Perla runs up the field and kicks the soccer ball out in front of her. Racing towards the goal, she feels the sun on her back and punts the ball towards the net at the end of the field. It swings in gracefully and her arms shoot up into the air. GOAL! Perla and her… Read more
Erick pushes the correct button in front of him as he watches the pastor lead the congregation. It’s becoming like second nature to him, being a part of the visual team at his church, helping serve his local community. This very practice – of showing up and learning a new skill as part of a… Read more
The room was quiet. Pairs of girls were spread all around the common area in the home. One teen girl for every younger one. Their heads were bent low over notebooks, as pens, pencils, colored markers and crayons scratched across the surface. Occasionally, soft talking broke the silence as the teams of girls worked together… Read more
Rancho de los Niños staff hears laughter outside. They peek through a window and see Jesus Manuel laughing in the heat of the sun. This moment is new for the young boy; it wasn’t always possible for Jesus Manuel to be outside without someone right beside him. Twelve-year old Jesus Manuel’s days have been riddled… Read more
She opens the door and walks to her seat. As she walks by, people take in her pink and white dress, smiling and complimenting her work. As she takes her seat, Wideline grins confidently. Not only is she wearing a new dress, she’s wearing a new dress she made herself. It’s Sunday in Haiti. “About a year ago,… Read more
“If you weren’t in Nigeria right now, where would you want to be?” Godwin looked into the faces surrounding him. He is leading a nurture group with the children at Kids with a Vision Foundation. In this small group setting, Nurture Groups provide safe places for children to discuss their feelings with one another. As… Read more
Sathwik’s cry could be heard throughout the campus. It was clear he was a little boy in a new environment, still fearful from earlier trauma. A visiting team engaged him in play and watched encouragingly as the older boys Sathwik lived with were patient and gentle in their attempts to calm him down. Sathwik has… 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
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