Tag Archives: opportunity

Shelley Callahan | August 30, 2022

Whether through our sponsorship program or through our special funds or special projects, we help tens of thousands of children around the world each year — thanks entirely to the support of our sponsors and donors.

Children Incorporated supports children in many different ways, all of which fall under four areas of impact — education, health and well-being, emergency relief and community support. Our focus on these four key areas allows us to expand our reach beyond the children in our program, helping their families and entire communities break the cycle of poverty.

Children Incorporated helps children living in poverty in many ways, all of which fall under four areas of impact — education, health and well-being, emergency relief and community support.

Read more about each of our areas of impact and follow our Stories of Hope blog to find out how you are directly changing the lives of individuals around the world by donating to Children Incorporated.

Education

Families living in poverty work hard to make ends meet living on low wages. To ensure that children have the resources they need to attend school, we provide children with educational items throughout the year such as school supplies, book bags and tablets for virtual learning. We also purchase desks and school uniforms, as well as pay tuition so children living in poverty have all their basic needs met so they can go to school ready to learn.

WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP KIDS IN KENTUCKY

KEEPING SIBLINGS TOGETHER IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

DESKS FOR KIDS AT DANDORA

Health and Well-Being

One of our highest priorities is making sure children are healthy so they don’t miss school. We provide children around the world with the proper shoes, clothes, hygiene items, and vitamins on a regular basis. We also have feeding programs in the United States and internationally that provide regular and consistent meals to students as well as food to take home on the weekends.

WELL RESTED AND READY TO LEARN

AIDING RICARDO IN EL SALVADOR

MEETING GIRLS’ NEEDS IN INDIA AND KENYA

Emergency Relief

There are many instances when families living in poverty are not financially prepared for emergency situations. We provide emergency relief after housefires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding and when families find themselves in need of immediate medical support. Our ability to quickly respond to emergencies means that families can worry less when disaster strikes, and can start to rebuild as soon as they can.

CLEAN UP AND RECOVERY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY

RESPONDING TO COVID-19 IN THE UNITED STATES

HOPE AFTER HAIYAN

Community Support

We believe strongly in supporting children, families and communities to help generations of people break the cycle of poverty in which they live. We support construction projects, playground and greenhouse projects, renovation projects and skills training projects at our affiliated sites to lift up multiple groups of people at a time and better whole communities.

OUR SPECIAL FUNDS AT WORK IN EASTERN KENTUCKY

EXTRA SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN IN NORTH CAROLINA

INVESTING IN THE YOUTH OF COSTA RICA

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Shelley Callahan | August 29, 2022En Español

This week’s edition of Stories of Hope continues with our “virtual tour” of Floyd County, Kentucky. Our Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, visits with our volunteer coordinator, Michelle, at James D. Adams Middle School, to tell us more about their school, community, and the power of working together to help children and their families.

Renée’s visit

“Adams Middle School is a rather small school located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. It has the capacity to accommodate around 335 students in grades 6^th through 8^th. The poverty rate here is 64% — not as high as some other surrounding areas, but still significant and crushing for many families trying to make ends meet.”

Michelle is very proud of how quickly and well everyone worked together to create lesson plans and navigate continuing to communicate with the children while they were at home.

“Our Volunteer Coordinator at the school is Michelle. She is a long-serving coordinator for both the Family Resource Youth Services Center and for Children Incorporated.

Michelle told me during our virtual meeting that at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, the entire staff and administration of Adams Middle scrambled to figure out how to educate and to serve the children. She is very proud of how quickly and well everyone worked together to create lesson plans and navigate continuing to communicate with the children while they were at home. The school buses even transported food to students’ homes rather than them coming to the school for bagged lunches – which prevented so many children in this community from going hungry.”

challenges for students at home

“Michelle told me that most students were able to get online to do their work, and many stayed with grandparents during the day while their parents worked. But, a sizable portion of students did not have internet access at home. The Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg was one of the first local businesses that invited families to park in their parking lots during the day and sit in their cars to access the WIFI from inside the building, which for some students was their only means to connect and learn.”

“Additionally, as with many other schools in Eastern Kentucky, and around the United States, the 2020-2021 school year was delayed due to rising infection rates but had since started back fully in-person. Then sadly, things got bad again.”

Consistency in uncertain times

“When this new 2021-2022 school year started, and all the kids were together playing sports and having activities and club meetings, there was a quick uptick in cases. Infection rates and hospitalizations jumped in August and September and then declined slowly through December of last year. There was another surge in January and February of this year, the highest the area had seen yet. Cases have since declined again but remain high. There is without a doubt a lot of ‘COVID fatigue’ amount students, faculty, and parents.

Despite the difficulties, Michelle has been working hard to provide for the children, and she is deeply grateful for the sponsors’ support, which offered her, and the children in our program, some much-needed consistency during such uncertain times.”

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How do I sponsor a child in Kentucky?

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

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | August 26, 2022

From the snowcapped Himalayans to tropical beaches, India is truly a nation of contrasts. It boasts a rich history spanning tens of thousands of years. In fact, the earliest known civilization in South Asia once called India’s fertile Indus Valley home. Today, with the world’s second-largest population, India includes a staggering variety of ethnicities, languages, religions, and cultures. Its wealth of natural resources and vibrant cultures, however, belie the abject poverty in which so many of India’s citizens live.

Thanks to caring people like you, Children Incorporated has helped thousands of impoverished children in India, offering them a chance at a better and brighter future.

According to the World Bank, even though India has made remarkable strides at reducing poverty over the years, today, 22% of the population, or 270 million people live below the poverty line.

Challenges for Children in India

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

30% of the world’s extremely poor children live in India
Each year, 1.4 million children in India die before their 5^th birthday
Nearly 25% of children have no access to education
4% of children are stunted and suffering from malnutrition
Child labor persists within the country, keeping school-age children from going to school
Children from rural areas, urbans slums, scheduled castes, and tribal communities often suffer
from malnutrition, access to quality health services, child marriage, lack of sanitation
facilities, hygiene, and access to improved water
India is highly prone to flooding, droughts, earthquakes and refugee flows that
impact children’s lives and ability to access basic resources

Our Work in India

Thanks to caring people like you, Children Incorporated has helped thousands of impoverished children in India, offering them a chance at a better and brighter future.

We work with our volunteer coordinators in local communities to provide health and nutrition, education, hygiene items, clothes, shoes, and other basic needs 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 it possible for us to help India’s children in crisis.

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How do I sponsor a child in India?

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

SPONSOR A CHILD

SOURCES:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/search?q=india+poverty&currenttab=4&currentTab=1

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/in-child-poverty-india-next-only-to-sub-saharan-africa-report/article26196097.ece

https://www.unicef.org/india/children-in-india

https://www.soschildrensvillages.ca/news/poverty-in-india-602

Kristen Walthall | August 12, 2022En Español

As we begin to receive updates from our affiliated sites in Eastern Kentucky, we want to share with our sponsors and donors how clean up and recovery efforts are coming along in areas in which our sponsored children and their families have been greatly impacted.

At Letcher County and Jenkins Independent Schools, the opening for the new school year, which had originally been scheduled for the week of August 8^th, has been postponed indefinitely because of the flooding. Superintendents at both school districts said that damage to the schools alone will not determine when school will resume. In addition to damage to buildings and grounds, the districts have students who have lost everything. Staff members have died and have lost homes, and vehicles and many roads are still impassable.

Thanks to our entire Children Incorporated family for everything you have done to help our families in Eastern Kentucky!

Letcher County Public Schools took damage to six facilities, including the central office, the old vocational school, West Whitesburg Elementary, Whitesburg Middle School, Martha Jane Potter Elementary, and the Fleming-Neon gymnasium.

The Letcher County Public School officials have still not been able to reach many staff members, students and families because of damage to cell phone towers, landline telephones, Internet services and roads.

In the town of Jenkins, the Superintendent said the middle and high school had mud in the parking lot, but nothing inside. Burdine Elementary lost its playground equipment and fencing, and there is damage to the school buildings due to floodwater.

We are incredibly grateful that in the wake of all this devastation, thanks to our supporters, we have currently sent over $47,000 to our affiliated sites in Eastern Kentucky to help families with clean-up efforts and with basic needs.

At this time, we will do our best to keep our supporters up-to-date with relief efforts as they continue, and with information regarding the re-opening of our affiliated schools in the area.

Thanks to our entire Children Incorporated family for everything you have done to help our families in Eastern Kentucky!

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How do I sponsor a child in Kentucky?

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

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | August 10, 2022

Situated in the Central American Isthmus, Costa Rica is a land rich in natural beauty including tropical rainforest, volcanoes and lakes. It shares borders with Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

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

Despite its status as one of the most stable, prosperous and progressive nations in Latin America — and one of the most ecofriendly in the world — Costa Rica struggles beneath a threatened economy and low paying jobs. Profound poverty affects many residents, with roughly 10% of Costa Ricans struggling to make ends meet while trying to survive on only USD 1.25 a day. Poverty in Costa Rica is especially prevalent in rural areas and in certain parts of the country’s capital, San José.

Challenges for Children in Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, children’s very lives and futures are at risk, as poverty leads to lack of educational and basic resources. Right now, children living in poverty in Costa Rica need your help.

1 in 3 children under the age of 18 lives in poverty
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a considerable decrease in the average family income
The school net attendance rate for children in Costa Rica is only 44%
Since 2020, 30% of households in Costa Rica have reduced their food portions
to accommodate for loss of wages

Our Work in Costa Rica

Thanks to caring people like you, Children Incorporated has helped thousands of children living in poverty in Costa Rica 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 all our work possible for Costa Rican children in crisis.

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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

Sources:

https://ticotimes.net/2015/10/29/costa-rica-poverty-hits-young-people-hardest-says-new-survey

https://ticotimes.net/2021/09/09/one-in-three-minors-in-costa-rica-lives-in-poverty-unicef-says

https://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/where-we-help/americas/costa-rica

https://theviolenceofdevelopment.com/one-in-three-children-in-costa-rica-live-in-poverty-unicef/

https://www.unicef.org/media/100591/file/Costa-Rica-2020-COAR.pdf

Kristen Walthall | August 4, 2022

Historic thunderstorms struck southeastern Kentucky from the late evening of Wednesday, July 27th through Thursday, July 28th. The storms produced at least 6″ of rain within a 24-hour period. More rain fell the following Friday and Saturday, bringing the total to 14″-16″ of rainfall within a five-day period. The storms triggered both flash flooding of creeks and severe river flooding. The flooding also caused mudslides, and torrents of water and mud washed away small bridges, roads, and homes.

Donors and sponsors who wish to make extra contributions are gratefully welcomed to do so. These contributions will be put into our Hope In Action Fund for additional disaster relief and related emergencies and needs.

A devastating event

The death toll stands currently at 37 and is sadly expected to rise, as many people remain unaccounted for. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described it as “one of the worst and most devastating events in Kentucky’s history.”

Many of the hardest hit counties are in areas where Children Incorporated is serving. Our hearts have been very heavy as we read the articles and watched the film footage of the flooding. Our amazing volunteer coordinators in southeastern Kentucky have just begun to contact us and send their own pictures and stories.

Children Incorporated is joining the call to help and has already sent $42,000 in disaster relief funds to our affiliated sites in the greatest impacted areas. Our coordinators will use these contributions to purchase items the children and their families need most — from bottled water to nonperishable food, from bleach to detergent, from antibiotic ointment to band-aids, and more. Our caring sponsors’ regular contributions are also being sent, and our coordinators plan to buy clothing for the children.

Thanks to our Hope In Action Fund, we are able to respond immediately to disasters and emergencies.

How you can help

In the midst of the heartache, we are also hearing inspiring stories of help coming from all across our country, and stories of local residents helping one another from rooftop rescues to horseback checkups to the daunting and extensive cleanup efforts. Schools in border counties are being used as shelters or staging areas. Initial aid is being distributed from unaffected buildings and dry parking lots, and this aid will steadily expand in scope as cleanup and repair efforts continue.

Donors and sponsors who wish to make extra contributions are gratefully welcomed to do so. We will continue to support flood-related efforts through your kind and generous donations to our Hope In Action Fund. Thank you all for your support of children and families in Kentucky during this emergency and for all you do for children around the world throughout the year.

DONATE TODAY

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