesy: Richmond County Daily Journal, Tammy Morse
- Blog post
- 1 month ago
- Views: 336
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When a child turns 12 When a child turns 12
- From: CI_CommTAB
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Description:
Transitions aren’t always easy. It means making adjustments, getting out of comfort zones, and getting used to new environments. Perhaps one of the most difficult periods of transition is adolescence, when a child is no longer just a child but becomes a teenager – an exciting yet often confusing phase.
In Children International, when a child turns 12 they also go through a transition, a certain rite of passage. Each year, thousands of sponsored children are formally welcomed into the Youth Programs through an induction. In the Philippines, it’s dubbed as the Succeeding Teenage Encounter Program or STEP… and rightfully so, children take a big step into a whole new world of fun, learning, and more opportunities that would prepare them for the challenges ahead.
STEP welcomes each child by introducing them to the different opportunities available to sponsored youth. These include scholarships, various trainings in leadership, life skills, alternative skills, and many more. They also find out about the youth fund, agency youth council, youth health corps and how to be a part of it. It is also through this that CI’s mission, vision and goals and core programs are explained. Ultimately, the goal of STEP is to introduce and at the same time encourage greater involvement and participation from the youth.
The process doesn’t happen through the usual discussions that could easily lull any 12-year old to sleep. This year the Tabaco Agency adopted a different strategy, one that would appeal to the participants and loaded with lots of fun – the Amazing Race style! Divided into several groups, they hurdled different tasks spread in various stations each one giving them a valuable lesson.
The wood walk... taking it one synchronized step at a time
Knowing thy letters...
The Youth Health Corps puzzle
Core Program benefits...
Balancing the ball blindfolded needs a lot of concentration and team effort.
The group who finished with the least amount of time wins, but at the end of the day... everyone one goes home a winner.
With almost 1,400 children to be inducted from the end of July until September, this is one transition the kids would love to go through!
- Blog post
- 1 month ago
- Views: 560
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One Cool Kid One Cool Kid
- From: m.a.durbin
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Description:
Well, I sent my first letter back to Briggitte yesterday. It took me longer than I figured to put it together. I had no recent pictures of myself, so I had to have someone take some, select, crop and to the drug store to print them out. The letter took a while to compose, too. This will sound silly, but in addition to worrying about the usual things in writing a sponsor letter -- keeping it simple, etc., I was worried about coming across as an out-of-touch dork.
Of course, she set a pretty high standard for coolness with her pictures and letter. I have come to the conclusion that my Briggitte is one of the coolest kids on earth. Well, at least Guayaquil. Tied with all of your kids in Guayaquil.
After finding out that she was a cheerleader, I jokingly told a friend that I was sponsoring someone who, if I were her age, would be completely out of my league. I mean, come on. Cute, bright, fun, and a cheerleader? I wouldn't stand a chance. My only saving grace would be that I'd be too bashful to talk to her, so she might never find out what a dork I was.
Now, if I can just get through her sponsorship without her realizing I still am a dork ...
I'm glad I've had the opportunity to share this with you. After all, none of your kids could possibly be as cool as I think mine is.
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 457
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Inspiration: A Tribute to My F Inspiration: A Tribute to My Father's.
- From: thelolos2
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Description:
On my way to the universities campus this morning I got to thinking about my fathers; my dad and my father-in-law.
Thinking about my dad and what I might do for him on Father's Day I opened the dust covered file box in my brain and started a random pulling out of memories. What I realized was that as far back as I can remember, about the age of 4, my father was a giver. My dad worked hard, usually at a large job site like an oil refinery, in the summer's heat and winter's cold. My dad often went to work when he was sick and still I never heard him complain. At the end of the day he would come home covered in grime, scrapes and bruises, handing his lunchbox over to us kids so that we could find a "sweet" surprise at the bottom. As hard as my dad worked we still never had much for extras and what little we did have my dad was always the first to offer it to someone who needed it more. My dad was the man who stood behind the one everyone else doubted and was always quick to forgive and forget.
As I switched my memories gears and started thinking about my father-in-law and how much we've missed him since he's passed away my first thoughts were of how hard he also worked. He worked for the railroad, a strenuous and dirty job that kept him away from the ones that he loved for days at a time. He too would go to work sick and sore but his son never heard him grumble, all he wanted out of life was for his sons to be happy and a nice pair of binoculars to view wildlife. I am quick to find a smile as I remember how he helped everyone, friend or stranger. If you needed a penny, a shirt, or a kind word he was the man to give it. It was important to him to stand firm in his belief of the preservation of both nature and the true spirit of human kindness.
So with all that said I would like to take a moment to say, "Thank You!" to my father's for being men who are an inspiration to me in how I live my life in helping others.
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 411
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Daniela's Special Needs Gift Daniela's Special Needs Gift
- From: Cbrown46
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Description:
If you follow my blogs or postings, you all know by now that I adore my sponsored child Isaura who I began sponsoring last October. Daniela is another adorable child who I began sponsoring around February or March of this year. I initially thought she was 9 years old,as that's what her report said. However, once everything was cleared up, I couldn't stop sponsoring her just because I prefer older children.
Daniela is 3 1/2 years old. She lives with her mother, and although it is not listed on her report, she has a sister who may or may not live with her. She was in need of a bed since she slept with her mother. The cost was $100. I sent extra so that she may get furnishings for the bed.
Here is what she received.
1 pair of shoes
1 T-shirt
1 hygiene kit
1 pair of pants
1 pillow
1 bed
1 mattress
1 transportation
2 snacks
The comments were
"Daniela felt very happy with the donation, and in spite of her short age, she expressed: "Sponsor, thanks for the donation I received such as the bed and mattress which are very pretty. I also thank you for the clothing and the hygiene kit. I love you a lot. Sponsor may God bless you for being so nice to me"
The letter written by her mother states:Dear Sponsor,
The child thanks you for the donation you sent her: the bed, the light mattress, the hygiene kit and clothing. Thanks a lot for being so generous to her. Thanks to you, she will sleep on her bed. May God bless you and your family. She would like to meet you so you can share a nice moment. You don't know how proud she feels to have a sponsor like you. I thank you so much again for everything. I fondly say goodbye.
Vicky Medrano"
- Blog post
- 4 weeks ago
- Views: 245
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Jacqueline's Blog Jacqueline's Blog
- From: cvalda
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Description:
After a few emails with Debbie for more info, and a lot of thought, I decided I wanted to sponsor Blanca's big sister, Jacqueline, as well. Well, I KNEW from the moment I saw her that I wanted to sponsor her, but just came to the conclusion that I was going to do it.Oh my gosh, when I saw her photo in it's bigger version, I almost cried! She looks sooooo sad in her picture, I am hoping she was just having an off moment in front of the camera, and not an entirely bad day!
Jacqueline is 9 years old, and her birthday lands one day before my eldest daughter's! While Jacqueline and her three younger sisters were enrolled with C.I. in November of 2009, none of them had found sponsors until now. Angelica, 7 years old, is still waiting for a sponsor, and Erika, age 5, has had her info sent to a potential sponsor so hopefully that person chooses to sponsor her. They also have a 15 year old sister. Jacqueline and Angelica are enrolled in school. Jacqueline's favorite subject is said to be reading, so I'm hoping this means she may be able to read and write, although I won't be surprised if she can't yet, as we are unsure if this is their first year in school or not, as there is no grade listed.
The girls are listed as living with their single mother, with the father's absence listed as "unknown". There are also three others living in their home. Her mother is listed as a homemaker, and the family income is $182 a month. The family home consists brick walls and roof, and concrete floor. They have a bathroom and one multi-use room. They have a wood-burning stove, beds, private well, and non-regulated electricity.
