Tag Archives: hope

Shelley Callahan | March 13, 2023En Español

Children living in poverty are enrolled in our sponsorship program for many different reasons directly related to their situations at home — or in some instances, their lack of a home.

With no home to return to after they are finished with school, these girls would become homeless or destitute if not able to remain at Maria Reyna until they found employment and adequate housing.

At the Maria Reyna Home in Honduras, girls from the local community who have been abandoned or are orphaned live full-time at the home, attend public and private schools, and thanks to their caring sponsors, are supported up until graduation from high school. But, with no home to return to after they are finished with school, these girls would become homeless or destitute if not able to remain at Maria Reyna until they found employment and adequate housing.

Today, we hear from Luis Bourdet, our Director of International Programs, about his visit to Maria Reyna in the fall of 2022, as he sheds some light on the dire situations of these young women and how Maria Reyna is a beacon of hope for them.

About the Maria Reyna Home

“Maria Reyna is located in San Pedro Sula, which is not only the capital of the country, but perhaps the largest and most industrial city in Honduras,” explains Luis.

With help from their sponsors, girls at the Maria Reyna Home receive long-term care and support.

“The city also has a large amount of social problems – including gang violence, poverty, and unemployment – which create an overall difficult situation for its citizens. Although the local government has implemented upgrades to the transportation system, more cars and an influx of migration has made the urban center a difficult and overcrowded place to live.”

“The Maria Reyna Home, which serves abandoned, abused, neglected and orphaned children, is beautiful. The infrastructure is large and wel-l cared-for, which creates a safe and comfortable environment for all the girls in attendance,” says Luis.

Rebuilding after COVID-19

“About 80 children used to live at the home before COVID-19 under the care of the congregation’s Sisters. Now the number is lower, but each year, it is increasing, and the Sisters think that this coming year they will have the possibility to enroll a similar number. Upon my visit, 45 children were enrolled in our sponsorship program.”

“All the girls attend local schools, and some are in a private school that provides scholarships for them. Children Incorporated sponsors support the girls at Maria Reyna by covering costs for food, school supplies, hygiene items, and other basic items as the needs arise,” explains Luis.

A place to call home

“A few years ago, Children Incorporated provided funds for the renovation and implementation of a housing unit at the home. This is basically an apartment within the home that can house about 8 to 10 girls, either because they have graduated from high school and want to attend university, or because they have graduated, have reached the age for dismissal, and the Sisters are giving them the opportunity to find housing and employment before they leave the home.”

“This is a very necessary part of the program, because otherwise, the girls have nowhere to go; staying at the home gives them the opportunity to change their circumstances for the better,” says Luis.

“Currently, there is a young girl attending a local private university on a scholarship provided by our Higher Education Fund, and she will be graduating from our program in a couple of years, which is very rewarding for both her and for our organization.”

“Before my visit ended, the sponsored girls shared some of their cooking and in-house baking with me, and we enjoyed delicious cheese bread baked that day. I truly enjoy visiting the home and seeing what the Children Incorporated program has done for the children!” says Luis.

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How do I sponsor a child in Honduras?

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

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | February 24, 2023En Español

In 1998, the deadliest storm in Central America’s recorded history caused nearly 12,000 deaths in Honduras and Nicaragua and devastated the small town of El Progreso. Because of the destruction, the local community created the El Refugio (which means “the shelter” in Spanish) Welfare Center to help children and families in need receive resources in the aftermath of the storm.

Last year, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, visited El Refugio, and found that nearly 25 years later, residents still rely on the support they started receiving decades ago.

“The support that children receive from their sponsors covers their basic needs – shoes, clothing, food items and school supplies – which help ensure the children stay in school and continue to get an education,” says Luis.

About the Center

“El Refugio is located in the town of El Progreso, just about one hour away from San Pedro Sula, the capital of Honduras,” explains Luis.

“The center has been run by a local woman, Maria Esther, ever since it began operating many years ago, after Hurricane Mitch hit this area and produced flooding and disaster. With nearly 130 children enrolled in our sponsorship program, Maria gets the help of participating parents and a former teacher to complete food distributions, enroll new students in our program, help children write letters to their sponsors, and conduct home visits.”

“The support that children receive from their sponsors covers their basic needs – shoes, clothing, food items and school supplies – which help ensure the children stay in school and continue to get an education,” says Luis.

Luis met with sponsored children and their parents during his visit to El Refugio.

“When I visited, it was noticeable that the area was developed by the local government after Hurricane Mitch and has slightly improved as far as the houses are concerned, but the neighborhood is mostly occupied by low-income families. There is a good deal of violence, gang activity, and poverty, as there are little or no opportunities for employment. Most of the parents of children in our program work daily service jobs or are construction workers with no consistent income.”

“While I was at the center, I met with most of the parents and children in the program, and all of them expressed gratitude for the support. The support they receive from Children Incorporated and our sponsors is a large contribution for the families, which is representative of the poverty in which they live,” explains Luis.

“The parents were eager to tell me how the program is essential for them, and the support is crucial for their survival and education for their children. I then had the opportunity to participate in the distribution of the monthly support, and it was incredible how much food and supplies were given for just $30 per child!”

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How do I sponsor a child in Honduras?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | February 20, 2023En Español

After leaving Costa Rica in the fall of 2022, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, traveled to Nicaragua to visit the two affiliated sites that we work with in the country.

Today, we hear from Luis about his trip to the La Recolección School, where sponsored children are provided with a safe and spacious place to get an education.

“The children are also given food to take home on the weekends, and they receive school supplies and other basic needs throughout the year as well.”

Learning about our affiliated site

“La Recolección is a semi-private school run by the Sisters of Charity in the town of Leon, about two hours away from Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. More than 800 children from low and lower middle-class families attend this school, and it has an excellent reputation in the community. Upon my visit in 2022, our volunteer coordinator discussed with me the need for upgrades and repairs at the school, but there is little money for this, as they have to pay teachers’ salaries and other expenses to run the school,” explained Luis.

“More than sixty children are currently enrolled in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program at the school, and we were told that all of them are from low-income families, mostly former members of a Nicaraguan political group, the Sandinistas, that get very little support in the community for their children’s education or for their survival.”

Sponsors making sure children are educated

Thanks to their sponsors, children who otherwise would have to attend overcrowded public schools are able to attend La Recolección.

“The Children Incorporated sponsored children have most of their school fees paid at La Recolección thanks to their sponsors, and their parents contribute a small amount so that they have the responsibility to support their children as well. The children are also given food to take home on the weekends, and they receive school supplies and other basic needs throughout the year.”

“At a meeting with the sponsored children and their parents, they expressed their gratitude for the support. The only other option for them in Leon would be to send their children to a government school, where getting a proper education is much more difficult due to overcrowding within classrooms. They are much more comfortable sending their children to the La Recolección School, which has a limit on the number of children in attendance,” said Luis.

A home for a family in need

“At the end of the day, I visited some homes with our volunteer coordinator. One of the homes of a sponsored child was made with a metal sheet roof, so we had to wait outside of the house when arriving because it was extremely hot inside. There is only a mother to support the child. The house is located in an area with a lot of crime, and the mother worries about her daughter.”

“Our volunteer coordinator told me she will check and see if a small plot can be provided by the local government, and then she will request support from our Hope In Action Program to build a house for this family,” said Luis.

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How do I sponsor a child in Nicaragua?

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

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | February 1, 2023En Español

In the fall of 2022, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, visited our affiliated sites in Costa Rica for the first time since before the pandemic. Today, we hear from Luis about his visit to La Milagrosa, where he met with our volunteer coordinator, as well as with parents and students in our sponsorship program.

“Our sponsors provide food, school supplies, shoes, clothing, and any basic resources and emergency support that the children need that their families cannot cover.”

About La Milagrosa

“La Milagrosa Center is located in an area of San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, with very few opportunities for employment, and therefore has many low-income families,” said Luis.

“Like our affiliated site, The Santa Luisa Center in Bambu, La Milagrosa is operated by the Sisters of Charity, and offers educational support to children living in the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as to children in the periphery of the city.”

“The children who attend the Center meet weekly, and the Sisters follow-up with them regarding their lessons in school, as well as provide support and information on how to resolve problems they may be having, whether in the classroom, with other students, or even at home,” explained Luis.

Offering help when it is needed the most

During his visit, Luis had the chance to meet with children and their parents, who told him how valuable our sponsorship program is to them.

“Our sponsors provide food, school supplies, shoes, clothing, and any basic resources and emergency support that the children need that their families cannot cover.”

“The majority of the children attend local public schools and live in dwellings that lack some basic services, such as electricity, running water or indoor plumbing. The schools are supported by the government, but they also lack many resources, which is why our program is so important for the children,” said Luis.

“When the children meet with our volunteer coordinator, she determines what their most immediate needs are, whether it be food items, mattresses, new shoes, or hygiene items. At the beginning of each school year, they receive new uniforms purchased thanks to their sponsors’ generous donations.”

Hope for the future

“I met with most of the parents and children participants in our sponsorship program, and they all expressed their gratitude for the support. They also hope for support to continue until their children graduate because many of the parents feel that without the help from sponsors, their children will fall behind in school and be forced to drop out at an early age,” said Luis.

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How do I sponsor a child in Costa Rica?

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

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | January 8, 2023En Español

We are excited to introduce a new staff member to our team, Katie Thomson, who is coming on board as our Community Engagement Coordinator. As a way to get to know Katie a little better, we asked her a few questions about herself, her career, and her passion working to help children and families living in poverty.

CI: Tell us a little about your background.

KT: I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where I received both my BSW and MSW degrees.

“Giving children a sense of hope can lower stress and anxiety while increasing happiness, and to me that is priceless.”

After graduate school, I moved to London and worked with children and families for five years. My husband and I moved back to Richmond in 2014 so my daughter could grow up near my family.

In addition to my work with Children Incorporated, I work with Make Space, a mentoring program through the Visual Arts Center, which pairs women in the community with sixth-grade girls at Anna Julia Episcopal School in the East End. I really love working with sixth graders; they have such fun personalities and have so many opinions, which I think is fantastic.

CI: What made you want to get involved in social work so many years ago?

KT: I’ve always had a passion for helping people. It is probably the only passion that has consistently stayed with me throughout my life. Many of my family members work in helping professions like teaching, social work, and nursing, which influenced me to become a social worker.

I also like that social work isn’t one type of job; when people think of social work, they usually think it is placing children into foster care, but we do many different things and work in many different systems. We work directly with clients, but then also work on program design and implementation. There are social workers who are politicians, lawyers, epidemiologists, teachers, etc. There is such variety and potential that I’ll never be bored in this field!

CI: What really drew you to Children Incorporated’s mission?

Katie brings years of experience working with children and families in need to Children Incorporated, and we are so thrilled to have her on our team!

KT: What drew me to the Children Incorporated mission was the idea of giving hope and opportunity to children. While no one individual can change the economic situation totally for these children’s families, we can help by providing children with basic necessities so they can go to school and not be worried about when the next meal will be or how they will get a new winter coat or shoes. Giving children a sense of hope can lower stress and anxiety while increasing happiness, and to me that is priceless.

CI: What about your professional experience makes you a good fit for Children Incorporated?

KT: I have worked in Richmond for many years and have built relationships with people throughout the city. I also enjoy meeting and connecting with people. I value the people and communities Children Incorporated works with, and I am excited to share their mission. I believe there is great opportunity for Children Incorporated to collaborate with Richmond people and businesses to support local children.

CI: What are your interests outside of helping children around the world?

KT: I like to spend time with my husband and our 10-year-old daughter. I say that I enjoy gardening, but I actually like to watch reality TV. I’m a bit of a collector, so I love to go to thrift stores and antique malls. I collect vintage glassware, especially Pyrex. I am also involved with Richmond For All, a local organization that focuses on racial and economic justice.

Welcome to the Children Incorporated team, Katie! We are so glad to have you with us.

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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 | January 5, 2023

The small, landlocked nation of Bolivia comprises rugged Andes Mountains and vast, high-altitude plateaus to the west (including a portion of Lake Titicaca, the largest high-altitude lake in the world) and lush, lowland plains of Amazon jungle to the east.

Despite its wealth of natural beauty and resources, Bolivia bears the scars of centuries of conflict, beginning with the Spanish conquistadors and followed by almost 200 years of wars and internal military coups.

In Bolivia, children’s very lives and futures are at risk, as they struggle with poverty and a lack of educational resources.

Political and economic instability have brought about considerable poverty, resulting in widespread malnutrition, crime, and disease.

Challenges for Children in Bolivia

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

60% of Bolivia’s population lives in poverty
In rural areas, child poverty has reached as high as 80%
Children from low-income households often suffer from poor nutrition
and a lack of educational opportunities
During the pandemic, many secondary school students dropped out of school and sought
employment to financially support their families, halting their education

Our Work in Bolivia

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

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 our work to help children in crisis in Bolivia possible.

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How do I sponsor a child in Bolivia?

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

SPONSOR A CHILD

SOURCES:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2017/03/22/opportunities-poor-children-youth-bolivia

https://www.unicef.org/media/115821/file/Bolivia-Plurinational-State-of-2021-COAR.pdf