Tag Archives: help children

Children Incorporated | October 17, 2023

We are happy to share with you our Fall 2023 Newsletter, highlighting our work around the world thanks to you, our sponsors and donors, and your generosity and dedication to helping children in need. Enjoy!

VISITING OUR AFFILIATED SITES IN BOLIVIA

Children Incorporated supports hundreds of children in three different cities and at twelve affiliated sites in Bolivia — all of whom are greatly benefiting thanks to their sponsors. This past spring, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, and our International Program Specialist, Yefiny Mena, had the chance to visit each site and meet with our volunteer coordinators after years of
COVID-19 travel restrictions keeping them from making the trip.

“Higher education is something we love to support — and thankfully, our donors are always there to help,” said Luis.

“We are so proud of our work in Bolivia for many reasons,” explains Luis. “Not only are the children being provided with basic needs monthly, but we have been able to support a few major special projects in the country over the years, most recently building housing for families in Santa Cruz and constructing an agricultural school in Montero, which benefits students who are in high school or graduating and wanting to pursue a degree.”

“Higher education is something we love to support — and thankfully, our donors are always there to help,” said Luis.

RECOVERING IN ARIZONA AFTER COVID-19

Last fall, our Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, and our U.S. Program Specialist, Kristen Walthall, had the chance to return to Arizona for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic to visit our affiliated sites and meet with our volunteer coordinators.

Renée is pictured with our volunteer coordinators in Arizona.

“COVID-19 was and still is contracted at disproportionate rates on Navajo Nation as compared to the rest of the country. This is due to the historic marginalization of its people. The conditions in which people are born, live, learn, and work are known as the social determinants of health. When those are inadequate, then there are negative effects on people’s physical and mental health. It has been documented extensively that low quality jobs, limited income, poverty, and low education are fundamentally connected to poor health outcomes,” explained Renée.

“The 2021-2022 school year saw the development of boosters and a big push to return to fully in-person instruction, and in 2023, our coordinators continue to see a further return to normalcy. In most places, schools have fully reopened to
in-person learning, and athletics, clubs, and activities have resumed.”

“Because of our sponsors, we are able to fill in the gaps where students really
need help, and the knowledge that someone cares about their well-being is immeasurably important to them and their development,” said Renée.

OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO, RON CARTER, VISITS OUR FIRST AFFILIATED SITE IN PUERTO RICO

“Puerto Rico has had a special place in my heart ever since I first visited the island in 2018 to help rebuild homes after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Since then, we at Children Incorporated have been working hard to establish our first affiliated site in Puerto Rico, partnering with Iglesia Bautista de Metrópolis to help support children and families for the long-term. This past April, I was able to return to Puerto Rico for the first time in five years, this time, to visit with our volunteer coordinators and hear more about how our sponsors and donors are changing the lives of those in need,” said Ron.

“Their enthusiasm in expanding the Children Incorporated sponsorship program was so apparent.”

“Getting to meet with our volunteer coordinators and the directors of Iglesia Bautista de Metrópolis was an incredibly rewarding experience for me. Their enthusiasm in expanding the Children Incorporated sponsorship program was so apparent, and how much we are really helping the children and their families — and the entire community — was extremely evident.”

INVESTING IN EDUCATION AND THE FUTURE IN KENYA

This past July, we had a special surprise at our office in Richmond, Virginia when we received notice that our volunteer coordinator, Peter Njuguna, from the St. John’s Community Center in Nairobi, Kenya, would be visiting. Peter has been a long-time coordinator with Children Incorporated, running our sponsorship program that supports children living in poverty in the Pumwani area of Nairobi.

Peter arrived at the office prepared with a presentation in which he discussed the mission, vision and curriculum at St. John’s. He explained that the school is especially focused on providing a quality education to help break the cycle of poverty in their community through education, sports, nutrition, life skills, and spiritual guidance, which enables them to reach their full potential and become future leaders.

“Our mission is to promote a just, healthy, and transformative community through capacity building, social inclusion, and accountable interventions,” explained Peter.

Before he finished his presentation, Peter shared with our staff success stories of students who had graduated from the school to go on to work in education, mentoring, and youth leadership. Peter feels strongly that these children, who are now young adults, were able to focus on school and become successful in large part due to their sponsors, and was so happy to be able to express those feelings to all of us in person.

RELYING ON OUR SPONSORS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Without our sponsors, children living in poverty would go without so much — including food, clothing, hygiene items and crucial educational materials they require to do well in school. Today, we hear from Traci at Valle Crucis Elementary School in North Carolina as she expresses her appreciation for our sponsors, who have a huge impact on children in need.

One of our sponsored children in pictured with a bin of hygiene and cleansing supplies to take home.

“Children Incorporated has helped children in our school in so many ways over the years. Sometimes, we have children who stay in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program their entire time at Valle Crucis, which can be all the way from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade. The sponsorship program makes a tremendous difference in these children’s lives. Our school is located in the mountains of Northwest North Carolina, so winter and summer clothing are both very needed due to our vast temperature variation throughout the year. Children Incorporated helps provide new shoes, summer and winter clothing for our sponsored children who need updates to their clothing sizes, and seasonal wardrobes which are constantly needed for growing children. We also try to make sure they get a few fun or wish list items to really put a big smile on their faces!”

“Children Incorporated has positively impacted so many children in our school. It’s a wonderful organization, and we thank the sponsors and everyone at Children Incorporated who make this program possible!”

AN UPDATE REGARDING OUR SPONsorship RATES

Due to the rising cost of living all over the world, it has become necessary for us to increase our monthly rate from $35 to $35 for all new sponsorships starting in January 2024. As it is very important to us that this increase directly benefits the children we serve, Children Incorporated will not retain any part of the additional amount — the entire $5 will go toward providing basic needs for your sponsored children.

For our current sponsors, there is absolutely no obligation to raise your sponsorship rate, but we do kindly ask that you consider increasing your sponsorship amount by $5 to help your sponsored child or children. We sincerely appreciate your support of children in need.

READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER

Shelley Callahan | October 8, 2023En Español

One of my very first site visits with Children Incorporated is something I will never forget. After a brief few days in La Paz, Bolivia, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, and I flew to Santa Cruz, in anticipation of meeting with our volunteer coordinator, Sister Pilar, at our affiliated site, Villa Emilia.

The same families still live in the homes, and the sense of community among the children and mothers was endearing.

When I initially met her back in 2016, Sister Pilar really stood out to me. A small, gregarious woman who has dedicated her life to working within underprivileged communities, she walked briskly in front of us as she showed us around Villa Emilia, an expansive compound where women and their children are given a safe place to learn trades and interact with other children away from the dangers of impoverished neighborhoods in the city.

The facility itself impressed me from the first moment I saw it, and made me very aware of just how much work was going into supporting these families. Their main goal is to help get women steady jobs so they can send their children to school and provide a consistent life for them that will help them get out of poverty as they grow into adults themselves. Because the housing on the Villa Emilia campus was limited, the amount of time that women could stay there with the children was also limited, and that was something that Sister Pilar really wanted to change.

looking to children incorporated for support

And change it did. Before we finished our visit with Sister Pilar 7 years ago, she drove us out to a plot of land 20 minutes outside of the city to show us her vision for the future — an empty field where houses would eventually be built that would offer permanent housing for families in need, so they would never have to worry about where they would live ever again.

Sister Pilar explained that Villa Emilia had already purchased the land and gotten permission from the government to build — all they needed now was help with funding the construction of the homes. Luis picked up on her not-so-subtle request for support, and ask Sister Pilar on the spot to send in a Hope In Action request to Children Incorporated for the cost of building the houses.

Three years later, Luis returned to Santa Cruz, where Sister Pilar had been hard at work overseeing plans for eight single family homes to be built. The celebration was joyous for everyone, especially for the mothers who were getting to move themselves and their children into their brand-new houses — all thanks to our donors. Four years after that, I once again traveled to Bolivia to see the homes that Sister Pilar was just as excited to show off as she was when she initially showed them to Luis a few years back.

The same families still live in the homes, and the sense of community among the children and mothers was endearing. As we toured the houses, each similar yet with their own special decorating touches, the children ran from yard to yard and into each other’s homes. I loved seeing how welcoming everyone was with one another — so comfortable and secure in their own neighborhood, where they had little to worry about, which was a drastic change from the lives they had before receiving such amazing support from Villa Emilia, Sister Pilar and Children Incorporated sponsors and donors.

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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

Children Incorporated | September 28, 2023

Truly a nation of contrasts, Chile spans 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. Although a politically progressive country when it comes to human rights, millions of Chileans live in abject poverty.

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

There is a striking disparity between the rich and the poor here, which stems in part from the education system. A good education in Chile is expensive, and parents must pick up the bill for tuition costs. It’s a cycle — inadequate education yields unskilled workers who earn insufficient funds to cover tuition expenses for their children. As a result, parents work long hours for low wages, and children often get jobs at a young age to help support their families, preventing them from getting an education.

Challenges for Children in Chile

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

According to UNICEF, there are 703,045 children and adolescents living in income poverty
As of 2020, 15.6% of children in Chile are impoverished
Healthcare inequalities among the poor are a major issue in Chile meaning poor families often get low-quality services or none at all
Child labor in Chile keeps children from attending school and receiving an education, which would help them break the cycle of poverty within their household

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

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 Chile.

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How do I sponsor a child in Chile?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | August 29, 2023En Español

Our sponsors might not realize just how far their donations go to help children in need, but our volunteer coordinators, who see our sponsored children throughout the year, get to see first-hand how powerful sponsorship really is for kids and their families.

Today we hear from Melania at Crossroads Elementary School in Kentucky about how grateful she is for our program, and how it has affected so many people in her community.

“I have never been so thankful to receive funds to purchase new underwear, shoes, and socks. This removed a lot of my worry because I simply didn’t have the funds to purchase them.”

Hearing from Melania

“Dear Children Incorporated,

“On behalf of our wonderful students and the Family Resource Center here at Crossroads Elementary, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing us to participate in your wonderful program. The sponsorship program has allowed the Family Resource Center to help supply our students with various needs for their educational journey. Whether it be new school supplies, hygiene items, or new clothing and shoes, there’s nothing like seeing the pride and confidence on their faces after receiving the items. Even the school’s staff notices how proud the students are when they come to school the next morning wearing their new clothes and shoes that they received after a shopping trip, made possible by your wonderful sponsors and donors!”

Thanks to their sponsors, children at Crossroads Elementary School are receiving support throughout the year.

“I would like to share a couple of stories about how the Children Incorporated program and its donors have helped with our students’ needs. I have a grandmother who is raising her grandson who I speak with quite often over the phone. She’s tremendously grateful for the Children Incorporated program. She told me that she would not be able to make ends meet if it wasn’t for the program and it helps lift the burden of worrying about where she is going to find the extra money for clothing, shoes, and other needs her grandson requires.”

“Next, I have a family with three children who are enrolled in the Children Incorporated program. The youngest came to me one morning and was extremely upset because her shoes were coming apart, and she felt embarrassed. I found her a pair of shoes to wear and told her I would make sure she and her brothers received new shoes within a few days. Thanks to the Children Incorporated program, I was able to purchase each of the three children a new pair of shoes, along with socks! Now, every time she sees me, the youngest child smiles really big and runs up to hug me. Believe it or not, this program allows us to build such heartwarming relationships with our students and their families.”

“I would like to let everyone know that there aren’t enough words to describe how wonderful the Children Incorporated program is.”

“As a Family Resource Center Coordinator, I am extremely grateful for all the services that the Children Incorporated program has to offer our students. I noticed I was very low on shoes, socks, and underwear at the center. So, I called and requested Hope In Action funds from your organization. That was one of the biggest blessings! I have never been so thankful to receive funds to purchase new underwear, shoes, and socks. This removed a lot of my worry because I simply didn’t have the funds to purchase them.”

“As I am finishing up this letter, I would like to let everyone know that there aren’t enough words to describe how wonderful the Children Incorporated program is, and I want to thank the donors for all the contributions they graciously provide for the students and their families. Trust me, nothing goes unnoticed! We here at Crossroads Elementary School are truly blessed to be a part of the Children Incorporated program.”

Sincerely,
Melania

***

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | August 14, 2023En Español

Our volunteer coordinators are the backbone of our organization, and we couldn’t do our work without them. Today we hear from our Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, as she visits with Lucy at Dennehotso Boarding School in Arizona, who works hard to ensure children in our program are getting everything they need all year long.

Meeting with Lucy

“Dennehotso is a small community about 27 miles northeast of Kayenta, Arizona. It is close to the intersection of U.S. Hwy 160 (an east-west route) and U.S. Hwy 191 (a north-south route),” said Renée.

“Lucy said our organization is so important to the school, and they are grateful for our long-standing partnership,” said Renée.

“Upon my visit, I was greeted by our very long-serving volunteer coordinator, Lucy. Lucy showed me around the school grounds, and as we walked, she shared how things have been going for her at the school.”

“Lucy explained that the school has capacity for 150 students, but at present just 113 are enrolled. The dorm was closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic and has still not reopened. Lucy said families have reached out to the school administration and expressed their desire for the dorm reopening, but the administration is still not ready. The administration and board are concerned about the children living in such close proximity, but another big stumbling block is that they are currently very short staffed,” said Renée.

“The children here are really struggling academically, largely due to disruptions associated with the pandemic. Many have witnessed the serious illnesses or even deaths of family members. During the school years of virtual instruction, many lost ground in their studies. At present, the average math and reading proficiency rates are just 10%-14% (depending on the grade), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 45%.”

An important partnership

“Lucy said that since the pandemic started, she has been given extra duties around the school in addition to her full-time job as Parent/Family Liaison. Her regular job involves gaining more involvement from parents and guardians in the children’s education; working with them in identifying and achieving various goals for their students (e.g. attendance); accessing support services (e.g. speech); administering programs to bridge the gap between home and school; and assessing students’ needs in order to implement plans to remove barriers to the students’ academic success and overall well-being. The latter two duties are where Children Incorporated’s sponsorship program fits in. Lucy said our organization is so important to the school, and they are grateful for our long-standing partnership,” said Renée.

Lucy, our volunteer coordinator, is pictured with two of our sponsored children.

“Lucy explained to me that being able to buy appropriate clothing for rapidly growing children is a blessing, all thanks to our sponsors. The children are excited, and the parents are incredibly grateful. Lucy said that she will usually drive out of state and shop in Farmington, New Mexico. This is 100 miles east, or a 200 mile round trip. However, she’s thinking of broadening her options and may start shopping in Cortez, New Mexico as well which is 92 miles one way, but has both a Walmart Supercenter and a Hibbets Sports Shop that sells athletic shoes.”

Hope In Action Helping those in need

“Lucy said she uses the sponsorship program funds for ‘tops and bottoms,’ because that’s what the parents and children request most. Whenever she can, she will supplement with additional gifts to buy shoes, which are expensive. Lucy said she would love to have extra funds for shoes, and she needs funds to supply a clothes closet for accidents, containing underwear, socks, pants, and tees. She would also like to have funds in the springtime for lice medicine, and I let her know I would be working to get those requests fulfilled through our Hope In Action Program,” said Renée.

“Despite the staff shortage that’s creating an extra workload, Lucy is striving to do her best for the Children Incorporated sponsored children. Overall, she is doing well in challenging circumstances, and we are equally as proud to work with Dennehotso Boarding School as they are to work with us.”

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | August 5, 2023En Español

There is nothing like getting to meet with our volunteer coordinators and hear their stories directly about how they are helping children in their communities, thanks to our sponsors and donors. Today we hear from Renée Kube, our Director of U.S. Programs, as she meets with four special coordinators who run our sponsorship program at Pinon Community School in Arizona, who explain the lengths they are willing to go to to help kids in need.

“On the tour, I had the chance to see some of the great projects that Children Incorporated funded over the years!”

about Pinon

“The small town of Pinon, Arizona is about 45 miles due west of Chinle on Indian Road 4. The population is sparse and spread out in this area, giving it a more remote feeling than some of the other towns where our affiliated sites are located,” said Renée.

“The Pinon Community School itself is a mix of newer buildings, as well as some of the original 1932 structures. This school is set up in a similar manner to our affiliated site, the Hanaadli Community School/Huerfano Dorm, in New Mexico, in which some children live on-site during the week and some return home after school each day.”

“Education starts with a FACE Program, which stands for Family and Child Education. This is a federal program that focuses on Native families, providing educational services from prenatal to five years of age by providing early childhood education, parenting education, and adult education. After FACE, the child can go on to kindergarten,” said Renée.

Students learn weaving skills at Pinon Community School, which is a big part of their culture and heritage.

“There are two options for kindergarten: a regular kindergarten, and a developmental kindergarten for children with late birthdays (from September through December). Kindergarten is instructed in both English and Navajo. After kindergarten, the children are educated at the local Pinon Unified School District. The dorm students either live at a greater distance than daily transportation allows, or their parents or guardians work out of town for extended periods of time. Pinon Community School also offers the 21st Century Learning Center for afterschool care. The dorm serves 1st through 12th grades.”

“When I arrived to the school, I checked in at the main office, and soon was taken to the conference room. I was greeted by our primary coordinator, Carol, who then introduced me to the other three staff members who serve on the ‘Children Incorporated Committee’: Cassandra, Chyanne, and Rainey,” said Renée.

Readjusting after the pandemic

“While we met, the four ladies shared how challenging things were for them during the pandemic. While the children were participating in fully virtual instruction, the sponsorship funds were being used mostly for food. They are grateful there is a grocery store in the community, although Bashas is small and has limited selection. The ladies explained that the nearest Walmarts are located in Winslow, Arizona (94 miles south) or Gallup, New Mexico (120 miles southeast). It is very humbling to realize how far they travel – using their own vehicles – to shop for the children in our sponsorship program.”

“The school did not re-open for in-person instruction until March 2022. Before the pandemic, 86 children were enrolled. In March, just 30 students returned. Now the number has risen, slowly but steadily, to 70,” said Renée.

“The dorm has not yet re-opened. The old HVAC system was on its last legs, and a new system [with the goal of improving ventilation and preventing respiratory infections] will cost $4 million dollars. This is partly due to the age of some of the buildings; the oldest were built in the 1930s.”

There is nothing like getting to meet with our volunteer coordinators and hear their stories directly about how they are helping children in their communities, thanks to our sponsors and donors.

“We then began our tour of the buildings and grounds. Our coordinators explain that it’s considered bad form and manners to walk directly across the courtyard; instead, one is supposed to walk around, unless one is specifically using the middle structure. They’re always having to remind the children.”

seeing our projects in person

“On the tour, I had the chance to see some of the great projects that Children Incorporated funded over the years! The Reading Pavilion Project in the courtyard was an area with benches where the children really enjoy sitting with their books. An annual vine is trained over the top each spring to provide shade. I also got to see the School Garden Project. We provided funds to purchase materials for the raised beds and fencing, and supplies including soil, fertilizer, seeds, and hand tools. Crops have been planted every spring, and it is used by the science teacher as well as the dormitory staff for instruction and enrichment activities for the children,” said Renée.

“Then we went inside. We went to a classroom and were shown samples from the Weaving Project, whose materials and supplies were provided thanks to our Hope In Action Program. Beginners learn on simple cardboard looms with inexpensive yarns. The small, medium, and large wooden looms are used as the children gain experience and proficiency. They’ll move over time from loom to loom. They use fewer yarn colors on the smaller looms, and add more yarn colors as they progress.

The advanced learners are using the largest looms, the highest quality yarns, and the most colors,” said Renée.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD