Small, thin hands shoot straight into the sky as water sprays into the air. High-pitched squeals of delight erupt as a dolphin jumps high above the pool of water. Big, brown eyes follow the mammal up and watch as he dives below the surface. A group of children, ages six to eight, from the Tres… Read more
I went through a scrapbooking phase in middle school. I would take my disposable camera to Wal-Mart and slip it into the development envelope, and wait impatiently to see if my pictures turned out. My first scrapbook was purple. And I think my favorite part of the entire scrapbooking process was going to the store… Read more
Pranay looks down at the ball as he dribbles it from his left foot to his right and then back, again. He raises his eyes to the goal just up the field from him; bobbing and weaving between boys taller than him, with more experience than him, he edges closer to the net where the… Read more
Madhu carries the flag against his shoulder as he walks around campus. The colors of his country – orange, white, and green – wave in the humid air as music pulses in the background. It’s Independence Day in India. As a visiting mission team spends three days mixing and pouring concrete, the children on the Hope… Read more
Darlene, a Back2Back caseworker, sits down with Dalila, the mother of Lady, Zuri, and Jose Luis and together, they dive into a lesson within the Active Parenting Curriculum. Today’s topic is understanding the dreams of her children. “Dalila has always been a highly engaged mom,” explains Darlene. “She is active in the lives of her… Read more
Sebastian walks into the room, determination written on his face. He is a young man on a mission. Sebastian knows what he is looking for and just where to find it. Recently five-year-old Sebastian has been seeing a psychologist to better manage his anger and emotional outbursts. As a young boy coming from a hard… Read more
Maria Jose took a deep breath and leaned back into the clear, cool water. She felt it cover her face, and a split second later, is immersed and brought back up to standing. The onlookers standing around the pool cheered loudly. In the heat of the Mazatlán sun, Maria Jose, Nazmin, and Grecia are getting… Read more
Advocate: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. Also known as a backer, a supporter, a spokesperson, a champion. Child sponsorship often turns out to be much more than an updated photo and neatly penned letters throughout the year. It is about relationship. Advocacy. Championing. The effects of advocacy are… Read more
Glowing candles light up Martha’s face. She looks around the table at her friends. The purple, zebra-striped tablecloth and the cupcakes in front of her make her smile widely. Today, Martha celebrates her tenth birthday. As she closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath, she considers all she has to hope for. At… Read more
Mariah slowly opens her eyes. Surrounding her, small voices fling hopes high to a Father – and she feels her heartbeat quicken. Ashwini’s black veil carefully covers both her head and Mariah’s, honoring an Indian custom of women covering their faces in prayer. Ashwini prays aloud next to Mariah, praying over her new friend and… Read more