Jacqueline enjoys running and playing with dolls, as well as singing and dancing. She helps out around the house by dong housework and running errands.
I look forward to seeing a photo of her smiling one day!
- Blog post
- 3 weeks ago
- Views: 199
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Just keep waiting... Just keep waiting...
- From: candace.eve
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Description:
I find myself singing a version of the "Just keep Swimming" song from Finding Nemo every time I am walking back to my house from the mailbox. It has been what seems like months of waiting for my first letter from Dairo and Sebastian and a SN for Ana. I hope I get all three soon. Those will be amazing days!
.....Just keep waiting.. Just keep waiting.. what do we do.. we wait wait wait!.............. =) - Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 581
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How everything is done How everything is done
- From: Melinda85
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Description:
Debbie went into such great detail on how everything is done. They do so much there it is almost overwhelming. She took us and showed us how the mail is done when we write/email our children. The letters are taken out of their envelopes that we send them in and of course the emails are printed out and a label is printed that has the child's id number on it and put on the back of each letter and also any picture or item that we send to Kansas City and then they are placed in a little file like box,each country has it's own box,some of the countires has more than one box like Guatemala because they receive a lot more mail than some of the other countries.
Then I am thinking on late Wednesday afternoons that all the letters are picked up and mailed out on Thursdays. I know that Debbie said they mail letters and pictures to the field offices on Thursday of each week and that the field office mail letters to Kansas City each Thursday,she said that they usually receive whatever letters that are sent from the field office on Tuesdays. Of course the pictures are emailed so like with the direct packages even though CI in Kansas City has the pictures already printed up and ready to go they cannot mail them out until they receive the letters in the regular mail which sometimes can take a while.
I know sometimes we grow impatient and feel like they should mail our stuff out right away well believe me they do try,there are only a few people that handle that department,you wouldn't believe the stacks of pictures they had on a desk ready to go and just waiting for letters,there are gonna be a lot of happy sponsors here in a few days,looked like some really great photos. I know it has to be time consuming to match all the photos with letters,they receive so many letters and pictures,I know at times it really has to get overwhelming for them.
And with the direct packages the field offices have 30 days to get the package to the child and sometimes the children can come right away and other times it may be days before the child can make it there and each child has an id card and they have to sign their initials showing that they are the ones who picked up their packages so that there is proof that it actually went to them. The people that work at CI in Kansas City that handle getting all of our dp reports and info sent out to us are really amazing there's just a few of them and there are times that they have hundreds of pictures and letters to macth together and get ready to be mailed out to all of us sponsors,so please remember when you are waiting to receive pictures/letters in the mail that they really are trying their hardest to get them to you as soon as they can.
The field office in Lusaka ( I am pretty sure that isn't spelled right lol) has a lot of problems with their internet and that is why a lot of sponsors that sponsor children there have such a big wait on letters and pictures. Now the field office emails the memos to Mrs. Bert and she types up their memos for dps and prints them out herself,so she does a lot of work and deserves a lot of credit and not just her everyone that works there does. There are so many processes that each letter goes through that we and our children send to make sure everything goes to the right place and also so the staff can pull up information on the whereabouts and how long it's been etc.
CI depends on each person there,they all have big roles that help make sure everything is done right,even the smallest little thing in the end turns into something so much bigger,it just all falls together.
We also met with Jennifer the administrator over LiftOne,very nice lady and she has a beautiful daughter that was there at work with her that we got to meet,a very sweet little girl. Any ideas that we sponsors have for the LiftOne site Mrs.Jennifer would be more than glad to hear them,they want us sponsors to step up and tell them how they can make LiftOne easier/better for us,so any ideas that you have post them here on LiftOne or email Jennifer.
Mr. Jim Cook was so down to earth and so friendly our visit with him was really nice,he has done an amazing job with CI. He and a lot of the other staff and Debbie included talked a lot on visiting sponsored children,it's something every sponsor should do,you really get a feel of what these kids go through they say it makes is so much more real to see how they live. A lot of the staff at CI have been to other countries and listening to some of the stories Debbie shared about her experiences when she visited was very heart breaking. I am certain with the Lord willing that I am going to either Mexico or Ecuador next year so I can visit some of my kids,just gotta decide which one out of the two countries.
Another thing Debbie showed us was how our statments are done,it's actually a machine that folds our statements and stuffs them in envelopes. There is also a room where envelopes are printed out like the envelopes we receive when we get a letter or pictures from our sponsored child. There is also someone who matches each updated annual photo with each printed envelope and gets those in the envelopes and ready to mail out.
I know that there is so much more stuff I can say that I am not remembering right now,I think every sponsor should try to visit the main office if they can,you will learn so much. I have so much respect for each person that works there,each one has such a big role,it may seem small to us but believe me it isn't :). Debbie is pretty amazing herself she also does a lot for CI and she is so very nice,she has such a bubbly personality.
If I got any of this information wrong or mixed up please correct me Debbie ha,we went over so much that I may be getting some of it all mixed up or even leaving out specific details. It was a wonderful experience,a lot of the staff has been there for several years and then some have only been there a short time but each one loves their job and is so dedicated to what they do. So please let them know they matter and are appreciated too,everyone deserves a pat on the back sometimes. Anyways I am through babbling now and hope that I made some kind of sense in this blog lol.
So I had to come back and edit my blog somehow I left Brian out and totally didn't mean to,guess I was getting beside myself with everything. We also got to meet Brian and go in his office and visit with him,he is such a fun person and super nice. He came up with an idea for a new group on here for LiftOne,Debbie and I think it's a really good idea too and she is supposed to run it past Jennifer and see what she thinks.
- Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 339
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Awesome CI Mail Day!!! Awesome CI Mail Day!!!
- From: Melinda85
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Description:
I wanted to do a back flip when I saw all my CI mail today,but I am a little clumsy so I didn't attempt it. I received a nice thank you card from Jim Cook and the pictures and letter from the SNG I sent to Jhunie and his family to repair a room in their house. I think if he smiled any bigger in his pictures his face would have broke haha.
I also received Allan's updated picture in the mail along with a letter from him,a letter from Antony David,and a letter from Michelle. Michelle drew another picture of a computer,I take it that she must really like computers. :)
I just love all my CI kids and I am glad that CI has given all of us sponsors a chance to love these kids and make a difference in their lives.
- Blog post
- 4 weeks ago
- Views: 262
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Summer time is visit time! Summer time is visit time!
- From: CI_CommQTO
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Description:
Summer time is usually a busy time at Quito Agency. From June to September, we are used to seeing sponsors and their sponsored children share and enjoy together during sponsors’ visits.
I hear my colleagues talk about the visits they have assisted with, and I get amazed at how exciting and meaningful this is for both sponsors and children. As my colleagues say, a sponsor visit is “unforgettable”, “enriching”, “a chance to make bonds stronger”, and “an opportunity to better know about the person behind photos, letters and benefits.”
Most of the time, sponsors are very interested in visiting the child’s home. When Cynthia received the visit of her sponsor Krisaki and her family, she was pleased to have her at home, which gave the sponsor a better perspective of how Cynthia lives.
In a sponsor visit, both sponsors and children have the chance to see new places together. Here is Erick enjoying the ride to the Middle of the World and having an ice cream with his sponsor Irene; and Erick’s mother and brother also liked the little tour.
Learning a bit about our culture and traditions may also be part of the experience. See how delighted Guissela and her sponsor Julie are for sharing some traditional Ecuadorian food.
What about fun? Well, there is time for that too. Like Bryan shows here, he had a good time playing some foosball with his sponsor Richard at the Vulcano Park.
The most important thing with the visit is that two friends get to finally meet each other. Look at Tannia and her sponsor Juan José, who are just glad to be together.
Sponsor visits come along with nice, fun and emotional moments, and it is definitely worth every minute of it. Wouldn’t you like to meet, hug and share with that little boy or girl you are helping?
- Blog post
- 2 weeks ago
- Views: 200
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Peddling for a dream Peddling for a dream
- From: CI_CommTAB
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Description:
Almost every neighborhood in our country has its own version of the “snack lady.” Back in my hometown, I grew up seeing one every day, that is before I went away to college. Early in the morning, I would hear her voice crying out the names of the native offerings for the day. Puto, kalamay, kutsinta - all colorful variations of rice cakes, were among her staple treats. A day won’t go by without hearing the distinct way she screams the names of her goodies that I can still recall it until today.
Here in Tabaco, the snack lady goes by the name of Shirley – and she happens to be the mother of two of our sponsored children. I decided to tag along one day to find out more about what for me is one of our society’s interesting characters.
For over a decade, Shirley had been going around the streets of Tabaco selling native snacks. Seeing that her husband’s irregular income from construction work could no longer support the growing needs of their four children, she decided to borrow a small amount of money and begin her venture.
Every day, for six days a week, she wakes up at 4am, prepares the children’s breakfast and goes to the market to buy her ingredients. By 10am she starts preparing them: slicing, kneading, twisting and mixing. Shortly after lunch, she begins cooking. Most of her products are fried while the others are steamed so a great deal of time is spent frying in front of the hot coals. When everything is done, she then skillfully arranges each piece on a winnowing basket like a smorgasbord. It’s amazing how she can turn banana, cassava, sweet potato and glutinous rice into a variety of edible delights.
Before the clock turns 3 and after saying a short prayer, we are off on the road…
I figured we’ll have plenty of time to talk while walking, hopping from one house to the other, so I saved most of my questions for that. But once Shirley was out of the house, she was unstoppable. Compared to the camera I was holding, plus the small bag of fried sweet potato sticks I volunteered to carry, Shirley was lugging a far heavier load than I am but before we even reached our third house, I was already gasping for breath. She wasn’t simply walking; it was more of a marathon dash so I asked her if we were running after something. “We are running after time. People like to buy while the food is still hot so we have to hurry.” In between the fast walking, Shirley cries out her standard spiel, “Merienda tabi…merienda,” which when roughly translated means “Snacks, anyone?”
As if on cue, her loyal customers would already be waiting for her by the time she passes by. Friendly smiles welcome her and they would address each other using their first names. Children can’t make up their minds from the variety of choices on her basket. Once in a while, we’d chance upon another sponsored family’s house and seeing familiar faces, it seems like we’re visiting her relatives.
In over 10 years of going around the same neighborhood, it’s no wonder why everyone appears to be a part of Shirley’s extended family. In less than two hours, the snacks were all sold out. It was time to go home.
Back at her house, we were finally able to sit down and talk. Shirley told me that she only finished Grade 2, she can’t read and can barely write her name. And that is the reason why she is working so hard; that despite the scorching El Nino heat, she still treads the streets every day.
She proudly shows me the pictures of her children, picking out a framed picture of her daughter. “My eldest is a smart kid. She will be graduating from high school this month. She told me I had to be ready because I might go up the stage again.” Shirley admits that she gets nervous every time she goes up the stage but she can’t be any happier knowing that her children will not turn out to be like her. “I’m lucky that all of them are very diligent students that is why I make their education a priority. It’s important that their needs in school are met even if it means my capital for the next day would be less.” That is why the assistance her two younger children gets from Children International are invaluable for her because it helps ease the burden somehow.
For Shirley, the leg cramps she feels at night are no match for her dream of seeing all four of her children graduate, at least from high school. Until then, she would be seen briskly walking the streets of Tabaco with her basket of native treats.
- Blog post
- 6 months ago
- Views: 1191
