Tag Archives: opportunity

Rachel Luginbuhl | April 2, 2026

Around the world, millions of children spend years preparing for a single moment: a government-mandated exam that can determine whether they move forward in school, gain access to higher education, or step into a future filled with opportunity. In countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, India, and across parts of South America, these exams are more than academic milestones. They are turning points.

For some children, they open doors. For others, they quietly close them. The difference is often not intelligence or potential.

It’s access.

When One Test Shapes a Future

The United States often offers students multiple chances to grow, recover from setbacks, and keep moving forward. In many education systems across Africa, Asia, and South America, however, a single score can determine whether a child is allowed to continue in school at all.

When we understand how much rests on one exam, we begin to see just how powerful it can be to stand beside a child with tutoring, teacher training, and school support—turning a single test from a dead end into a doorway of possibility.

Understanding the Systems Behind the Test

In Ethiopia, students encounter two major national exams that shape their future. At the end of Grade 10, one exam determines whether they can continue on an academic path. At Grade 12, another determines whether university is even available to them. These exams, administered by the National Educational Assessment and Examination Agency, carry enormous weight. One score can determine whether their education continues or ends.

In Kenya, the system is evolving. For years, students relied on exams like the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education to determine their path forward. Today, the country is transitioning to a new model with assessments like the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment, designed to evaluate progress over time. Even so, performance still plays a major role in shaping opportunity.

In India, students move through a series of high-stakes exams, including national board exams and competitive entrance tests like the Joint Entrance Examination and the National Eligibility Entrance Test. With millions of students competing for limited university placements, these exams are among the most competitive in the world, directly impacting the ability to even apply.

In Brazil and Chile, national exams such as the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio and the Prueba de Acceso a la Educación Superior serve as the primary gateway to higher education.

While each system is different, the reality is the same: at key moments, a child’s future is determined by how well they perform on an exam.

Reality Behind the Scores

These exams are designed to measure what a child has learned, but they often reflect much more than that. For children growing up in poverty, preparing for these exams means navigating obstacles far beyond the classroom. Some study without electricity, and others attend overcrowded schools with limited materials. Many go to school hungry, making it difficult to focus or retain information. After school, responsibilities at home often take priority over time to study. By the time exam day arrives, students are not just being tested on what they have learned, they are being tested on everything they have had to overcome.

Meet Daniel*

Daniel is 14 years old and working toward one of the most important exam of his life, one that determines his ability to attend university and eventually make a living wage.

A strong student who loves mathematics, his teachers see real potential in him. But like many children, his path has not been easy. There have been days he’s gone to school without the supplies he needed. Evenings when studying had to wait because his family needed him to work. Moments where hunger made it difficult to concentrate.

Daniel’s future was never limited by his ability, it was limited by his circumstances.

Where Sponsorship Changes the Story

Thankfully, in Daniel’s case, sponsorship shifted his chances. When Daniel was connected with a sponsor through Children Incorporated, he gained access to the support he needed to prepare. He received school supplies that allowed him to participate fully in class. With consistent meals, he enjoyed focus and the energy to learn. He gained stability and encouragement—two things that quietly, but powerfully, build confidence over time. These changes made the difference between walking into an exam unprepared and walking in confident and ready.

More Than a Test

For students like Daniel, passing an exam is not just about a score, it’s about the opportunity to continue.When one exam can unlock that kind of opportunity, it has the power to change the direction not only of a child’s life, but of their family’s future for generations to come.

Why Your Support Matters

When you sponsor a child, you help remove the barriers that stand between a child and their potential. You are helping to ensure that when they sit down to take that exam, they are not carrying the weight of hunger, lack of resources, or instability with them.

Through sponsorship, you can create a moment where a student’s hard work has a real chance to shine. Because in a world where one test determines a future, preparation changes everything. Preparation is exactly what your support makes possible. Some look at these exams and see a final result. For a child who is given the chance to succeed, that moment is not an ending.

It’s a beginning

**name changed for privacy

***

These stories reveal just a glimpse of your support’s impact. Will you help us write the next story?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

Click Here to go online to visit our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship
call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org

SPONSOR A CHILD

Liz Collins | March 17, 2026

Dear Friends,

Hunger isn’t just an inconvenience — it remains one of the most persistent barriers that dims a child’s chance to succeed. Around the world, millions of children struggle with food insecurity, and too many families don’t know where their next meal will come from.

Across the United States and around the world, children in poverty face a challenge no child should have to navigate: hunger. For too many families across the United States and abroad, the cost of food competes with rent, utilities, school supplies, and basic health needs. Children feel those sacrifices most. When kids don’t know when they will eat again, their ability to focus, grow, and thrive begins to slip away.

For over six decades, we have joined forces with local schools and community organizations to make sure children receive the nourishment they need, not only during the school day, but also on weekends, during school breaks, and in seasons of crisis, so hunger does not get the final say in a child’s future.

How the Feeding Program Works

IN THE UNITED STATES
Children take home bags of nutritious, non-perishable food from school on Fridays. This ensures they have meals throughout the weekend when free and reduced‑price school meals pause.
For families already stretched thin, these bags offer reassurance that their children will not face long gaps between meals. A $50 donation can can provide a filled backpack for a month. Could you find it in your heart to donate this amount for a child needing food?

AROUND THE WORLD
The Feeding Program provides daily meals or essential food supplies at partner schools in countries such as Guatemala, the Philippines, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Your $100 donation can fund a partner school’s nutrition program for an entire week.
In many of these communities, these meals are the most reliable nutrition a child receives, giving them the physical energy and mental focus they need to learn and grow.

Why this work matters now

Hunger remains one of the most persistent barriers to a child’s well-being and education. In America alone, millions of children face food insecurity, going without adequate nutrition because their families simply cannot afford it. Globally, lack of food and proper nutrition contributes to stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and limited opportunities for children desperately trying to rise above poverty.

Without consistent access to food, children aren’t just hungry, they’re at risk of falling behind in school, struggling with health issues, and losing confidence in their ability to succeed.

Here’s what your generosity can do

$25 – A week of school meals for one child.
$50 – One month of weekend food packages for a family in need.
$100 – Supplies can be purchased for the sustainment of community gardens.
$350 – Nutrition support for multiple unsponsored children in a high-need area.
$1000 – Long term nutrition support for an entire international school and their families.

What your gift means in Action

Food packages sent home on weekends or holidays give families peace of mind, so kids don’t go hungry when school isn’t in session.
Through our global network of local partners and volunteer coordinators, every dollar goes directly to putting nutritious food into the hands of children who need it — in the U.S. and abroad.

Today we ask that you stand with these children

When you give to the Feeding Program Fund, you join a compassionate community that refuses to let hunger dim a child’s potential. Consider making a gift to the Feeding Program Fund today. With every contribution, you help provide nourishment, stability, and opportunity to a child who is waiting for someone to care, someone like you.

Sincerely,

Liz Collins, President of Children Incorporated

Want to PARTICIPATE in our feeding program fund?

Rachel Luginbuhl | January 26, 2026

Sleep is seen not just for rest, but as a real superpower that fuels learning, well-being, confidence, and connection. That is the core behind Beyond Bedtime, a non-profit that regularly partners with us at Children Incorporated. Children living in poverty and unsettled housing situations many times forgo sleep for safety. This affects their education, development, and overall well-being. On top of working to make sure they have basic needs, Children Incorporated strives to make sure more than just the basics can be provided. We do that with the help of dedicated partners, like Beyond Bedtime. Together we can make the world better for the children living in it.

How they Began

Beyond Bedtime, originally called The Pajama Program, was founded in 2001, and began with a simple but profound idea: every child deserves comfort and care at bedtime. What started as a simple act of collecting pajamas from friends and family grew into a national organization focused on sleep health, emotional well‑being, and healthy nighttime routines.

Today, Beyond Bedtime works with schools, shelters, foster care agencies, and nonprofit partners across the country to ensure children not only receive pajamas and books, but also the support and education needed to build positive bedtime habits that contribute to long‑term success. They are not just giving pajamas, but helping children, caregivers, and educators learn about healthy bedtime routines and sleep habits.

In 2025, the organization officially rebranded as Beyond Bedtime to better capture its broader mission: combining bedtime essentials and tools for nurturing healthy sleep for long-term well-being.

Why Pajamas Matter

Something as simple as a new pair of pajamas can make a meaningful difference. For children experiencing hardship, pajamas can:

Create a sense of normalcy and routine
Support better sleep and focus in school
Help children feel valued and cared for
Ease stress for families already facing difficult circumstances

When children sleep better, they are better equipped to learn, grow, and thrive.

A History of Working Together

Children Incorporated has been grateful to collaborate with Beyond Bedtime over the years. In 2008 the Pajama Program reached out to our the CEO Ron Carter to see how their program could help children enrolled in our program. At that time, donations were coming directly from the Pajama Program, but as they grew they began partnering with other groups to meet the ever growing need. For the last 17 years we have received donations not just from them, but from local churches, run clubs, PTA drives, and many other sources, all because of this amazing partnership. These donations are still helping families meet basic needs while reinforcing the importance of consistency, comfort, and care at home.

While Children Incorporated focuses on providing children with resources such as food, clothing, shelter, and education, Beyond Bedtime strengthens that foundation by supporting rest and routine—key elements of a child’s physical, emotional, and academic well‑being. And the past several years have been a wonderful testament to their mission. Working to ensure our sponsored children had opportunities this year they partnered us with a local church who in turn abundantly provided for local Richmond children. In the past week we were able to deliver over 300 pairs of pajamas to location children, some of which do not currently have sponsors and would not have received any assistance otherwise.

Looking Ahead

This recent pajama delivery is a reminder of what’s possible when organizations come together with a shared purpose. We are thankful for Beyond Bedtime’s continued generosity and commitment to children in need, and we are proud of the impact our collaboration has made—and will continue to make—in the lives of the children we serve.

Together, we’re helping children rest easier tonight so they can dream bigger tomorrow.

***

These stories reveal just a glimpse of your support’s impact. Will you help us write the next story?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

Click Here to go online to visit our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship
call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org

SPONSOR A CHILD

Rachel Luginbuhl | October 27, 2025

In the quiet town of Pike County, Kentucky, for the last seven years, Brittany has been the dependable leader for our sponsored children, working hard to guarantee they have what they need everyday so their education isn’t disrupted. Brittany is our dedicated Volunteer Coordinator at the Family Resource and Youth Services Center (FRYSC) at our affiliated site Belfry Middle School. She, like all our coordinators, performs a variety of roles and responsibilities to ensure the kids in her charge have more than just the basics, they have hope for the future.

With so many years dedicated to helping so many, it is obvious Brittany loves what she does. She is able to do her job well because of the support she receives from our sponsors and donors. Brittany has said repeatedly that our organization is a blessing to the FRYSC at Belfry Middle School, and that she depends heavily on our sponsorship program to serve her students – especially those who are struggling to eat at home.

The challenges of facing hunger

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.” In America today, people who live in rural areas often face hunger at higher rates than in other parts of the United States – oftentimes due to the challenges they face living in remote locations.

Our Volunteer Coordinator, Brittany, works hard to ensure that the children at Belfry Middle School have food, as well as other basic needs.

When families live far away from businesses or commercial districts, they might not have a way to access food pantries or other social services that could help them feed their families – if those services even exist in those districts. Furthermore, the majority of employment opportunities in rural parts of the United States tend to be for low-wage work; and unemployment and underemployment rates are often higher in rural areas than in non-rural ones. This is what we frequently hear in our work with families living in poverty.

Working together to feed kids

Brittany is on the front lines in Belfry, with a first hand view of how food insecurity is a big concern in her district. In 2025, with the rise in food insecurity and the ever shifting climate in the United States, Brittany relies even more on the financial assistance from our Feeding Program Fund and Hope In Action Fund to keep the shelves stocked for her students.

When families live far away from businesses or commercial districts, they might not have a way to access food pantries or other social services that could help them feed their families.

How do Special funds Help?

Recently, under the direction of our CEO Liz Collins, and because of your ongoing donations, Children Incorporated has been able to send a grant of $25 per child in our program as an immediate response. The scope of this assistance is powerful, it allows swift response to those who need it the most within all of our affiliated sites.

A gift to our Hope in Action or our Feeding Program will allow us to continue addressing basic food needs during this urgent time, alleviating stress for the families affiliated with our program. Many areas in the U.S and around the world do not have access to food banks due to their location, so established organizations and schools fill in the gaps. These resources rely almost solely on donations and local government assistance to keep the shelves stocked. With the holidays approaching and the temperatures dropping, it is vital for us to make sure families know they are cared for and will not be facing food insecurity alone.

We couldn’t be more grateful to Brittany, and to all of our dedicated Volunteer Coordinators who work tirelessly to ensure children in their schools, and in our program, have everything they need to believe in a better future.

***

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:

Click Here to go online to visit our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship
call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org

SPONSOR A CHILD

Rachel Luginbuhl | October 7, 2025

Dear Friends,

When I began working at Children Incorporated in February 2003, I entered a world entirely different from the one I had known for the previous twelve years. Both organizations where I’d served were highly effective child sponsorship programs, but what cemented my love for Children Incorporated was one specific trait – Heart! Here, staff spoke of children in the U.S. and abroad by name, often knowing details of their lives and circumstances. They never treated these children as numbers; they had names, stories, and futures. I was filled with awe and respect to witness the compassion with which employees and the wonderful volunteer coordinators worked together to give these young ones the assistance they needed to thrive. All these years later, I remain in awe of Children Incorporated, knowing that the true heart of the organization lies in its dedicated staff and their genuine desire to make a difference.

“The impact of Hope In Action is without words. It brings peace in the midst of horrible situations and provides necessary resources when needed most”

Children Incorporated is operated by individuals who care and truly want to help improve the lives of those we serve. Of course, like anyone, these good folks need their jobs and deserve to be paid for their work, but they do far more than simply come to earn a paycheck. They care about their work, and they care about the children. I have been honored to work alongside this rare and special group for more than two decades.

As I head into retirement after 23 years here, I’d like to ask a special favor. Will you help me raise $1,000 for each year I worked at Children Incorporated? The donations honor the incredible people I’ve worked alongside, both past and present staff members.

The funds will support our Hope In Action fund which provides assistance to children in times of extreme difficulty, such as natural disasters. There is always a great need for this, especially in our rural sites and international locations.

Any amount contributed is incredibly appreciated and will make a meaningful difference in the lives of many people.

Great thanks for all of the ways you have supported and continue to support the work of Children Incorporated.

From the heart,

Ronald H. Carter

Want to PARTICIPATE in our HOPE IN ACTION fund?

Children Incorporated | April 7, 2025

Yefiny Mena, our International Programs Specialist, tells us about her visit to the Juan Apostol School in Guatemala with Children Incorporated Director of Programs Luis Boudret. The Juan Apostol School allows impoverished children to get an education and participate in skills training programs.

“The Juan Apostol School, founded in 1990, is located in Villa Nueva. This area is about 25 miles from Guatemala City, but due to the recent expansion of the city, it has been incorporated into the metropolitan area. About 800 students receive a good education in a low — or middle-income private school, and 112 are enrolled in the Children Incorporated program. Very low-income families are selected to participate in the Children Incorporated program,” said Yefiny.

“All the children participating in our program would not be able to attend this school without the generosity of our sponsors. These sponsors help the children pay their monthly school fees and provide them with food, school supplies, shoes, and clothes.”

“Juan Apostol School is a private school, so it does require families to pay tuition for their children to attend. The school has two buildings; one is entirely dedicated to children from kindergarten to 9th grade. The other building is utilized for grades 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, equivalent to high school and a technical training program.”

“Our coordinator is Mrs. Ruth Morales de Morales, known by her nickname “Tita,” who has been our coordinator for 40 years. Mrs. Morales, her husband, and her son (the actual director) run the entire school,” said Yefiny.

“During our visit to the school, we learned how the students’ daily routine goes by. The school at all levels follows a rigorous educational program that benefits the children. Along with a well-disciplined program, the school is famous nationally for having a modest but well-placed computer program. Parents can access computerized controls to monitor children’s education, transportation, grading, participation, homework support, etc., a unique approach in the country. The school is also known for having one of the best marching bands and music programs of this level in the country, which they use to motivate students for better educational performance.”

“The buildings are solid and adequate for their purpose, but some need minor improvements. The educational program was enhanced a few years ago when Children Incorporated offered support to implement skill training programs to aid the children further. Since then, these programs in Food Preparation, Computers and Robotics, and Cosmetics and Beauty have been incorporated into the academic curriculum,” said Yefiny.

“The children in this school can choose from various technical courses, so by the time they graduate, they can make an income and provide for themselves and their families. The school offers technical sewing, computing, culinary, and beauty courses. Children can choose the one they are most interested in, so while they finish high school, they also learn new abilities.”

“Children Incorporated has donated some industrial kitchen sinks this year to help these children continue their education. During our visit, we watched these kids work in their different areas. They gave us valuable information about their learning techniques and classes and demonstrated their abilities in each region,” said Yefiny.

“It’s important to highlight that all the children participating in our program would not be able to attend this school without the generosity of our sponsors. These sponsors help the children pay their monthly school fees and provide them with food, school supplies, shoes, and clothes.”

“Our sponsors have blessed all these families that depend on their generosity to help their children have a better future. Our coordinator expressed gratitude to the sponsors on behalf of the children’s parents,” said Yefiny.

***

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