Share In Their Future

Life in a Korean Orphanage

All of our Korean projects are housed in group homes.  These facilities receive some support from the Korean government, but that funding has been cut dramatically in recent years.  Consequently, the support we provide to our Korean children is now more important than ever. 

Some of the children in these homes are orphans, but many were born to young, unwed women who were unable to care for them.  Children often live in these facilities from infancy to adulthood.  Upon graduation, they typically go to work or attend trade school or university.  It is not uncommon for a child who grew up in a group home to later return to that institution as a teacher or social worker.

The children typically study for many hours each day:

The typical group home has an on-site library:

Staff strive to feed the children a healthy, balanced diet.  Most snacks consist of fruits and vegetables:

The group homes are usually housed in comfortable, modern buildings:

The dormitories are structured so that the children live in family-like groups of five to ten people:

Here, a group of children costumed as royalty perform a skit for Foreign Division Director Luis Bourdet:

In accordance with Korean custom, many children sleep on mats on the floor (which is heated), but some homes contain bunk beds:

The youngest residents receive special care and attention:

Many homes offer music classes:

This building contains both living quarters and classrooms for kindergarteners:

Photo Essay: Our Peruvian Children (Part 2)

Letter from a Former Sponsored Child

As a child, Leah was sponsored through Children, Incorporated.  Her sponsors provided her with the resources she needed to stay in school, and Leah now holds a university degree.  She recently signed up to be a sponsor herself, and she sent us this note with her initial correspondence:

Dear Children, Incorporated:

I have wanted to sponsor a child for a while, and I chose CI because, as you know, a CI sponsor made a big difference in my life as a child.  As I was growing up in the Appalachias, my parents always had a lot of love to give, but often struggled to provide the physical necessities for myself and my sister.  Neither of my parents had graduated high school, so they worked in factories and in the agricultural industry most of the time. 

The first time I received a voucher from my sponsor, it was like Christmas.  I was able to buy clothes that hadn't already been worn and faded, to replace my tattered shoes, and to get school supplies which allowed me to feel more confident in class, and able to excel rather than to blend into the background.  I was fortunate to be involved in a couple of other programs targeted toward at-risk youth as well.  The support and gifts from my sponsors (I think I remember having one in late elementary school, and a separate one in High School) helped to raise me up out of my less than fortunate circumstances.  Knowing that there were people who had never met me, and yet had an honest interest in my success gave me the motivation to finish high school (only the second in my extended family to do so) and recently to graduate from university. 

Now that I am in a stable financial situation, I hope that I can make a difference in some child's life myself.  I am so grateful to organizations such as CI, whose constant vigilance enables children to succeed in even the hardest circumstances.  Thank you again.

Sincerely,
Leah

Standout Student Wins Award for Business Plan

Delirita Lunderman, who recently graduated from Todd County High School in Rosebud, South Dakota, is a straight-A student, a member of the National Honor Society, and a four-year participant in the Upward Bound program at the University of South Dakota.

Now, she can claim yet another honor: Grand Prize Winner at the 10th Annual Great Plains Regional/Tribal Economic Development Summit Competition.  Along with Alyssa Reynolds, a fellow Todd County senior, Delirita created a plan for a movie theater on the Rosebud Reservation.  Her proposal included a concept overview, a marketing plan, financial projections, and other materials.  As part of their prize package, Delirita and Alyssa each received a new computer and printer. 

Delirita will begin college at the University of South Dakota in the fall.  She is the second person in her family to complete high school (her older sister was the first), and she will be the first in her family to attend university.  We are all very proud of Delirita, and we wish her continued success!

Photo Essay: Our Peruvian Children (Part 1)

 

 

 

 

8-Year-Old Dinosaur Expert Gives Tours at Museum

Young Oscar of Sucre, Bolivia wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up, and he's already well on his way to achieving that goal.  At just eight years old, he is an expert on dinosaurs, and he has been hired by Sucre's Cretaceous Park to lead tours on Saturdays and Sundays.  For five hours on each weekend day, Oscar guides groups of visitors through the park and shows off its extensive collection of dinosaur footprints and full-scale models. 

Oscar has become something of a local celebrity.  He has been featured in several Bolivian newspapers and websites, and he is one of the most popular guides at the park.  Visitors are always charmed by the clever boy who is eager to tell them all about the lives of prehistoric creatures. 

When asked about his favorite part of working at the Cretaceous Park, Oscar responded, "I like how the children listen to me and ask me questions like I'm an adult.  They're my inspiration.  And that makes me want to go on learning more."   And his favorite dinosaur?  "The T-Rex!"

Oscar has been sponsored through Children, Incorporated since 2006.  His sponsor's support pays for a portion of his school fees, which helps to ensure that Oscar can continue to progress toward his chosen career. 

Oscar stands next to one of his favorite dinosaur models:

A newspaper in Sucre published an article about Oscar:

Photo Essay: Our Richmond Children

Health of HIV-Positive Child Improving

Wilmer is an HIV-positive 4-year-old boy in Paraguay.  His mother and siblings have died of AIDS, so he lives in an orphanage managed by an order of Catholic nuns.  When Wilmer arrived at the orphanage in December of 2007, he was very ill.  His skin was covered with sores, and he was lethargic, underweight, and withdrawn. 

Today, merely four months later, Wilmer's health has improved tremendously.  He has plenty of energy, he has gained weight, and his skin condition is nearly gone.  The nun who serves as Wilmer's primary caregiver attributes much of this improvement to the support the child receives from his Children, Incorporated sponsor.  In a recent letter to the sponsor, she wrote:

Dear Mr. David,

Have you seen a more beautiful picture than this?

I told Wilmer while they were taking the picture to "smile for your sponsor, Mr. David," and his beautiful face lit up!  As you can see in this photograph, he is doing really well and is very playful. 

Thank you very much for your monthly gift.  Because of your assistance, Wilmer does not lack for anything.  He loves for us to talk to him about you.  He understands somewhat. 

I'm sure you're happy to know that Wilmer is really improving.  We pray that science or a "miracle" will make him totally well.  Why not!  We take very good care of him, as you can see.

When Wilmer first arrived at the orphanage, he was shy and diffident.  He could not communicate in any way.  Time and the love we offer have turned him into the treasure of this orphanage.  All of the children are beautiful, but there's something very special about Wilmer. 

Wilmer sends you his love, and I send you mine.  Once again, THANK YOU.

Until next time,
Sister Elfride

Bolivian Student Headed for Medical School

Mercedes, who was on the CI sponsorship program for 8 years, is about to begin medical school at the public university in Sucre, Bolivia!  More than 1200 students sat for the medical college entrance exam, and only 289 passed and were granted admission.  Mercedes is one of those talented 289.   During a visit with Marcela Molina, our regional coordinator for Bolivia, Mercedes expressed deep gratitude for the support she received from her CI sponsor.  He enabled her to attend primary and secondary school by supplying funds for her clothing and school supplies.   Then, when he died last year, he left her with a final gift: enough money to pay her medical school tuition through the completion of her degree. 

Children, Incorporated Pajama Party

In 2006, we hosted a pajama party for children at Swansboro Elementary School in Richmond, Virginia. At the party, the children received sleepwear, books, and stuffed animals. Children, Incorporated partnered with the Pajama Program to donate these items, which the Pajama Program originally obtained from the Oprah Winfrey Show.