Tag Archives: sponsorship

Shelley Callahan | November 19, 2023En Español

For many families of children in our program, holidays can be a time of stress instead of celebration because money for food or gifts just isn’t available to make Thanksgiving or Christmas special.

Today we hear from our volunteer coordinator, Anne Marie, at Alleghany High School in North Carolina, about how our sponsors are helping to ensure that families have a reason to celebrate Thanksgiving together, all thanks to donations to our Feeding Programs Fund.

“Thank you so much for all that your organization does to feed familes during Thanksgiving!”

A letter from Anne Marie

“Dear Children Incorporated,

I have always been amazed at how much the Children Incorporated sponsors help and support our students. Alleghany County is located in the northwest corner of North Carolina and is very rural. Christmas trees are grown here and shipped all over the world. Alleghany High School has approximately 19.5% of the student body enrolled in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program – over 70 students in total!”

Thanks to our donors, families are receiving full Thanksgiving dinners this holiday season!

“All of our sponsored children have their instructional fees paid and school pictures and yearbooks purchased for them to help out their families. Each year, a few weeks after school starts, each student is allowed to pick out and purchase $100 worth of school gear such as shirts, sweatshirts, pants and hats, and all of our seniors have their cap and gowns paid for with Children Incorporated funds.”

Countless thanks from families in need

“Several years ago, our school noticed a need for the holidays for our families. The last day of school before Thanksgiving break, each staff member signed up to personally deliver meals to our Children Incorporated families. The school also partnered with Food Lion and Lowe’s Hardware. Lowe’s donated cooler bags and Food Lion prepared the bags for us to pick up and deliver. The meals consisted of turkey, ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, rolls and an apple pie. Over the years, we have received countless thank-yous and even tears from our families when they receive the meals. Some families have told us that they did not know what they would have to eat over the holidays otherwise.”

“Thank you so much for all that your organization does to feed families during Thanksgiving!”

Sincerely,
Anne Marie

***

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

Shelley Callahan | November 13, 2023En Español

We recently received a letter from our volunteer coordinator, James, at the Dandora Center in Nairobi, Kenya, who writes to us to express his gratitude for Hope In Action funds that have allowed him to improve and expand the school, which is all to the great benefit of the children we serve there.

“I look back and appreciate with gratitude how much we have been able to achieve at the center through your support.”

A letter from James

“Dear Children Incorporated,

Receive warm greetings from us all at the Dandora Center, and we hope that this finds you well! The children are fine and getting on well with their daily school activities in this rather short but very busy term. Soon, national examinations and assessments will be setting in, and afterwards, the children will be entering the long December holidays.”

“At this juncture, I look back and appreciate with gratitude how much we have been able to achieve at the center through your support, which has made the environment for the children so conducive to learning.”

“I am glad that the boys’ restroom that I mentioned to you during my last communication is now complete and only needs to be painted. We have now begun constructing the girls’ restroom hoping that it will be complete by the beginning of next year. Upon completion of these restroom blocks, we hope to renovate the current room being used as toilets and convert it to a more spacious computer room that will be able to accommodate all the children with ease.”

“I appreciate the support you gave us to construct the first floor of the new classroom block which is currently being used by the children in the junior secondary school. We hope that next year we can manage to do the final floor and roofing of the block to prepare for ninth grade classrooms. Your love for the children at the center gives us hope as we make this request.”

Finally, it’s my great pleasure to share with you a few photos of the children carrying out different activities together with a few structural developments. We forever remain indebted to you as well as all the Children Incorporated sponsors for all the things you do for children.”

***

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | November 6, 2023En Español

After spending a few days in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, visiting with a few of our affiliated sites in the area, it was time for our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, and myself to take the short trip by plane to Sucre, where Children Incorporated supports seven schools, helping hundreds of children living in poverty every year.

The students beamed with pride as we made our rounds, and Gabriella explained to Luis and me that our donors had purchased the equipment, refrigerators, kitchen tools and utensils necessary for the culinary program to exist.

I had not visited Sucre the last time I traveled to Bolivia in 2016, so I was especially excited to see the town and get a chance to meet with our volunteer coordinators and sponsored children at each of the sites. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre sits at a high elevation, which gives it a nice and cool temperature all year long, which I looked forward to after a few very hot days in Santa Cruz. Beyond the cool climate, Sucre is also recognized as the constitutional capital of the country, and is home to dozens of government run local schools and privately-run language schools for foreign visitors.

But, upon our arrival, before I even had the chance to really get to see Sucre itself, Luis and I ventured about twenty minutes outside of the city on our first day, to the small agricultural community of Yolata. I noticed immediately how incredibly narrow the cobblestone streets were, as we bounced down the road in the taxi. I gazed out the window, realizing just how very quaint the town was, only taking up a dozen or so city blocks in total, which made walking very convenient. Yolata is home to many farmers who struggle to grow enough food to feed their families and sell in markets, as the area is prone to drought throughout the year. This makes it difficult for them to get out of poverty — and makes it even more important that Children Incorporated is able to provide support for children growing up here.

Visiting the school

When we arrived at the front gate of the Santa Rosa School, a small group of children held a hand-made sign which read “Welcome” in Spanish. They were all dressed in traditional Bolivian clothing, ones that looked similar to the outfits we saw at the Montero School, where children had performed dances to celebrate our arrival. Luis and I stepped out of the taxi, and were greeted by our volunteer coordinator, Gabriella, who escorted us inside the school’s compound and into the courtyard, where dozens of children and their parents were seated under a small pavilion. After we were introduced to the group, the students performed songs and dances for us as a way to say “thank you” to their sponsors for all the support they receive throughout the year.

This is a large affiliation for us — 53 children are enrolled in our sponsorship program and, according to Gabriella, many more could use support from a caring sponsor. As we talked in her office after the children’s presentation, she explained that many of the impoverished families in the community didn’t have any plumbing or running water, and they did their best to sell small food items as street vendors in Sucre, but overall making ends meet was hard for them, even if both parents were able to work.

We continued talking as Gabriella led us on a tour of the school, showing us the classrooms for the middle and high school age students, and a new edition to the school that would accommodate younger students in the upcoming year, as more and more children were coming back to school after the pandemic and additional space was needed for them.

A wonderful treat during our visit

As with many of the other schools in Sucre, Gabriella explained, the Santa Rosa School is run by the government, but not funded fully by the government, so Children Incorporated has been a huge help in filling a gap when children’s parents can’t afford school supplies, clothes, food and hygiene items. And, she added, without our donors, they never would have been able to complete the culinary building that she was excited to show to us.

As we turned a corner to enter through a large doorway, to my surprise, we came upon the culinary classroom, which was filled with students in their chef’s uniforms, all lined up around counter tops filled with baked goods they had made for us! As Gabriella introduced us to the students, we had a chance to try Bolivian pastries and cakes that were not only beautiful, but absolutely delicious. The students beamed with pride as we made our rounds, and Gabriella explained to Luis and me that our donors had purchased the equipment, refrigerators, kitchen tools and utensils necessary for the culinary program to exist.

At least at the Santa Rosa School, she knew her children were being provided for.

Visiting homes in Yotala

After we said goodbye to the students, Gabriella wanted to take us to visit a few of the homes of our sponsored children before we returned to Sucre for the evening. We piled into her car and made our way out of the small town and up into the hills, where we first visited a family with two small children in our program, living in a two-room building with electricity and little else. The father told us he makes his own version of yogurt which he sells in the city, but it is a lot of work, and his pay is very low.

Their well-kept house was very bare, and I wondered how they stayed warm at nights when the temperature dropped. There was no means to heat the home, and the concrete walls offered no insulation. Shortly after, we visited another home on the side of a small mountain, where a family of three was living in one small room with no electricity or running water. The mother expressed her gratitude for her children’s sponsors, who took worry away from her while her children were at school receiving an education. At least at the Santa Rosa School, she knew her children were being provided for so they could focus on getting an education, which gave her the peace of mind she really needed.

***

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | October 30, 2023En Español

Our visit to the Montero School came to an end by late morning, around 11 a.m., when our sponsored children slowly started to trickle out of the school’s compound, heading home to enjoy the rest of their Saturday with their families.

After a quick lunch of traditional Bolivian foods, including the amazing Pique a lo Macho, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, and I made our way to the driveway where a pick-up truck was waiting to take us a few miles down the road to the newly completed agricultural school.

Visiting the new school

I opted to sit in the bed of the truck with a few of the teachers who were accompanying us, along with our volunteer coordinator. Another truck followed behind us, which brought some of the students who were currently enrolled in the agricultural program. For all of them, it was a big event that Luis and I were there to finally see the completed school, which had been under construction for the last two years.

When we turned off the dusty main road to enter the school’s property, all I could see was open land – land that the Montero School administrators had purchased to use for the agricultural school years back, with the promise that Children Incorporated would provide funds for the classrooms, greenhouses, stables, barns and silos.

We parked in front of the entrance to the school, and walked onto the property, which was expansive. Buildings lined the right side and the fields for farming were on the left, probably covering the distance of two football fields. Our volunteer coordinator, Sister Reina, explained that students who attend the school are enrolled in a five-year program – some start while they are still in high school at the Montero School, and some start after graduation. They grow corn, fruit and other local produce, while raising pigs and chickens, and learn how to compost and operate and maintain heavy machinery.

This new addition to the Montero School has potential to help thousands of students and their families in this community.

Another Hope in Action Success

As we walked the grounds and chatted about the school, visiting the new classrooms and getting to see the progress that has been made with working so much land, I could see why Luis was so enthusiastic for me to see the school for myself. With few opportunities for families living in poverty in Bolivia to send their children on to higher education to learn a trade, it was apparent that this school was an absolute blessing for so many students, who would gain the skills they need to generate an income for themselves, and provide a better future for their own children someday. Thanks to our Hope In Action Fund — and more specifically, the generosity of our amazing donors — this new addition to the Montero School has potential to help thousands of students and their families in this community, which is something to be very proud of.

***

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | October 22, 2023

Each year, our volunteer coordinators write letters to our office to let us know their first-hand experiences with how powerful sponsorship is for children at their schools.

Today we hear from Michele at Owingsville Elementary School in Kentucky about how our program has helped children this past year, all thanks to our caring sponsors.

“I thank you all for allowing our Resource Center to be a part of Children Incorporated. It is a true blessing to our school and families.”

Michele’s Letter

“Owingsville Elementary Family Resource Center (FRC) would like to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing our students to be a part of Children Incorporated. Our students have benefited greatly from the sponsorship program. We currently have 22 students sponsored in the program and four newly enrolled awaiting sponsorship. We appreciate all the work Children Incorporated does for these children in need.”

“We started the school year with students returning to school full time. We do offer virtual learning, and about 15-20 students were enrolled in that for the year, however, our elementary school will not offer virtual learning next school year. Our principal, Dr. Bailey, started his fifth year here at Owingsville. I started my 31^st year in the FRC. Melania, the center’s clerk, applied for and was selected coordinator of the Crossroads Elementary FRC, so I spent about seven months without a clerk until February when a new clerk, Emily, was hired. Due to limited funding, she is also the clerk for the Bath County Middle School Resource Center. We came back to school without the COVID-19 restrictions in the fall of 2022. Additional teachers were added to make the teacher to student ratio smaller in first grade.”

Finding everything she needs

Our sponsors help ensure children’s needs are met throughout the year.

“Owingsville Elementary School has been at 74% free lunch for the past year, and we have an enrollment of 543 children from preschool through 5^th grade. Our free lunch percentage and enrollment have both increased in the past years. We have many students in need, and we are blessed to have the Children Incorporated program at our school. Last year, to spend the Children Incorporated funds, I shopped the clearance rack at Kohl’s and was able to get some great clothing. Most of it was for fall and winter, so I saved it and was able to match sizes up with all my Children Incorporated students. In October, I went shopping for fall clothing and shoes. In November, I went shopping for Christmas items and winter clothing. It is becoming increasingly hard to find the good deals on clothes that I used to find. I work very hard to get good quality and quantity. In April, I worked on the Children Incorporated shopping list for spring and summer needs and handed those items out before school was out for the summer.”

“Our center also provides a Backpack Program, where we send home food on the weekends. I currently serve 37 students on this program, and a number of them are Children Incorporated sponsored children. Now, the Summer Feeding Program is currently available, and the Backpack Program will resume in August; however, we are always available to provide emergency food.”

Grateful for all the support

“We appreciate all of the Children Incorporated sponsors and staff! We are fortunate to have sponsors who send additional funds, cards for holidays and special occasions. For the third year in a row, one special sponsor has sent gift cards for me to purchase birthday cakes and sent gift cards for special occasion dinners such Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter for their sponsored child.”

“I thank you all for allowing our Resource Center to be a part of Children Incorporated. It is a true blessing to our school and to families that benefit from it.”

Sincerely,
Michele

***

HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD WITH CHILDREN INCORPORATED?

SPONSOR A CHILD

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