Rocío's Defining Moment: A New York City Experience

Posted on behalf of Rafael Mejía, Agency Director, Dominican Republic.

It was early Sunday morning. After a lot of excitement, nervousness, the hustle and bustle, trying to get Rocío's tourist visa, preparations and anxiety for the upcoming trip, since she first heard of her selection, the day had finally arrived. Sunday, August 10, 2008. Rocío's mom, little brother, and grandfather met me at the airport filled with mixed emotions.

Pride, happiness, worries and, most of all, gratitude that because of Children International and generous sponsors, their dream had come true.

I felt honored to have escorted Rocío throughout the entire process of the airport protocol and experience many firsts. First airplane ride. First immigration process. Rocío seemed very poised throughout the plane ride trying to absorb every detail – every millimeter of everything that was going on. But, deep inside, she was shaking with excitement, shocked, numbed almost like walking through a dream – literally. She could not believe this was happening to her!

Upon arriving to JFK International airport in New York City and answering some questions from the U.S. Immigration Officer, we finally got out, grabbed our suitcases and met a nice driver who took our luggage and escorted us to the parking lot and told us to wait for him while he got the car. Smiling and shocked, throughout the entire ride towards the hotel, she was in awe looking at all the tall buildings of the Manhattan skyline and trying to figure out which one was the Empire State Building.

She took pictures and said to me that this trip was a true inspiration and a high point in her life. Now more than ever, she will strive even harder, study and graduate from college so that this trip wouldn't be the first and last one.

Nighttime arrived and we had dinner with friends and colleagues from India and Kansas City. After dinner, I offered to take them for a walk downtown to Times Square!

Lights, signs, hot dog vendors, typical yellow cabs and with people all over the place, Rocío stayed poised, but could not take enough pictures. At every corner, she took pictures. Her face was bright as all the New York night lights.

Rocío was trying to capture and freeze in time every image and piece of NYC in order to take back home and share with her family and friends this wonderful experience – a very, very defining and enriching moment!

Learn more about Rocío and the other delegates on our International Youth Day page.

Youth Day in Zambia

On March 12th Zambia celebrated its youth day, a day that reminded all Zambians that youths are important. The theme of the day was “Promoting partnerships between youths and stakeholders for national development.” The celebrations were held at the Chibolya center and graced with the presence of Mary Emmett, widow of the late David Emmett (in whose honor the center is named), and her sister Judy Durr. Our Communications Coordinator in Zambia, Clementina Chapusha explains the significance of Youth Day in Zambia:

The theme Partnership between the youth and other stakeholders for national development does not simply end at youths being incorporated into adult decision making processes but must be institutionalized in issues, settings and practices that are very much part of the young people’s lives.

The partnership is about doing things together and also listening to everyone’s voice, regardless of their status in society, and embracing divergent ideas. The principle was embraced because it makes adults accountable to young people for their decisions and actions, as accountability is an integral aspect.

The children performed various dances and presented poems. Most of the poems were about how much they are affected by poverty and how HIV/AIDS has left them orphaned and at the mercy of the extended family.

Mrs Emmett was so touched by what she saw and heard from the children that she could not help shedding tears. She said her husband, who made the centre possible, was a very wonderful person who had a heart for others.

Mrs. Mary Emmett took time to dance with the youths.

Agency Director John Mufumbi thanked Mrs Emmett for her visit to Zambia and for making Youth Day a memorable day for the sponsored children.

“The help that we receive goes a long way in making significant difference in the lives of our sponsored children. Most of these are disadvantaged as they lack the basic needs such as education, health care and opportunities for promoting self esteem. With the support of our wonderful contributors we are able to make life worth living for the children.”

Photo by Clementina Chapusha.

It's All about Youth!

That’s right. In honor of International Youth Day on August 12th, all this week we will be blogging about our fantastic sponsored youth. Our youths are doing great things, including making their own videos to explain what sponsorship means to them. Check out the "Lights, Camera, Action" section of our International Youth Day page to see the top three youth videos. Looks like we have some budding directors, actors and screenwriters among us!

And don’t forget to stop back by throughout the week to read about the four lucky Children International youths who have been selected to attend the 5th Annual Youth Assembly, a three day conference in New York. We will be bringing you blogs from an Agency Director, Children International staff and of course, the youths themselves.

Photo by Javier Cárcamo, Communications Coordinator in Rural Guatemala.

Meet Angel, from Manila, Philippines

We recently asked Angel what makes her happy. Here's what she shared:

"My parents make me happy. They tell me stories. They take care of me. The gifts I receive from my sponsor make me happy too. My sponsor cares for me like my parents. And I am very happy because I have many people who love me."

Before and After: Feels like Home

You may remember reading about Jim Cook’s trip to India in his March blogs. Visiting sponsored child Shuva Khanra and his family was just one of several important stops along the way.

Strong storms during the monsoon season had damaged many homes, including Shuva’s. Knowing the instability of their home, Nilima, Shuva’s mother, kept her guard up and instructed her children to sleep under their bed on one particularly stormy night. Rain poured in and the very wall that the children slept next to collapsed. Thanks to their mother’s foresight the children were unharmed, but their home was a wreck. The family was forced to construct a temporary shelter to live in.

Not long after, they received wonderful news - Children International would build them a new home thanks to a donation from Gastinger Walker Harden Architects- and best of all, Nilima would no longer have to worry about her children’s safety.

Jim Cook visited the happy family halfway through the construction.

In April this family’s dreams came true when they were finally able to move into their new stable home thanks to the caring donors.

Photos and reporting assistance by Nivedita Moitra, Communications Coordinator in India.

Bloggers on a Mission: Meet Liliam Lissette

Liliam is 12 years old and lives with her parents and her brother in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She has been waiting for a sponsor for over three years.

Liliam’s dad works as a street vendor, and the family struggles to survive on the barely $100 a month he’s able to earn. But in spite of her family’s difficult situation, Liliam loves to sing and dance and works hard on her studies.

We’re calling on our family of blog readers to help us get the word out about Liliam. Take a look at her picture and think of a friend, relative or coworker who might like to be her sponsor…and then have them contact us at blog@children.org. We’ll take care of the rest!

Thanks….

Faces of Joy

While sponsored children may be in dire need and condition with very limited choices in life, faces of joy are seen in every visit to the community center: whether it be in receiving gifts such as shoes below…


Waiting for a vaccine…


Receiving a birthday gift from a sponsor…


Writing letters of gratitude to sponsors…


Braving the needle during vaccination…


Or simply enjoying meals during the Feeding Program…



Posted on behalf of Margaret Cruz from Children International’s Quezon City Agency. Photos by Margaret Cruz.