Tag Archives: education

Shelley Callahan | En Español

Today, we hear from our U.S. Programs Director, Renée Kube, about how a Hope In Action Fund request from one of our volunteer coordinators is providing much-needed resources to one of the many impoverished families in Kentucky whose situation was worsened by devastating flooding to the region last year.

Renée’s letter

“Our amazing Volunteer Coordinator, Angie, at Morgan County Middle School, contacted me recently about a family who has been struggling, and she asked for some extra assistance.”

“Housing has always been difficult to find in eastern Kentucky, but the rental market has been even tighter since the terrible flooding last July.”

“The mother died last year. The father is trying to work and raise three children, but he has a limited education and few opportunities. The father had some financial setbacks, and they became homeless and were in a local shelter for about six weeks. The eldest child is enrolled at Morgan Middle School, and there are two younger children enrolled at Morgan Central Elementary School. Two of the three children are currently in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program and have sponsors.”

“Housing has always been difficult to find in eastern Kentucky, but the rental market has been even tighter since the terrible flooding last July. Families that were displaced from the counties that were hardest hit moved to the bordering counties that were not impacted as badly, including Morgan County. Rental costs have risen sharply.”

Help from the community and our donors

The two trailers are shown, one of which had no running water or a bathroom.

“Angie did a home visit to see the family, and sent a photo to accurately describe the dismal situation the family was in, as their only option was to move from a shelter to an old camper. Angie explained to me that they first moved into the smaller camper on the left of the photo, but it’s just a shell without running water, a bathroom or a bedroom. Then, the landlord moved the other camper onto his property. It’s better, with a slide-out that gives a bit more living space, but its condition is not great either. The family left the smaller trailer and is now renting the larger one.”

“Children Incorporated is providing a modest grant that will provide a couple of space heaters, blankets, some additional warm clothing, and food for this family to get through the winter, which should help them start to feel grounded again and more stable. Our amazing sponsors and donors make wonderful things just like this happen every day for families in our program and we are so grateful for their support.”

***

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

Children Incorporated |

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. 

Despite its status as an emerging market, however, nearly half of all Filipinos still earn less than $2 a day.

Facts about the Philippines

– The Republic of the Philippines is the world’s second-largest archipelago, made up of over 7,100 islands

– The country is divided into three key geographical areas

– Filipino and English are the official languages

–  Manila is the capital, and Quezon City is the largest city

– The Philippine Peso is the official currency

– The population is 106,512,074 (2018 est.)

Facts about poverty in the Philippines

  • The unemployment rate is 21.6%, and the poverty rate is 5.4% (2018 est.)
  • Rural areas in the Philippines show a poverty rate of 36 percent
  • Poverty in the Philippines is more persistent than in other countries in Southeast Asia
  •  Contributors to the poverty rate include vulnerability to shocks and natural disasters, an underdeveloped agricultural sector, high population growth and moderate economic growth
  • Most poor families have minimal access to health and education services
  • Many families are surviving on less than $2 a day, making it extremely difficult to rise out of poverty and find affordable housing

Where we work in the Philippines

In the Philippines, we affiliate with five affiliated sites: Fortune’s Children Center
in Marikina City, Pinagpala Children’s Center in Tagaytay City, the Visayans Community Center at Bliss in Tacloban, Leyte, the Santo Nino Center in Tacloban, Leyte, and the Cangumbang Center in Tacloban, Leyte.

Read more about our affiliated projects

Expanding Opportunities in the Philippines

A Fortunate Place for Kids

Hope After Haiyan

How you can help children in the Philippines

You can help a child living in poverty in the Philippines in a few different ways. One way is through our child sponsorship program. Sponsorship provides an underprivileged child with basic and education-related necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, school supplies, and school tuition payments.

This vital support allows impoverished, vulnerable children to develop to their full potential — physically, emotionally and socially. Sponsors positively impact the lives of the children they sponsor through their knowledge that someone cares about their well-being. This gives children in need hope, which is powerful.

Our policy has always been to consider the needs of each sponsored child on an individual basis. We work closely with our volunteer coordinators at our project sites in the Phillipines who are familiar with each individual circumstance and the needs of every child in their care. Sponsorship donations are sent to our projects — orphanages, homes, community centers and schools — at the beginning of each month in the form of subsidy stipends. Our on-site volunteer coordinators use those funds to purchase items for children in our program, to ensure that they have what they need to do their very best and succeed in school.

SPONSOR A CHILD IN THE PHILIPPINES

You can also help children in the Philippines by donating to one of our special funds. Our special funds offer a variety of giving options for sponsors who wish to further their support, as well as for donors who wish to make a difference without making a commitment. In the past, thanks to donations to our Hope In Action Fund and our International Feeding Program, we have been able to support our projects in the Philippines beyond sponsorship.

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Education, Stories of Hope, The Philippines

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written by Children Incorporated

We provide children living in poverty with education, hope and opportunity so they have the chance for a brighter future. Thanks to past and current supporters around the globe, we work with 225 affiliated sites in 20 countries to offer basic needs, emergency relief, and community support to thousands of children and their families each year.

» more of Children's stories
Children Incorporated |

As a part of our ongoing Stories of Hope blog series, we want to share with you our December 2022 Impact Report as a way to say “thank you” to all our supporters who make our work possible.

Beyond what you already provide to children through our sponsorship program, your donations to our Special Funds and Special Projects allow us to help families and communities as well, often in times of crisis.

YOUR IMPACT AROUND THE WORLD

Just in this past month, your donations have:

– Provided funds to repair and replace areas of the roof and ceiling in the dorm, kitchen and dining halls at the Maria Reyna Home in Honduras

– Provided funds to purchase menstrual hygiene items for girls at Santa Isabel Ana Seton in Guatemala

Among so many other things, your donations provided funds to purchase meals for a month for 25 children at the Dandora Community Center in Kenya

– Provided funds for an educational field trip for children at Sparta Elementary School in North Carolina

– Provided funds to purchase meals for a month for 25 children at the Dandora Community Center in Kenya

– Provided funds to purchase gas for cooking for sponsored children at the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf in Lebanon

– Provided food for 200 children for a month at the St. John’s Community Center in Kenya

– Provided food for 25 children at Fortune’s Children at Parang Center in the Philippines

– Provided emergency funding for a displaced family with a sponsored child who attends James D. Adams Middle School in Kentucky

– Provided eyeglasses for students at Page High School in Arizona

– Provided funds to purchase underwear, socks, and shoes for children at Crossroads Elementary School in Kentucky

– Provided food for 25 children for a month at Kids Hope Ethiopia in Ethiopia

… all in addition to the support you already provide through sponsorship to children in our program. Thank you for everything you do for children in need!

***

HOW do I MAKE A DONATION TO CHILDREN INCORPORATED?

You can donate to 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 hello@children-inc.org and a staff member can assist you with making a donation; or go online to our donation portal, create an account, and choose a particular fund in which to make a donation.

DONATE

Community Support, Stories of Hope

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written by Children Incorporated

We provide children living in poverty with education, hope and opportunity so they have the chance for a brighter future. Thanks to past and current supporters around the globe, we work with 225 affiliated sites in 20 countries to offer basic needs, emergency relief, and community support to thousands of children and their families each year.

» more of Children's stories
Ron Carter | En Español

On Christmas Eve in 1914, as the battles of the first World War were raging all around, soldiers in the British Expeditionary Force overheard some German troops in the trenches across from them singing Christmas carols. The British soldiers noticed that their adversaries had placed lit lanterns and small fir trees all along their trenches, their way of decorating for the special night.

Slowly, the opposing soldiers began to call out to one another across the way, “Merry Christmas!” and “Frohe Weihnachten!” The following day, the British and German troops met mid-way between their camps, in “no man’s land”, and exchanged gifts and played football together. They also took the time to bury their dead and repair their trenches, enjoying a period of peace, even in the midst of war.

This holiday season, my hope and prayer is that we can all set aside our differences and discover that we share many things in common, among them a desire for health and prosperity.

This holiday season, my hope and prayer is that we can all set aside our differences and discover that we share many things in common, among them a desire for health and prosperity. Perhaps we can come together and find commonality in serving others, in providing those who go hungry with food, and in supplying clothing to those who are cold or ill-prepared for excessive heat. Perhaps we can join our hearts and our minds together to help “the least of these,” the children, by offering them hope and possibility for their futures.

Children Incorporated has been assisting children and families since the fall of 1964, meeting a vast array of needs along the way and addressing poverty head-on. Thousands of young lives have been improved as we have served as the conduit for our sponsors’ and donors’ incredible generosity. Through decades of upheaval and social unrest, we – along with you – have found common ground in serving, caring, and giving for the benefit of others.

This holiday season, may we join together once again and uplift those who struggle through acts of kindness toward them and toward one another. Through generosity and the sharing of our resources, may we celebrate this season of Love and Light, and may we find peace, even in our chaotic world.

From the heart,
Ron Carter

***

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

Education, Stories of Hope

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written by Ron Carter

Ron Carter is President and CEO of Children Incorporated. He is responsible for overseeing all operations of Children Incorporated, with a specific goal of honoring the original vision and mission of our founder, Jeanne Clarke Wood, who established the organization in 1964.

» more of Ron's stories
Children Incorporated | En Español

Nestled in the heart of South America, Paraguay comprises an area roughly the size of California, and is characterized by semiarid grasslands, forested highlands, marshlands, and rivers. Paraguay boasts a well-preserved indigenous identity and heritage, but a wide range of ethnicities call this small, landlocked nation home, including immigrants from Australia, Germany, Russia, Italy, France, and Spain.

When you sponsor children in need in Paraguay, you provide them with the resources they need to stay in school and get an education.

Paraguay’s rich cultural diversity and wealth of natural resources, however, belie the abject poverty in which the majority of its residents live. Many areas of the country remain underdeveloped, with inhabitants relying on subsistence farming for their livelihood.

Today, one of South America’s poorest nations, Paraguay is plagued by a history of bloody wars with neighboring countries, as well as internal political instability, corruption, deficient infrastructure, and poverty.

Challenges for Children in ParaguaY

In Paraguay, children’s very lives and futures are at risk, as they struggle with poverty and lack of educational resources. Right now, children in Paraguay need your help.

– Paraguay has an estimated population of 7.3 million, with 35% comprised of children and adolescents

– About 27% of the population in Paraguay is living in poverty

– About 54% of children 15 and older do not finish high school or get a higher education

– Out of all the children not attending school, 47% report that the main reason why they did not attend was economic


Our Work in Paraguay

Thanks to caring people like you, Children Incorporated has helped thousands of children living in poverty in Paraguay since 1964.

Your support makes all our work possible to help children in crisis in Paraguay.

We work with our volunteer coordinators in local communities to provide health and nutrition, education, hygiene items, clothes, shoes, and other essentials that help children and families rise above the poverty in which they live.

Our strategy is to focus on individual children through our sponsorship program, ensuring they are receiving exactly what they need on a regular basis.

Your support makes all our work possible to help children in crisis in Paraguay.

***

How do I sponsor a child in Paraguay?

You can sponsor a child in Paraguay 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 Paraguay that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Education, Stories of Hope, Paraguay

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written by Children Incorporated

We provide children living in poverty with education, hope and opportunity so they have the chance for a brighter future. Thanks to past and current supporters around the globe, we work with 225 affiliated sites in 20 countries to offer basic needs, emergency relief, and community support to thousands of children and their families each year.

» more of Children's stories
Ron Carter |

Dear Friends, 

I’m one of those people who likes grocery stores. I got this from my father, Allen, who simply couldn’t pass a supermarket without going in. My dad was a bargain shopper like no other; he scoured sales ads in the local newspapers, and then went from store to store searching out the best prices on this item or that. If a particular product was on sale at an exceptionally low price, he bought in bulk and stocked up for future use. Grocery shopping with my dad was something that I truly enjoyed. 

Our support is especially important now, perhaps even more important than at any time before, simply because everything costs so much.

These days, when I go grocery shopping, sadly, rather than enjoying the experience as I once did, I find myself stunned and amazed by the high price of food, household products, and personal care items. As I look at an item that was perhaps $4 last year, and is now $6 or $7, sticker shock becomes very real to me, and it makes me more aware than ever of how this current inflation is impacting those who were struggling to make ends meet long before prices started to rise.

Together, we can help even more children and families in 2023.

Doing as much as they can with very little

For the children and families that we serve, the old saying “every penny counts” is a very real way of life. On limited budgets, moms and dads, grandparents, and guardians of all kinds must seek out food, household items, and personal care products that they can afford. They often buy the least costly food items – beans and rice among them – that they can stretch the farthest and with which they can feed the largest number of people the most number of times. As prices rise, they struggle to make every dollar stretch even further. 

Their small paychecks don’t go nearly as far now as they did a year, or even a few months ago, and families sometimes go without even the most basic items. Children Incorporated has always worked to help those who live in dire circumstances to rise above them, and we do this through assistance of all kinds, including providing food and hygiene items, clothing, blankets and linens, and so, so much more. 

We need your support

Our support is especially important now, perhaps even more important than at any time before, simply because everything costs so much. 

Would you be willing to make a life-changing donation at this time to support our mission?

For all these reasons, your contributions to our Annual Fund will allow us to continue to help those living in poverty. As the year comes to a close, we would like to set a goal to raise $50,000 to start 2023 off helping as many children and families as possible. We know they need our help and we are ready. Would you be willing to make a life-changing donation at this time to support our mission? 

Every dollar counts. Thank you for everything you do to support our work. We couldn’t do it without you.

From the heart,

Ronald H. Carter
President and Chief Executive Officer
Children Incorporated 

DONATE

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Education, Stories of Hope

Read More

written by Ron Carter

Ron Carter is President and CEO of Children Incorporated. He is responsible for overseeing all operations of Children Incorporated, with a specific goal of honoring the original vision and mission of our founder, Jeanne Clarke Wood, who established the organization in 1964.

» more of Ron's stories