Special Delivery: eNews

Running low on reading material? Don’t despair! eNews is rolling off our virtual presses as I write. Here’s a sneak preview at what you’ll find in the September edition:

• Learn how sponsorship helped a young teen rise above a dysfunctional home life and receive the counseling she needed to get back on track in “Coming Out of a Tailspin.”
• Only 106 shopping days until Christmas! But why wait? Read “Shopping for Charity” to find out how you can shop smart to get the deals you want…and help Children International keep helping children.
• Ever wonder what makes other sponsors tick? Meet an outstanding Children International sponsor and discover why she does what she does in “Mack’s Story.”

If you’re a subscriber to Children International’s eNews, check your inbox later today for these great stories and more. And if you haven’t yet subscribed, it’s as easy as visiting our website and signing up. Enjoy the read!

Straight to Your Inbox from Children International

Got a minute? We’re bursting with news!

Any time now this month’s edition of eNews should appear in your inbox. Take a second to check it out! You’ll find…

...How a visit to their sponsored child caused a sponsor and his wife to discover the power of working together for a cause – and how their child and her family are better for it today.

...What can happen through a single donation! See how one sponsor’s generosity has enabled at least 50 people to achieve a higher standard of living by virtue of hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit.

...How the power of collaboration is embodied in the “Six Degrees of Sponsorship.”

...That hard work and determination are still an unstoppable combination! Travel along with four outstanding young people who have made their mark in their communities…and now are leaving their mark on New York City.

We hope you find these stories enjoyable and thought-provoking. If you do, leave us a comment and let us hear from you!

If you do not currently subscribe to eNews, visit our website. Signing up is a snap!

Have you had your eNews today?

Right on schedule, another edition of eNews is making its way to your email inbox. If you can’t wait until then, here’s a little taste of what July eNews has to offer:

- If you’ve ever wondered just what happens when a child goes to the community center to pick up a sponsorship gift, then The Boy of Eternal Smiles has a video (and a smile) to share with you.

-Mayra’s Life after Sponsorship is looking bright thanks to the support she received from her sponsor. Be sure to read what she said about her favorite sponsorship memory - it truly shows how important even the most common item can be to a needy child. (To read more about youth like Mayra, take a look at our Youth Report Card.)

-A powerful story from Mexico about one mother’s struggle with drugs and alcohol and how Children International helped her to sober up so she could be the mother her children always needed.

-In keeping with the Fourth-of-July spirit, Freedom from Poverty is a photo feature about a Guatemalan field officer who worked in a fireworks factory as a child to support himself and his family.

Did this pique your interest? If so, then read on!

It’s that time again...

Another edition of eNews will be arriving in your inbox today. Take a peek inside. You won’t be disappointed. Here are just a few of the articles and photo pieces in the June edition:

- A one-of-a-kind comic strip about our anti-parasite program. Our translator David Nebel has a way with words ...and artistic talent.

-A timely Father’s Day story and slideshow detailing an outstanding dad, Eliseo, in Mexico.

-A look at Stephanie Wahl’s “On the Needles” blog where she shares her love of sponsorship and knitting.

Intrigued? Check your email, and let us know what you think. Happy reading.

Delivered Right to Your Inbox

posted on behalf of Sarah Trapp

We hope you’ve had a chance to read through the May edition of eNews, and we hope you’ve enjoyed every last word and picture. If you haven’t had a chance to look it over, check your email inbox. I bet it’s sitting there, just waiting for you. Here’s a quick taste of some of the uplifting, informative and heartbreaking stories we bring to you this month:

CI News at Work – Get to know three of our awesome Communication Coordinators and the work they do in this photo piece.

A Child’s Life in Manila – Read the story of a strong little man who works to support his family by collecting garbage on the streets of Manila.

Because of our dedicated Enews readers, Rico now has a sponsor!

Mind Over Poverty – There’s nothing we like more here at Children International than a great success story. With help from a loving sponsor, Jenny in Honduras is working her way towards a Masters Degree in Psychology.

But wait! There’s more! But you’ll have to open eNews to see the other great articles in store for you. Happy reading!

Photo by Christopher Balallo in Manila.

Four Years of eNews

Posted on behalf Damon Guinn

This April marks the four-year anniversary of eNews. And, as editor, I couldn’t be happier.

We’ve made leaps and bounds since our first issue was published in April 2004. In fact, if you mentioned the word “blog” to me back then, I might have thought you were referring to the sound a pig makes when burping. Now here I am announcing the release of this year’s April edition.

While times and technology have changed, the basics of sponsorship have not. It’s still one of the fastest, most effective and personal ways to reach out and help children in need. And eNews serves that purpose by providing a vehicle for us to share stories about children and families who might otherwise remain faceless and forgotten. This month’s issue is a case in point.

We’ll introduce you to a couple of very deserving children named Mousumi and José who really need sponsors – otherwise, they may not be able to attend school. We’ll also tell you what’s happening at some of our sponsorship agencies this month so you’ll know exactly what benefits your children are receiving. Then there’s the story of Ibelia from Ecuador. Hers is a tragic tale of the toll poverty can take on helpless individuals.

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating four years of eNews by reading the articles and sharing them with your friends and family. Because, together, we form a virtual community that is actually addressing real world problems.

If you would like to subscribe to eNews, click here to sign up.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

It’s that time again – soon this month’s eNews will be in your inbox!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about Ciro, Bennett and Bernira the past couple of days. In this version of eNews you’ll learn even more about how Bennett has used sponsorship to impact the lives of Ciro and his sister (although Bennett is quick to say that he’s probably the one who’s been impacted the most!).

You’ll also meet a young girl who exemplifies the spirit of giving. Ferlenny is finally experiencing the joy of sponsorship for herself…after unselfishly helping others enjoy its benefits.

The spotlight is warm for Lynyrd Paras. But this rising star in the Philippines is quick to point to the poverty and pain of his youth – and the way out he found through sponsorship – as the source of inspiration for his paintings.

We hope you’ll like what you read. If you do, why not come back and drop us a comment?

If you don’t currently subscribe to eNews but would like to receive it, signing up is as simple as visiting our website!

Big News

I’ll admit it…sometimes I find myself sneaking around my own house.

Whenever a certain sound breaks into the consciousness of any member of my family, a mad rush ensues for the front door. If you happen to be in front of the mailbox, you could get hurt.

Ever so rarely, I just might get to be the first one to open the mail. But with a wife, four speedy kids and a ferocious Westie to compete with, that doesn’t happen very often. I guess I’m not as young as I used to be.

If you look forward to getting your mail like I do, I’ve got good news for you. We’ve made it easier for you. Any time now, you should receive this month’s edition of the Children International eNews in your email inbox! Unless your Westie is computer literate, you should win this one.


This month, we’ve got a great story (hey, I wrote it myself!) about two rising stars in the Dominican Republic who have learned the true value of education. You’ll also read about the terrible struggle Zambian children and families face as they fight to survive in a country where diseases are powerful and health care is scarce. Then you’ll learn about how you can enlist the help of your friends and family as you battle poverty through the Lift One Project.

I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but you might also learn about a very important birthday that’s just around the corner. Hint: look in the lower left-hand corner of the front page of eNews for more information. You can also check out our website, www.children.org, where you’ll find another story (yes, I wrote that one, too!) right on the home page that talks about the same big event.

And you don’t even have to run for the mailbox.

Photo by Jennifer Spaw.

When You Want to Know…

Knowledge is key.

Whether we’re talking finances, politics or job performance, those who rise to the top are those who take the time to make sure they’re well informed.

Sponsorship is no different. The sponsors who get the most out of the sponsorship experience are those who avail themselves of all the information at their disposal to learn more about their sponsored children and their families, as well as the world they live in and the challenges they face.

That’s why we created eNews. Children International’s electronic newsletter is delivered monthly to your inbox to keep you up to date on what’s going on in the world of sponsorship.

If you haven’t already received your copy, it should arrive shortly. This month’s issue will:

* Take you to visit a young girl in Zambia whose parents fought a tragic struggle with AIDS,
* Introduce you to our newest community center in Mexico,
* Share the story of a volunteer mother who spreads Christmas cheer by giving presents to children who are not sponsored, and
* Place you in the audience as former world-class tennis pro Andrés Gómez addresses a group of young people who are graduating from the sponsorship program in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

We hope you enjoy this month’s eNews and will share it with your friends and family. If for any reason you do not receive your copy, you may view it online on our website (available midafternoon on December 12).

Stories You Don't Want to Miss!

Be on the lookout for your monthly eNews from Children International! Our staff here in Kansas City and around the world have been working hard to bring you some great stories about the lives of our sponsored children and their families...stories that are sure to warm your heart.

Inside this issue:

• A great slideshow featuring the children and families in Ecuador. Did you know that nearly half of all Ecuadorians earn $2 a day or less?
• Relief and recovery as the first anniversary of Typhoon Durian approaches. Read a first hand account of how lives were forever changed by the storm.
• These stories and more in this issue of eNews.

Do you like these stories? Is there something you want to know more about? Drop us a line or leave a comment here on the blog. And if you’re not a current subscriber to eNews, you can become one by clicking here then selecting the button on the right-hand side of the screen that says, “Sign Up for eNews.”

Making Christmas Merry

It’s happened. I left the country for less than a week, and when I came back the Christmas season had arrived in Kansas City’s retail outlets.

Christmas has always been a magical time of year. Growing up as an American child in South America, I would read books from back home that were filled with pictures of snow, sleighs and roaring fires under mantles bedecked with decorations and stockings. Then I’d go outside into the 90° heat and see wilting Santas parading around in heavy velvet suits as the perspiration dripped off their faces. But the incongruities never made the season lose its magic.

But there really are kids in another world who never do more than hear about Christmas. Theirs is a world of scant survival, a world where their parents don’t make a big deal about Christmas so they won’t have to explain why there are never any presents; a world where Christmas really is just another day.

I’ve talked to families in the countries where we work about the gifts they receive through Children International and what they mean to them and to their children. Moms’ eyes get suspiciously misty as they invariably burst into fervent words of thanks. And almost without exception, when I ask them what their children would have received for Christmas had our sponsors not given them a gift, the answer is a quiet, “Nothing.”

If you are a Children International eNews subscriber, you’ll love reading next week about a little girl name Mayra and her first experience with a Children International gift distribution. And if you’re not a subscriber, you can become one by clicking here and then selecting the button on the right-hand side of the screen that says, “Sign Up for eNews.”

But what I really want to mention is the letter you most likely have received in the last few days from our CEO, Jim Cook. If you haven’t received it, please be on the lookout for it. Jim has written our sponsors because we’re coming into the Christmas season, and this is a time of year when we need all the help we can get in order to make sure each sponsored child has a magical Christmas.

So please, when you get the letter, give some serious thought to helping us give our sponsored children the best Christmas they’ve ever had. Or if you’d like to help out right now, simply visit the Children International home page and click where it says, “Give the gift of joy this holiday season.”

And…Thanks!

Press Control+P For Progress

Posted on behalf of Deron Denton

Amid the click-clack of keyboards and the persistent hum of a large air conditioning window unit straining in the Honduran midday heat, children are putting computers to good use.

We are in the neighborhood of Asentamientos Humanos, on the outer reaches of San Pedro Sula. This new computer learning center, made possible through Children International’s youth program, has been up and running for about one week.

Youth leaders who are democratically chosen by their peers determine how to spend a given amount of funds to benefit their community. The youth program was developed to support and empower youth, encouraging them to hone leadership skills and implement ways to improve their surroundings. The youth leaders in Asentamientos Humanos decided to spend their allotment of funds on this lab, which consists of 10 computers.

In addition to the myriad of services that every Children International community center provides, this one is now offering all youth in the community an opportunity to develop vital skills; specifically, how to use a computer and navigate the Internet.

“It’s one way to keep youth away from gangs…to help them build stability in their own life and for their families,” says a mature 16-year-old Joel Arita, one of the youth who helped start the program.

What Joel and the rest of the youth leaders know is that familiarity with computers is as fundamental to success in today’s world as is reading and writing…practically indispensable for anyone trying to find decent employment, much less trying to break free from poverty.

A part-time instructor was hired to provide formal training to sponsored youth in the mornings. In the afternoons, the computer lab becomes a cyber-café, open to all in the community for a nominal fee. Sponsored youth pay half-price. The money goes back into the lab for maintenance and other needs.

Joel and another youth program member, Alberto Rivas, are assisting and supervising younger sponsored children. On the afternoon of our visit, they are visibly proud of the project and their role in creating it.

“It’s nice to be able to help kids learn how to use computers and discover the Internet,” says Alberto.

Joel recounts how he had helped a sponsored youth a day or two earlier: “A boy of about 12 came in who had never been on a computer or used the Internet before, and I taught him. It’s very gratifying,” he says.

Since this computer center is the only one in the entire community, it looks like Joel, Alberto and the rest of the youth leaders can look forward to a successful – and fulfilling – adventure. It is likely to pay off, in more ways than one, for years to come.

This story originally appeared in the October 2005 edition of Children International's eNews under the title, "Youth Program Creates Cyber-Café." To view our archive of eNews stories, click here.

Photo by Jennifer Spaw.

A Party for Lizzy

As a photographer for Children International, I’ve met hundreds -- if not thousands -- of sponsored children around the world. I was excited to learn that my next assignment would take me to Lusaka, Zambia, where I would meet my own sponsored child, Lizzy, for the first time.

I became Lizzy’s sponsor last summer after my sponsored child of 13 years, Karl, graduated from the sponsorship program. Upon realizing that I would be in Lusaka on her birthday, I started planning how I could make this special day for Lizzy.

When I met 6-year-old Lizzy at her aunt's home, she was quiet and shy. Her mother had passed away only a few months earlier and her father was no longer around. She now lives with her aunt and cousins, who have taken Lizzy and her siblings into their own family. With so many children who’ve been orphaned due to AIDS and forced to live on the streets, I was comforted by the fact that her family was caring and she had a safe place to call home.

I arrived in Lusaka hoping for two suitcases to come off the plane, but found that only one had made it to Zambia with me. Although clean clothes would’ve been nice, I was thankful it was the suitcase full of gifts that my friends, family and I had purchased and carefully packed for Lizzy and her family. It would be five days before the suitcase with clean clothes would finally catch up with me!

Later, we arrived at the new CI community center for an afternoon of birthday fun. The staff had cheerfully decorated one of the rooms and had snacks and treats for everyone to enjoy. With her first birthday party ever in full swing, the cake and gifts arrived and Lizzy’s face glowed with smiles. And so did mine...for I had received the best gift of all...a huge hug from Lizzy.

Posted on behalf of Greg, a long-time Children International photographer who has traveled around the world capturing the essence of our sponsored children and their communities in hopes of giving sponsors a glimpse into our children's daily lives. Look for more from Greg next week as he, Damon (a staff writer for Children International) and I travel to Honduras.