Tag Archives: children

Shelley Callahan | March 13, 2022En Español

Sometimes it seems that what we provide for our sponsored children around the world is so simple that it couldn’t possibly make a huge difference in their lives — but in reality, the simple things do often make a lasting change.

In reality, the simple things do often make a lasting change.

Our volunteer coordinator at the Armenian Evangelical Secondary School in Anjar, Lebanon wrote us a letter of appreciation after we recently provided vulnerable children in our program with school supplies that he insists are allowing them to continue to pursue their dreams of getting an education:

A note from Reverend Hagop

“We appreciate your generous donation that was used to purchase stationary, paper, books, pens, pencils, and rulers for the children who are in the Children Incorporated program.

The stationary items were purchased, and the students received them with great joy and appreciation. The children were in great need of them, since their parents were unable to afford buying them due to the economic depression and degeneration of the Lebanese currency against the foreign currencies. But now, due to your generous contribution, the children are able to follow their education with greater ease and joy.

Thanks to their sponsors, children in Lebanon have brand new school supplies.

Our school administration along with the school parents and teachers appreciate the thoughtfulness and consideration of our sponsors and the great work achieved by the Children Incorporated program.

We hope and pray that your program continues its blessed work in aiding children in need around the world.”

About Lebanon

Renowned for its towering cedar trees, Lebanon boasts fertile valleys, snow-capped, ore-rich mountains, and – in a region where water is scarce – sixteen rivers that flow into the glistening Mediterranean Sea along Lebanon’s western coast. This small Middle Eastern country has an incredibly rich culture, evincing the influence of Greek, Roman, Arab, Ottoman Turk, and French culture. However, Lebanon’s wealth of diversity has also contributed to its turbulent history. Lebanon continues to suffer repercussions of a history riddled with wars – both civil and international. Poverty, unemployment, and the ever-present threat of war are tragic realities here.

About our affiliated site

Recognized as a World Heritage Site, Anjar is located near the Syrian border in the fertile Beqaa Valley, where much of the nation’s vegetables, grains, and wine grapes are produced. In the 1930’s, an influx of Armenians (a minority ethnic group in Lebanon) fleeing Turkey settled here.

“We hope and pray that your program continues its blessed work in aiding children in need around the world.”

To this day, Armenian agricultural laborers who earn very little comprise an extensive portion of Anjar’s population. For this reason, the Armenian Secondary School serves as a beacon of hope. Serving both boys and girls of this impoverished and marginalized population, the school contains an attached boarding home for students whose parents cannot afford to send them to school. In conjunction with Children Incorporated sponsorship, the Armenian Secondary School provides these deserving children with the opportunity, through a well-rounded education, to rise above the difficult socioeconomic circumstances that they face.

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How do I sponsor a child in Lebanon?

You can sponsor a child in Lebanon in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child in Lebanon that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | February 24, 2022En Español

It is always exciting to hear from our volunteer coordinators that they are able to expand our sponsorship program within their regions because it means that more children in need will benefit from having a loving sponsor. This year, thanks to the efforts of our coordinators in the Philippines, we have added not only one new affiliated site but two — which will help hundreds of children in need.

This year, thanks to the efforts of our coordinators in the Philippines, we have added not only one new project but two — which will help hundreds of children in need.

Of course, we couldn’t do our important work in the Philippines without the support of our amazing sponsors who are now able to sponsor children in two new locations in the Philippines — the Santo Nino Center and the Cangumbang Center, which help change the lives of some of the most impoverished children and their families in the Philippines.

About the Philippines

The Philippines comprise a vast island nation in Southeast Asia. This archipelago of more than 7,000 islands boasts sandy beaches, towering mountains and volcanoes, tropical rainforests and an incredible wealth of natural resources and biodiversity. Humans have called these islands home for thousands of years, predating historic records. Today, the Philippines incorporate a staggering number of languages, ethnic groups, religions and cultures. Despite its status as an emerging market, however, nearly half of all Filipinos still earn less than $2 a day. Adequate sanitation, access to healthcare and access to potable water are still daily challenges in this widely underdeveloped country, which is also prone to typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic activity.

About the Santo Nino Center

Families from from Tacloban, where the Santo Nino Center is located, earn meager incomes, and often only one parent is working in the informal sector. Most inhabit concrete dwellings, but many others live in shacks fashioned from nipa palm shingles, bamboo and castoff boards. Children living in these impoverished conditions tend to suffer from neglect, abuse, or displacement. Amid this devastating poverty and its socioeconomic effects, the Santo Nino Center serves as a beacon of hope.

The Center is dedicated to facilitating community development, providing healthcare and promoting education. Especially in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan — one of the worst storms to hit the area in a hundred years — in November 2013, Children Incorporated plays a vital role in this mission. Together, we can help provide these deserving children with the opportunity to rise above the difficult socioeconomic circumstances from which they come.

About the Cangumbang Center

The Cangumbang Center, located on the southern side of the province, is categorized as an agricultural area, and is almost thirty minutes away from the city, which can be reached by jeepney and habalhabal (a single motor vehicle). Most families here are farm tenants and belong to poor families. The area is known to be flood prone, and during rainy or typhoon season, knee-high deep floods are common. Most families struggle while waiting for harvest or planting season. The children we support in this center come from families with meager income, most often with just one parent who works in the informal sector. Due to a lack of education, many parents end up in low-paying jobs. Some children at the Center are also neglected, abandoned, abused or displaced. Thankfully, with the support of Children Incorporated sponsors, we can help provide these deserving children with the opportunity to rise above the difficult socioeconomic circumstances from which they come.

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How do I sponsor a child in the Philippines?

You can sponsor a child in the Philippines in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child in the Philippines that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Ron Carter | February 3, 2022

Dear Friends,

I often share personal stories about the positive effects of our work on children and families. Our Hope In Action Fund is one of the most meaningful ways we improve lives, and our volunteer coordinators, both in the United States and abroad, can testify to that fact on a regular basis, as they witness first-hand the changes among the children in our program that they serve.

Our Hope In Action Fund is one of the most meaningful ways we improve lives.

At Sparta Elementary School, in the scenic foothills of the North Carolina mountains, our volunteer coordinator, Mandy, has these words to share:

“All of our sponsored students received a Holiday Meal Bag before the Thanksgiving Weekend in 2021. Each bag included a country ham, a 10-lb bag of dried pinto beans, biscuit mix, cobbler mix, jam or jelly, fresh fruit – and a little bit of candy. While
picking up the food items, our parents and guardians repeatedly expressed their gratitude to Children Incorporated for providing these meals during the holiday season!”

Maria, from the Visayans Community Center at Bliss in the Philippines says:

Donations to our Hope In Action Fund continuously change the lives of children in our program.

“Thanks to contributions from Children Incorporated’s Hope In Action Fund, I was able to purchase homemade peanut butter from the mother of one of our sponsored children. Instead of buying from one of the big grocery stores, we opted to buy twenty jars of her homemade peanut butter to help augment the family’s income. The pandemic has had a huge impact on this and many other families’ ability to generate money. Parents struggle to find ways to earn and secure food. We are so happy that through the funds received from Children Incorporated,we are able to help them make ends meet.”

Josephina, our volunteer coordinator at the Laboure School in El Salvador, writes:

“Last year, we enrolled a little boy named Ricardo in the Children Incorporated program. In the comment section of his forms, we indicated that Ricardo is deaf in his left ear, is partially deaf in his right ear, and that he needed hearing aids. I made Children Incorporated aware of this, and within days, I heard from the director of their International Division, stating that they could help. Soon after, Hope In Action Funds were sent to us for Ricardo so we could purchase the hearing aids he needed. They were life-changing for him.”

At the St. Mary’s Girls’ Hostel in India, our coordinator, Rao, says:

“Thank you very much for providing funds so that we could purchase 103 packages of sanitary napkins. Thanks to funding from the Hope In Action Fund, we will have enough of this product to last for up to six months. Many of our girls face a great number of difficulties when it comes to sanitation and hygiene, so we really appreciate your contribution to help and support them during these hard times. Our children convey their highest regards to the donors for their kindness, generosity, and caring.”

Please consider making a donation to our Hope In Action Fund today.

These are just a few of the hundreds of comments that we have received about how our Hope In Action Fund regularly impacts the lives of children and their families. Unfortunately, our funds are limited, and there are needs that sometimes go unmet. Our goal is to meet more and more of those needs in 2022, to improve many more lives, and to alleviate suffering in as many situations as possible.

With your help, we can continue to make a difference and, as I like to say, “change the world, one child at a time.” Please consider making a donation to our Hope In Action Fund today.

From the heart,
Ron Carter

DONATE TODAY

Shelley Callahan | January 17, 2022En Español

When we consider the needs of our sponsored children, we especially need to consider the particular needs of young girls who might not have access to feminine hygiene products while living in poverty — most likely because their families can’t afford them. When young ladies don’t have access to sanitary napkins, they often skip school to stay home which can be detrimental to their education.

“As we know, girls face a great number of difficulties when it comes to sanitation and hygiene. We really appreciate your contribution to help and support our children during these hard times.”

Throughout the 2021 year, we focused on providing supplies of sanitary napkins to girls at our affiliated projects in Kenya and India on a continuous basis — in large part thanks to our long-time partner, Altar’d State — so that they may remain in attendance at school throughout the year.

According to their website, “Altar’d State is a rapidly growing women’s fashion brand with more than 100 boutiques in 30 states. They offer a place of respite and a distinctive shopping experience with the latest fashion finds, the most sought-after accessories, charming home decor and gifts.”

Additionally, the company seeks to “inspire through action and supports a mission of standing out for good in the world” — which they have done by donating to Children Incorporated with a focus on providing feminine hygiene items to hundreds of girls around the world.

A letter from India

Upon receiving funding from Altar’d State to purchase hygiene items for sponsored children at the St. Mary’s School for Girls in India, our volunteer coordinator writes:

Girls at the Dandora Centre in Kenya pose with their feminine hygiene kits

“Thank you very much for allowing us to be able to purchase 103 sanitary napkin packets which can be used for up to six months. As we know, girls face a great number of difficulties when it comes to sanitation and hygiene. We really appreciate your contribution to help and support our children during these hard times. Also, all our children have conveyed their highest regards to the concerned donors and once again thank you so much for your kindness.

Sincerely,

Superintendent Rao”

Stats about Girls and Feminine Hygiene

Why is it so important to support girls and their healthy menstrual hygiene? According to the Days for Girls website, “period poverty is a term used to describe the lack of access to adequate menstrual health management supplies and education for women and girls. Many families are unable to afford feminine hygiene products because of how expensive they are. This lack of resources and supplies for menstrual health can have negative consequences on girls.”

Additionally, poor menstrual hygiene can cause physical health risks and has been linked to reproductive and urinary tract infections (UNICEF). It also inhibits girls from reaching their full potential — young girls who do not receive an education are more likely to enter child marriages and experience an early pregnancy, malnourishment, domestic violence, and pregnancy complications as a result.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child with Children Incorporated in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Ron Carter | January 4, 2022En Español

When the COVID-19 pandemic initially hit in early 2020, I admit that I was greatly concerned about the negative impact it might have on our ability to raise the funds so badly needed to provide services to the thousands upon thousands of children and families that rely on us for help. I was fearful that our donors might be overwhelmed by their individual burdens and concerns and find themselves unable to continue to support our work.

Thank you, all, for your continued support of Children Incorporated’s work. Together, we can change and improve our world, one child at a time.

But…I was wrong. Very wrong! Our donors, contributors, and sponsors not only continued to fund our relief efforts; they upped their contributions and shared even more generously than before. They recognized that those who were already struggling prior to the pandemic were among the most vulnerable during it, and they – our loyal supporters – came through like never before.

Humbled by generosity

Our sponsored children had an especially wonderful Christmas, thanks to their sponsors!

I have been especially humbled by the generosity shown to Children Incorporated during the last two trying years. While the pandemic has certainly shown us the dark side of humanity at times, it has mostly revealed to us how kind and caring people truly are. My faith in humankind has been restored as I have witnessed compassion in action in so many wondrous ways. As donations came into our office in support of our COVID-19 Relief Fund, and we were able to provide masks, medication, hand sanitizers, and food, I saw the goodness of human hearts on full display. As the funds that we received allowed us to purchase laptop computers and personal tablets so that children could continue their studies remotely during school shutdowns, I witnessed hope for the future. As sponsors inquired about the individual children they sponsor and sent specialized gifts for them, I witnessed love, even across the miles and among relative strangers.

Remaining hopeful in the New Year

As I write these words, the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. The Omicron variant has now made its ugly presence known, and our society – once so hopeful that an end was in sight – is experiencing déjà vu and moments of concern, confusion, and conflict. I feel those things as well, but I remain hopeful, optimistic, and filled with a sense of expectation and wonder, for I have seen what we can do together. I know that good still exists among us, and with love and kindness, we will not only survive, but thrive.

Thank you, all, for your continued support of Children Incorporated’s work. Together, we can change and improve our world, one child at a time.

Ronald H. Carter
President and Chief Executive Officer

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HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD with Children incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Ron Carter | December 28, 2021

Dear Friends,

The years 2020 and 2021 have been among the strangest and perhaps most difficult years in recent history.

With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, our world was severely shaken. Most of what we considered normal behaviors and activities were suddenly stopped, and we found ourselves isolated and dealing with issues totally new to us. The changes that came about as the result of the pandemic were especially hard on those who were already living paycheck-to-paycheck.

People working in low-paying retail jobs and in food service were suddenly unemployed and unable to put food on the table. As factories shut down, others were unable to pay their rent and provide even the most basic necessities for their children and families.

So I ask you — please consider what you can do to help us improve lives. Together, we are strong, and together, we can and do make a difference.

The children that we serve — from those in Eastern Kentucky to Bogota, Colombia — have had their lives turned upside down by Covid-19, and the effects of months of struggle still plague them and their families today. Parents from Washington
D.C. to Dornakal, India have watched as their incomes have dried up, and they’ve had to search for ways to provide for their families. Teachers and site workers in Dennehotso, Arizona, as well as in Guatemala City have witnessed hunger, sickness, and death among the children they serve, and their families and their hearts have been broken many times over.

A reputable news report states that as many as 120,000 school-age children in the United States lost at least one parent or caregiver as a result of Covid-19, and another report, issued just a couple of months back, speaks of unprecedented levels of child hunger due to the lingering effects of the pandemic in the U.S. and abroad.

Things are gradually improving, but our help is still badly needed.

As 2021 comes to a close, I am asking for your help once again. Our goal is to raise at least $25,000 to meet the varied and assorted needs of the children and families enrolled in our programs.

As special requests for assistance arrive in our office, as they do on a daily basis, we want to be able to meet them and provide relief for those who are suffering. Your final gift for 2021 can make that possible.

So I ask you — please consider what you can do to help us improve lives. Together, we are strong, and together, we can and do make a difference.

Please consider making a donation to our 2021 Year End Giving Fund today.

DONATE TODAY