On the 12th Day of Christmas My Sponsor Gave to Me…

…12 Months of Friendship

It seems perfect that our last day of Christmas be about something that is so important during the holiday – the connection we have to one another.

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to most of your that your sponsored child thinks of you as a friend, a steady, reassuring presence in what can be a fairly chaotic and uncertain life. That’s why your letters are so meaningful. They provide that special boost when it’s needed most. And when your child knows you’re going to be there all year long, well, it helps them believe that his or her life has possibilities.

More than once I’ve had a sponsored child entrust to me a message that I am to spirit back with haste to his or her special friend. “Tell him I love him,” or “Please tell her that I am thankful for her and pray for her every night.” Often, they’ll make me promise. And, often, with a fair amount of luck anyway, I can play the part of happy messenger and deliver the dispatch.

So, in celebration of the friendship that sponsorship helps foster, on this, the 12th day of Christmas, I’d like to share with you what the season is really all about, as told by sponsor Robin Buckley, who was lucky enough to be with his special friends, Roberto and Bianny, so near the holiday.

From his blog, written shortly after his visit, which was just a couple of days ago:

Today was spent visiting with the two boys – Roberto and Bianny – whom I sponsor through Children International. Unlike my visit in June when I was able to see the boys on separate days, this time it was necessary to see them together because of the busy Christmas season. And so, we decided to spend the day at one of the larger shopping malls in Santiago. I had brought several gifts with me from Canada but wanted to give the boys the chance to pick out what they wanted.

Building a lasting friendship: Robin and Bianny exchange a hug.

Since Roberto lives about an hour away from Santiago, he came with his mother and one of the CI Social Workers and they went directly to the mall. Yaseni, the CI field office worker (and my translator) arrived at my hotel together with Bianny, his father and their Social Worker and then we were off to the mall to meet up with Roberto.

We all got together in the cafeteria at the Mall to figure out our plans for the day. This mall is absolutely huge and would rival anything we have back in Canada. I told the boys that they could go shopping and that they had 2500 pesos each to spend (about $75 US).

By the time the boys had finished with what they considered “necessities”, they had purchased some new shoes, jeans and a t-shirt and had a little left over to buy a toy.

By this time, we were all getting hungry and so we returned to the cafeteria for some lunch. The unanimous choice was for pizza from Dominoes.

When it was originally suggested to me that we would have to combine the visits with both kids, I was a little worried because I didn’t know whether or not they would get along. Roberto is 11 and Bianny is 9 and at first they were a little apprehensive together. But there’s a kid’s play area (similar to what you’ll find at McDonald’s back home) and they both headed there after lunch while the “adults chatted.” I think this was the “icebreaker” because when they returned to the table, they were laughing and joking together. It’s absolutely amazing how kids can get along when you leave them alone!

We left the mall to take Roberto, his mom and their social worker to the bus stop for their hour-long ride home at which time I gave Roberto the gifts I had brought from Canada. These mostly consisted of school supplies – notebooks, pens etc that is so lacking in this country as well as a watch that I had gotten for him. Then Bianny, his dad, their social worker, Yaseni and I headed over to Bianny’s house to spend some time there.

While there, it was time to give the gifts I had brought from Canada for Bianny and his adorable little sister. I felt bad about the fact that there were cousins visiting and I didn’t have anything to give them.

And then unfortunately, it was time for me to leave but I did so with the promise that I would be back again sometime next summer. The family wished me a “feliz navidad” and Bianny wanted to give me a hug.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what Christmas is all about!

Thanks Robin. And thanks to all of you for being that friend year in and year out. It truly matters. The happiest of holidays to each and every one of you, and our gratitude for making it all possible.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for a special post by Children International president Jim Cook.

Posted on behalf of Scott Cotter. Photo courtesy Robin Buckley.

Kidding Around

Whether rich or poor, urban or rural, kids know how to have a good time. Take a look at some of the fun moments caught on camera by our Communications Coordinators.


Alejandro in Barranquilla, Colombia enjoys an afternoon of kite-flying.


Look out below! Children in Legazpi, Philippines take a little break from school to play on the slide.


Drumming up some fun in Lusaka, Zambia.


One blue bucket makes one cool hat for this boy in Rural Guatemala.



What better way to spend the day than with your friends at the beach in the Dominican Republic?

Photos from top to bottom by Patricia Calderón, Anthony Lorcha, Clementina Chapusha, Javier Cárcamo and Erenia Mesa.

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.

Meet Creilyn....

"I want to tell my sponsor thanks! The medicines are very expensive. If I were non-sponsored it would take a lot of money for health and dental services because in my country it is very expensive. The doctors take good care of us and are very affectionate. I also want to tell my sponsor I like to play and I am a very good boy."

– Sponsored child Creilyn, from Santiago, Dominican Republic

In the Hope of Changing a Few More Lives - Part 2

This is a continuation of sponsor Bennett Scher's observations about his visit to his sponsored children in the Dominican Republic and about sponsorship in general.


Do you plan to continue your involvement in Ciro's life even though he's already graduated from our program? If so, what do you hope to see him accomplish?
Ciro is now a young man. I sponsored him for 7 years, and I have sent him to vocational school so he can hopefully get a better job and move up from there. I'm providing an item, the motor scooter, something that costs about 1/2 of the total annual family income and that he could never afford himself, as a tool for earning more income, and helping the family. Hopefully I've given his life a jumpstart and he will be able to make his way.

At this point, my main focus is his sister, Bernira, who is only 14, is a great student, and has a lot of potential. There is a chance that I might be able to send her to college as well, which only costs about $1000 a year in the Dominican Republic. I’ve donated for English classes, which she is taking, and if she expresses interest, the college thing is a viable option. I'm committed to staying with her as long as she is in the program, and longer, if she opts for continuing her education. Of course, if the family or Ciro are in dire need of something, I will do my best to help them with my own money or with other drives like the motorcycle fundraiser.


Tell me a little bit about your band…I own, lead, and play guitar in a 9-piece dance band called NIGHTSONG. We play exclusively at high-end corporate events and private functions, mainly in the larger hotels/facilities in the Greater Washington DC/Baltimore area. Hopefully one day we will be able to perform at a Children International fundraiser if the need ever arises!

Would you recommend sponsorship to others?
Yes, I would recommend it to anyone. The cost is minimal – less than 75 cents a day – so it’s a no-brainer. I've seen the way the organization works from the inside out. That $22 a month buys so much more than you could imagine...shoes, backpacks, school supplies, regular dental and medical checkups, access to a community center, library, and even if a child's sponsor stops sponsoring them, they stay in the program. You can write the children, visit them, send extra gifts that go directly to them, and so much more.

To sum up, I'd say that the program exceeded my expectations greatly, and the experience of visiting the children has been the most rewarding thing I've ever done. As much of a gift as it is for them to be helped by me, it's at least as much or more of a gift to me to be able to help them! I've already got a few friends interested in getting involved, and intend to share my story with everyone I meet, in the hope of changing a few more lives!

Behind the Scenes: Meet the Writer and...Go Bananas!

Posted on behalf of Erin Fitzgerald

Ever wonder where your bananas are grown?

Find out more beginning Tuesday, February 5, on Children International’s website, where we’ll feature a short video about Ciro, a sponsorship graduate who is working on a banana farm to help support his family.

Like most people, I never gave a second thought about the origin of my bananas. But in May, I had the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic to meet some of the families in our sponsorship program. I had the privilege of visiting Ciro, who sadly dropped out of school early to help support his family. Fortunately, a generous donation from his sponsor is now allowing him to continue his education.

We visited Ciro on the job at a banana farm to watch him in action. Working quickly and methodically, he boxed up bananas and prepared them to be exported so people like you and me can enjoy them.

And if you’re anything like me, the monotony of boxing up fruit might just drive you…bananas. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)

But poor families are just grateful to have any type of employment that brings in money. They work in labor-intensive jobs, doing whatever it takes to keep their families afloat.

Next time you peel open a banana, think of the hard-working folks who cut them down and boxed them up so you could enjoy a delicious snack. And in the meantime, check out the video of Ciro, called “Children at Work” starting Tuesday, February 5. Feel free to come back and post your comments.

Erin is a staff writer for Children International. Her video about Ciro will be posted on our website, www.children.org, on Tuesday. Don't miss it!

Photo by Jennifer Spaw

Coming Soon!

Children International works in some of the most fascinating places among some of the most fascinating people you can imagine.

We always look forward to publishing the next edition of our magazine, Journeys, so we can take you along to visit some of these places and meet some of these people. And this edition is no exception.

You'll meet Abhijit, a young boy in India, and take an insightful peek into daily life for families in the rural areas of the country. You'll travel to Guatemala to visit with Sabina, who over two decades ago became the very first child to ever enroll in what was then Children International's new sponsorship program; you'll experience vicariously the sights and incredible smells of the city garbage dumps outside Santiago, in the Dominican Republic, where families work under unimaginable conditions to eke out a living; you'll travel up a mountainside in Guatemala on a dark night in the middle of a tropical storm to see what it's like to be a family living in destitution while nature is at its worst...and you'll ride a motorbike down a smugglers' highway in Honduras with a Children International field officer as he makes his rounds (there's a really cool video to go along with this!).

All this and much more will be coming to your mailbox in the next three or four days. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together!

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.

Behind the Scenes: A Grateful Writer

Posted on behalf of Deron Denton.

In November, I celebrated my third year as a member of the Children International family. The fact that I was hired just before the holiday season gets in full gear strikes me as a meaningful coincidence.

People involved with charitable humanitarian work know well the axiom that giving is its own reward.

We hear about it all the time: sponsors tell us that the joy they receive from giving far exceeds the monetary amount they contribute. The lessons I learn from our supporters are only exceeded by the incredible generosity of the people I meet in the field.

Deron (far right) with other staff members as they prepared to visit the Dominican Republic

I don’t know if you remember, but I wrote here a number of months ago about our most recent trip to the Dominican Republic, where I had the opportunity to visit my own sponsored child. His family offered me eggs from their own hen – it was an act of generosity that brought tears to my eyes.

During that same trip, I also met a 12-year-old girl named Ferlenny, whose two younger siblings are sponsored. She spoke with us about participating in the Youth Program and volunteering for our organization even though she wasn’t receiving sponsorship benefits. Her reason for being involved was simple: “I love to help people.”

Another highlight of that trip was getting the opportunity to touch base with Michael Hidalgo, a youth who was on the verge of graduating from our program. We’d first met Michael the previous summer, as one of the representatives at the 2006 International Youth Conference. An intelligent and charismatic young man, Michael’s enthusiasm for spreading the word about Children International was contagious. (An article I wrote that has Michael as a focal point is going onto our website, www.children.org, starting Tuesday.)


He led a group of youth (and us) through the streets of his neighborhood. Their goal was to raise awareness about both the benefits of sponsorship as well as the participation requirements (photos, letter-writing, etc.). Michael was full of hope for the future…a hope instilled in him as a result of his involvement with our organization. It is a hope that permeates the impoverished communities where your support does so much good.

This holiday season, I am grateful for the extended family I have become a part of…and for the incredible lessons of generosity, and hope they all – in different ways – continue to teach me.

You Asked For It!

Several of you have requested photos of children using the newly-remodeled Children International community center in Cienfuegos, Santiago, the Dominican Republic. I located a few shots sent to me by Dayanara, our communications coordinator, and thought I'd share them with you...

Measuring up (above): This child's medical records are getting ready to get an update. We carefully monitor children's height and weight in an effort to detect and prevent malnutrition and make sure development is normal.

Writing your sponsor is fun -- especially when you get to work with a friend!

Dr. Luisiana is going to make sure this young man keeps his winning smile...

One of the greatest benefits Children International provides sponsored children is free medications. Often, if poor families are even able to see a doctor, they do not have the money to fill a prescription. Children International backs up its free basic health care by making sure the children have the medicines they need to get -- and stay -- well.

As Promised…Pictures of the Grand Opening in Santiago, Dominican Republic

Well, it’s been a couple of weeks since we opened Children International’s newly remodeled Robert and Paula Larkin Center in the Cienfuegos community of Santiago, Dominican Republic. This center includes a lovely community hall named “Dan’s Place” in honor of Dan Truax. Dan is a sponsor who was critically injured in an auto accident in the Dominican Republic as part of a missionary team involved in improving the homes of a number of sponsored children. He remains hospitalized, and we wish him all the best in his recovery.

I’ll spare you the details of my delay-riddled flight back to Kansas City…but, as promised, I want to share with you a few pictures from the grand opening of the Larkin Center and Dan’s Place.

Photo 1:
I visited this center a number of times prior to it being remodeled. Had I not known the details, I would not have recognized it as the same place! The larger building in the front is the Robert and Paula Larkin Center, while the slightly smaller building in the rear is Dan’s Place.

Photo 2:
Left to right: Sponsor Bennett Scher, Sponsors Alejandra and Frank Moll, Children International Regional Director Connie Keyser and Children International Vice President of Marketing Brian Anderson rise from the head table in honor of the Dominican and American national anthems.

Photo 3:
Sponsor Frank Moll, who sponsors 27 children – 26 of whom live in the Dominican Republic – addresses the crowd. Although Frank and his wife, Alejandra, live in Los Angeles, their roots are Dominican and Cuban. They are excited about the prospect of helping bring hope to an area of the world that has long been dear to their family.

Photo 4:
A sizable audience of community residents and invited dignitaries joined CI’s local staff to celebrate the inauguration of the Larkin Center and Dan’s Place.

Photo 5:
Alejandra Moll officially inaugurates the Robert and Paula Larkin Center by cutting the ribbon, held by Santiago agency director Amparo Guerrero, as the other sponsors, Children International employees and sponsored children look on.

Photo 6:
Later, a medieval musical ensemble from a local university entertained the audience in Dan’s Place.

Start Spreading the Word

Posted on behalf of Deron Denton

Last year was, in many ways, the Year of Giving Big. Warren Buffet pledged $37 billion dollars to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Clinton Global Initiative hosted a conference that read like a “who’s-who” of philanthropy: non-profit, corporate and political leaders from across the globe pooled their expertise and wealth to tackle issues of poverty, climate change, global health and education.

In 2006, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to a Bangladeshi man who founded a bank that helps poor people by providing them affordable loans to start their own small businesses. U2 front man Bono seemed ubiquitous: he was at the White House, in Africa, and everywhere in between. Scores of other celebrities were not only getting involved with humanitarian causes – they were talking about it. (The fact that they talked about it bugged me. But more on that in a minute.)

The same trend appears to be continuing this year…the actions of the rich and famous are being replicated by the rest of us. It is estimated that two-thirds of Americans gave to charity last year.

The friends and family who began sponsoring children since I started working for Children International 3 years ago seem to confirm this trend. Most of them, I think, already donated time or money to humanitarian causes prior to signing up for sponsorship. But when they learned about what Children International does, they wanted to be a part of it.

I know that two of those friends have provided special donations to their children’s families. One of them told me, more than once, that sponsorship has made him more aware of just how fortunate he is. The fact that we are not one of the 3 billion people on the planet struggling to survive on less than two dollars a day, he says, makes us wealthy. At least, we are wealthy beyond the dreams of half the people with whom we share this planet.

I don’t know if you can relate to this or not, but I have a tendency to not talk about the charitable endeavors I am involved with. Somehow, I think, this cheapens it. I’m not sure where that comes from, but I’ve had that notion for a long time now. So when I see celebrities talking about their involvement with certain humanitarian causes, it tends to turn me off.

But I have come to realize just how eager people are to help the less fortunate. And if we are passionate about something, that passion is contagious. Letting friends, family and co-workers know about the philanthropy that energizes us is a way to get more people involved. The more people we get involved…well, I think you get the point.

Very few of us are famous. But that doesn’t matter in terms of getting other people to hop onboard the train of charitable giving. We can still spread the word. Even fewer of us are billionaires. Nonetheless, most of us can afford to support a humanitarian cause…even if it’s just a small, once-a-year gift.

And talking about it, in terms of how giving helps the recipients – and how giving is its own reward – is a great way to further the cause.

Day Two in the Field - Santiago, Dominican Republic

Today was pretty much what you would expect in the wake of a tropical storm. Dayanara (communications coordinator) and Rosa (field officer) took me to a community known as La Otra Banda -- "The Other Band". Our driver took us as far up the muddy hill as he could, but then we had to get out and walk. We found out a few minutes later that his efforts at gaining traction had really done nothing but gain him a flat tire.

We had two families to visit in this community, so we slogged up a hillside so steep we had to form a human chain to keep from succumbing to the call of gravity. And the mud -- gooey, stickey mud, the kind that will suck your shoes right off your feet. Good thing my wife let me know right before I left that my favorite pair of boat shoes really wasn't her favorite anymore!

I'll tell you the rest of the story in pictures.

Photo 1 (above):

The two families we visited were oddly similar -- and the similarities ran beyond just the fact that they only lived a few hundred yards apart. Both are desperately poor. Both have large families...one has four children and the other six children. Both moms are named Dilcia. And both of their oldest sons, though not out of grade school yet, have to work in the mornings selling shelled peas or fruit salad (one even works taking out the neighbors' trash) to help their families stay afloat.

