The Medicine of Altruism: Children International

I currently sponsor 8 children through Children International. 5 of the children are sponsored solely by me, and I am part of group sponsorships for 3 children. My sponsored children come from 3 countries; India, Zambia, and Guatemala.

India:

Children International currently works with children in the city of Kolkatta, West Bengal, India and some surrounding areas. They work with children living in slums as well as villages. They works in both villages and the city. While Khayrunnesha, my oldest lives in a village, the rest of the children live in the city.

The cost of living is higher in the city, but the homes drastically smaller. City children in the program often live with all their family members in one, small room with an elevated bed platform. Homes are usually cement. Water sources and bathroom facilities are communal. Village homes are often more spacious but can lack access to amenities like electricity. Families may have room for their own latrine, have a communal latrine/toilet or no facilities. Water sources are usually communal. Village homes may be made from cement, brick, mud, with tile or metal roofing.

Khayrunnesha at 17 (2010)

Khayrunnesha (khay-roon-ay-sha): Currently, 17 years old, I started sponsoring Khayrunn (her nickname) in 2004. She speaks and studies in Bengali (Bangla). She lives with her mother, older brother and one of her married older sisters on $43.00 per month. Their mud and tile two room home is in a village outside of Kolkatta. He father died sometime before 2004. She will soon be beginning 11th grade. She wants to be a teacher so she plans on getting a BA in English and a B.ed (an additional degree needed in India for teaching). I was able to visit Khayrunnesha's home in 2005, and meet her again in January 2011. She is an intelligent, thoughtful and hard-working young lady. She had a late start in school but continue to do well.

In 2011 with books for her English studies

Saba at 12 (2011)

Saba (Sa-bah): Saba is currently 12 years old. She speaks Hindi/Urdu and studies in 3rd grade in an Urdu school. She lives in a small one room home in a city slum neighborhood with her mother and father, 16 year old brother, 10 year old brother, and 9 year old brother on $53.00 per month. I began sponsoring Saba in 2006 and have found her to be an extremely sweet and affectionate kid. Her father is a daily laborer, and her older brother had to leave school to help support the family. She and her two youngest brothers are all currently in school, but struggle. Both of her brothers are sponsored, the youngest by my best friend (see below). Her family seems to struggle a lot, and meeting her mom was very touching but emotional. Her family obviously cares deeply for their children. Currently Saba and her brothers are getting after school tutoring (called "private tuitions" in India) though a "special needs gift" that CI set up (One can ask for more information and needs of a sponsored child and family, and then donate extra for these needs. I have been donating for tutoring for Saba for some time, and hopefully it will continue to help).

Meeting Saba in January 2011

Shamrin at 9 (2010)

Shamrin (Sham-reen): Shamrin has been sponsored by a group of 4 of us ladies since 2010. She is currently 9 years old, in 4th grade, and studies in Urdu. She lives with her parents and 2 older brothers in a tiny one-room home in a crowded city slum. She has a bubbly personally and loves going to school.

Visiting Shamrin and her mother at their home (2011)

Semran at 7 (2011)

Semran (Sim-run): Semran, age 7, is a shy and petite girl in 2nd grade. I have sponsored her since 2009. She lives with her father, her not-so-shy and very friendly mother and her 12 year old brother in a tiny room in a slum area. Her family lives on $45.00 per month. Semran is a picky eater and a good student. She likes drawing and playing with dolls. Her family speaks Hindi/Urdu and she studies in Urdu. Her mother and I were able to talk quite a bit during my 2011 visit, and I look forward to seeing them both again.

Semran and mom with a birthday gift in 2009.

Neha at 4 (2010)

Neha (nay-ha): Neha is just about the sweetest 4 year old you could ever meet. I have sponsored her since 2010 and she speaks and studies in Hindi. She lives in an Indian joint family, with her paternal grandparents, 2 uncles and their wives, mom, and dad, her younger brother and 2 cousins. Their monthly income is $96.00. Her cousin Mahi is sponsored through CI and her cousin Karan is sponsored by my parents (see below for more on Karan). This large family lives in one room (slightly bigger than the other children's homes that a saw) home with a little elevated area near for a kitchen, and a large elevated platform for storage and sleeping. Neha loves pink, chicken, and proudly showed me the numbers and Hindi letters she is learning in preschool. Her father is the only parent I have had write me a letter, and he is an important part of the CI team as a community volunteer. He also is a doting father-- the only dad to come on our group trip to Science City (a science museum in Kolkatta), he was a very carefully, loving and attentive father. I look forward to watching her group up and meeting them again.

Vivek and I at Neha's house with her parents and cousin Mahi in 2011

Children I may also mention from India:

Karan (4) cousin of Neha sponsored by my parents

Sekh Afaque (9) brother of Saba, sponsored by my best friend

Kainat (14) sponsored by my parents

Zambia:
Zambia is the newest country that CI is working in. There projects are in the city of Lusaka. Zambia has had struggles with HIV and AIDS and many children live without their biological parents. Many of the children and families in this area break rocks for a living, and live without electricity. Many families cannot send their children to school without help. Children speak different languages, but learn English in school.

Paul at 11 (2010)

Paul: Sponsored by a large group of sponsors since 2011, Paul is an 11 year old boy who was only able to enroll in school after being sponsored through CI. He lives with his relatives and three cousins on only $10.00 per month. Paul has already written us nice letters in English, and we are excited to get to know him and help his family so they can be healthy and he can continue to go to school.

Paul receiving much needed school clothes and shoes and food through a group donation in 2011. I love his smile.

Paul sent us this drawing of a truck with his first letter.

Elina at 5 (2010)

Elina: I began sponsoring Elina in 2011. She was not yet in school but has since been enrolled in 1st grade since she was sponsored. She speaks Nyanja and most likely studies English in school. Elina's mother is deceased and her father is not present, so she lives with her great-grandmother, her grandmother, and her aunt in a two room cement home with a metal roof and no electricity. They have an income of $50.00 per month. Through a special needs inquiry (SNI) I have learned that Elina needs school supplies, a mattress (she currently sleeps on the floor) and food. Read more at the firstgiving fundraising site set up for this special needs gift.

Elina with (from left to right) her great-grandmother, grandmother, and aunt in front of their home (2011).

Guatemala:

Magda at 11 (2011)

Magda and family outside their home (2010)

Magda: Magda is an 11 year old sponsored by a large group. She and her family live in rural Guatemala. Her home is not very sturdy-- much of it made of tarps, wood and metal pieces. As a group, we have been able to help her family start a small business raising chickens and selling their eggs and meat.