Growing Up Too Fast

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was growing up, my dream occupations changed frequently.

Librarian

Teacher

Lawyer

President of the United States!

And I also had access to educational opportunities, with the freedom to go to school and dream these big dreams.

Now as a mom of two children, I have tried to encourage them to explore their dreams and provide them with opportunities to learn about a variety of occupations. Helping them to choose something they can be successful at with the talents God has given them.

But not all children get these opportunities.

Growing up

Today is World Day Against Child Labor.

150 million children in developing countries are involved in child labor. Many of them must work to help provide a meager income for their family to survive. These same children are denied the opportunity to attend school. They are denied the opportunity to dream.

They’re growing up too fast.

Odds are high that the children we sponsor are vulnerable to child labor. But now they are getting the opportunity to grow as a child should, to go to school and to dream. To dream about their future and to dream about opportunities that will help them escape poverty.

Learn how Compassion fights child labor through prevention and intervention.

Along with the local Compassion staff and volunteers, we have the opportunity to invest in these children and their future with the letters we write to them. Encourage them to dream, share Bible verses with them to remind them of God’s love and purpose for them.

This month for our Second Friday Writing Club, let’s do just that!

  • Send this printable to encourage them to start dreaming about their future.
  • Has the child you sponsor shared with you their dream for the future? Make a paper collage for him or her of things that pertain to that job.

What are some ways that you have encouraged your sponsored child to dream their dreams? Join our Second Friday Letter Writing Club on Pinterest to share your ideas!

Not a part of our Second Friday Letter Writing Club? Be sure to follow us on Pinterest, then send an e-mail to [email protected] to request to join.

6 Comments |Add a comment

  1. Bonnie December 11, 2015

    My 13 year old son and I recently volunteered at a Compassion Tour Experience. It really moved my son. After going through the exhibit, he was lingering around the pictures of all the children. He came to me and said, “Mom, I know we don’t have the money to sponsor a child because we barely have enough money for ourselves. I really wish there was a way to do something.” One of the Compassion staff heard what he said and informed him that he could write letters to children without sponsoring a child since we really never know if we will have food on the table. Is there a way to do this?

    1. Emily Vanhoutan December 15, 2015

      Bonnie, you’re such a wonderful mom! I’m so sorry for the delay in responding to your inquiry! It sounds like you have been an incredible example to your boy and I’m so humbled by his desire to help a child in our program. Jesus is moving in his heart! I’m so sorry foryour financial situation and I pray that God would provide for you during this difficult time and encompass you in his love and provision. There’s definitely a way to write to a child without a financial commitment! Letters mean so much to these children and often times, help motivate them to continue the program because of the encouragement and love they receive from their sponsors, knowing that someone believes in them! Please email us at [email protected] and I would love to tell you more about this program and get you and your son set up with a child to write to!

  2. Nicole Ashcroft June 18, 2015

    Can you please send me am invitation to the correspondence fb ?

    1. Emily Vanhoutan June 19, 2015

      Hi Nicole! I’m happy to send you an invitation :). You should receive an email very shortly giving you access to the group! Welcome to the community and I pray you enjoy it and are inspired by others with ideas for writing letters to Ruangrit.

  3. Deborah Flowers June 13, 2015

    Hi do you have something like this for those of us who are NOT on pinterest, please?
    Thank you,

    1. Emily Vanhoutan June 15, 2015

      Hi Deborah! Regrettably, we don’t have anything quite like this outside of Pinterest. However, I am sending you an invitation to be a part of our Correspondents Facebook page where many of our sponsors love to share ideas for letter writing! Please find this invitation in your email (possibly under your spam/junk folder).

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