Then they go to school. If they don't find a ride with someone, they have to walk. The walk is two hours each way.

One of the children has epilepsy, and the doctor won't let him start school yet even though he's six. That means mom can't work. And with the rain, the boys wouldn't be selling fruit salad today, maybe tomorrow, maybe even for several days, so things aren't looking good in the pantry.

Sponsorship can't fix all their problems, but it has given them the gift of hope. Both moms have big plans for their kids. Through the educational help they receive from Children International, they're going to break out of poverty and make better lives for themselves. One of the boys even dreams of being a college professor.

At the end of our visit, we send someone to the corner store and make sure both families have enough food to last for several days, and then we slide back down the hill to our waiting van.

Photo 2 (above):

Concerned about the welfare of our sponsored families, we set out for the river to view the flooding from the storm. On our way, we met this sponsored youth crossing a rickety wooden bridge over a flood-swollen canal. I, too, got the privilege of making the crossing several times in search of the right picture...

Photo 3 (above):

I didn't even TRY to cross this one...especially since Rosa reflected ruefully that she had already put her leg through this crosswalk some time back.

Photo 4 (above):

These houses are in the danger zone since the Yaque del Norte river is on the rise. Some residents of this area have already been evacuated by the government.

Photo 5 (above):

I took this shot from a catwalk running alongside a huge red span bridge, hanging over the Yaque del Norte. We had to weave our way on foot across four lanes of crazy traffic that didn't seem to care whether we made it or not. Notice the flooded-out house in the river in the lower right hand part of the photo. The placid city scene with the famed Monument to the Heroes of the Revolution rising behind the river seems strangely incongruous with the chaos below.

My Internet connection here is sketchy at best, but I hope to upload more photos by Friday morning. Check back!

Soggy Success in Santiago

Early Monday morning, I drove to one of Kansas City International Airport’s peculiar, round terminals and hopped on a plane....Destination? Santiago, Dominican Republic.

I guess I was shell-shocked from my last two trips, with the haunting memory of hours spent in airport terminals or stopped on the tarmac waiting for the bad weather to lift from the airports I needed to reach in order to get home.

But this time, all went incredibly smoothly. I didn’t even know a tropical storm had hit Santiago until I got off the plane and found out it was raining cats and dogs outside. And today it was evident that it won’t take much to cause some severe flooding…authorities are having to open the floodgates on the dam to relieve the incredible stress it’s under, and water is just a few feet away from some of the shacks of the hopelessly poor people who have nowhere to live but along the riverbanks. I’ll try to get pictures tomorrow if I can.


Today I spent the day with a warm and gracious couple named Frank and Alejandra Moll. The Molls are from Los Angeles, although their roots are Dominican and Cuban. They are in the Dominican Republic to visit 26 of their 27 sponsored children – 18 of these in Santiago (the rest live in Santo Domingo, while one child lives in Guatemala). Besides the Molls, the rest of the group was made up of Diomaris, chief of sponsor relations for Children International’s Santiago agency; Nurys, who works in Sponsor Relations, and world traveler, new CI development officer and all around cool guy Jeremy Parker, who speaks English, French, Spanish (he says he doesn’t!) and two African languages I won’t even try to pronounce. And of course, we couldn’t have made it without William, our patient van driver who each night swabs the mud out of his van and lovingly polishes it inside and out, only to see it turned into a mud pit by the end of the day.


We took the Molls to the Children International community center in El Flumen. This community center is modern and airy, and is generally packed with families who show up to receive sponsorship benefits, see the doctor or dentist or attend a workshop. Then, after a quick visit with the staff and a tour of the facilities, we braved the rain back to the van and headed out to visit two of the Moll’s sponsored children. Warm welcomes awaited us in the cramped and humble structures these families call home (odd—they were both bright yellow), and some of the kids couldn’t resist hamming it up for the camera.


But the most exciting part came next. We drove to a popular pizza place, where the Moll’s 18 sponsored kids from the Santiago area met us, along with their families. Talk about a crowd – we OWNED the place! Smiles, laughter, a few tears, songs, speeches, gifts…I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that not one of those children will ever forget the day their sponsors came to town.


We were accompanied on this part of the trip by Pedro, the Santiago agency’s photographer, who came along to film the event. Pedro is a neat guy…He started working for Children International about a year ago, after working 10 years as a professional photographer. Pedro’s older brother was sponsored by Children International in the early 90s, but Pedro didn’t realize we were the same organization – since at that time our agency was known by a local name – until he was in the final parts of the interview process.


As he speaks about the work Children International does in Santiago, his eyes burn with the fervor of a true believer. Like others, he has discovered parts of his own city he never dreamed existed until he began to work for CI – areas where poverty lies over the communities like a deathly pall. But he has seen what sponsorship will do, and he feels working for Children International is his calling.

“Sometimes I just want to brag [about sponsorship],” smiles Pedro. “I am so proud to work for Children International!”

P.S. Frank Moll asked me to pass along a challenge…he’d like someone to outdo him and sponsor 28 children. But, says Frank, if you have just one sponsored child, sponsor another; you’ll be twice as rewarded!

I’ll be blogging more in the next couple of days about the time I spend in the communities and the grand opening of our newly remodeled community center in Cienfuegos, so please check back.

Dreaming Big in the Dominican Republic

Posted on behalf of Erenia Mesa

Neither poverty nor epilepsy could kill the dreams of this young slugger from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Nelson has no doubts about his dream. One day he’ll be a great shortstop like his hero, Miguel Tejada, of the Boston Orioles. And thanks to sponsorship, he just may make it.

Challenged by epilepsy, Nelson used to pass out. This caused him problems in school and caused him to get behind.

Ana Josefina, Nelson’s mom, is grateful to the medical staff from Children International in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, for diagnosing Nelson’s epilepsy. She’s also thankful for the support he’s received since then.

“He used to get fever, and right away he’d go into convulsions. But he doesn’t do that anymore,” says Ana Josefina.

Nelson and his mom, Ana Josefina, with Nelson's bat and baseball trophies.

Now he can play baseball. “I play shortstop and second base for the team,” says Nelson, proudly. “I’ve been playing baseball for four years, and I don’t get sick anymore. I’m hoping they’ll sign me because I want to be a successful ballplayer. Thanks to sponsorship and my medical treatment, I can keep on playing.”

He’s in school now, and he’s made significant progress. He’s working on finishing sixth grade. And his epilepsy is almost completely under control; his convulsions are a thing of the past.

Despite living in poverty with his mom and three sisters – and without the support of a father – Nelson is very optimistic and sure of his dreams. And sponsorship provides the medications and the care he needs to give those dreams a fighting chance.

Photos by Erenia Mesa. Erenia is the communications coordinator for Children International’s agency in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Great News on Awilda!

For those of you who have been following Awilda's story, I want to share a heart-warming report. A few days go, we received the following information from our agency in Santiago:

Thanks to the wide-spectrum antibiotics from our clinic that our doctors prescribed, the culture on Awilda came back negative. No pathogenic microorganisms were found. It only showed that she once had an infection, and that she once had osteomyelitis.

"Few children reach this stage -- most have to undergo amputation... We hope she will continue like this," said Dr. Vargas as she excitedly gave us the good news.

At this time, Awilda will take other medications for 5 days. They are treating her foot daily, and will do so over the period of one month. Afterwards, she will undergo an evaluation by an orthopedic doctor to determine what next steps should be taken. They will buy her some special inserts for her shoe to minimize irritation to the foot (they are getting estimates for them now).

Awilda is very close to the hearts of the Children International team that visited her in May, to the Santiago agency and to others here at the home office in Kansas City -- and of course to her sponsor. And, as evidenced by the generous donations and expressions of concern we have received, it's also clear she's gotten close to the hearts of our readers!

This is a remarkable case where saving Awilda's foot and eradicating her osteomyelitis (something doctors were saying was virtually impossible when we were there) is, I believe, directly attributable to the scrutiny and attention this case received from Children International and all of you, our friends on the blog.

So...KUDOS!!!

The Joy of Going Barefoot

Summer has officially arrived! A season of endless daylight that inspires most children to play hard, usually barefoot, and catch cool sips of water from a garden hose when they can. Ordinarily, we don’t think twice about letting our children play without shoes or even walking around ourselves barefoot. But for children who live in unsanitary conditions year-round, walking barefoot is an invitation to become hosts to parasites.

They could be hiding in standing water, waiting to latch onto a child’s bare foot. Or they could be lurking undetected on a dirty hand, eager to make their way into a child’s mouth. Parasites are just waiting for a chance to strike.

Worms live inside many impoverished children. Poor living conditions, inadequate sanitation and contaminated water serve as prime breeding grounds. Once inside, parasites consume up to half of the nutrients that a child eats.



That’s why for more than 10 years, Children International has promoted its anti-parasite campaign in impoverished communities around the world. We help provide anti-parasite medicine to children and families who live in areas with a high risk of infection. We also take a proactive approach, providing health and hygiene education to teach families how to keep parasites from returning. Our efforts are working, and we’re having a positive impact on the health of our sponsored children.

And with a deep appreciation to our sponsors, who donate so generously each year, we can continue to distribute regular doses of anti-parasite medication to infected children and families. And maybe one day, all of our sponsored children will know the joy of playing barefoot without the worry of illness.

Update on Awilda

[On June 7, Dayanara (our communications coordinator in Santiago, Dominican Republic) and Dr. Vargas, our agency doctor, accompanied Awilda and her mom, Jacqueline, to the Regional University Children’s Hospital for another exam. Dayanara shared the following report:]

The first thing Dr. Vargas (who had agreed to meet Awilda and her mother, Jacqueline) said upon entering the hospital was, “It looks like the hospital isn’t big enough for the population.”


We finally met Awilda, and in the middle of her greeting she said, “I’m a little nervous.” Dr. Vargas started joking with her to try to calm her. Then we continued talking about her situation, and Awilda told us, “My foot hurts a lot; I have a lot of infection. I’ve had to change my sock as many as three times a day.”

Dr. Vargas asked her, “Do you feel positive and ready for what the doctor tells you?” Awilda answered, “You’ve got to take it as it comes.”

[If you’ve never seen the conditions of public hospitals in countries with struggling economies, it can be overwhelming. Dayanara provided a vivid description of the scene that greeted her in the waiting room...]

Children in wheelchairs, crying; desperate mothers; a lot of heat; too many people – so many there weren’t enough chairs....When Dr. Vargas and I looked around the area where we were, Dr. Vargas observed, “God gives special children to strong people.”

While we were waiting, I tried to make time go by faster and break the tension by telling Awilda about the story Kelly had posted on CI’s blog. Awilda got very excited and said, “I’ll have to open an email account for all the people who will want to write me!” We all laughed. “As soon as I have money I’m going to an Internet center so I can see myself,” she added.


Finally we were able to enter the doctor’s office. He told us, “Osteomyelitis doesn’t heal; it can’t be cured. It stays alert while it messes things up.” Nutrition and rest are fundamental elements. The doctor feels that, overall, the child has alternated between good and bad progress.

[The good news, though, is that amputation is no longer being spoken of as the only alternative. There’s a fighting chance that Awilda’s foot can be saved.]

He also told us, “Were it not for the developmental stage she’s in, I would have fused her ankle; but that’s not feasible now.” He assured us that “Now the procedure will be slow. I’m happy that Children International is helping the child, because often the family can’t do what’s needed because of their financial needs.”

The doctor said that the most important part is the treatment, and he requested that CI cover Awilda’s transportation costs so she can go to the hospital instead of the having the volunteer who’s been caring for her foot at home continue to go to her house to treat her. He said that if the treatment is not done right the situation could worsen.

[Awilda will also be seeing a private specialist. Thanks to the ongoing support of her sponsor and generous donations from our readers, for the first time in years Awilda has a ray of hope.]

Would you like to share some words of encouragement with Awilda? Email them to blog@children.org and we'll make sure she gets them!

Awilda's Story

Terror flooded her eyes. “I don’t want them to cut off my foot....”

* * * *

It was Friday, and we were exhausted. My coworkers Jennifer, Deron, Sarah, Jacob, Erin and I had been in the Dominican Republic for a full week. It was a non-stop flurry of activity as we visited the areas served by Children International’s sponsorship program and interviewed children and their families. Our cameraman, Jacob, and I sat outside as Deron, one of Children International’s writers, interviewed one last family in their home.

“Well, I think we’re done,” I murmured to Jacob. Both of us felt a wave of relief. Although it’s always great to be in the field, the cases we deal with are often pretty emotionally overwhelming, and we were bone tired.

About that time, the rest of the group returned from their interview. Someone looked at the schedule. “Oops. Looks like we’ve still got one more to go....” Wearily, we got up and trudged off, making our way to a simple concrete house with a small covered porch.

But the dazzling smile that met us at the door soon chased our weariness away. Awilda, a pretty 14-year-old, invited us into her home. As we entered the living room, Awilda attempted to move the chairs around so we could be seated. I say "attempted"...because she was in a wheelchair. Quietly, Deron helped arrange the chairs and we were seated. We later learned that Awilda cleans the house and does the dishes, all from her wheelchair.

Awilda’s bubbly personality and quiet grace belied the years of tragedy she had endured. As I translated, Deron and Jennifer gently encouraged her to share her story with us, while Dr. Vargas, our agency doctor, sat on the sofa and filled in the details as needed.

Awilda was born with a herniation of the marrow of the spinal column. I know there’s a mile-long name for her medical condition, but I’m no doctor. The surgery her condition required damaged the nerves controlling her feet, legs, bladder and bowel function, leaving her a paraplegic who must wear diapers at all times.

As a testament to her determination, Awilda can get around on crutches pretty well. Years ago (so long ago she can’t remember the day it happened), she was playing outside and cut her foot. Hours later her mother got home and took her to the hospital, but by that time it was too late. Severe infection had set in.

Due to poor circulation and other side effects of her surgery, the wound never healed. The infection soon progressed to osteomyelitis, a severe infection of the bone. “The orthopedic surgeon is insisting that the best course of treatment is to amputate her leg,” said Dr. Vargas. But then, fiercely, she continued, “But we don’t want that.”

Terror flooded Awilda’s eyes. “I don’t want them to cut off my foot...” she whispered, desperately.

For a moment, Awilda was gone, and my own 14-year-old daughter back in Kansas City took her place.

“What are some of the things you like to do?” I heard Deron asking, snapping back to reality as I realized I had to translate. “I like to hear music…sing,” said Awilda. Then her smile turned to dejection, but she spoke without bitterness. “I like to dance, play ball...all the things I can’t do.”

“We are all hoping for the best, but...what will you do if – God forbid – they do have to amputate?” I asked, hesitantly.

Awilda seemed to try to form words, but instead she lapsed into silence. Tears welled up in her mother’s eyes. “She’s already said she’ll never leave the house again if they amputate her foot. She’s afraid people will look at her strangely,” she murmured.

My role as a translator was forgotten and replaced by the father within me. I tried to communicate with her that having or not having a foot has nothing to do with the beauty that emanates from her soul. That regardless of the outcome of her treatment, the Awilda that people know and love lives on the inside. I had to stop for a moment and choke back my emotions; Jennifer, Deron and I studiously avoided looking at each other, each of us struggling to retain our composure.

Awilda’s mom had been with us the whole time. Her dad, an unemployed bus driver, had just entered the room and now stood behind her. With a tenderness that was surprising for his gruff exterior, he broke the tension of the moment with a teasing remark. “I have some good news, though. She’s already got a boyfriend!”

The old sparkle returned to Awilda’s eyes. “I’m not lying,” she declared. “Yesterday I was over at my aunt’s house....There were ten boys flirting with me!”

It hardly seems fair that the only sensation Awilda can feel in her paralyzed feet is pain, which means the infection is much worse.

Awilda needs help urgently. Thanks to a special donation, she’s getting a new wheelchair. Her generous sponsor has gone above and beyond to make sure her basic needs are met. But she needs to be hospitalized so her infection can be brought under control. And she has dreams, too: she wants to study English...and computers...and guitar.

We always try to help with these critical cases we discover on our trips, but finding the funds among so many urgent needs can be a real challenge.

I promised her we would not forget.

A World of Thanks

“Synergy” is one of those buzz words that runs the risk of losing its credibility because it is so often overused (and abused). But when viewed objectively, it presents a concept that is powerful: many people working together can accomplish exponentially more than the same number of people working by themselves.

Working for Children International has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Knowledge of poverty by itself only breeds greater misery; but knowledge of poverty coupled with the ability to do something about it brings the satisfaction of knowing you are making a real difference, one life at a time.

Here at CI we are keenly aware that our ability to change lives is predicated entirely on the generosity and engagement of our sponsors. That’s why I want to take a moment to stop and say “thanks” to you, our critical team members and partners in change.

Children International operates in 11 countries. (Can you name them? Colombia, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, the Philippines, the United States, and Zambia.) By working together with our sponsors and our field staff, we are positively affecting the lives of over 320,000 children and their families in these countries.

Please take a moment to check out this video about Children International’s work around the world, and then take another moment to give yourself a pat on the back from your teammates at CI.