Tag Archives: help children

Shelley Callahan | March 3, 2020En Español

*Note: This blog was written prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although much has changed regarding our sponsored children’s learning experience in the past months, our On the Road stories remain relevant in regards to our volunteer coordinator’s work and the impact of sponsorship on children in our program thanks to our sponsors. We are pleased to continue to share stories with you about our work.

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The remote community of Red Valley — home to Red Rock Day School — is situated amid the incredible desert beauty of the Navajo Indian Reservation.

Comprising more than 27,000 square miles of spectacular but inhospitable countryside, the Reservation extends into both Utah and New Mexico. Within 60 miles of the school is the famous “Four Corners,” a spot marking the meeting of four state boundaries– Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah — at a single point.

While on their tour of the school, Patricia showed Ron and Renée the school library, which is located in the center of the school. She mentioned that sadly, there is no funding for a full-time librarian.

Despite its massive scale and rich cultural heritage, residents of the Reservation are desperately poor.

There is virtually no employment in Red Valley. Broken homes, alcoholism, and inadequate food are constant manifestations of poverty — poverty that extends to local schools which are also suffering, including our affiliated project, Red Rock Day School.

Providing the best that they can

Originally built in the 1940s, and partially funded today by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Red Rock Day School strives to provide each child with nutritious meals, care and support from well-trained teachers, and a quality education. Yet, because of a lack of government funding, the school itself does not have a full-time librarian.

While visiting Red Rock Day School, Children Incorporated President and CEO, Ron Carter, and Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, met with longtime volunteer coordinator, Patricia, who took them on a complete and extensive tour of the buildings and grounds.

Renée is pictured with Patricia outside of Red Rock Day School.

“Patricia was delighted to have Ron for his first visit. Red Rock Day School is in an especially remote part of the Navajo Reservation and is quite a distance from any main roads. Patricia warmly welcomes visitors — especially when it comes to the Children Incorporated program,” said Renée.

A big need for a remote school

While on their tour of the school, Patricia showed Ron and Renée the school library, which is located in the center of the school. She mentioned that sadly, there is no funding for a full-time librarian. Instead, every Friday, a teacher’s aide will open the library so the kids can check books in and out. This means that four days out of the week, the school library is off-limits to kids, for either reading or studying. And in remote Red Valley, children living in poverty do not have a place to purchase books or the means to do so.

It was disappointing to both Ron and Renée to know that children weren’t able to make full use of the library, but they were consoled by getting the chance to meet some of our sponsored children during their visit, knowing that even though Red Rock Day School might not have all the amenities of other schools, at least children in need had the support and encouragement of caring sponsors.

Meeting special sponsored children

The first student they met was an adorable eight-year-old name Bruce.*

Bruce is rather small for his age but is big in personality. He lives with his parents and siblings. His dad is unemployed, and his mom has a low-paying job as a caregiver.

The family lives in a one-room house, but it does have electricity and running water. Bruce told Renée and Ron that he really likes having a sponsor. Patricia expressed that the Children Incorporated program has made all the difference in Bruce having school supplies and weather-appropriate clothing and shoes.

Getting to know Cynthia

The next sponsored child they met was Cynthia. Cynthia is in kindergarten and loves writing her ABC’s and playing outside. She lives with her single father and three siblings.

Her dad is a welder, and he gets jobs as work is available, often having to drive long distances for short term opportunities. He struggles to provide for his children and is deeply grateful for Cynthia’s sponsor.

Introducing Caleb

Lastly, Renée and Ron spoke with Caleb, another kindergartener. Caleb likes picture books, and he loves toy cars. He lives with his mother, stepfather, and new baby sister. Both of them are self-employed.

Patricia said they mostly pick up odd jobs in the community, and their combined earnings are meager. Caleb’s sponsors have been a massive help to this family, who otherwise struggle to make sure Caleb has his basic needs met throughout the year.

*Names changed to protect the children.

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How do I sponsor a child in Arizona?

You can sponsor a child in Arizona in one of two ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members or email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | March 2, 2020En Español

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The town of Page is located amid the stark mesas, wild terrain, and incredible desert beauty of north-central Arizona, only a few miles from the Utah border.

One of the youngest communities in the United States, Page began in 1957 as a housing camp for workers building the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River.

The community of Page today

Today, the majority of Page’s residents are Navajo; the town lies just off the western fringes of the Navajo reservation, which comprises more than 27,000 square miles, extending into both Utah and New Mexico.

Despite an ancient history and revered culture, Page’s economy is weak, and high unemployment and social problems fuel a cycle of poverty that has persisted for many years.

Our volunteer coordinator Eloise and the school’s principal, Ms. Covington.

Because of these circumstances, our affiliated project, Page Middle School, is incredibly valuable to the community as not only a means for children to receive an education but as a support system that families otherwise might not have — especially when sensitive issues arise.

Learning about the needs of Page Middle School students

While visiting Page Middle School, our President and CEO Ronald Carter, met with the school’s principal, Ms. Covington.

“Ms. Covington really appreciates and values the support that Children Incorporated can give her students,” said Mr. Carter

During her visit, Ms. Covington shared with Mr. Carter that, as with many schools in America, bedbugs and lice were a big issue.

Although bedbugs and lice are never related to a family’s cleanliness or socioeconomic status, Ms. Covington and Mr. Carter were aware that the stigma of bedbugs and lice causes embarrassment for children. The stress of infestations in the home can lead to them being anxious or tired during the school day.

Helping kids cope

Additionally, bedbugs or lice means that children need new clothing and bedding — items that impoverished families do not have money to replace.

Thankfully, our Bed and Linens Fund is able to help with the replacement of bedding for children in need.

“Last year, Page schools experienced a few cases of head lice, and the special kits that are needed for treatment are expensive for families who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Mr. Carter.

Thankfully, our Bed and Linens Fund is able to help with the replacement of bedding for children in need. For sponsored children, volunteer coordinators purchase new clothing to help children during these sensitive situations.

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Due to the generosity of our sponsors, all of our enrolled Native American children are currently matched. However, we have many other U.S. children who are in need of a sponsor’s encouragement and support. You may also wish to consider a donation to our Covid-19 Response Fund or one of our other special funds at this time. Please feel free to contact us for further information.

HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD?

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 donation portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | February 19, 2020

Throughout the year, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, communicates with our affiliated projects in 20 countries around the world about the needs of children, their families, and the communities in which they live. In working closely with roughly 150 individual volunteer coordinators, Luis is continuously updated about the thousands of children we support through our sponsorship program – and how our projects could use additional support.

We want to highlight some of the needs of these projects, which we consider opportunities for our donors and sponsors to contribute beyond our sponsorship program.

We want to highlight some of the needs of these projects, which we consider opportunities for our donors and sponsors to contribute beyond our sponsorship program.

Special funds to help children in need

– Children Incorporated supports six feeding programs around the world which provide students with adequate meals throughout the day. We are looking for support to sustain these programs which will provide for hundreds of children in 2020.

– We provide mosquito nets to children and their families in India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka which protect from mosquito-borne illnesses. For just $10, you can purchase a mosquito net that can keep a child healthy so they can attend school.

– Shoes and socks are such a significant need for children living in poverty. Our Shoes and Socks Fund provides hundreds of shoes to children in our programs all over the world so they can attend school appropriately dressed.

We provide children with mosquito nets to protect them against mosquito-borne illnesses.

– Offering children after-school tutoring is often essential to their success in school. We support tutoring programs at selected sites so they can receive the help they need to perform well academically.

– Our skills training programs give children a chance to learn skills for their future, which can help them obtain jobs upon graduation. Our Skills Training Programs Fund provides support in the areas of computer science, cooking, sewing, and cosmetology.

– Our Higher Education Fund helps children attend college and universities once they have graduated from our sponsorship program. Many of our Higher Education Fund beneficiaries have returned to their communities as teachers, nurses, social workers, accountants, architects, counselors, and speech therapists.

Opportunities to support children in various countries

India: In 2020, we would like to install water purification systems at our affiliated projects in Dornakal and Guntur, fund improvements and renovations at the new Kothagudem Home, and make improvements to the facilities and dormitories at the Lou Ann Long Girls’ Hostel.

Chile: In Chile, we would like to support the funding of a roof cover at Maipu School in Santiago to protect children from harsh weather.

Guatemala: In Guatemala, we would like to provide funding for a feeding program at our affiliated project, Santa Isabel Ana Seton,

El Salvador: In 2020, we would like to establish a skills training program at Maria Reyna Home in El Salvador and implement a skills training program in computer repair at Marillac School.

Philippines: In the Philippines, we would like to continue to support nutritional programs at the Fortune’s Children at Parang and the Pinagpala Children’s Center.

Skills training programs, like this one in Bolivia, help children to be prepared for future jobs after graduation.

Ethiopia: In Ethiopia, we would like to support our nutritional program at our affiliated project, Kids Hope Ethiopia.

Kenya: In Kenya, we would like to continue to support nutritional programs at our affiliated projects, St. John’s Community Center and the Dandora Community Center, continue to provide mosquito nets to our affiliated projects, and provide shoes to sponsored children.

Bolivia: In Bolivia, we would like to establish skills training programs at Santa Rosa School, fund the repair of the school La Inmaculada, and fund skills training programs at Cristo Rey Mission and the Padilla School.

Honduras: In Honduras, we would like to provide support for our Higher Education Fund for students at the Maria Reyna Home.

Lebanon: In Lebanon, we would like to provide shoes for children at our three affiliated projects.

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How can I support Children Incorporated’s special projects?

You can support our special projects 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 donation portal, create an account, and donate to the particular special fund you are interested in supporting.

Shelley Callahan | February 19, 2020

We are pleased to share with you our 2020 Spring Newsletter. Thank you for support children in need around the world!

Our Beds and Linens Fund is More Important Than Ever

Children living in poverty go without so much in life — including a comfortable place to sleep in their own homes.

“Our Bed and Linen Fund allows us to purchase new mattresses, bed frames, sheets, blankets and pillows for children so they can get a good night’s sleep and be ready for the school day.”

– Renée Kube

“During my travels to visit our affiliated projects, especially this past year, I have heard more and more stories from our volunteer coordinators who conduct home visits in which they have discovered children who have either no beds at all or too few beds. As a result, two to four or more siblings are sleeping together on one, old, worn mattress,” said Children Incorporated Director of Development, Renée Kube.

“Our Bed and Linen Fund allows us to purchase new mattresses, bed frames, sheets, blankets and pillows for children so they can get a good night’s sleep and be ready for the school day. We are endlessly grateful for any contributions to this invaluable fund that helps us better support children in our program.”

If you would like to find out more about our Beds and Linens Fund, or make a contribution, please contact us today!

New Shoes for a Special Child in Arizona

Joseph*, like many of our sponsored children, is being raised by his grandmother.

Joseph with his new shoes

Joseph and his siblings live in Arizona and were abandoned by their mother after their father died.

Suddenly, Joseph’s paternal grandmother found herself raising children again with no income and no means to support them. She can scarcely provide food and shelter for her grandkids, and she has virtually no money to keep them clothed properly. Thankfully, Joseph has a caring sponsor who provides him with the items he needs as he rapidly grows into a young man.

Recently, our volunteer coordinator at Joseph’s school called him into her office to present him with brand new shoes, along with other items he needed. Joseph is young and plays hard, and his old shoes were badly worn. Joseph was ecstatic, and proudly stood for a photo of him with his new shoes.

We are able to provide new shoes for children thanks to our sponsors and donors to our Shoes and Socks Fund. If you would like to make a donation to our Shoes and Socks Fund, contact Children Incorporated today.

*Name changed to protect the child.

Apartments for Graduates in Honduras

The living area of new apartments for students in Honduras

Once sponsored children graduate from high school and move onto higher education, they often continue to live with their families until they can complete university or vocational training.

Unfortunately, for some students, like those at our affiliated project, the Maria Reyna Home in Honduras, this is not an option. Coming from very poor families, and facing issues such as abuse, gangs, and drugs in the neighborhoods where they lived, these children cannot return home because it isn’t safe.

Thankfully, because of contributions to our Hope in Action Fund, Children Incorporated was able to support the construction of apartments at the Maria Reyna Home so that those students attending college or university will have safe housing until they can find steady employment that will allow them to live on their own.

Thank You for Giving So Many Children a Reason to Celebrate Christmas!

This past holiday season, we received hundreds of pictures from our affiliated projects of children around the world enjoying Christmas parties and receiving gifts, thanks to their sponsors. Thank you so much for everything you do for children in need during the holidays and all year long!

Brand New Items for Children in Paraguay

For many children living in poverty, having a sponsor is their only means of receiving basic necessities such as food, clothing and educational assistance. Some may never receive brand new items such as blankets and shoes without the support of a caring sponsor.

Thanks to you, children, such as the girls from Hogar Medalla Milagrosa in Paraguay, and others around the world are being provided for in ways in which their parents cannot. We are incredibly grateful for your support to make sure children experience the joy of receiving items that are new and just for them.

In Bolivia, Students are Learning Skills for the Future

One of the ways in which we support children beyond our sponsorship program is through our Skills Training Programs, which are implemented at many of our projects around the world. Thanks to these programs, students are given the opportunity to learn skills to help them obtain employment after they graduate, so that they can help support their families right out of high school and eventually become financially independent.

We received pictures of students at our affiliated project, the Santa Rosa School in Bolivia, participating in a Gastronomy Skills Training Course, thanks to support from Children Incorporated. These students are learning skills they can use at home or use to gain employment upon graduation.

Protecting Children from Harsh Weather in El Salvador

Thanks to donations to our Hope In Action Fund, Children Incorporated was able to provide funding for a roof cover over the playground at our affiliated project, Escuela Santa Luisa in El Salvador. The cover will protect children from rain and heat as well as offer a place for activities and assemblies for parents and students.

READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER

Shelley Callahan | February 17, 2020En Español

In 1895, the Santiago Day School in Chile was founded as a school for girls who came from impoverished — and often neglectful and abusive — families.

Today, this Children Incorporated affiliated project continues to serve both girls and boys and their families who reside in downtown Santiago — 30% of whom are living below the poverty line.

Thanks to their sponsors, sponsored students receive food, school supplies and school uniforms. For those children whose families cannot afford to pay the school’s tuition fee, sponsorship funds cover those costs as well.

Managed by the Catholic order of nuns the Daughters of Saint Joseph, the school’s caring staff, which includes our volunteer coordinator Sister Claudia, works diligently to provide for some of the poorest children in Chile. Thanks to their sponsors, sponsored students receive food, school supplies and school uniforms. For those children whose families cannot afford to pay the school’s tuition fee, sponsorship funds cover those costs as well.

Additionally, both sponsored and unsponsored children benefit from the Santiago Day School’s sound academic program and its arts, music and recreational activities. Core academic subjects, including English, are offered for kindergarten through twelfth grades. In the afternoons, girls are taught sewing, crafts, flower arranging, and plant care and have time to play games and participate in sports.

Meeting Judit

While visiting the Santiago Day School, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet and International Projects Specialist, Kristen Walthall, met with Sister Claudia and had a chance to tour the school and attend an awards ceremony.

“During our visit, we had the pleasure of witnessing students receive awards presented by the administration for following the school’s moral standards as well as supporting other students in their efforts for better achievement,” said Luis.

After the ceremony, Sister Claudia took Luis and Kristen to visit the beautiful home of Judit*, the mother of two formerly sponsored children, Juana and Carmen.

The Santiago Day School serves children living in poverty in Chile.

While meeting with Judit, Luis and Kristen learned that her home had been purchased for her by Juana, her eldest daughter, who is now 25 years old. The house was immaculately kept, and it was apparent that Judit was very proud of her home and happy to have Luis and Kristen as her guests.

Judit explained that Juana was sponsored by the same Children Incorporated sponsor through primary and secondary school. Both Judit and Juana felt that Juana’s sponsor made a significant impact in her life — which allowed her to study mine engineering at the University of Santiago in Chile once she graduated.

Much to be proud of

Today, Juana holds the title of Mining Engineer, and she is currently residing in Seattle, Washington, where she is studying English at a local university.

Judit told Luis and Kristen stories about how the entire family would gather to read letters from Juana’s and Carmen’s sponsors.

Yet, as Judit explained, it wasn’t just Juana who was benefiting from her years of having a Children Incorporated sponsor. Beaming with pride, Judit also spoke with Luis and Kristen about her youngest daughter, Carmen, who is now nineteen years old.

Carmen was sponsored through the Children Incorporated program from 2005 to 2018. Like her older sister, Carmen had the same sponsor all through her childhood until she completed high school. Carmen is currently studying information engineering, also at the University of Santiago in Chile. Judit felt that without her sponsor, Carmen might have never finished high school, much less have gone on to college.

Connecting with their sponsors

As she continued to reminisce about her daughters’ experiences in our sponsorship program, Judit told Luis and Kristen stories about how the entire family would gather to read letters from Juana’s and Carmen’s sponsors. They felt so close and connected to their sponsors through letter writing that the names of their sponsors’ pets became household names in their home.

For fun, they talked as a family about what their sponsors’ pets might be doing, and over the years, they enjoyed waiting with anxious anticipation for letters in the mail for more stories about those pets, and their sponsors, and how they were doing in their lives.

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How do I sponsor a child in Chile?

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

SPONSOR A CHILD IN CHILE

Shelley Callahan | February 2, 2020En Español

Spanning over 2,000 miles of South America’s western coastline, with deserts in the north, rainforests in the south, and the snowcapped peaks of the Andes Mountains ranging throughout, Chile is a stunning country.

Children with disabilities receive support thanks to the Handicapped Children’s Center.

Yet despite its natural beauty and reputation as politically progressive when it comes to human rights, Chile suffers from excessive inflation and an ever-increasing unemployment rate. Due to these economic realities, millions of Chileans are desperately poor.

A big telethon in Chile

The anguish typically associated with poverty becomes even starker when impoverished families are caring for a disabled child, such as the families with children at our affiliated project, the Handicapped Children’s Center in Santiago.

Thankfully, children with various disabilities receive treatment and support in an educational environment and help from their sponsors at the Handicapped Children’s Center. Without the much-needed aid the Center provides, disabled children and their families would have nowhere to turn to receive services and resources they so desperately need.

Beyond support from our sponsorship program, the Handicapped Children’s Center receives funding year-round thanks to Teleton, Chile. Teleton is a charity event held in various locations around the country in the first week of December. During the event, Chilean television networks hold a 27-hour telethon to raise money to help children with developmental disabilities. Since its inception in 1978, over $286 million has been raised, and 13 rehabilitation centers have been built all around Chile. Currently, Teleton is the world’s most-watched telethon.

Because the Handicapped Children’s Center is a well-funded organization, it provides children and young adults up to age twenty years old with medical care and therapy for free.

Free care for kids in need

Because the Handicapped Children’s Center is a well-funded organization, it provides children and young adults up to age twenty years old with medical care and therapy for free. The Center is equipped to provide care and support to children suffering from the effects of polio, congenital disabilities, Downs Syndrome, and other mental and physical handicaps.

The Handicapped Children’s Center is located in the rehabilitation wing of a local hospital in Santiago. The hospital itself is a large, modern building, comprising of examination rooms, physical therapy, a swimming pool, and a center for making prosthetic aids, which are provided to children free of charge. Transportation to and from the facility, when needed, is also offered at no cost to families.

New surgery techniques are helping disabled children in Chile to walk normally again.

The staff of the Handicapped Children’s Center includes physical therapists, orthopedists, podiatrists, neurosurgeons, urologists, dentists, occupational therapists, teachers, psychologists, social workers, nurses, audiologists, and a full prosthetic staff.

The Center emphasizes self-care and independence in its therapy, and families are encouraged to play an active role in the children’s rehabilitation. The goal is to prepare the Center’s participants to become entirely independent at school, at home, in the workforce, and society. Children who are able to attend local public schools to learn independence, and those who are not able to due to their disabilities are educated at the Center.

Helping children to walk

The support children receive at the Handicapped Children’s Center is individualized, involving physical and recuperative therapy as well as psychiatric care. Children also enjoy arts programs as a part of their participatory therapy. Doctors, nurses and technicians are available with access to robotics technology, providing the best possible support for maximum recovery.

Additionally, special new surgery techniques have been performed on children with physical limitations so they may walk normally. Recently, three children that are enrolled in the Children Incorporated program have benefited from the surgery with staggering results.

Along with the care they receive at the Handicapped Children’s Center, sponsored children receive school supplies, food, clothing, and transportation allowances so they can participate in regular therapy sessions. Over the years, children and their parents have expressed gratitude to Children Incorporated staff members for the support they received from sponsors, as it lowered the family burden on treatment expenses.

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How do I sponsor a child in Chile?

SPONSOR A CHILD