Blog Action Day: The seeds I sow

From Paul Pearce, director of international programs:

On a recent trip to Kenya, I met a number of sponsored teenagers whose stories and challenges they are facing in their lives brought me to a new level of humility and appreciation for the promise, potential, and tremendous burdens on these young people. I won't use their names to protect their families' privacy.

In one house, I met a 15-year-old young man, who greeted us with a palpable energy and excitement. He and his mother and three younger brothers live in a very small, simple home on quarter acre of ground just outside town on the skirts of Mt. Kenya.

His father had worked hard and purchased this lot last year. The boy's parents dreamed of moving their family out of their cramped quarters in the town's slum area. In their new home, they would have room to cultivate maize (corn), potatoes and squash to help make ends meet in the most humble of family budgets.

Last year, the family worked with CFCA staff to figure out how they could tailor the benefits toward their goal of building this home. They forfeited the program's nutrition benefits for eight months in order to buy the iron sheets used for the house, where they live now. Then unexpectedly, his father died a few months ago.

We met with this youth and his mother in their little living room. When the social worker began to tell us about what the family had been through, the boy's mother could not keep her emotions in, and had to excuse herself. She stepped outside to cry, and regain her strength to visit.

I could feel the strong spirit of her husband.

The son stayed inside with us. He told us he was preparing for exams coming up that next month and hoped to continue to college. His face was bright as a star as he talked. His mother returned and sat next to him, tears still lining her eyes. She shared that their plans were to save up to run a water pipe to their house so they could begin irrigation.

The group headed outside. The boy lingered in the house a bit, still sitting tall in the chair next to me. I encouraged him in his studies, told him he was on the right path. He nodded in agreement, the same brightness in his face, but this time showing through held back tears.

I think God gave us tears for when words just don't do. I can only imagine the young man's feelings, of perhaps being rudely awakened from adolescence to head of household in a flash, his dreams of school, his father now gone, the responsibility he feels towards his mother, towards his three younger brothers.

We got up and headed outside. The young man took a moment alone to regroup. There were flowers planted around the outside of the house. I could see that they had a few potato plants started that had been watered by hand...

Please visit these blogs from the CFCA community also participating in Blog Action Day '08:

• Bart and Annie's Big Adventure
• Nothin' But SocNET
• Around the World with CFCA
• Zamboanga the Movie
  

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"CFCA came in with HOPE..."

The following letter was written by a sponsored youth in Liberia. He writes about the challenges he has overcome after 14 years of civil unrest in his country and about how CFCA (sponsor of Walk with the Poor) has been a constant source of hope in his life. We hope you'll read his letter to you.


My name is Nyankoi. I was born on Sept. 9, 1986. I am a Liberian. As most Liberians, I have had my share of trauma, challenges and difficulties in life.
After 14 years of civil unrest, I am happy to be among the living. During the years of civil war, my mother and I went to the hinterland along with my brothers. We went to our village from Monrovia where we lived prior to the war. We returned to Monrovia in 1991 and I started pre-school, which was at first free. I attended for a year and could not continue because of financial reasons. My late father was not working then and hence things were very difficult.

It was there and then that CFCA came in with HOPE. It is often said that a man can live without food for seven days, without water for three days, but no man can live without HOPE for a second. It is in this light that I can never forget the pit of sorrow CFCA took me from.

I became a part of the CFCA program in 1994 when I was 8 years old and in the second grade. I was accepted into the program when my father asked the priest at our parish for assistance in getting me to school. It was then that Father Jackson decided that I should get on the program because of my financial status. Since then there has never been a turning back because I took it as a challenge and never repeated a single class throughout my entire school year.

Today, I am proud to say that because of CFCA, I am who I am. My entire high school and even to some extent my college fees have been paid through the service-scholarship by CFCA. Throughout my high school years, I had many tough times but I believe that tough times don’t last but tough people do. This has moved me to persevere in all I do. ...

My first sponsor friend was Mrs. Ann C. Raffetto, who helped me with encouragement and motivation and this greatly helped me to continue. I was happy that I was again benefiting from the program. My father was now relieved a bit because he had my brothers and cousins to attend to because CFCA had already offered HOPE to the family again.

Then I had the greatest challenge so far in my life, the death of my father on Jan. 10, 2005. It took me a long period to get over it. After my graduation from the 12th grade Aug. 1, 2005, not having the slightest thought of going to college because of financial problems, CFCA stepped in again with sponsorship and service-scholarship programs.

At this point in time I had a change of sponsor which made me very sad at first. I had already established a closer relationship with my first sponsor and I felt a part of her family, too. After some time I got a new sponsor, Joseph and Pat. It was just the matter of time and I was not sad anymore because my new sponsors made me to feel a part of their family as well. They encourage me like my previous sponsor, and today I have an extended family far away from home.

I had the chance to tell my new sponsor friend about college life in Liberia and how it differs from that of the Western world. I made them understand that unlike Western countries that charge so much for universities and colleges, in Liberia, colleges are not very expensive. They got to understand that the same amount they contribute to grade school students could also do something significant in Liberian universities. Many teens can do a lot with sponsorship funds in universities if they decide to only use it for that purpose and forget about other benefits. Education is paramount among the youth of postwar Liberia, and I am certain that every child wants to get a career and be independent one day.

My sponsors got to know that I am studying electronics engineering in a Catholic university and they continue to encourage me. They are always happy with me and they feel proud of me because for five semesters I had scored three points and continue to do my best. I admire my sponsors so much because of their pieces of advice.

I am now a senior student at the university and will hopefully be graduating with a bachelor of science degree in electronics engineering in two semesters. I am proud to be a CFCA beneficiary in Liberia with the greatest CFCA experience. Also, I hope my academic achievements will serve as an encouragement to the younger beneficiaries with very poor beginnings to forge ahead. What the sponsors are giving us (no matter how small or big) is our inheritance for the future. That assistance is purely silver and gold in my heart.

I can now say that I am part of a big family—CFCA. There is no way I can divorce my achievement and where I am in life from the help of CFCA. No way! I am grateful.

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International Youth Day - You can!

Today is International Youth Day - a day designated to draw attention to youth issues worldwide.

Recently, youth from the Kansas City area created this video to share with other teens why it's important to care about people living in developing countries and why it's important to help: because teens CAN make a difference.

We hope you enjoy their video!



How are you involved in global poverty issues? Let us know!
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Youth group helps Kenyan student finish school

A Kansas City youth group came to CFCA last week to stuff folders. But they ended up doing much more. They discovered a young man in Kenya who needed help in order to finish his schooling and they agreed as a group to sponsor him.

The St. Thomas Episcopal middle school youth group of Overland Park brought 19 boys and girls to CFCA as part of a summer community service project called Reaching Out To Community (ROTC). The youth, aged 11 to 14, spent the morning assembling folders that contain photos and information for CFCA children and aging waiting to sponsored.



As they worked, the question arose as to whether their youth group sponsored anyone through CFCA. When Katie Knoll, youth director, and Rev. Gar Demo, rector, asked whether they would like to begin sponsoring, the immediate answer was “yes.”

After the youth group finished stuffing folders, they went to the office of Rev. Kelly Demo, the wife of Gar and a CFCA preacher. She showed the students the Walk with the Poor Web site, featuring young people overseas who need help.

The group voted to sponsor someone in Kenya and then chose Titus after hearing his story. Titus, 19, is studying accounting and hopes to graduate in 2012 so he can help his large family emerge from poverty. After Titus’ father died in 2003, relatives forced the family from their land and they wound up in the Mathare slums. Violence that erupted following last year’s contested presidential election in Kenya caused the family to lose everything.

By choosing to sponsor Titus, the St. Thomas youth group agreed to raise $30 each month until they reach a total of $1,590—the amount Titus needs to finish school.

How will the group raise the money?

“Every time you come to youth group meetings instead of buying a Coke, you’ll give the money to the CFCA fund,” Knoll told the group.

One of the youth members, Carson, pointed out what she liked most about the group’s good deed.

“It’s knowing I’m going to help a child who needs food and shelter,” she said.
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Scholars in Venezuela impact their community

Recently, CFCA hosted a Mission Awareness Trip to Venezuela. Two members of our staff sent this reflection about their time with CFCA scholars there – students benefiting from the scholarship program.

The Barquisimeto project in Venezuela has a very active and talented group of 128 scholarship students. The students volunteer 32 hours a month helping their respective subprojects in addition to studying and fulfilling their household responsibilities. They are beautiful role models for younger sponsored members. Scholars perform administrative tasks, they organize sporting events for younger members, they tutor students and they help children write letters, among other activities. They are also good friends and serve as a valuable source of moral support for one another.

(L to R) CFCA scholars Eliani, Joana, Adrian and Antonio

We heard a presentation by four CFCA scholars. Eliani organizes scholars. Joana helps keep the children’s files in order. She is in the third semester of nursing school. Antonio supervises the dining room for 259 sponsored in the Maria Auxiliadora school. “They receive a good lunch every school day and medical care,” Antonio said. “I am also supporting my mother and my sister, a special child. This is the hand of God.”

Scholar Adrian Mendoza works with the children and youth in Ciudad de los Muchachos, a foster home for girls and boys. “We want to give our youth tools to continue,” he said. Adrian grew up in Ciudad de los Muchachos (subproject M) and was sponsored through CFCA from age 7 to 17. He then became a CFCA scholar and has now graduated from college with a major in business administration. Adrian will continue his studies in psychology. He still lives and works at Ciudad de los Muchachos. He communicates very well and shows tremendous poise and rapport with the children and staff.
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Letter from the Philippines

A sponsored youth from the Philippines recently wrote this letter to her sponsor. We're encouraged to hear of her progress in school, and how sponsorship is making that a reality.

Dear Rola,

First of all, I would like to greet you in a pleasant day, hoping that you are in good condition together with your son ...

I am so thankful to have received an easter card and a post card from you and also I am very much proud of your nice message in it.

During my graduation day I'm being proud of my self because I'm getting 6 medals with the 8 certificate awards... Most Honest, Actress of the Year, Outstanding Pupil Librarian, Journalist, Best in Home Economics, Choir in church, and also the Youth Congress Award ...

I'm taking up in first year High School by next school year. It would not have happened if not for your support. I am thankful that CFCA is there, by your help and support. I am thankful I enter schooling in the National High School. I would like to say many many thanks to you.

I hope to receive more letters coming from you. This is my wish this year. God bless you and your family... I miss you.

Love,
Mariefranz
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Week 7 - So, now what?

Global Poverty and Solidarity series
Imagine you have $5 to give away. What would you do with it? Now imagine you have $100 to give away. There will always be others who need your money. When choosing where to give, use both your head and your heart.

• Week 7 - So, now what?

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What is the "Global Poverty and Solidarity" series?
A seven-week series exploring issues affecting youth around the world and how we impact those around us. Topics to be covered: HIV/AIDS, the orphan crisis, housing, food, water, preventable illnesses, education and child labor.
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