Tag Archives: children in need

Because of their compassion and commitment, children in our program receive the essentials they need, and the opportunities that help them truly thrive. Whether it’s staying in school, participating in activities, or simply feeling supported and seen, sponsors make the difference every single day.

 

A New Skill, A Growing Confidence

With support from her Children Incorporated sponsor, Sarah is discovering how a simple opportunity can make a meaningful difference. Sarah is one of my students on our program who is being raised by an older family member, and she is doing a wonderful job keeping Sarah’s environment stable and safe to allow her to have a strong chance at education. But there was a specific area that needed a bit of assistance: healthy cooking at home. So Sarah, with the confidence that comes from support, asked her school coordinator to teach her how to cook. Sponsorship funds helped provide essential kitchen supplies, including pots, oven mitts, and a roasting pan, so she could put her new skills to use. And in no time, she began learning to prepare meals for her family.

Today, Sarah prepares many of her family’s suppers. Her practical cooking skills have helped the household stretch its food budget further, while giving her a growing sense of confidence and accomplishment. Because she is sponsored, her desire to learn was able to become an opportunity to contribute to her family’s well-being and discover what she can achieve.

By also giving our volunteer coordinators the freedom to help children personally (so long as their basic/health and educational needs are met first), they have the flexibility to tailor their purchases to each child’s individual circumstances at that time. Your support helps make these everyday victories possible – providing practical resources, encouraging new skills, and helping children grow in confidence as they work toward a brighter future.

 

Long term resources for families in India

Recently, girls at the Dornakal School in India received some amazing and much-needed gifts from their sponsors. These items allow students to focus on their learning rather than worrying about their physical needs. Plus, they help lighten the load and brighten the hearts of family members who work hard to provide for their children but still struggle to make ends meet. Thank you for everything that you do to come alongside these students and build a better future — not only for them, but also for their families and communities by extension.

exciting upcoming event in pike county, ky

Recently our coordinator at Dorton Elementary has, with the assistance of our Hope In Action Fund, begun preparing an upcoming event titled the “GAP Initiative” for those living in Pike County, and all 17 of the county FRYSC will participate.

The GAP Initiative will provide much-needed information and assistance to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren (the largest group), but the initiative will be open to any guardian (aunts, uncles, older custodial siblings) who are suddenly raising children. There will be guest speakers on topics ranging from attendance to bullying, to social media / technology, to violence prevention, and more. Other local agencies will be invited to attend during relevant meetings to provide additional information as well.
This event is geared to increase knowledge, access, and of resources to help grandparents and other guardians with the challenges of raising a much younger generation. And when grandparents and guardians become better equipped, ultimately the children benefit by having more confident caregivers who can recognize issues and respond effectively.

We can’t wait to share more information as this important event approaches. Thank you to everyone who donates to our Hope In Action fund, your support allows for important opportunities like these.

CONTinuing to combat food insecurity

Now, more than ever, it is vitally important to ensure children have adequate nutrition. In many of our locations in the U.S. alone 1 in 5 residents lack reliable, consistent access to enough affordable and nutritious food. Our volunteer coordinators see that need and are working hard to do everything possible for those in their communities. Our sponsors and donors are a beacon of hope where they may be none. Because of them, we have been able to:

  • Fund weekend food backpacks at Johnson Central High School, where the number of food banks vastly outnumbers the need in the area.
  • Replenish food and cooking supplies at Page County Schools, where a number of children enrolled and their families are struggling with stable housing.
  • In Kentucky, one of our schools not only constructed an outdoor “blessing box” that’s available to children outside of regular school hours, but also organized a food pantry inside of the school during school hours.

 

Unsponsored Child Highlight

Meet Alfred*, a third grader with big dreams and a love of learning!

Alfred enjoys computer class at school and practices jiu-jitsu in his free time. His teachers describe him as smart and well-behaved, and he hopes to one day serve as an officer in the military.
But Alfred has another dream, too: to live in a better world and become the best kite-flyer in the world! His imagination reminds us that childhood is full of possibilities, and every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and dream about what lies ahead.

*Name is changed for online security

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

  • call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
  • email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
  • go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Because of their compassion and commitment, children in our program receive the essentials they need, and the opportunities that help them truly thrive. Whether it’s staying in school, participating in activities, or simply feeling supported and seen, sponsors make the difference every single day.

Back to school in the u.S

Recently, we sent an appeal for Back to School help, and thanks to your generosity, we have raised over $25,000 for our Hope In Action Fund! Children around the world have the backpacks, school supplies, and clothes they need to begin the school year with confidence. Your support also helps provide nourishing snacks throughout the day, and often the weekends. We couldn’t do this important work without you. Your support ensures our children can return to school with the supplies they need to succeed. They can focus on their education, not on whether their shoes will last another week.

feeding program at visayans

Sponsored children at the Visayans Community Center are on term break, but they still come to the center for a mid-day meal, often staying to make use of the library: playing with toys, reading books, and putting together puzzles.
It is because of your generous donations – and a special donation from our sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Graff – that these students have access to the food, books, toys, games, and puzzles. Thank you for all you do to improve the lives of children!

