Tag Archives: education

Shelley Callahan | November 11, 2024

After a wonderful visit to Casa Santa Ines in Mexico City, I couldn’t wait for our President and CEO, Ron Carter, to visit our next affiliated site, Santa Julia, which is a four-hour bus ride away in San Miguel de Allende.

Ron, our International Programs Specialist Yefiny, and I arrived in San Miguel in the late afternoon. We planned to meet with Lily, who works in the administrative offices of Santa Julia, the day after. We were able to get a good night’s rest, and the following morning, Lily picked us up at the hotel in a van used to transport the children who live at the home to and from school.

We made the short drive to Santa Julia, hidden in a small neighborhood not far from the center of San Miguel de Allende, tucked away safely behind a large security door and tall concrete walls surrounding the property.

Learning about the girls

As we drove, Lily explained to Luis and Yefiny that the government chooses which children live at Santa Julia, and at most, they can host up to 30 girls, who may stay for as little as two days or for as long as until they reach 18 years of age and can legally live on their own. These girls are coming from the most unfortunate circumstances, said Lily, as they are forcibly removed from their parents due to abuse, drug use, or other criminal activity. Many of them won’t ever see their parents again. At the time of our visit, there were only 14 girls at the home, ages 4 to 17 years old, and a few of them had already been there for many years.

After entering through the large gates of the property, we saw a few girls sitting on a bench in the courtyard. Lily explained that because today was the Inauguration Day of the new president in Mexico, the children were not in school and, therefore, were available to visit with us all day! We greeted them warmly and then began to tour the vast facility of Santa Julia.

A tour of Santa Julia

First, Lily took us to see the dorms, separated by age, on each of the three floors of the building. We also saw the kitchen, dining room, art room, library, classrooms, laundry room, and the administrative offices of the staff that work at Santa Julia. All the girls in attendance go to local public schools that are only 10 minutes away by car, and after school and on the weekends, they enjoy activities such as gardening, horticulture, tennis, and classes in baking and cosmetology.

Lily expressed that the staff at Santa Juila felt it was important that the girls find skills they can be excited about early in their development because many of them will be on their own when they reach legal adult age. If they find hobbies they enjoy while growing up at the home, they might be able to use those skills, like cooking and gardening, to find employment later, which is something that will help them immensely with being independent once they leave Santa Julia. Lily explained that she worries about the older girls who don’t have anywhere to go once they leave the home, and she wants them to be as prepared as possible for living on their own and taking care of themselves.

It was a lot to let sink in thinking about how these girls don’t have a family to return to — but, thanks to the care they receive at Santa Julia and the support from their Children Incorporated sponsors, they don’t have anything to worry about while they are growing up. Surrounded by a loving staff and other children who are like sisters to one another, each of these girls can concentrate on learning and just being kids in a loving environment.

After our tour ended, the girls gathered together to say goodbye with a song and then happily got back to playing, reading, or doing homework around the property. We said our goodbyes to Lily as well, who thanked us and our sponsors profusely for everything we were able to do to help these otherwise vulnerable children have a safe upbringing.

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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 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

Shelley Callahan | November 4, 2024En Español

When I was told that I would accompany the President and CEO of Children Incorporated, Ron Carter, on his first visit to Mexico with our organization, I was beyond excited. It would be my third time seeing our affiliated sites in this magnificent country, but I knew that seeing it with Ron would be a whole new experience and one that I looked forward to immensely.

More specifically, the sites in Mexico are unique because these children otherwise don’t have stable homes for various reasons, and that is why the help our sites offer to children and families is so crucial.

In preparation for our trip, Ron and I spoke at length about what we might expect based on my last visit. As our departure date grew closer, so did my excitement for what Ron was going to see for the first time.

The uniqueness of Mexico

Although I have a fondness for so many of our affiliated sites that I have had the privilege of visiting, our Mexico sites stand out in a very special way. Each of them is run by representatives of the Catholic Church, which is common in Central and South America, as well as in India. Each site is also a home where children board during the week or year-round so they can receive the support they need. More specifically, the sites in Mexico are unique because these children otherwise don’t have stable homes for various reasons, and that is why the help they offer to children and families is so crucial, and it really pulls at my heartstrings.

