I have fond childhood memories of sitting down with my family, the Trapp family, and watching the The Sound of Music together. Listening to Julie Andrews happily singing “My Favorite Things,” we couldn’t help but join in too. “Silver-white winters that melt into spring, these are few of my favorite things...” It’s a catchy tune.
Sponsorship is no doubt one of my favorite things too. Now, I know I’m a little biased since I work for Children International, but I’m also a sponsor. I sponsor a little boy in Mexico, and a group of my coworkers and I sponsor a young lady in Rural Guatemala. While I’m not going to sing about it, I thought I would take a moment today to share just a few of my favorite things about sponsorship:
-Letters from my sponsored child. I love getting mail, and if it comes from my sponsored kiddos, all the better.
- The pictures of course. I always get a kick out of their toothy grins (or seeing how many teeth they’ve lost since the last photo.)
-Knowing that I’m helping a needy child.
If you’d like to share your favorite things about sponsorship, we’d love to hear from you. Open a thread on our Google Groups page and tell us your story.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Joy and Fulfillment through Volunteering
Posted on behalf of Sarah Jane Velasco, Communications Coordinator in Tabaco, Philippines.
Ermilinda Bigol has been a volunteer mother for almost five years now. She is also a widow single-handedly raising five children.
Considering that her hands are already full with family responsibilities, how Ate Emmy (Sister Emmy), as she is fondly called in the community, manages to devote time to volunteer in the sponsorship program is indeed a wonder. But for her, it’s just a matter of time management and setting priorities: “Family comes first and volunteering follows closely.”
Since her husband died in a vehicular accident years ago, she had to learn to accept the fact that she must raise five children on her own. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she had to step up to it. The family gets by with the monthly pension she receives after the death of her husband. But for a family of seven, including Ate Emmy’s mother, a Php 3000 monthly budget is not enough, especially if all of her five children are in school. Because of this, she decided to go into rope-making. If done alone, it would take some time before a person could weave one bundle of rope. That is why the whole family shares this task, taking turns weaving bundle after bundle.
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At 4:30 in the morning, Ate Emmy gets up to prepare breakfast for the family and begins weaving rope. By 5, two of her children are already up to help. After three hours, they already have 70 bundles of rope. Also by this time, the kids are all set to go to school. After going through her domestic routine, Ate Emmy transforms from being the super mom to being a tireless volunteer.
In her five years of serving as a CI volunteer, she’s already gone through some ups and downs. According to her, handling an area with almost a thousand sponsored children is not an easy feat. She has to deal with the parents, regular requirements, CI staff and fellow volunteers. “I think the key is proper communication and leading by example. I try to be honest with them, give them the facts, and tell them what we have to do. They know I’m not doing it for myself, so we help each other out,” she added.
Despite her seemingly tireless efforts, Ate Emmy admits that being a mother and a volunteer can be exhausting at times but “the satisfaction I get makes the hard work worthwhile.” This plus her acknowledgement of the help the sponsorship program extends to her two children is what keeps her going. “As a widow, having two of my children sponsored is really a blessing. The assistance we get is already a big help.”
“As a mother, seeing my children grow up to be good individuals is more than enough reward; as a volunteer, knowing that I’m able to help even in a small way and getting personal affirmations tells me that I’m doing the job right, and that keeps me motivated,” said Ate Emmy.
Ermilinda Bigol has been a volunteer mother for almost five years now. She is also a widow single-handedly raising five children.
Considering that her hands are already full with family responsibilities, how Ate Emmy (Sister Emmy), as she is fondly called in the community, manages to devote time to volunteer in the sponsorship program is indeed a wonder. But for her, it’s just a matter of time management and setting priorities: “Family comes first and volunteering follows closely.”
Since her husband died in a vehicular accident years ago, she had to learn to accept the fact that she must raise five children on her own. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she had to step up to it. The family gets by with the monthly pension she receives after the death of her husband. But for a family of seven, including Ate Emmy’s mother, a Php 3000 monthly budget is not enough, especially if all of her five children are in school. Because of this, she decided to go into rope-making. If done alone, it would take some time before a person could weave one bundle of rope. That is why the whole family shares this task, taking turns weaving bundle after bundle.
.jpg)
At 4:30 in the morning, Ate Emmy gets up to prepare breakfast for the family and begins weaving rope. By 5, two of her children are already up to help. After three hours, they already have 70 bundles of rope. Also by this time, the kids are all set to go to school. After going through her domestic routine, Ate Emmy transforms from being the super mom to being a tireless volunteer.
In her five years of serving as a CI volunteer, she’s already gone through some ups and downs. According to her, handling an area with almost a thousand sponsored children is not an easy feat. She has to deal with the parents, regular requirements, CI staff and fellow volunteers. “I think the key is proper communication and leading by example. I try to be honest with them, give them the facts, and tell them what we have to do. They know I’m not doing it for myself, so we help each other out,” she added.
Despite her seemingly tireless efforts, Ate Emmy admits that being a mother and a volunteer can be exhausting at times but “the satisfaction I get makes the hard work worthwhile.” This plus her acknowledgement of the help the sponsorship program extends to her two children is what keeps her going. “As a widow, having two of my children sponsored is really a blessing. The assistance we get is already a big help.”
“As a mother, seeing my children grow up to be good individuals is more than enough reward; as a volunteer, knowing that I’m able to help even in a small way and getting personal affirmations tells me that I’m doing the job right, and that keeps me motivated,” said Ate Emmy.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Have You Hugged Your (Sponsored) Child Today?
Chances are, you’ve heard from us by mail, email or both in the last few days about something we call “Special Hug.”
And you may be asking yourself, “What in the world is Special Hug?”
Most of our activities center specifically around our sponsored children. However, once a year -- September 17 -- we give them a gift that is designed to help their whole family.
For most of us, it’s hard to imagine a plastic chair, a laundry bucket or a set of dishes being a major investment. But that’s exactly what it would be for most of our sponsored children’s families.
By giving them items similar to these each year, we let the moms and dads of sponsored children know we think about them as well…and we want to make their lives just a little bit easier.
I hope you’ll take a moment if you haven’t already – either through our website, www.children.org, or by filling in the form you receive in the mail – to send a small gift for the children and their families.
It may be a small gift – but it’s a big deal for them.
And you may be asking yourself, “What in the world is Special Hug?”
Most of our activities center specifically around our sponsored children. However, once a year -- September 17 -- we give them a gift that is designed to help their whole family.
For most of us, it’s hard to imagine a plastic chair, a laundry bucket or a set of dishes being a major investment. But that’s exactly what it would be for most of our sponsored children’s families.
By giving them items similar to these each year, we let the moms and dads of sponsored children know we think about them as well…and we want to make their lives just a little bit easier.
I hope you’ll take a moment if you haven’t already – either through our website, www.children.org, or by filling in the form you receive in the mail – to send a small gift for the children and their families.
It may be a small gift – but it’s a big deal for them.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Mission Accomplished!
Thanks to sponsor Alice...Liliam is no longer waiting! We trust Alice and Liliam will have a long and rewarding friendship.
Liliam Still Needs Our Help!
I hope everybody had a fantastic weekend! Despite dire forecasts of heavy rains, Kansas City stayed dry and sunshiny…with unseasonably cool temperatures. Lovely!It promises to be a busy week, but top on my list is reminding our readers about Liliam Lissette, our featured child from August 4.
As you may recall, 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’ve yet to find a sponsor for Liliam, so once again I’d like to appeal to our readers to help us get the word out. Some of you have even printed out pictures of children we’ve featured before and pinned them to your bulletin boards at work. Whatever you’re able to do will be greatly appreciated…and as always, Sarah and I are standing by to personally help Liliam’s new sponsor get started.
Thanks for your help…we – and Liliam – appreciate it.
Friday, August 15, 2008
A Sweet Bite of the Big Apple
Sponsored Youth Lara Villanueva reflects on her visit to New York for International Youth Day.
People would say that dreams are too far from reality and are only achieved within one's illusion. But for me, if dreams are mixed up with faith, patience, and hard work, it can break the limits of imagination and definitely become real.
This UN trip is beyond the boundaries of my dreams. This is such an unforgettable experience of mine that will never fade in my memory until the time comes to say "adios" to this world. I had a lot of happy moments even from getting my US visa, the security in the international airports, the experience inside the airplanes, the foods and beverages, gigantic buildings and precious scenery, walking in the sleepless streets of New York, the time adjustments, the United Nations Building, staff and comprehensive activities, the Youth Achievement Awardees, and the special luncheon wherein the youth awardees had their blue-plate lunch with Kathy Ireland and top officials from the United Nations.
Amidst some trials and hindrances on getting along with the schedules, my smile remains for I had a chance to meet Rocío, Charday and Jiyaul. Indeed, they became my Empire State Building on viewing and exploring the incomparable city of New York.
Children International Youth Delegates, Jiyaul, Lara, Charday and Rocío.
People would say that dreams are too far from reality and are only achieved within one's illusion. But for me, if dreams are mixed up with faith, patience, and hard work, it can break the limits of imagination and definitely become real.
This UN trip is beyond the boundaries of my dreams. This is such an unforgettable experience of mine that will never fade in my memory until the time comes to say "adios" to this world. I had a lot of happy moments even from getting my US visa, the security in the international airports, the experience inside the airplanes, the foods and beverages, gigantic buildings and precious scenery, walking in the sleepless streets of New York, the time adjustments, the United Nations Building, staff and comprehensive activities, the Youth Achievement Awardees, and the special luncheon wherein the youth awardees had their blue-plate lunch with Kathy Ireland and top officials from the United Nations.
Amidst some trials and hindrances on getting along with the schedules, my smile remains for I had a chance to meet Rocío, Charday and Jiyaul. Indeed, they became my Empire State Building on viewing and exploring the incomparable city of New York.
Children International Youth Delegates, Jiyaul, Lara, Charday and Rocío.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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!
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!
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