Stand Up Against Poverty

“Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty.”

– Joseph Wresinski

Today celebrates the 20th anniversary of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The first commemoration in 1987 was held in Paris, France where 100,000 people gathered to give a voice to those who live in extreme poverty. Officially recognized by the United Nations in 1992, the event has grown in partnership with other organizations and events are held around the world each year.

This year at the United Nations, delegates and staff members will be asked to participate in the “Stand Up” event, in which 23.5 million people in more than 100 countries participated last year, setting a Guinness World Record. The organizers hope to break that record, with people all over the world standing up to remind their Governments of the commitments they undertook in the 2000 Millennium Declaration to halve the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. According to the United Nations, some 980 million people still live in extreme poverty, or on less than $1 a day.

Children International is proud to be partners with over 250,000 committed sponsors. With your generous support, we will continue to serve children and their families who suffer from poverty. Together, we will give them a voice to tell their stories. That’s our commitment. So, stand with us as we fight to end poverty.

How are you going to stand up against poverty?

Painting by former sponsored child, Carlo Orcena, from the Philippines.

Getting Down to Business…And Having Some Fun!

Dolores Kitchin and Sheila Mahony, from our headquarters in Kansas City, have now met up with all three sponsored youth – Leslie Mae, Vakeyia and Telma – in New York City. The International Youth Day is August 12, but there will be special activities at the UN today for the young people. Click here to see a program of today’s events.

Meanwhile, we thought you might enjoy sharing one of the girls’ first impressions of the Big Apple. For Telma, from rural Guatemala, the contrast couldn’t be more marked. Here are a few excerpts from her travel diary as she has taken in the sights and sounds of New York City in preparation for today’s activities at the United Nations:

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August 8, 2007

One afternoon I was thinking how nice it would be to travel again...to once again be with the people I spent time with at last year’s conference...how nice it would be to visit another country…but above all, how wonderful it would be if God would give me the opportunity to have new experiences that would enrich my knowledge so I could help other people – especially young people – who need it.

Since God knows everything, He gave me a new opportunity to expand my knowledge; just a few days after the thoughts I just described, I received a call from Rosa Joo [from Children International’s office in Guatemala City] telling me I was invited to represent Children International at a youth event at the United Nations, in New York. When we heard this news, my mother and I were filled with a great happiness I can’t explain; all I could say was, “Thank you, God!”

Time flies, and the wait doesn’t seem so long because now I’m here. I had a lot of experiences and felt a lot of emotions on the trip (I call them my “adventures”); the flight was one of them – or, better said, my arrival at the airport in Miami. We were in a big hurry and sometimes I didn’t have the faintest idea what to do, but thanks to Rosa (who is with me on the trip) everything was easier.

We started a new experience in New York: the drive through the city to the hotel. I was so impressed at the immense buildings!!! I’m amazed at all this – the view from the hotel is magnificent. You can see part of the city, and you can see the Hudson River. I felt a bit homesick when I saw it because I remembered my little brother. He always talks about this river, and now, thank God, I’ve had the privilege of seeing it – not in a book or a magazine, but in person.

Rosa and I had a very busy day. It was tiring, in part, but all in all it was a day of privilege and happiness, wonder and admiration, learning and experiences…everything you can imagine!

The day is over and we have to rest so tomorrow we can have more adventures like today’s…

Leslie Mae (left) and Telma in front of the United Nations building.

August 9, 2007

It’s a beautiful day. We went to meet the people from the United Nations. I was a little nervous because I didn’t know them, but thank God I got over that quickly. I felt uncomfortable during the interview because I was the only one who couldn’t speak English; Rosa helped me a lot because she interpreted for me. Without her I’d have been on the moon, not knowing what was going on!

Not everything was that hard, though. And seeing the United Nations building and all the flags from around the world fills you with happiness.

The afternoon was fabulous, too. Vakeyia finally got here and we were able to spend time together. We went and took some pictures and then we went to eat at an Italian restaurant.

Well, another great day has ended – one of the best. I’m sure tomorrow will be even more fun…!

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Wish these young people well as they attend today’s meetings with the anticipation of broadening their horizons and returning to their home countries with new vision and determination to make a difference in their communities.

A Chance in a Lifetime

Youth Hit the Ground in New York

Every August, the United Nations welcomes youth from around the world to celebrate International Youth Day. The day is the culmination of a focus on activities to further the United Nations’ World Programme of Action for Youth.

The day’s events help encourage and empower young people to work with governments, non-governmental agencies, schools, and businesses to make a difference in their world.

This year, three Children International sponsored youth are invited observers at the United Nations program in New York City. Read below as Shelia Mahony, CI program officer for youth and education, accompanies the youth on their special journey.

For most of us, a visit to the United Nations is a once in a lifetime experience. For three girls from different ends of the earth who have fought every day to overcome poverty, the thought was only a dream. Today that dream became a reality when two of the three sponsored youths landed in New York City.

Telma, from Guatemala, was the first girl to land at LaGuardia Airport. Normally, her vista on life is filled with shacks and dirt roads. The smile stretching across this normally shy and quiet teen’s face told us that she knew she wasn’t in Guatemala anymore.

I picked up Leslie, from the Philippines, next. Leslie is the youngest of the three girls and couldn’t hide the excitement of having another chance to travel to the United States even after finishing a 24-hour airplane trip.

The girls are thrilled to have a chance to see each other again. They hugged and shrieked as only teenage girls can do. This is a miracle meeting since they met at last year’s International Youth Conference in Kansas City, and, because of their families' lack of funds, never thought they would meet again.

And now another dream comes true as they are reunited with the third member of their dynamic trio when Vakeyia, from Little Rock, touches down in the Big Apple. We are on our way downstairs for our first whole day together in New York City. We’re going to have a real New York breakfast – bagels and cream cheese!

World Refugee Day

June 20 is the United Nations Day to bring attention to the plight of refugees around the world. We wanted to share with you the reality of one uprooted family that we met in Colombia.
* Names and Places have been changed to guarantee the safety of the individuals.

She Kept Saying
“It’s very, very, hard here.”
Rural parts of Colombia can be violent, lawless places where armed guerrillas exact their will on a helpless, voiceless and often impoverished population. In the San Andreas region local thugs demand all residents pay a protection tax. If the fee is not honored beatings follow as punishment. For these marauding gangs, death is the inevitable compensation for failure to pay their fabricated debts.

Theresa feared for her safety and that of her four children, which she raises on her own. At 33 she had already seen and experienced many lifetimes of horror. Short on cash, but with a wealth of fear she left San Andreas and took her family into the night. With nothing but their beating hearts, the family left their ancestral home. Knowing no one, and having nothing they found a barrio (neighborhood) outside of Cartagena to call home.

Strangers have proven crucial in the rebuilding of their life. Starting from nothing, they have been able to cobble together a claustrophobic shack with a dirt floor and plank walls. Their neighbors have given them clothes and food. Two of her children have found sponsors and now have access to medical care and educational aid. Opportunities lack in this community, but she been able to find a little work washing clothes for people.


Life is a struggle for Theresa*. Even with the assistance she has received her children still go to bed hungry sometimes. She kept saying over and over in a sad refrain, “It’s very, very hard here.”

Her eyes have been drained of all joy…Theresa is a refugee. She has begun the arduous task of building life anew. She is safe now and because of her bravery her children will be able to live outside of the shadow of fear.