HOLIDAY REMINDER

Although it may still be summer for most, holiday giving is fast approaching. To make your contribution for your child’s holiday gift head over and log in to your account, or call us at 1-800-538-5381. The deadline is October 15th, don’t delay.

Holiday impact from a coordinator

With the holiday season coming up, it’s an important reminder that so many children long to enjoy this season, but instead have to approach it with nervousness. Will they receive anything? What will they eat? What will it be like to return and hear about what everyone else got during the holiday season?

But for our sponsored children, these fears don’t have to occur. Giving a holiday gift means giving a child the chance at normalcy and inclusion. One of our coordinators at Johnson County Middle School gave a great example of that:

I saw the biggest impact of the sponsorship funds at Christmas.  Many students were so happy to receive gifts they otherwise would not have gotten.  One mother in particular cried when I told her how much money was sponsored for her children for Christmas.  She stated that her son had been asking for a bicycle.  He is in the 7th grade and has never had a bicycle.  While shopping, she picked out a bike with the sponsorship funds.  After Christmas break, the student came to me and told me all about his new bike and stated he would “have the best summer ever” now that he had a bike. 

If you are not already a sponsor, now is a great time to change the life of a child living in poverty.

Unsponsored Child Highlight

Meet Liz*, a tenth-grade student with a passion for culinary arts and a dream of becoming a chef.*

Liz is receiving vocational training in culinary arts and especially enjoys baking and cooking. She has even developed a talent for cake decorating. Her teacher describes her as quiet, happy, and humorous—a student who is finding her own path and building skills for the future.

Liz is currently waiting for a sponsor. Your support can help provide the everyday essentials she needs while encouraging her education and vocational training.

By sponsoring Liz, you can help her continue developing her talents and take another step toward the future she dreams of.

*Name is changed for online security

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

  • call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
  • email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
  • go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Because of their compassion and commitment, children in our program receive the essentials they need, and the opportunities that help them truly thrive. Whether it’s staying in school, participating in activities, or simply feeling supported and seen, sponsors make the difference every single day.

making a difference in bolivia

 

During a recent visit to Children Incorporated programs in Bolivia, our International Director saw firsthand how much sponsors are helping children and families during a difficult time. As the cost of food, transportation, clothing, and education continues to rise, many families are struggling to provide even basic necessities. Your support is helping change that.
Because of sponsors like you, children are receiving school supplies, uniforms, shoes, clothing, food, tutoring, and help with educational expenses. Support like this allows them to stay in school and continue working toward a brighter future. Read more about our International Director’s visit here

Thank you from a coordinator

Our volunteer coordinator at Morgan County High School shared some kind and important stories with us recently. All our coordinators have been expressing one very important fact: your care for the children you sponsor is making a huge impact!

Our students are so appreciative of their sponsors! The students look so forward to doing their back to school and holiday shopping because they know it helps their families.

I had a student whose sponsor sent in additional funding. She said that she just couldn’t believe how good her sponsor is to her!

One of my other students said that it makes him feel so important to know that someone cares about them and wants to help their family. This year, I was transferred to the high school and one of the seniors said they didn’t know how they would have gotten through without their sponsor. He said that it made him want to help out other people when he gets a job on his own because he knows how much that sponsorship means to him. It was so sweet to see the way that sponsorship has truly made a difference for him and how it fostered a love for helping others. 

Columbia update

Around 7:34am in Columbia, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit in the coastal midsection of the country.  This issue seriously affected the area where we have CI programs, the city of Manizales particularly suffered many casualties and destruction. Our CI program site Centro de Orientacion is located in that city.  Our international director immediately sought to make contact with our dedicated volunteer coordinators in the area. He has so far spoken to the coordinator in charge of one of the schools, and she has indicated that at this point, it is truly difficult to reach the children. Phones are not properly working and all is in emergency mode, as the damages and assisting the general population has taken priority.

As we work to establish communication with our affiliated sites in the affected areas, we are not without hope for those impacted. Once we have reports from our volunteers coordinators living in the areas, we will continue to update as we work tirelessly to ensure our students have resources available to them.

Our Hope in Action fund is our direct connection to immediate assistance when devastating events occur. No red tape, just support where it is needed the most.

Unsponsored Child Highlight

Meet James*, a kind and helpful third grader who enjoys learning, especially when it’s time for math. Whether he’s singing, playing football, or spending time with his mother and grandmother, James brings a caring spirit to those around him. He dreams of a world that’s “like Disney”: a place filled with happiness and wonder. At home, James does his part by helping with chores, and his teacher says he is always willing to lend a helping hand.

James is currently waiting for a sponsor. Sponsorship helps provide children with essentials like clothing, school supplies, and other support that helps them stay focused on school and continue building a bright future.

By sponsoring James, you’ll do more than provide practical support, you’ll remind him that someone believes in him and is cheering him on as he grows, learns, and pursues his dreams.

*Name is changed for online security

**********

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

  • call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
  • email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
  • go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Five Things That Stood Out While Visiting Bolivia

 

For more than 30 years, I have visited Children Incorporated programs around the world, and each trip teaches me something new. This year’s visit to Bolivia reminded me just how resilient children and families can be.

Every visit to our international programs reminds me why Children Incorporated’s work matters.

Recently, I traveled throughout Bolivia to visit our partner schools and child care centers, meet with our volunteer coordinators, and spend time with the children and families we serve. While every community is unique, several themes stood out everywhere I went.

Here are five observations I’ll carry with me from this trip.

1. Families Are Working Harder Than Ever, But Life Has Become More Expensive

Wherever we traveled, one conversation kept coming up: the cost of everyday life has risen dramatically. Food, transportation, clothing, and school supplies all cost more than they did just a few years ago, while many families’ incomes have remained the same. Parents are working hard, but many still struggle to keep up with rising expenses.

It is still a real world issue, in some locations children must leave school at young ages to assist their parents in bringing in income. That’s one reason sponsorship is so important. It helps ease financial pressure and allows families to keep their children in school despite difficult circumstances.

2. Education Is Still Every Parent’s Greatest Hope

Whether I was visiting a preschool in Santa Cruz or a secondary school near Sucre, I heard the same dream from parents. They want their children to receive an education. Many families make tremendous sacrifices so their children can attend school because they know education creates opportunities that poverty cannot.

What impressed me most was seeing schools that not only provide traditional classroom learning but also vocational training in agriculture, computer science, robotics, garment making, and other practical skills that prepare students for future careers.

3. Sponsorship Does More Than Pay for School

When people think about child sponsorship, they often imagine school supplies or tuition; those things are certainly important. But, throughout Bolivia I saw sponsorship helping children receive nutritious food, uniforms, shoes, clothing, tutoring, and other assistance that allows them to stay healthy and continue learning.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

A new pair of shoes. A bag of groceries. Even a new bed. These tangible items mean the difference between growth or giving up.

4. Our Local volunteer Coordinators Know Every Family

One of the greatest strengths of Children Incorporated is something many sponsors never get to see, our volunteer coordinators. They voluntarily administer our program, allowing more of every donation to reach the children.  Throughout Bolivia I met dedicated educators, sisters, and community leaders who know the children and families personally. They spoke of the children not as numbers, but by name, sharing stories of families navigating hardship, of small victories, of urgent needs. They know where help is most needed and how to stretch each sponsorship dollar so that it truly changes a child’s daily life.

Their compassion, knowledge, and commitment allows our program to serve children so effectively. Even when travel was disrupted by severe weather or political demonstrations, coordinators continued communicating and caring for the children in their communities.

5. Hope Is Everywhere

Despite the challenges families face, what I’ll remember most isn’t the hardship. It’s the hope.

I saw children excited to learn, teachers committed to helping every student succeed, and parents determined to give their children opportunities they never had themselves.

I visited homes built years ago with Children Incorporated’s support that are still providing families with stability today. I met former sponsored children who have graduated from school, found employment, and built brighter futures for themselves. Those moments are powerful reminders that sponsorship creates lasting change.

Every trip reinforces something I have believed for many years: sponsorship is more than financial assistance, it is an investment in a child’s future.

Thank you to every sponsor who makes these visits possible and, more importantly, makes these stories possible. Because of your generosity, children across Bolivia have the opportunity to learn, grow, and look toward tomorrow with hope.

-Luis Bourdet

International Programs Director 

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Join Us in Making a Difference

These stories reveal just a glimpse of your support’s impact. Will you help us write the next story?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

SPONSOR A CHILD

Because of their compassion and commitment, children in our program receive the essentials they need, and the opportunities that help them truly thrive. Whether it’s staying in school, participating in activities, or simply feeling supported and seen, sponsors make the difference every single day.

Thank you sponsors!

While our US students are out on summer break, they still want you to know how much they appreciate you! Through consistent sponsorship, Hope In Action, and letters between children and their sponsors, our students are anticipating the upcoming year with confidence, not fear.