After a long day of traveling from our office in Virginia to Mexico City, Ron and I, along with our International Programs Specialist, Yefiny, met bright and early with our volunteer coordinator, Beatrice, and her assistant, Monica, in the lobby of our hotel. Monica was newer to the home, and Beatrice had been there for a few years. They both cheerfully expressed how much they enjoyed their time at Santa Ines caring for the girls who lived there during the week.

Visiting Santa Ines

We made our way outside to a taxi, and just a short ten-minute drive later, we arrived at the neighborhood of Coyoacán, known in Mexico City as the home of the Frieda Kahlo Museum and our affiliated site.

The taxi stopped a few blocks short of the home, and we made our way down the cobblestone streets to the grand entrance of Santa Ines, a large wooden door with a smaller one inside of it, directly across the street from a lively church. Beatrice unlocked the small door, and we entered to find a few of the children and their mothers waiting for us already! As it was Sunday, it was typically the day the children returned to Santa Ines after being home on the weekends, and they weren’t usually scheduled to arrive until 5 p.m. Today was different because of our visit, and the girls came to Santa Ines earlier than usual to meet us.

After greeting the children, we took a tour of the facility, first seeing the kitchen and dining room. Monica told us that the girls’ breakfast starts at 6:30 a.m., and then the sisters walk them to the local public schools by 8 a.m., when classes begin.

Learning more about the home

The schools are only 5 minutes away, so, as Monica explained, the girls also come back to the home for lunch and then go back to school in the afternoons for sports and gardening lessons before their day ends at 6 p.m., and they once again return to Santa Ines for dinner at 6:30. Then, the girls work on their homework and bedtime is at 8:30 sharp.

Monica told us that even for the smaller girls, as young as 6 years old, the tight schedule was important to their development, and they all really enjoyed being busy, especially since it meant the girls all got to be together all day and through the night.

The girls seemed overjoyed to be back together after a weekend away with their mothers, and it was apparent they felt that the other girls at the home were like sisters to them.

Next, we visited the dorms where the girls slept and stored their belongings. Monica told us that the older girls, ages 10 to 12, have a separate dorm from the younger girls, and they were all expected to keep their rooms tidy as part of their daily chores. With a capacity to host 30 girls at a time, the home only had 18 girls at the moment, which Monica explained as being due to the fact that the Mexican government determines how many girls are in attendance.

The single mothers whose children stay at the home go through an interview process, and there are rules for qualification – the mothers need to be employed even though they are not expected to pay for the children to stay at Santa Ines – the government pays the fees – but it is required that the mothers prove they really need the help based on their incomes as well as need for childcare during the work week.

As we exited the dorms, we saw that many more of the children had started to arrive, and we had a chance to interact with them in the courtyard as they played games, rode bikes, and swung on the playset. The girls seemed overjoyed to be back together after a weekend away with their mothers, and it was apparent they felt like sisters to one another.

Getting to know the girls

As Monica, Yefiny, and Ron made their way to the administrative offices to have a meeting, I stayed behind to visit with the girls, and we quickly invented a game that I deemed “Como Se Dice?” which involved the girls pointing to objects around the courtyard and asking me how to say them in English. It was endless fun and made me feel quite smart that I could answer all of their questions and, therefore, win the game!

I already knew from my previous visits just how important our sponsorship program was to the girls at Santa Ines — with only limited support from the government, it was crucial that Monica and Beatrice received funds from our sponsors to purchase food, school supplies, clothing and hygiene items for the girls at the home. And for the girls, who might not otherwise receive these items from their mothers who are working hard to make ends meet, knowing Children Incorporated could fill in this gap for them is so incredibly important to their overall well-being. And in the end, it gives their mothers peace of mind that their children are being taken care of even when life is difficult for them.

Saying our goodbyes

When Yefiny and Ron stepped out of their meeting and once again joined me in the courtyard, I could tell Ron was overwhelmed with gratitude for what Santa Ines was doing for these young ladies. He thanked Monica and Beatrice profusely for their kindness towards us and their dedication to helping the children they serve. Before we left, the girls sang a song to thank us for visiting with them, and we also thanked the girls for being such a special part of the lives of our sponsors as well.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | October 13, 2024

In October 1964, Mrs. Jeanne Clarke Wood started a non-profit children’s organization called Children Incorporated. What began with just 95 sponsored children in Guatemala quickly escalated to helping 1600 children in 10 countries within just two short years. Today, Children Incorporated has sponsorship programs in 20 countries worldwide and provides tens of thousands of impoverished children with clothing and school supplies, medical care, and many other types of assistance.

Thanks to our donors, schools, dormitories, clinics, and housing developments have been constructed in various locations, and our special funds help to feed hungry children, support families and communities in emergencies, and offer our volunteer coordinators the vital support they need throughout the year.

We thank every one of you, our incredible supporters, for being a part of the last 60 years of our journey helping children in need all over the world. Our Fall 2024 Newsletter is dedicated to the memory of our founder, Mrs. Jeanne Clarke Wood, and to the history of this special organization. Thank you for your support. We couldn’t do our work with you.

Our Fall 2024 Newsletter is dedicated to the memory of our founder, Mrs. Jeanne Clarke Wood, and to the history of this special organization. Thank you for your support. We couldn’t do our work with you.

A Timeline of Our Six Decades of Work

October 1964 – The first meeting of the Board of Directors for Children Incorporated is held.

November 1964 – The first appeals for funds were mailed to Mrs. Wood’s contacts; a goal of shipping 10,000 pounds of clothing to Guatemala was met.

January 1965 – Mrs. Wood and her small fledgling staff secure funds to help 95 children in Guatemala, seven
children on American Indian reservations, and six children in Lebanon. These become Children Incorporated’s first sponsorships.

December 1965 – Children Incorporated sponsorships grew from 108 in January 1965 to nearly 800 by the end of the first year. 789 children in 20 affiliated sites in 8 countries (Africa, Japan, Mexico, India, Latin America, Lebanon, Syria, U.S.) have been matched with sponsors.

October 1966 — More than 1600 children now have sponsors, and Children Incorporated has expanded its reach to 35 affiliated sites in 10 countries.

April 1967 – 2,335 children are sponsored in 45 sites in 11 countries; Children Incorporated helps its first child to attend college.

Mrs. Wood traveled with Children Incorporated and often wrote about our work for our newsletters, which were accompanied by photos of children in our program, such as this one.

November 1971 — Children Incorporated continues to grow. At this point, 7,750 sponsored children are in 113 sites in 18 countries. For the first time in its history, over 2,000 new sponsors signed on in just one year.

May 1972 — Mrs. Wood receives a commendation from President Richard Nixon for her charitable work with impoverished children and families.

September 1974 – Mrs. Wood’s name appears in the 38th edition of Who’s Who In America.

December 1983 – An article on Children Incorporated appears in Good Housekeeping magazine, drawing much positive attention to the benefits of child sponsorship.

October 1994 – Children Incorporated celebrates 30 years of service to children around the world.

January 1997 – Dr. Richard Carlson’s best-selling book, Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff, is published. In it, Dr. Carlson mentions Children Incorporated as his charity of choice. Children Incorporated gained over 3,100 new sponsorships as a result of the mention in Dr. Richard Carlson’s book.

July 2004 – Mrs. Wood steps down as President of Children Incorporated after forty years of loyal service. Her successor is Marian Cummins, a long-time employee.

October 2005 – After operating out of Mrs. Wood’s home for over 40 years, Children Incorporated relocates to its first official offices on Dover Road in Richmond, Virginia.

November 2005 – Children Incorporated begins working locally, creating partnerships and establishing sponsorship programs within several Richmond Public Schools; the organization’s Inner-City division is born, with work in Detroit, Michigan, New Orleans, Louisiana, and other U.S. cities to follow.

January 2006 – Our founder, Mrs. Wood, dies at age 89. Her legacy lives on through Children Incorporated.

January 2011 – Children Incorporated’s third President, Marianne Vermeer, begins her 14-month tenure with the organization.

April 2012 – Ronald H. Carter, who had worked with the U.S. Programs division since coming to Children Incorporated in 2003, is appointed as the fourth President and Chief Executive Officer.

October 2014 – Children Incorporated celebrates its 50th anniversary and anticipates many more years of service to children both locally and globally!

We thank every one of you, our incredible supporters, for being a part of the last 60 years of our journey helping children in need all over the world.

April 2016 – Children Incorporated launches its On the Road blog series, which follows our sponsors and donors along with our program teams as they visit our affiliated sites around the world.

January 2017 – Children Incorporated moves from its home on Dover Road in Richmond, Virginia, to North Chesterfield, Virginia.

April 2022 – Children Incorporated launches its Stories of Hope blog series, in which readers are shown their donations’ impact on education, community support, emergency relief, and health and well-being.

May 2024 — Children Incorporated introduces our Guardian Circle, a giving circle opportunity that allows our donors to support special projects around the world.

October 2024 – Children Incorporated celebrates 60 years as an organization by establishing Founder’s Day, which will be celebrated on October 19th.

Congratulations to Our Amazing Staff

2024 is a year to celebrate so many incredible milestones at Children Incorporated, including the 40th work anniversary of our Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, and the 25th work anniversary of our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet.

Luis Bourdet is pictured with Ron Carter during Luis’ 25th work anniversary celebration at our office.

“I am very blessed to work with such a wonderful and dedicated staff at Children Incorporated. Over the years, I have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of people who have been employed here. From those who have stayed for many years to others who have had shorter tenures, I have admired and respected their desire to help children and families better and improve their lives.

The staff of Children Incorporated is a good group: dedicated, caring, honest, and real people who truly want to make a difference in the world. They are my co-workers, yes, but we are also family in many ways. I love and value each one of them.”

– Ron Carter, President and CEO

“I started working at Children Incorporated in 1984. My office equipment and supplies included an IBM electric typewriter and carbon paper; a facsimile machine was state of the art. In 2024, I will use a PC, and faxing will be quaint.

Over the past 40 years, I have done different jobs for the organization. I have chosen to stay and grow with Children Incorporated because of our organization’s important mission and our connection to our donors, staff, volunteer coordinators, and the children we serve. I love working with my head and my heart and with amazing people.”

– Renée Kube, Director of U.S. Programs

“It has been an immense privilege to dedicate years of my life to this remarkable organization! From the very beginning, I have been deeply committed to our mission of supporting children in need and empowering them through education. The belief that every child deserves the chance to envision a brighter future has been the driving force behind my work.

Witnessing the transformative impact of our affiliations, our special projects, and our support has been truly inspiring. Countless children have achieved remarkable strides, not only improving their own lives but positively influencing their communities as well. I am profoundly grateful to be a part of this mission and contribute to the positive change we are creating together with our donors and sponsors.”

– Luis Bourdet, Director of International Programs

READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER

Children Incorporated | October 7, 2024En Español

The news about the devastation of Hurricane Helene has been heartbreaking, as families find themselves no longer with homes and the safety of their communities. Children Incorporated is affiliated with schools in four counties where children have been affected by this disaster. Since last week, our Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, has received the following updates from our coordinators after the catastrophic disaster caused by Hurricane Helene:

Hearing from our coordinators

Our volunteer coordinator, Pam, at Sparta Elementary School in North Carolina, wrote:

“Renée — thanks so much for checking on us here in North Carolina. Our area has been hit pretty hard as a whole. My husband has been retired from the power company for four years, and they called him back in to help. Our region still has many, many people out of power, and our neighboring communities of Ashe and Watauga are in even worse shape. The streets have been flooded, and homes washed away. Today, we saw a picture of a double-wide trailer sitting in the middle of a road after the water receded. We will keep in touch as time goes by. Some people here will probably be without power for a week or more. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.”

“I am so worried about all of our Mitchell County kids. There will be so much need. It has been announced that all schools will be closed in the foreseeable future. I know that help is really needed.”

Mandy at Alleghany High School says:

“At my house, damage was minimal compared to others, just lots of flooding in the basement. I am working today on cleaning that up. I did ride down to the river, and it was absolutely devastating. There are still people in my community without electricity and water. Trees are down everywhere. A lot of our county’s roads are completely washed out and closed, even the main roads. My husband works for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and he has only got to come home and sleep for a few hours. Thanks for checking on us and working so diligently to help our families in need at this time.”

Elisa’s message

Elisa, our former coordinator at Bowman Middle School in Mitchell County, wrote:

“Renée, I finally got out of Avery County to go to my daughter’s in Marion, McDowell County, North Carolina. There is still no water, power, cell, or landline in the majority of these areas. I am so worried about all of our Mitchell County kids. There will be so much need. It has been announced that all schools will be closed in the foreseeable future. I know that help is really needed. Loss of life is climbing hour by hour.

I can’t begin to explain the devastation. I have only seen a small portion, and it is heart-wrenching. I had severe flooding at my home, but I am alive and well. My children moved heaven and earth to get me out. I wanted to stay to help others, but for my safety, I had to get out. I am planning to make the hour and fifteen-minute trek back as soon as I can to assist. It would normally take thirty minutes, but so many roads are gone. Not closed… gone. Keep praying, please, Elisa.”

A way to help those in crisis

Families of children in our program are in need of immediate assistance as they work to rebuild their lives. Thanks to our generous donors, we can respond quickly to the needs of those we support. We are currently accepting donations to our Hurricane Helene Relief Fund to help families in their recovery efforts. Donations will provide cleaning supplies and hygiene items, as well as other resources as needed. You can read more about this important fund and make a donation by clicking the link below. Thank you for your endless support of those in need.

*If you sponsor a child in North Carolina who lives in an area that was impacted, we will reach out to you if the child has been affected once our volunteer coordinators are safely able to make contact with the families.

DONATE TODAY

Renee Kube | September 2, 2024En Español

During my visit to Letcher County for the first time since the historic flooding that struct southeastern Kentucky in July 2022, I first visited Jenkins Independent Schools. Jenkins Independent Schools comprises two schools: Burdine Elementary and Jenkins Middle-High. Several years ago, at the request of our coordinator, Angela, Children Incorporated “administratively merged” Burdine Elementary into Jenkins Middle-High. They operate as one affiliated site. Angie looks over both schools; they share one Family Resource Youth Services Center. Angie travels between the two regularly.

After the pandemic learning loss, the students are slowly gaining ground. The middle school children are still struggling, but most high school students have hit average benchmarks.

After the flooding

Burdine Elementary School was damaged during the floods in July 2022, but officials agree it could have been worse. There were 3 feet of water outside, but all the doors held. About 4 inches of water was pushed in throughout the building. However, the flood did destroy the separate preschool building. Outside, all the fencing and playground equipment was destroyed and swept downstream.

When elementary school children first enroll, many are not school-ready. The pandemic years also caused learning loss. At present, elementary school children are not performing well in state standardized tests. The children are struggling not only academically but also financially. 82.3% come from low-income families.

Hearing about the students

After a tour of both campuses, Angie and I met at her high school office. She said the enrollment at the elementary school is about 203, and at the middle school, it’s about 236. Angie plans to add more children in the new school year and may include the preschool children, too.

Angie (pictured) shows Renée the Resource Center during her visit.

Angie shared that her students are dealing with persistent poverty. 86% come from low-income families. There are no more active coal mines in Jenkins. The best jobs are with the school system or the small regional hospital. The remaining available work is small retail or service jobs, such as at dollar stores, gas stations, and fast-food restaurants.

After the pandemic learning loss, the students are slowly gaining ground. The middle school children are still struggling, but most high school students have hit average benchmarks.

On to college for Jacob

Angie likes to do much of her Children Incorporated shopping at Sam’s Club. She mainly purchases clothing, hygiene items, and food. Then, she called a student named Jacob into the room for me to meet.* Jacob is polite and very well-spoken. He is ready to graduate from high school and is still thinking about what he wants to do for his future. Jacob said he is frankly tired of the school routine and is ready for a break and a change. A part of him wants to take a “gap year,” where he can work and get a paycheck. Another part of him wants to plow through and get college done and behind him. When we spoke, Jacob had applied to a couple of places but hadn’t heard back.

Happily, in mid-May, Angie called me with the very good news that Jacob had just received an acceptance letter from Alice Lloyd College, which is adjacent to Knott County. The college is tuition-free! The costs are funded by donations from across the country. However, there are costs for room and board, textbooks, fees, and other miscellaneous expenses. Angie asked if she could nominate Jacob for our Higher Education Program. I gave them an extension, and they told me to get the application to me soon. I am thrilled for Jacob to have this opportunity.

*Name changed to protect the child.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Renee Kube | July 21, 2024En Español

Brookland Middle School in Washington, D.C. serves children in grades sixth through eighth. It is located in Ward 5. This is one of the largest wards in the city, with more than 90,000 residents. It contains two railroad lines, and several major city streets go through this ward. Thus it has a large concentration of “industrial use” land. There are over 20 distinct neighborhoods of which its residents feel a lot of pride.

Children Incorporated is just the right organization to help me purchase bulk items like winter coats, gloves, and hats for our families in dire need.

Brookland Middle School is one of four affiliations in D.C. with our organization. In addition to its academic curriculum, the school offers programs in educational enrichment (including STEM and a Socratic Seminar); wellness and fitness (including Girls on the Run and Man Up); and Art and Culture (instrumental and choral music, dance, art and design).

The school demographics are 83% black, 17% Hispanic/Latino and 1% white. 12% of students are English language learners and 57% are identified as at-risk due to poverty. Most qualify for TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Some of the students are homeless or are in foster care.

The children’s test scores are low, but they are making progress. More are taking Algebra I than in past years, and those who are taking the class are passing it. This is a uniform school. Sixth graders wear orange shirts, seventh graders wear teal, and eighth graders wear purple shirts.

There are 21 children enrolled in our sponsorship program currently, with four unsponsored. Although I wasn’t able to visit Brookland Middle on my last trip to Washington, D.C. our volunteer coordinator, LaTroy, wrote to me to express her appreciation for why sponsors are so important to students at her school, who are struggling to have their basic needs met throughout the year.

In LaTroy’s Words

Interior photo courtesy of architects’ website.

Brookland Middle School is a wonderful school of about 327 students in Ward 5 of Washington, D.C. The principal, school administration and partners are the true backbone of the school. They work to ensure that all students feel loved, challenged and prepared.

This year, we have increased our focus on making sure our students feel “loved.” After conducting a Panorama Survey at the end of the school year 2021-22, the results indicated that only 44% of our students reported “feeling loved at school.” Therefore, this year we are ensuring that whenever able we are exhibiting messages of love toward our students. Whether through hugs, verbal affirmation, signage or our consistent presence, we want them to know how much we love them here at Brookland.

This pouring of love could not have been more needed. In the New Year, our student body experienced a tremendous sudden loss from the murder of one of our scholars on January 7th. This was followed by the sudden death of a former student on January 21st. Upon immediate notice, our principal assembled a team of grief counselors and community support to be present. On January 25, 2023, we hosted a Memorial Breakfast in honor of the two students. During that breakfast, we announced that there would be a garden dedicated to those students in spring 2023, on school grounds.

Currently, our primary challenge is attendance. During the winter months, we’ve been experiencing a spike in unexcused absences. Since then, the school attendance team has identified those students and families with over five unexcused absences and began to call parents and talk to students to identify any barriers. The most common finding has been basic needs. Students and parents have shared that they lack the essential winter clothing to combat the winter elements. We are also experiencing more and more students who require food over the weekend. Many immigrant families are currently enrolled here at Brookland and are food insecure.

Children Incorporated is just the right organization to help me purchase bulk items like winter coats, gloves, and hats for our families in dire need, as well as help us with the items needed for our Weekend Food Pantry. Children Incorporated sponsors also help our students with school uniforms, which are required here at Brookland Middle.

(Photo credits: https://www.hartmancox.com/)

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD