MSC archived stories - March 7, 2020
As a working godfather to my sponsored children, I wanted to find about breadwinners of the families. As per their Family Records (with the exception of unreported data), the types of work the parents do for living are Laborer, Welder, Factory Worker, Bricklayer, Machine Operator, Store Operator, Baker, Vendor, Artisan, and Maid. Moreover, from my current sample size of 15 children, nearly 75% are living in rented homes.
As the children grow up, inevitably their needs become higher plus ever increasing living expenses add even more to the family burden year on year. On the other hand, the increase of gang violence in areas where our children live can force them to move away or relocate for safety (as in the case of Estephanie and her family had to leave behind their own house unoccupied, last year).
This week, after 9mths in my care, I encountered Kimberlin’s unexpected departure due to her family moved outside and they no longer live in the program area.
One way of easing my loss is to know that she’s 17 and is old enough to make her own judgment on the best course of action in life, grabbing the opportunities whenever arise. She has just completed high school and wanted to have a career in Early Childhood Care. She was a promising youth at CI and has keen interests in dancing – not to mention Colombia being well famous for colorful annual carnivals!
My quest to understand a youth leaving the program prematurely plays all of the above factors, and with Adela’s imminent graduation, I invited 2 beautiful children, Karla and Karol to the family yesterday – first time sponsees and for me to learn that both parents of Karla are Artisans! I thought the majority of our families in Guadalajara work in brick making industry, but to find people doing handicraft work for the domestic and tourism markets is a fascinating discovery!
Your list is quite diverse. Among my sponsored children, the occupations represented are: tailors, store owner, drivers, factory work, daily workers, 92% own homes although this ownership is either family ownership (grandparents with whom they, their parents and siblings live) or homes acquired by inheritance.
ReplyDeleteMarch 7, 2020
Amongst my children, the occupations include all of chelaka's list plus farmer, janitor, laundry worker, daily worker, homemaker (which is a tough job by the way!) and none. About 3/4 of my families either rent or have no claim to the land they live on which puts them in precarious situations, and the remaining families either own their homes or live with family who owns their land/homes.
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There are five centers around Guadalajara one of them is in the district where bricks are made. Life expectancy there is less than 40. There is a part of town that is mostly artisans shops. One could spend a week there and not see it all. The city is big so just about every job one can think of exists. I like going there as it is not a tourist destination so the people there assume you speak Spanish. It is such an amazing experience to take the youths on an outing and to meet the families. We have been fortunate not to have any leave the program. One is coming up for graduation this year so and we hope he keeps in touch after graduation.
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Hi Nancy/Liro, Thank you for sharing more data on working parents of our sponsored families. There are about 15 occupations which sustain their livelihoods. Also, between my 2 girls in Delhi resembles the global picture of 50% home ownership, and suggests that I'm at “high risk” bracket of losing a child by dropping out of the program due to relocation. This helps me now even more to appreciate each day of being together with them!
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Hi Frosty, How nice to hear your personal experience of being in Guadalajara. One of my Mexican families work as Bricklayer but the other child's family from the same community work as Laborer, Store Operator – does appear people prefer working in trades other than brick making, which seems to be more hazardous than mining. All the best of luck with your forthcoming graduation of Ricardo!
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Hello here is my list: On the fathers side I have 3 bricklayers, 1 mechanics, 1 driver (ex bricklayer) 1 store operator. On the mothers side I have one school teacher and 1 maid. School teacher is Wenderlis mother in Colombia, raising 3 children on her own..
ReplyDeleteMarch 8, 2020
Thanks Marie. As I understand, Teacher occupation is a career many aspire to become -- my 2nd graduate, Alpha from the Philippines (photo in My Media) graduated with Bachelor in Elementary Education and recently passed the licensure Examination for Teachers, and now working as ESL teacher (English as a Second Language). But as you said, teacher/single parent raising 3 children in Colombia can be among the 'working poor'.. I'm tallying 17 occupations (counting)!
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Interesting, I think you re right about Wenderlis mother. Let me tell you that I might soon have a number 18 for you, as I am planning to sponsor the child of Mark's sister (my very first sponsor child) and it seems to be that her occupation and her husband's is collecting plastic to recycle.. I wonder how this will appear in the sponsor repport.. However it is interesting to see all the different occupations that the parents of the children are doing to survive..
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Chelaka, thanks for beginning an interesting discussion! Among my Delhi children, factory work seems to be easily available for women who need to work. Wages paid are low and I've learned they are paid according to the number of work products they handle each day...how many boxes packed, how many items sorted etc.
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All very interesting! In addition to those occupations listed above, I have two vendors (Quito, Ec.), a carpenter (rural W. Bengal, In.), and in Delhi, In., a barber and a painter. I also have three “other” and in three families both parents are employed.
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Marie, I have a stockpile of recyclable plastic/cardboard at home, imagine someone can come collect these and take them to local Recycling Center, will reduce waste in landfills. If I could pay the wages of our working parents, my top rates will definitely go to Trash-collectors (yes, #18)!
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Nancy, Rukhsar's dad is a Factory Worker. I don't know if the gender pay gap exists in low-paying jobs too – topic of discussion in today's IWD [youtu.be/cP1ivzHc2L8]
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Hi Liza, Thanks for stopping by. Your input of 3 new occupations takes the total to 21. I also learned another one in an article – Fisherman [#22] in the Philippines -- www.children.org/stories/2016/august/fishermans-daughter-finds-her-way-to-independence
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Most of my kids only then work except for Brayan both work. The types of jobs laborer, tailor, painter, bricklayer and watchman
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Ah yes, chelaka, Fisherman! I sponsored now graduated Lyn in the Tabaco agency of P. I. in 2012 because her father was a fisherman with an income of $27/month. I am always curious about “other”. I understand the occupation on the Family Record is a list and the parent checks the applicable line. If their occupation is not listed, they check Other. Maybe Other could include a blank line to fill in specifics.
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With one of our kids, the dad was listed as “Daily Worker.” When we visited we learned he worked at the local mall (custodian I think?). Not what I expected! With “daily worker” I expected odd manual labor jobs or somesuch.
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Agree BennyNJun. Like Liza said, some of the jobs parents do are classified 'Other' as in the case of my Juliana's dad but later I found that he's a Sales Boy.
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Just to sum up, here are all 24 occupations we learned of our working parents -- Tailors, Drivers, Laborer/Daily Worker, Welder, Factory Worker, Bricklayer, Machine Operator, Store Operator, Baker, Vendor, Artisan, Maid, Farmer, Janitor/Watchman, Laundry Worker, Mechanics, Teacher, Trash-collector, Carpenter, Barber, Painter, Fisherman, Sales Boy, Tortilla Maker. If I was to support a family through an IGP (Income Generating Project) or Microenterprise Project, my preferred choice would be to set up a “Beauty Salon & Barber Shop” – sustainable family business.
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Thanks Chelsea - I guessed with "daily worker and other" (as I also have), could be for privacy or it is difficult to explain. I have a few single mothers and from daily worker I guess they could buy and sell garments or food from stalls. Another mother supports the whole family working at a hotel if memory serves me well and the other father's are drivers. I forgot about the Guatemala couple!
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Chelaka, about the IGP, long ago I financed 2 of them for Marie and Mark's family (their older sister), they chose to raise pigglets (however that was not the success they expected) and a few years later they chose a litte shop selling rice and other food items (see my profile photo), that went good.. I don't remember if I go the choice to suggest something.. I let them free and I think the CI staff helped them figure out what would be best..
ReplyDeleteMarch 9, 2020
New one for your list Chelaka: One of the working, single mothers is a "tortilla maker."
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Hi Bradley! Thanks for your comment. I’m Chelaka. Whether or not we can find out what 'Other' involves is up to the family to disclose, or it could be that too many odd jobs fall outwith common trades. I'd breakdown 'Daily Worker' profile into small domestic works such as trimming a hedge, putting up a fence, or even helping out in a restaurant, etc. To this day, I remember a while ago CI ‘Journeys’ reported a story about a mother going house to house during the day to find some work to feed her daughter next meal (I was broken in tears reading it).
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Marie, Yes, ultimately the family decides what best works for them. I suggested my preferred IGP to Estephanie’s family, but due to the danger to life posed in the red-zone area where they were living (Guatemala City), it was not feasible. Btw, I like the banner they displayed at storefront: “Rice for Sale from Children International”
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Thanks Rachel. Tortilla Maker [#24] is in the list (above) now. I think, in India it’s called Parathas or Chapattis (Roti) – had it for my lunch yesterday :)
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I think it is interesting to see the contrast between the parents occupations and those that the youths are entering e.g. in one of the families the dad is a gardener vs the daughter getting into web site development. Some talk about being a doctor. I have one that consistently talks about being one. He is from a single parent household where the mom does mienial work. It just speaks to the impact the CI programs are having.
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Your observation is truly justified! I know for a fact that youth making full advantage of what's offered by CI will make within their gift to be 'someone' in life – even without one or both parents around. If you ask, I’m sure they will pick an occupation not listed above (exception to Teacher). It reminds me this video of ‘A Father’s Dream’ – [youtu.be/vNPhicRY_SE]
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