Having what you need to start the next school year can be the change between success and failure. When you don’t have clothes that fit, or a backpack to carry your supplies, it can be the reason a child doesn’t attend school that day, or can’t focus on what they are learning. Sponsors change that. If you are wanting to make a real world impact in the life of someone else this year, sponsor a child today. Because a pair of shoes should never stand in the way of graduation.

 

combating food insecurity

Our Feeding Program is in full force! Because of your sponsorship children are receiving nutritious, vital meals that ensure they can stay focused on their education.

Food insecurity is a persistent problem, and one that we will continue to combat. Your sponsorship, combined with our Feeding Program works year round across the globe to ensure children enrolled have what they need.

 

more help this month

It has been a busy time for our Hope In Action Fund, here are some of the important work your donations have accomplished:

  • We recently provided the required attire for the children in the high school division of Shonto Preparatory School, so that they can participate in a statewide culinary competition in Tucson, Arizona. Shonto currently has a culinary program, allowing students to explore this as an opportunity for a future career.

  • Two brothers recently received a Hope in Action grant to attend a week-long summer camp together. There they will learn agricultural best practices, fishing, and leadership skills.

  • Students with autism and other needs received educational and enrichment tools to assist during the summer break, to keep them occupied and engaged over the summer.

  • Several school’s food pantries were restocked in Bath County, Kentucky. Although they had plenty of processed food, our volunteer coordinator wanted to make sure healthy options were available to children as well.

  • Our volunteer coordinators consistently report to us that food insecurity is a persistent problem. But thanks to our Feeding Program Fund, we are doing all we can to combat this very important issue. Recently, some of our schools enacted a Backpack Buddy for weekend food assistance. This will make sure students are sent home with nutritious food while home on the weekends.

  • Recently, we assisted a high school student with a new outfit and shoes for a job interview. Having the proper clothing gave him the confidence and professionalism to do his best!

 

 

Unsponsored Child Highlight

Meet James*, a kind and helpful third grader who enjoys learning, especially when it’s time for math. Whether he’s singing, playing football, or spending time with his mother and grandmother, James brings a caring spirit to those around him. He dreams of a world that’s “like Disney”: a place filled with happiness and wonder. At home, James does his part by helping with chores, and his teacher says he is always willing to lend a helping hand.

James is currently waiting for a sponsor. Sponsorship helps provide children with essentials like clothing, school supplies, and other support that helps them stay focused on school and continue building a bright future.

By sponsoring James, you’ll do more than provide practical support, you’ll remind him that someone believes in him and is cheering him on as he grows, learns, and pursues his dreams.

*Name is changed for online security

**********

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

  • call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
  • email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
  • go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Because of their compassion and commitment, children in our program receive the essentials they need, and the opportunities that help them truly thrive. Whether it’s staying in school, participating in activities, or simply feeling supported and seen, sponsors make the difference every single day.

2026 Graduates

Behind each graduate is a sponsor who chose to invest in their journey, providing consistent support, encouragement, and the resources needed to stay in school and succeed. Thank you for helping them reach the finish line!

Sixth grade Graduation

Students from Mariano Lake celebrated their 6th grade graduations recently. This ceremony allowed parents and students to celebrate their accomplishments and prepare for the upcoming transition for high school.

 

Feeding Appeal Success

Because of your incredible generosity, our recent appeal for the Feeding Program exceeded our $20,000 goal. We are deeply grateful to each and every one of you. Your compassion and commitment to children in need make this work possible, bringing nourishment, hope, and opportunity to young lives around the world.

Your generosity is helping ensure that more children have access to nutritious meals, giving them the strength to focus in school, stay healthy, and look toward the future with hope. We are so grateful to have you as part of this mission, and we look forward to sharing the impact of your kindness in the months ahead.

End of Year Shopping

Summer shopping was a success for the students at Mariano Lake! ☀️🛒 Before heading into summer break, our coordinator took students on a special shopping trip to make sure they had everything they needed for the months ahead. From essential items to a few fun treats, these students were able to choose things that will help them feel prepared, confident, and excited for summer.

 

Unsponsored Child Highlight

Caleb* is a sixth-grade student who enjoys exploring technology and is especially talented at editing videos. He loves math, enjoys playing basketball, and dreams of one day becoming an engineer.

His teacher describes him as outgoing, and he enjoys spending time with his family, including his younger sister, Octavia. Whether he’s working on a creative project, cheering on his school’s basketball team, or learning something new, Caleb approaches life with enthusiasm and curiosity.

Caleb is currently waiting for a sponsor. Through sponsorship, children like Caleb receive support for essentials such as clothing, school supplies, and other needs that help them stay focused on learning and reaching their goals.

By becoming Caleb’s sponsor, you can help encourage his education, nurture his interests, and remind him that someone believes in his future.

 

 

 

 

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

  • call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
  • email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
  • go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD