Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from June, 2020

New ways of communication

My preferred way of writing to children has always been using online letter templates because it's quicker and easier for me than having to handwrite and post. However I stopped using online greeting cards since learning that it's printed on normal paper rather than card. I see value in writing this way because children reply by handwriting no matter whether you type or handwrite your letters to them. Nonetheless, having to adapt to current Covid situation with centers closure and stay-at-home or social distancing orders in place, the journey my letters making to children now seems far from value driven. There is no guarantee of any attached photos being received, and the return journey only consisting of the child response in the format of either text or by phone and translated/transcribed by staff – no handwriting, drawings. Aflatoun International has recently conducted a survey ( Aflatoun COVID-19 Impact & Response ) amongst its 114 social franchisees in 67 countries a

Living in the Bay of Bengal

With the easing of lockdown happening gradually, time to welcome my newest addition, Neha to the family. I don’t know when CI arrange visitations, can sponsors accommodate time to prepare a meal (even in outdoor) for the family, provided they bring their own cooking ingredients/utensils – any thoughts? My Dear Neha, It's been nearly 2 months since you joined my family of sponsored children from around the globe. As I write this letter, you will have noticed a difference around you as people's daily lives are not as used to be with the spread of a viral disease everywhere and the devastation left by a cyclone last month. I hope and pray that you and your family are keeping safe and well. To me, Kolkata is like no other place on earth with such vibrant and rich culture. When I first saw you, my eyes immediately caught up with your hand gesture (Bharatanatyam, the classical dance of India) combined with rhythmic Bangla music brought home my very first Bangla dancer of Bh

For a shining Queen!

At long last, meeting of your sponsor was a dream Rafonzel (age 21) had for many years growing up in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Philippines. The story I'm about to share with you is in courtesy of another non-profit, but I hope we can all relate ourselves to the power of sponsorship over religious doctrine taught behind. I'm a Buddhist, believing core principles of Buddha's teachings, yet my god children are followers of other faiths – Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. Because of them, I'm used to watch TBN UK channel on TV learning their faith and blessings that transcended across continents and into my own life, even when they are no longer around me – a powerful gift of sponsorship. After 3.5yrs in my care, Adela (age 19) from Ecuador has just moved on to become a successful (or as she calls "professional") person. She was to embark on veterinary science at the university this year, and I wrote my final letter inviting her to keep in to

Sponsorship benefits

It’s quite a rare seen family photo to follow with welcome gift to your child. As you may have noticed, perhaps this could be their first-time facing the camera in cold outdoor during Delhi wintertime. The Aashiya’s family lives in one multipurpose room in Shahabad Dairy community. She was sleeping on the floor with a mattress. In my wishes to give some comfort to her sleeping arrangement and despite the limited space available inside, they have gone for a small bed instead of a roll-up mattress. The photo shows that the sponsorship not only benefits your child but also the whole family at large. In response to my welcome letter, Delhi staff intern, Jyoti wrote back saying, as Aashiya had never been sponsored before, she was not a regular visitor at the community center to receive any program benefits but she already has a favorite teacher – the one who inspired her being Jyoti mam, which goes without saying that the love and care the children receive at CI centers is s