We began our ministry in Rwanda in 1980 with the Child Sponsorship Program. In 2008, we started the Leadership Development Program, and the Child Survival Program followed in 2010.

We were forced to close temporarily due to the war and genocide, but reopened operations in September of 1994. The first country director was appointed in 1995. Also in 1995, our President and CEO Wess Stafford visited Rwanda in an effort to reunite churches and pastors who had been divided during the war.

Country Director

Samuel Rugambage joined us as Program Manager in March 2005 and was appointed Country Director in 2006. Before coming to our ministry, Samuel served in various leadership positions at the Baptist Union of Churches of Rwanda, the Protestant Counsel of Rwanda and the Protestant University of Butare.

Samuel holds a master’s of Education, a master’s of Theology, and a Ph.D. in Theology.

Implementing Church Partners

Implementing Church Partners are local churches in Rwanda with whom we work to deliver child development programs and frontline ministry in the field.

• Spiritual Climate
  The spiritual climate in Rwanda is one of freedom. More than 93 percent of the population is Christian, and people are free to pray and evangelize throughout the country.
• Unique Challenges
  One challenge is that English is not commonly used, which causes language barriers and the constant need for interpreters. Also, Implementing Church Partner staff are paid a relatively low salary, which causes many to seek other employment.
• Contributions
  Implementing Church Partners provide the land where program activities take place as well as time and manpower for child development center activities.

  They also volunteer for projects such as house construction for Highly Vulnerable Children or providing relief in the case of disaster.



• Partner Development Activities
  We develop partners through education, training and Complementary Interventions support.

Child Survival Program

We recently started the Child Survival Program in Rwanda. The program is currently working in eastern, southern and northern Rwanda as well as in the capital city of Kigali.

Child Sponsorship Program

Your sponsorship of a child in Rwanda provides a variety of benefits.

Children are busy with school during the weekdays so they meet on Saturdays.

• Meeting Times:
• 3 to 5 year olds: 8 hours on Saturday
• 6 to 8 year olds: 8 hours on Saturday
• 9 to 11 year olds: 8 hours on Saturday
• 12 to 14 year olds: 8 hours on Saturday
• 15 to 18 year olds: 8 hours on Saturday
• 19 +: 8 hours on Saturday



• Nutritional Support
  The children are fed when they come to the center on Saturdays. They are given porridge in the morning before starting the first lesson and then a full meal for lunch, which typically consists of rice, posho (a common East African dish made with cornmeal) or Irish potatoes with beans and green vegetables. We provide this food in order to give them energy to participate in the program as well as to motivate them to attend.
• Vaccinations
  Vaccinations are provided free of charge by the government according to the schedule set by the Ministry of Health.
• Extracurricular Activities or Community Service
  Child development centers set aside time for sports and cultural/traditional dances for the children twice a month on Saturdays and more frequently during their school holidays.
• Vocational Activities
  Adolescents participate in discussions about human development relevant to the teenage years, such as body changes, hygiene and emotional changes.

  They are also involved in Bible study, discipleship, and income-generating activities such as crocheting, tailoring and basket weaving.



• Parent Involvement
  Parents meet for weekly prayer meetings and for monthly community service activities, such as house renovations for families who need our Highly Vulnerable Children program, center clean-up days, and working at the vegetable gardens at the centers.
• Areas of Expansion for the Child Sponsorship Program>
  We plan to focus expansion on existing clusters throughout the country, especially where clusters are not complete.

Leadership Development Program

• Universities Attended
  Our Leadership Development Program students attend government or public universities.
• Location of Universities
  There are five universities total in Rwanda; three are in the capital city of Kigali and two are in other parts of the country.
• Service Opportunities
  Students visit child development centers on Saturdays to participate in the activities and encourage the younger students.

  They also build at least four houses per year for vulnerable families near their universities and churches.



• Leadership Development Program Meetings
  Our Leadership Development Program students meet twice a month to plan for and evaluate their service activities. They also participate in weekly Bible studies and fellowship together.
• Specialty Curriculum Topics or Resources
  We discuss sexual purity and abstinence. We also do general health screenings, HIV tests and counseling.
• Mentors
  We work with churches, Christian unions and other leadership associations that train and mentor the students. Potential mentors are invited to meet the Leadership Development Program students and to learn more about the program itself. We also encourage students who already have mentors to help other students find a mentor.

Complementary Interventions

Compassion’s core Child Sponsorship Program, while comprehensive, cannot address all obstacles to a child’s healthy development. Compassion’s Complementary Interventions program works in harmony with the holistic child development model to provide additional services as needed, such as the AIDS Initiative, Bibles for All Children, disaster relief and water projects.

In Rwanda we typically use Complementary Interventions for supplementary development activities that focus on child development, such as health, curriculum and Highly Vulnerable Children. We also use Complementary Interventions for program enhancement activities. This includes water supply, mosquito nets, income-generating activities, and infrastructure.

Highly Vulnerable Children

Primary Highly Vulnerable Children needs are food, clothing and shelter. We provide cottages, house renovations and food supplements. Highly Vulnerable Children funds also provide the means for beneficiaries to be self-supporting — mainly through income-generating activities.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

We began our ministry in the Dominican Republic in 1970 as a relief program donating food, medicine and money for children selected by the local churches.

This relief program transitioned into a school program in the 1980s. In this program, children in the Dominican Republic gained access to education through the local church. In 1994, we started our Child Sponsorship Program. The Leadership Development Program started in 2004, followed by the Child Survival Program in 2006.

In the Dominican Republic we have a strategic partnership with the Evangelical National University to offer higher education to our staff, Implementing Church Partner staff and church members in holistic child development and child advocacy in order to train leaders to be child advocates.

Country Director

Kleber Isaias Lora Bautista joined us as Country Director in 2005.

Prior to coming to our ministry he held various positions including Child Sponsorship Program Manager at Food for the Hungry and a consultant for the Institutional Strength Project.

Kleber graduated with a degree in computer engineering from INTEC Technological Institute of Santo Domingo in 1990. He also earned a masters of business administration from the University of Quebec, Montreal in 2004.

As a young person, Kleber was the founder of the Christian Church in his community and later became the youth pastor and a staff member of their Bible seminary.

Implementing Church Partners

Implementing Church Partners are local churches in the Dominican Republic with whom we work to deliver child development programs and frontline ministry in the field.

• Spiritual Climate
  The Dominican Republic is very open to the gospel and the church has a strong voice in the community. Youth delinquency is a major challenge in many communities; because of that the church is widely accepted and welcomed in the hope that the church will encourage and embrace the youth.

  As a result, the church in the Dominican Republic is experiencing numerical growth.



• Unique Challenges
  It can be challenging for churches to find and train professional staff as the quality of education in the Dominican Republic is quite low. Once they are trained, the market often offers better salaries and benefits than Implementing Church Partners can offer. Also, most churches must rent their space because land is expensive and neighborhoods are very crowded.
• Contributions
  Implementing Church Partners provide construction and labor for the facilities as well as volunteers who offer their time and service in their specific field of expertise, such as medicine or social work.
• Partner Development Activities
  We develop partners in the Dominican Republic through training in accountability and sponsorship processes as well as leadership meetings with pastors and project directors.

Child Survival Program

• Caregiver Literacy
  Literacy is taught at the caregiver meetings once a week using an adult literacy method by ALFALIT. ALFALIT is an international Christian non-profit organization that specializes in eliminating literacy and offering education and development opportunities with the purpose of strengthening families in need.
• Income-generating Skills
  We offer a workshop once a week on various topics such as baking, jewelry making, hair dressing and beautician’s skills, and making pajamas and undergarments.

  These are skills that the caregivers can use in their homes while also taking care of their children.



• Health Care
  For vaccinations, medical consultations and follow-ups, mothers and babies go to public or private health centers that are located in their communities or nearby. We reimburse the Implementing Church Partners at various rates depending on whether the beneficiaries received care at a public hospital, semiprivate center or a private center.
• Nutritional Support
  Each month we assess which families are in need of nutritional support, then we deliver food and micronutrients for those families. Usually we do not deliver to the same families month after month, but occasionally that is needed for families living in very difficult conditions.

  We also provide an orientation on nutrition and subsequent follow-ups.

• Involvement of Fathers
  We encourage fathers to participate in group meetings and home visits. At the group meetings, we will often have a counseling professional come and talk to the couples about parenting and family dynamics.

  Implementing Church Partners also organize yearly retreats for Child Survival Program mothers and their husbands where they go away for three days and enjoy being together, meet new people and hear speakers teach on various topics.



• Transitioning Out of the Child Survival Program
  When children reach the age of 2, the Child Survival Program Implementers organize group activities where the children sit together around tables, draw and paint and have a nutritional meal together to help them get acquainted with the Child Sponsorship Program classroom and activities.
• Areas of Expansion for the Child Survival Program
  We would like to expand into the southern region of the Dominican Republic because that is the poorest area of the country.

Child Development Through Sponsorship

Your sponsorship of a child in the Dominican Republic provides a variety of benefits.

Based on our curriculum, this has been the most appropriate schedule for the children.

• Meeting Times:
• 3 to 5 year olds: 8 hours a week spread out over 2 to 3 days
• 6 to 8 year olds: 3 hours a day, 2 days a week
• 9 to 11 year olds: 3 hours a day, 2 days a week
• 12 to 14 year olds: 3 hours a day, 2 days a week
• 15 to 18 year olds: 2 hours a day, 2 days a week
• 19 +: 2 hours a day, 2 days a week



• Nutritional Support
  Each child receives a meal every day that they attend the child development center, which is about three times a week. A typical meal consists of rice and milk, wheat flour and milk, rice and chicken, oatmeal with bread, fruit juice and cookies, or cornflakes and milk.

  We give a meal or snack each time they attend the center because although the government schools do sometimes offer food, it is not consistent nor is it always safe and clean.



• Vaccinations
  Development center staff advises all parents to vaccinate their children. A health professional does an annual checkup and checks that these vaccines have been completed.

  In some cases, Implementing Church Partners have agreements with other non-governmental organizations or governmental agencies that provide vaccinations when needed.



• Extracurricular Activities or Community Service
  Children are able to participate regularly in sports, camps, arts, field days, museum visits, book fairs and field trips to historic sites, various companies and recreational places.
• Vocational Activities
  Vocational training in skills such as computers, handicrafts, driving, beauty, English, cooking, baking, welding, carpentry and sewing are offered depending on the local community. Many of the vocational training courses are certified, allowing the students to grow professionally in a given technical professional field.

  We also offer spiritual guidance and support, counseling, and opportunities for long-term development such as “My Plan for the Future” which is completed by each student.



• Parent Involvement
  We offer quarterly parenting classes on topics such as healthy parenting, family violence prevention, nutrition, literacy, vocational training and health.
• Areas of Expansion for the Child Sponsorship Program
  We would like to expand into the south and northeast regions of the Dominican Republic. The south is the most impoverished area in the country, and the northeast is a region where we do not currently have any church partners.

Leadership Development Program

• Universities Attended
  Leadership Development Program students attend governmental, private or Christian universities.
• Location of Universities
  Most of the universities are located in the capital city or in other large cities. There are several regional campuses spread throughout the country that offer a limited choice of degrees.
• Working Students
  There are a few Leadership Development Program students who do work, but generally these students are about to graduate.
• Service Opportunities
  Many students go back to their child development centers and churches to serve, while others serve at orphanages, nursing homes and schools or by doing community evangelism and missions.
• Leadership Development Program Meetings
  Leadership Development Program students hold an annual Advocacy Conference and an annual Youth Forum. The Advocacy Conference is a large meeting in which the students invite child development centers from various regions to bring their children and adolescents so the Leadership Development Program students can speak to them on specific topics related to child development.

  The Youth Forum is a forum where students invite leaders and professionals in various fields of social service to speak to them and other youth. They also meet quarterly in their Leadership Development Program care groups, which are smaller groups divided up by region; this is when they usually meet with the program specialist.



• Specialty Curriculum Topics or Resources
  When students enter the Leadership Development Program, they are required to complete the “Leadership Development Program Academy.” This is a one-month training program with specialized teachers in subjects such as math, writing, speed reading, and Christian worldview.
• Mentors
  Some of our staff members in the Dominican Republic are mentors for the students. They also assist other students in finding mentors through their connections with leaders from their churches.
• Career Placement Assistance
  We offer workshops to help the Leadership Development Program students choose their careers based on their interests and the labor market demands. We also give a vocational test administered by a psychologist to every student.

Complementary Interventions

Compassion’s core Child Sponsorship Program, while comprehensive, cannot address all obstacles to a child’s healthy development. Compassion’s Complementary Interventions program works in harmony with the holistic child development model to provide additional services as needed, such as the AIDS Initiative, Bibles for All Children, disaster relief and water projects.

Typical Complementary Interventions in the Dominican Republic include vocational training, reliable water using water purification systems, dental care, promotion of sports practices and major medical interventions

Highly Vulnerable Children

The primary needs in our Highly Vulnerable Children population are nutrition, hygiene and reliable water. It has been shown that focusing on prevention is the most efficient way to address the needs of Highly Vulnerable Children.

As a result, we concentrate our efforts within the Child Survival Program to improve and promote care and hygiene in newborns, infants and mothers. Child Survival and Child Sponsorship Program beneficiaries are eligible for medical support through Complementary Interventions.

In some cases of severe malnutrition, help and food is provided regularly. Funds are also used for adult literacy and nutrition/health education. In the event of a disaster, food, water and other resources are available for Highly Vulnerable Children.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

 Compassion began its ministry in Tanzania in 1999 with the Child Sponsorship Program. In 2008, we added the Child Survival Program.

In just over 11 years, Compassion Tanzania now works with 236 Implementing Church Partners in 12 regions of the country. We have been growing at an average of 30 percent per year and currently serve almost 64,000 children.

Country Director

Joseph Mayala Mitinje joined our ministry as a senior accountant in 1999 and also served as an operations coordinator, human resource specialist, and program implementation manager. He was appointed country director in 2009.

Prior to Compassion, Joseph worked at the Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania as a bank clerk before being promoted to business development manager and account relationship manager.

Joseph holds a bachelor’s degree in advanced accounting and auditing from Shivaji University in India; a post-graduate diploma in human resource management and international relations and stock market & exchange control from the Central Institute of Management in India; and a diploma in computer programming from India’s Space College.

He also holds a MBA from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute.

Joseph is a board member with Haki Kazi Catalyst and previously served as a church elder and chairperson of evangelism and missions for the Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara regions at the African Inland Church.

Implementing Church Partners

Implementing Church Partners are local churches in Tanzania with whom we work to deliver child development programs and frontline ministry in the field.

• Spiritual Climate
  Christianity is strong and the gospel is preached throughout the country, but superstitious practices still exist. For example, some believe that albino body parts will bring wealth.
• Unique Challenges
  One challenge that Implementing Church Partners face is retaining their child development center workers. The salary and benefits offered are low relative to the market, specifically for health workers. Thus, staff turnover is high.
• Contributions
  Implementing Church Partners make financial contributions for Children’s Day and provide the classrooms and kitchens.
• Church-to-Church Partnerships
  We have one church-to-church partnership between an Implementing Church Partner and a sponsoring church in the United States. The benefit is that the Implementing Church Partner has assurance that the children in their child development center will be sponsored. Also, it is beneficial for the children of both churches to share experiences with one another.



• Partner Development Activities
  We develop our Implementing Church Partners through training, facilitation and partnership meetings.

Child Survival Program

• Caregiver Literacy
  We offer literacy classes for the Child Survival Program caregivers three times a week using government curriculum.
• Income-Generating Skills
  We offer monthly training in income-generating skills to the caregivers in our Child Survial Program.

  These skills include agriculture, cooking, small-animal keeping, poultry, embroidery, tailoring, gardening and catering.



• Health Care
  The Tanzanian government provides prenatal care free of charge to mothers, and Compassion Tanzania pays for ongoing follow-up consultations for the mothers and children as well as any medications needed.
• Nutritional Support
  We provide nutrition education to Child Survival Program caregivers on a regular basis.
• Involvement of Fathers
  We hold group seminars during which Child Survival Program fathers are encouraged and challenged to participate in Child Survival Program activities.
• Transitioning Out of the Child Survival Program
  We work mainly with the Child Survival Program caregivers to make them aware of how the Child Sponsorship Program works and prepare them for their child’s transition.
• Areas of Expansion for the Child Survival Program
  We plan to expand into the Mara, Tabora, Iringa and Singida regions of Tanzania because these areas are extremely impoverished.

Child Development Through Sponsorship

Your sponsorship of a child in Tanzania provides a variety of benefits.

The children are busy with school during weekdays, but they have time on Saturdays to attend their respective child development centers.

• Meeting Times:
• 3- to 5-year-olds: 6 hours on Saturday
• 6- to 8-year-olds: 6 hours on Saturday
• 9- to 11-year-olds: 6 hours on Saturday
• 12- to 14-year-olds: 8 hours on Saturday
• 15- to 18-year-olds: 8 hours on Saturday
• 19 +: 4 hours a week



• Nutritional Support
  Each child receives a meal on the days they come to the child development center. A typical meal consists of milk tea, eggs, bread, rice, beans, meat and fruit. We also provide supplemental food for children who are malnourished.

  Our goal is to provide healthy food for the children and to encourage program attendance.



• Vaccinations
  In Tanzania, when a child is born, the government provides vaccinations and monitors adherence.
• Extracurricular Activities or Community Service
  At our Compassion-assisted child development centers, we offer arts and crafts, music, sports, games and income-generating activities (such as tailoring) every week. We also offer annual camps and community involvement.
• Vocational Activities
  Adolescents participate in entrepreneurship and apprenticeship activities, and they also go camping together. The public schools do not offer these activities so we hope to fill the gap and expose the youth to additional opportunities to have fun and learn important vocational and social skills.
• Parent Involvement
  We hold parents’ meetings, offer parenting classes and conduct training in entrepreneurship, health and HIV/AIDS prevention twice a year.

  Parents also cook for the children weekly.



• Areas of Expansion for the Child Sponsorship Program
  We plan to expand into Dar es Salaam and Tanga, which are in the eastern and northeastern regions of Tanzania. These are some of the neediest areas of the country with many children living in poverty.

Complementary Interventions

Compassion’s core Child Sponsorship Program, while comprehensive, cannot address all obstacles to a child’s healthy development. Thus Compassion’s Complementary Interventions program works in harmony with the holistic child development model to provide additional services as needed such as the AIDS Initiative, Bibles for All Children, disaster relief and water projects.

Complementary Interventions in Tanzania are most commonly implemented to provide insecticide-treated, anti-malaria mosquito nets; water systems; infrastructure such as toilets, classrooms and kitchens; income-generating activities for families; and medical treatment for children if regular funds are not sufficient.

Highly Vulnerable Children

The primary needs for Tanzania’s highly vulnerable children include food, clothing, shelter, parental care and support, and social integration. To meet these needs, we have foster care, cottages and counseling available.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

In 1993 we began Compassion’s ministry in Ethiopia with the Child Sponsorship Program. In 2004, we started the Leadership Development Program and in 2006, the Child Survival Program.

Country Director

Tsehaywota Taddesse joined our ministry as a program facilitator in 1998 and was subsequently promoted to program supervisor, program manager and then program director. In 2007 he became the partnership specialist for the Africa Region, and in December 2008 he was appointed country director.

Before joining Compassion, Tsehaywota was asked by his church leaders to be a director for the child development center at his church. He served in that capacity for three years.

Tsehaywota was born and raised in rural Ethiopia and did not go to school until the age of 10. His father taught him to read and do simple mathematics, but he did not teach him to write. When the Ethiopian government started a literacy campaign all over the country, Tsehaywota had the opportunity to pursue modern education.

He holds a bachelor of science in geology from Addis Ababa University and a masters degree in child development from Daystar University in Nairobi.

Implementing Church Partners

Implementing Church Partners are local churches with whom we work to deliver our child development program and ministry in the field.

• Spiritual Climate
  Islamic fundamentalism is growing in Ethiopia, which is threatening the Christian Church. There have been incidences of violence toward Christians from Muslims. Also, some in the Muslim community threaten other Muslims who register their children at Compassion’s child development centers by hindering them from using funeral services and isolating them from certain social activities.

  Coptic Christianity is the cause of some persecution of evangelical Christians in the northern part of the country. Some families have faced isolation from social activities and have even experienced physical abuse.

• Unique Challenges
  Our Implementing Church Partners face several challenges unique to Ethiopia, including:
  • the existence of different languages within our country requiring translation of program implementation documents
  • the need to go through denominational organizations to work with the local churches
  • the constant rise in the number of highly vulnerable children
  • limited financial capacity of the Implementing Church Partners
  • limited availability and high demand for vocational schools
• Contributions
  Implementing Church Partners take care of the office construction for development center administration as well as Sunday school classes and on occasion, latrines.

  Implementing Church Partners also assign volunteers for the child development center.



• Church-to-Church
  Our church-to-church partnerships in Ethiopia are in the relationship-building stage at this time. Sponsoring Church Partners have held special events to bring more sponsors into the ministry, which has enabled the Implementing Church Partners to register more children.
• Partner Development Activities
  We develop partners in Ethiopia by delivering training, conducting needs assessments, making funds available through Complementary Interventions, and organizing advocacy and sensitization workshops.

Child Survival Program

• Caregiver Literacy
  Caregivers study literacy individually and in classroom settings of no more than 15 mothers at a time. We use a basic adult program developed by the regional educational department.

  This program has five components: alphabetical letters (in their local language), words, construction of sentences, simple mathematics and environmental science. The mothers attend class twice a week for four hours each day over six months.



• Income-Generating Skills
  Mothers can learn knitting, cotton spinning (for cultural dresses), basket making and petty trading. All income-generating activities are practiced both at home and at the Child Survival Program where the mothers are encouraged to work in groups.
• Health Care
  Caregivers have access to immunizations and voluntary counseling and testing – a free program provided by the Ethiopian government to meet the Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

  We cover health counseling for mothers at the Child Survival Program on a regular basis, as well as pre-natal care, delivery expenses, medical treatment for children under age 5, transportation costs, and a higher level of medical care in the case of complications during labor and delivery.

• Nutritional Support
  All mothers are equipped with an income-generating skill and the necessary materials to be self-sufficient and provide for their families. The Child Survival Programs provide nutritional education and demonstrate how to prepare healthy, balanced meals.

  In addition, each caregiver receives monthly food items such as grains, cooking oil, flour, and milk and cereal for their babies.

• Involvement of Fathers
  Fathers are the main source of income for families in Ethiopia, so they are generally very busy and cannot attend programs organized by the Child Survival Program.

  However, when we are able to find an available time for the fathers, the Child Survival Program workers will meet with both parents to discuss various issues related to parenting. This happens once a month.



• Transitioning Out of the Child Survival Program
  We make every effort to prepare the caregivers, children and Implementing Church Partners for successful completion of the Child Survival Program and transition into Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Program after the caregiver and child achieve specific physical, cognitive, social-emotional and spiritual outcomes.
• Areas of Expansion for the Child Survival Program
  Over the past three years our emphasis has been on rural towns; we plan to open child development centers in Addis Ababa next.

Child Development Through Sponsorship

Your sponsorship of a child in Ethiopia provides a variety of benefits.

The Implementing Church Partner’s facilities are used during the weekends for programs for adults, so sponsored children attend the Child Development Center during the week.

• Meeting Times:
  • 3 to 5 year olds: 2 hours a day, four days a week
  • 6 to 8 year olds: 2 hours a day, three days a week
  • 9 to 11 year olds: 2 hours a day, three days a week
  • 12 to 14 year olds: 2 hours a day, two days a week
  • 15 to 18 year olds: 2 hours a day, two days a week
  • 19 +: 2 hours a day, two days a week

  

• Nutritional Support
  Implementing Church Partners do not provide food or nutritional support to the children at the child development centers because the government feels that doing so creates dependency.

  In addition, because of the impoverished areas surrounding the Implementing Church Partners, they do not consider it fair to feed only the registered children while the rest of the children in the community do not have any food.

• Vaccinations
  Children receive vaccinations free of charge at the public health clinics provided by the government.
• Extracurricular Activities or Community Service
  Occasionally there are community service opportunities such as tree planting or environmental sanitation activities. Extracurricular activities such as sports are regularly available.



• Vocational Activities
  Most adolescents in Ethiopia do not have an opportunity to attend college because it is highly competitive. Vocational training enables the students to learn a practical skill and become economically self-supporting.

  Adolescents participate in skills training and professional training depending on their area of interest and what is available. Students often become certified in the skill they are learning.

• Job Placement for Adolescents
  Implementing Church Partners make an effort to provide jobs to child sponsorship graduates, but there are a limited number of positions available at the child development programs. The government encourages micro-business by giving small shop spaces or small plots of land to those who organize themselves into a group and propose a specific business.

  Some Implementing Church Partners try to facilitate these shop spaces or land plots for child sponsorship graduates who are trained in various vocational skills.

• Parent Involvement
  We have a monthly meeting for parents at the child development center. We discuss parenting as well as various issues raised by parents.

  Parents also get involved in the planning and purchasing of items such as clothing and food grains for the children.



• Areas of Expansion for the Child Sponsorship Program
  We would like to expand into the northern part of Ethiopia. This is an impoverished region with a high number of evangelical churches and committed church leaders.

Leadership Development Program

All of Compassion’s Leadership Development Program students attend government universities throughout the country. Students presently attend 23 of the 26 government universities in the country. Some schools are located in the capital while others are up to 700 kilometers away from the capital. Because of the help from the Leadership Development Program, none of the students have to work while attending university.

• Service Opportunities
  Students participate in service opportunities mainly during their breaks from school. They assist at work camps, teach children at the child development centers, encourage parents in child rearing, speak to church elders and pastors about ministry, clean church compounds, assist the child development centers in whatever work needs to be done, evangelize adolescents, and paint church rooms.

  Leadership Development Program students are required to serve their local church and community for a minimum of 15 hours every two months. Their pastor sends a signed letter to the Leadership Development Program specialist explaining the type of service in which the student participates.



• Leadership Development Program Meetings
  The larger Leadership Development Program group meets at least twice a year, between semesters or during long vacation breaks. They cover the Leadership Development Program curriculum topics, participate in service opportunities, and meet individually with the Leadership Development Program specialist.
• Specialty Curriculum Topics or Resources
  In addition to the 24 curriculum topics set by our ministry, Leadership Development Program students in Ethiopia take eight electives offered by college theology teachers. These electives include Old and New Testament survey and life skills courses. We feel it is important for the students to have a basic knowledge of biblical doctrine and to have an ample amount of Bible study time.
• Mentors
  We identify students who are not involved in a mentoring relationship and introduce them to the child development center staff in their area. Sometimes the center staff become mentors, and at other times they help the students find a mentor.

  We also network with the Evangelical Student Union of Ethiopia, which works with Christian university students. The regional coordinators assist new Leadership Development Program students in finding a mentor and many are mentors themselves.

• Leadership Development Program Alumni Group
  There is a Leadership Development Program Alumni Association but it is not extremely active because the graduates are scattered throughout the country. Meetings and activities generally take place in the capital city where a few graduates live.

  However, students who are active are invited to different parts of the country to preach and teach at the child development centers. They also advise current Leadership Development Program students, and some graduates serve as mentors.

Complementary Interventions

Our core Child Sponsorship Program, while comprehensive, does not address all obstacles to a child’s healthy development.

Compassion’s Complementary Interventions program was created to provide additional services as needed, such as our AIDS Initiative, disaster relief, water projects, special medical intervention, and provision of Bibles to all Compassion-assisted children.

Complementary Interventions in Ethiopia include:

• equipping guardians with child care, business and income-generating skills and enhanced parental capacity
• providing pit latrines, playgrounds and classroom construction
• building and provision of educational resource centers such as libraries and computer rooms

Highly Vulnerable Children

The needs of highly vulnerable children in Ethiopia include:

• Caregiver incapacitation: About 60 to 70 percent of registered Highly Vulnerable Children are living with sick, elderly or child guardians. They have serious physical, economic, nutritional and household needs. They need community-based care to cope with their living challenges and to attend programmatic activities. Highly Vulnerable Children funds allow children to remain in the Child Sponsorship Program and finish successfully.
• Caregiver deprivation: About 25 percent of registered Highly Vulnerable Children are without adult care and follow-up, resulting in a chronic need for foster families. We are working to find volunteer families who can accept these children into their homes and protect and provide for them in a sustainable way.
• Child abuse: About 5 to 10 percent of registered Highly Vulnerable Children encounter various forms of child abuse, resulting in emergency situations requiring immediate intervention.
• Disabilities and special needs: As we identify registered children who have physical disabilities, we take necessary action to help them remain in the program and finish well. We will also make efforts to mobilize the church and surrounding community to give support.
• Cottages: There are 35 children in six ministry cottages who are provided with proper family care and follow-up. We are working toward the sustainability of these cottages.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

]]> http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-ethiopia/feed/ 1 http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-philippines/ http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-philippines/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 07:22:21 +0000 Web Team http://blog.compassion.com/?p=25397 We began our ministry in the Philippines in 1972 with the Child Sponsorship Program. In 1996, we started the Leadership Development Program and in 2005, the Child Survival Program.

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We began our ministry in the Philippines in 1972 with the Child Sponsorship Program. In 1996, we started the Leadership Development Program, and in 2005, the Child Survival Program. In 2009, the 50,000th child was registered.



We have been blessed to experience a number of notable milestones in the Philippines. First, the Leadership Development Program began in the Philippines, then the first local alumni association was organized.

After Typhoon Durian hit in 2007 we became more aware of the challenges natural disasters bring. With this disaster, the Country Office in the Philippines became more prepared to handle future disasters. This led to the building of the first Compassion Village in the country, where more than 350 homes were built and more than 600 were repaired through Complementary Interventions funds.

Country Director

Noel Pabiona joined us as Country Director in 2004. Before coming to our ministry, Noel worked at various companies based in Singapore, Hong Kong and the United States. He also served in the Philippine government for four years as Chief Planning Officer for the National Livelihood Support Fund Agency and served as pastor for the Living Grace Christian Fellowship from 1996 to 2006.



Noel earned a bachelor’s of economics degree from the University of the Philippines and earned a post-graduate degree in petroleum refining at the Oxford Extension School in Australia.

Implementing Church Partners

Implementing Church Partners are local churches with whom we work to deliver our child development program and ministry in the field.

• Spiritual Climate
  Evangelical churches in the Philippines are growing all over the country. However, there is a lack of unity due to denominational differences.

  We recently conducted a series on church leadership and development training focused on pastor wellness. The goal of the Country Office is to serve as a catalyst for unity across denominations.



• Unique Challenges
  One challenge unique to the Philippines is that the country is composed of more than 7,100 islands with various languages, and the children are scattered all over the islands. Also, the quality of church partners and leaders can be a challenge. Because of this we strive to provide training before we enter into a church partnership.
• Contributions
  Church partners provide labor, manpower and networking.
• Partner Development Activities
  We begin training in partner development even before the actual partnership. As we look for new partners, we conduct training on ministry presentation, orientation and strategic planning. Through this training both our ministry and the church can assess if the church is ready to partner with us.

  When a church becomes a partner, it enters a three-year module on partner development. For five years we work closely with our partners, but in the sixth year, we hope that we have provided enough training that the church can be independent. It is our desire that those who have partnered longer will be able to train the newer partners.

  Partner development focuses on partner training, technical support, facilitation and church maturation. We offer training on topics such as holistic child development, sponsorship basics, start-up, functional trainings, child protection, Complementary Interventions, community development and child advocacy, among others.

Child Survival Program

• Caregiver Literacy
  We teach literacy through one-on-one lessons at home and in group activities at the center. We use lectures with resource speakers, visual aids, demonstrations and experiential learning such as field trips and food preparation.



• Income-Generating Skills
  We offer income-generating training twice a month. The activities offered depend on the interests and needs of the mothers who attend.

  Generally, we offer baking, food processing, culinary arts, sewing, cosmetology and hair science, bead-making, and craft-making using indigenous materials and scraps such as coconut shells, corn skins and seashells. Some of the mothers have begun earning from these activities, especially those involving food.



• Health Care
  The local health centers offer prenatal care as well as free vaccinations, but there is a limited vaccine supply. Mothers are encouraged to go to the health centers to take advantage of these free services. After 12 months, the Child Survival Program pays for the child’s booster shots.

  The Child Survival Program checks the caregivers’ immunization card and prenatal card to ensure that they are utilizing the programs at the local health center.

  All of the children go through screenings and medical monitoring regardless of whether or not they are sick. The Child Survival Program pays for immunizations that are not covered by the government as well as unscheduled hospitalizations and emergency situations. The Child Survival Program also pays for ultrasounds and newborn screenings.

  The government offers social welfare assistance for indigent families to get discounted rates from hospitals, and some the Child Survival Programs have also received services such as financial support, ambulance services and free hospitalization offered through other organizations.



• Nutritional Support
  Mothers are educated in basic nutrition and food preparation. We show them how to purchase nutritious foods, such as vegetables, with limited money. Many mothers were surprised to learn how nutritious vegetables are.
• Involvement of Fathers
  During the first Child Survival Program orientation, mothers are encouraged to bring their husbands.

  

  Some church partners ask the fathers to sign an agreement that they will not prohibit their wives from attending Child Survival Program activities.

  To encourage the involvement of fathers, we hold Couples’ Retreats, Family Day, Father’s Day, sporting events and sometimes ask some of the fathers to play guitar at church, do carpentry work, or drive.

  For every Child Survival Program in the Philippines, about one or two fathers are the primary caregivers.

• Transitioning Out of the Child Survival Program
  The Child Survival Program will ensure that a child is ready for the Child Sponsorship Program.

  Each child must have achieved normal weight as well as basic hygiene and self-help skills, which include a sense of independence, social adjustment, self-feeding, the ability to clean up toys, and the ability to socialize with other children.

  We provide pre-literacy activities that train children to scribble, string items together, color and identify colors and shapes.

  Then, children in the Child Survival Program attend Child Sponsorship Program classes to expose them to what they will soon be experiencing.

  Transitioning mothers to the Child Sponsorship Program is still a challenge. The challenge is to make it clear to the mothers that after successful completion of the Child Survival Program, they are no long beneficiaries but partners.

  Some church partners introduce Child Survival Program mothers to Child Sponsorship Program mothers to help with the transition. They also have made efforts to involve the mothers in care groups and Bible studies.

• Areas of Expansion for the Child Survival Program
  We would like to expand into Western Mindanao, the National Capital Region, Bicol, Palawan and Mindoro, which are areas scattered all throughout the country. These regions have been identified by the government as priority areas due to prevailing poverty.

Child Sponsorship Program

Your sponsorship of a child in the Philippines provides a variety of benefits.

Child development center activities are mostly done on Saturdays, since children are busy with school throughout the week. Some centers use Sundays, but the Country Office discourages this practice so that center activities will not compete with church activities.

• Meeting Times
  • 3 to 5 year olds: 6 hours a week, usually on Saturday
  • 6 to 8 year olds: 6 hours a week, usually on Saturday
  • 9 to 11 year olds: 6 hours a week, usually on Saturday
  • 12 to 14 year olds: 4 hours a week, usually on Saturday
  • 15 to 18 year olds: 2 hours a week, some in the form of community service
  • 19 +: 2 hours a week, some in the form of community service

  

• Nutritional Support
  If the children come to the child development center during lunchtime, they receive lunch, which consists of rice, meat or fish, vegetables, fruit, and juice or milk. If they come at any other time, they receive a nutritious snack, which consists of sweet potatoes, sticky rice, skewered bananas, or noodles.

  Malnourished children receive vitamins and additional food packs, which contain one complete meal of rice, meat or fish, vegetables and fruit. We are currently implementing a Complementary Interventions food mitigation program for several centers.



• Vaccinations
  All children should have received at least the minimum vaccinations as prescribed by the World Health Organization. We encourage child development centers to connect with local health centers to get free immunizations, although they have limited supplies.

  There are cases in which the Country Office assists in the purchase of vaccines in bulk to get special discounts.

• Extracurricular Activities or Community Service
  Typical extracurricular activities include camps, sporting events, field trips and talent shows. The older children participate in these activities approximately twice a month, which is more often than the younger children.



• Vocational Activities
  We offer practical skills that will allow children to develop employable skills.

  Child development centers offer vocational training such as carpentry, auto mechanics, food preservation, and basic livelihood. Some church partners network with government agencies and nongovernmental organizations such as Advancing the Ministry of God, which provide vocational training and job placement.

  Child development centers also offer community service opportunities such as community clean-up and environmental protection.



• Child Sponsorship Program Alumni Activities
  The national alumni association in the Philippines is now sponsoring a child. Members hold fundraising events and provide relief in times of national disaster. There are also smaller alumni groups in different regions.
• Parent Involvement
  We have general assemblies and orientation for parents, and there are some churches that have initiated activities such as Bible studies and care groups. Mothers are also involved in letter writing. But generally, we do not have the budget to offer regular activities specifically aimed at parents.
• Areas of Expansion for the Child Sponsorship Program
  We would like to expand into indigenous areas, specifically Mindanao, because it has not been reached and is very needy. We are also praying about and preparing to enter the Muslim province of Basilan.

Leadership Development Program

• Types of Universities Attended
  Typically students are enrolled in private universities, but there are also students who are enrolled in government universities. There is one accredited Bible school for those who intend to be trained in ministry.



• Location of Universities
  Students attend the university that is located in the main city of their province, along with all other Leadership Development Program students who live in that same province.
• Working Students
  Students do not work while they attend university.
• Service Opportunities
  Students assist in weekly learning activities at the child development centers, serving as tutors and activity coordinators.



• Leadership Development Program Meetings
  Every year Leadership Development Program students go through two major training events, the Work Camp and the Leadership Ambassadors’ Training. Once every month, students meet in their clusters for care group meetings and fellowship.
• Specialty Curriculum Topics or Resources
  We specifically cover Filipino family dynamics to address the issues confronting our students in regarding with family members. We also discuss issues related to the broken family and living with extended families as this is very common in the Philippines.
• Mentors
  The Country Office coordinates with the alumni association and the Implementing Church Partners in order to assist our students in finding a mentor.
• Leadership Development Program Alumni Group
  The Leadership Development Program Alumni Association is establishing cluster groups to increase awareness and support for the program. There is one Leadership Development Program alumni group that has sponsored a child in the Child Sponsorship Program, and they are promoting the initiative to other graduates.



Complementary Interventions

Our core Child Sponsorship Program, while comprehensive, does not address all obstacles to a child’s healthy development.

The Complementary Interventions program was created to work with our holistic child development model to provide additional services, such as our AIDS Initiative, funds for Bibles for All Children, disaster relief and water projects.

Complementary Interventions in the Philippines include post-partum psychological counseling for Child Survival Program beneficiaries, malaria-related services, food distribution, vaccines, vitamins, water sources, income-generating activities and medical reimbursements and disaster/emergency situations, the most common of which are fire and typhoons.

Highly Vulnerable Children

In the Philippines, the Highly Vulnerable Children program mostly involves children in need of special protection because of physical or sexual abuse. We also have a few cases of commercially exploited children.

Our strategies include child abuse awareness trainings and child protection workshops for the Implementing Church Partners.

We are able to give immediate help to Highly Vulnerable Children through our resident social worker and through our partnership with local government units, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development and nongovernmental organizations such as the International Justice Mission.

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Take a tour of our office in the Philippines through the eyes of sponsored child, Alvin. This informative and fun video was created by our field staff in the Philippines.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

]]> http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-philippines/feed/ 4 http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-guatemala/ http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-guatemala/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:01:45 +0000 Web Team http://blog.compassion.com/?p=25262 We began our ministry in Guatemala in 1976 as a family help program run by missionaries. The Child Sponsorship Program started in 1980, and the Leadership Development Program began in 1997.

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We began our ministry in Guatemala in 1976 as a family help program run by missionaries. The Child Sponsorship Program started in 1980, and the Leadership Development Program began in 1997.



We have one main office in the capital city and two satellite offices. We work with over 35,000 children in Guatemala, and we are serving 19 of the country’s 22 territorial units. We have responded to some of the country’s biggest crises including Hurricane Mitch and Stan, the Corredor Seco famine and the Agatha tropical storm.

Compassion Guatemala has established key alliances with organizations such as The United Children Christian Coalition, Healing Waters International and Fuller Seminary.

Country Director

Jose Carlos Prem joined our ministry in Guatemala as Country Director in 2008. Before this, Jose Carlos served in leadership roles in companies such as Kerns and Alimentos Naturales and SCENTIA.



Having earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and an MBA from Rafael Landivar University, Jose Carlos also studied French and German and pursued a Bible teaching degree at one of the largest seminaries in Latin America.

He joined the Theological Latin-American Fraternity and is a Guatemalan delegate for The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization.

Additionally, Jose Carlos is a part of the missions committee and preaching team at his church.

Implementing Church Partners

Implementing Church Partners are local churches with whom we work to deliver our child development program and ministry in the field.

• Spiritual Climate
  The majority of the population is Catholic, 40 percent of the population is Protestant, and a small percentage hold to old Mayan religions or syncretism. There is a great deal of freedom regarding religion in Guatemala.

  We have the freedom to evangelize in parks and public centers in Guatemala and to reach out to people in all areas of the country. The church also has a large presence in the media. However, the church and the country as a whole face shocking levels of violence due to poverty, gang activity and drug cartels from Mexico.

  Violence has been a challenge in evangelizing and reaching out to the youth, especially those in need who live in the urban areas and in border towns. There are many victims of this crime and people die every day.

• Unique Challenges
  The following are key challenges unique to Implementing Church Partners in Guatemala:
  • Because child development centers manage large amounts of money that are not part of the Implementing Church Partners’ budget, it is a challenge to define the center’s legal status to the government. They are not official non-profit organizations even though they receive funds from our ministry.

    In Guatemala, similar organizations receiving large donations without an established legal identity have served as headquarters for drug operations and money laundering.

  • Legal implication of having volunteer staff at the development centers is another challenge. Guatemala’s laws can misinterpret the volunteer status of some of our staff because some receive a small monthly stipend or “offering” but we still classify them as “volunteers.”
  • Most of the population has a low level of education, especially in the rural areas. According to the National Statistical Institute Census of 2002, only 16.71 percent of Guatemala’s youth received a high school education. It is very challenging for the ministry and our Implementing Church Partners to recruit qualified tutors who have an acceptable level of education for developing and teaching the curriculum.
  • Many churches are not focused on supporting children’s ministries. It is difficult to find churches that are committed to developing children and committed to a program that has a high level of complexity.
  • It is difficult for churches to generate other resources to help the children other than our ministry.
  • It is challenging to spend funds wisely and effectively due to the great amount of need that our Implementing Church Partners and children face.



• Typical Contributions
  Implementing Church Partners provide utilities such as electricity and water, the child development center facilities, and the time and effort of leaders and volunteers.
• Partner Development
  We develop partners through training and meetings. We train the staff in their specific areas of expertise and provide leadership training for the development center leaders and pastors.

  In addition, we hold meetings with the pastors to strengthen our partnership, and Partnership Facilitators hold regular meetings with center leaders to discuss the children, topics related to partnership and resource management.

Child Development Through Sponsorship

Your sponsorship of a child in Guatemala provides a variety of benefits.

The 3 to 11 year olds meet after school and they only meet twice a week because of school work. The 12 to 19+ year olds meet on Saturdays because in the public school system, junior high school and high school classes meet in the afternoon.

• Meeting Times
  • 3 to 5 year olds: 4 hours a day, 2 days a week
  • 6 to 8 year olds: 4 hours a day, 2 days a week
  • 9 to 11 year olds: 4 hours a day, 2 days a week
  • 12 to 14 year olds: 4 hours on Saturday
  • 15 to 18 year olds: 4 hours on Saturday
  • 19 +: 4 hours on Saturday

  

• Nutritional Support
  Each child is given a substantial snack every time there is an activity at a child development center. A typical snack might be pancakes and oatmeal with milk; vegetable soup with tortillas and pineapple drink; a bean sandwich with a warm drink made of rice, milk and cinnamon; oatmeal with milk and rice tortillas; or cereal.

  The development centers also provide special meals for celebrations and extracurricular activities. This food is provided to contribute to the children’s health because there are some cases in which families do not have enough food to provide lunch for their children.



• Vaccinations
  When children are enrolled into the Child Sponsorship Program, our staff asks the family to provide their vaccine card. If the child has not been vaccinated, they are referred to a public health center which provides free services including vaccinations.
• Extracurricular Activities or Community Service
  We offer various activities in the hope that we can get families involved. Many children are not able to celebrate special days in their homes due to a lack of resources. These activities include:
  • Camps and retreats, special devotionals, worship nights with bonfires, evangelism activities in the community
  • Celebrations for birthdays, Children’s Day, end of the school year, Family Day, rallies, graduations, Christmas
  • Soccer games, small marathons
  • Discussions on the rights and responsibilities of children, ceremonial activities teaching children about our national symbols and how to respect and care for our country
  • Informative meetings and activities with the community, parents and beneficiaries on health topics such as hygiene, HIV, etc.



• Vocational Activities
  Vocational training is offered to adolescents so each one can acquire a skill enabling him or her to be competitive in the job market and have an income-generating skill.

  Adolescents are involved in community service, organization of children’s activities, My Plan for Tomorrow, tutoring and vocational training. Child development centers offer vocational training based on need. Some trainings offered include beauty school, carpentry, pastry baking, seamstress training and handicrafts.

  INTECAP (Technical Training and Productivity Institute) is a government organization that seeks to train and certify individuals so that they are able to be competitive in the job market. INTECAP is the only other organization available in major towns that provides a similar training program to our ministry. They are the leaders in vocational training. In some cases, we have sought INTECAP’s services to train children.



• Parent Involvement
  We hold regular parents’ meetings to discuss the child’s progress and any special situations that need attention. Parents are also invited to meetings where staff members or guest speakers will speak on topics such as health or parenting.

  Additionally, every year child development centers host activities for the children and the parents to work on “My Plan for Tomorrow” together. Some development centers even host parents’ retreats.



• Areas of expansion for the Child Sponsorship Program
  We are planning to expand into the Western region of Guatemala because it is an area that is very impoverished and in need of development. There are great growth possibilities because there are many Christian churches in that area.

Leadership Development Program

• Universities Attended
  The students attend both public and private universities. The private universities can be classified as either Christian or secular, but most of the students attend private Christian universities.
• Location of Universities
  All of the universities have their headquarters in a capital city. There are also university extensions or branches located in smaller towns. These branches have no dormitory facilities for students, so if a student is studying at a branch, he may need to travel up to three hours to get to his classes.



• Working Students
  Some students work, but they have to have the Leadership Development Program Specialist’s permission to do so. We do not recommend that students work, but some students need to for various reasons. Some students need to help support their families, especially in the case of single-parent families or very large families, which is common.

  Other students want to work to gain experience so it will be easier to find a job upon graduation. And some students work because they attend one of the university extensions which only hold classes on the weekends, so the students take advantage of their available time during the week.

• Service Opportunities
  Many Leadership Development Program students serve in their local churches as worship leaders and youth leaders. Some volunteer at their old child development centers, help with Vacation Bible School and promote the Child Sponsorship Program.
• Leadership Development Program Meetings
  The larger Leadership Development Program group meets two to three times per year. At these meetings they cover curriculum topics and play games, have devotionals, celebrations and times of sharing with each other and the Leadership Development Program Specialist.

  Meetings have included on-site medical check-ups involving lab tests and HIV testing. The reason for this is that there are many poorly equipped healthcare facilities especially in rural areas. Sometimes these facilities provide false and inaccurate diagnoses and prescribe dangerous procedures and/or medications. So we started an initiative to provide medical and dental check-ups with qualified doctors.



• Specialty Curriculum Topics or Resources
  Part of Guatemala’s cultural mindset is to live in the present. There is not a clear concept of the future or concern for future generations. Therefore, some curriculum topics are more of a  challenge, such as Christian worldview, savings as part of your budget, and having a vision.

  In order to contextualize these topics and make them relevant for Leadership Development Program students in Guatemala, we have to help the students think about their future in specific ways. We help them plan for life after college, prepare for their careers and set up goals for the next five to ten years.

  Mentors play an important role in the students’ vision and planning. In addition, we have emphasized the importance of setting aside a portion of their income for savings. Finally, we’ve adapted an ecology elective course for our curriculum to reinforce the students’ concern for our planet and future generations.



• Mentors
  In order to help students find mentors, we ask our staff and Leadership Development Program alumni to become mentors. We also ask former mentors if they would be willing to volunteer again. If necessary, we ask the field office staff for recommendations of people they know who  might be qualified mentors.

Complementary Interventions

Our core Child Sponsorship Program, while comprehensive, does not address all obstacles to a child’s healthy development. The Complementary Interventions program was created to work with our holistic child development model to provide additional services, such as our AIDS Initiative, funds for Bibles for All Children, disaster relief and water projects.

Typical Complementary Interventions in Guatemala include: disaster relief, famine relief, potable water, Bibles, nutritional aid for children, scholarships helping students finish high school, entrepreneurship training, medical help for specific emergencies, and vocational training.

Complementary Interventions also benefit our Leadership Development Program students. We offer funds for The Academy Camp, a two-week camp for students who are in the last phase of the Leadership Development Program application process. We also help students in the Leadership Development Program with dental needs.



Highly Vulnerable Children

In Guatemala, highly vulnerable children are usually children who suffer from abuse in their homes, children whose guardians are extended family and can barely afford to provide for the basic needs of the child, or children who are severely malnourished.

For children who suffer abuse, we refer to International Justice Mission for follow-up.

In a few cases, International Justice Mission intervention has resulted in placing the children in Christian children’s homes. For those whose guardians cannot provide for them, the Implementing Church Partner will provide bags of basic food items.

Sponsor gifts also play a key role in providing for basic needs, such as a bed.

For children who are malnourished, we use famine relief Complementary Interventions to provide assistance.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

]]> http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-guatemala/feed/ 6 http://blog.compassion.com/investing-in-a-good-harvest/ http://blog.compassion.com/investing-in-a-good-harvest/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:52:48 +0000 Vera Mensah-Bediako http://blog.compassion.com/?p=26910 Despite Martin’s hard work and a good harvest, he remained unable to provide adequately for his family. With nearly every harvest he would lose all of his profit to the market money lenders from whom he buys his seeds and equipment.

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As early as 5 a.m., Martin Antwi is already working on his vegetable farm. He works until the harsh mid-day sun does not allow him to work any longer.

Later in the afternoon, Martin returns to his land to weed, plow and water all the plants until dusk. He works hard on his farm and is rewarded with a good harvest.

But despite his hard work and a good harvest, Martin had been unable to provide adequately for his family. With nearly every harvest he would lose all of his profit to the market money lenders from whom he buys his seeds and equipment.



Because vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and lettuce mature within approximately two months, poor farmers make arrangements with market women who buy and sell the crops. The farmers prepare their land and, at planting time, they go to the market to look for prospective buyers to lend them money to buy seeds and other necessities.

Once the crops are harvested, they are taken to the market woman who lended money to the farmer. She determines how much to pay for it. She retrieves her loan plus interest from the amount she offers to pay the farmer. After all this is done, the farmer is left with virtually no money to take home.



“We work so hard but at the end of the day it is someone who loans you the money who gets everything and we go back home with nothing.”

That has been the cycle of life for this 45-year-old father of four. Martin and his family live in Pokuase, about an hour’s drive south of Accra off the main road.

The 12,000 people who live here are mostly vegetable farmers and keepers of free-range livestock, which accounts for the numerous domestic animals such as goats, chickens and dogs that roam the streets.

The residents are also petty traders who sell in stalls located throughout the community. It is possible to find almost anything one might need in these stalls. Some of the people have recently taken to cracking stones to earn a living.

Martin could not provide properly for his family. Three of his children were not in school. Even the oldest child who was enrolled in school was out of class most of the time because Martin was unable to pay the fees.

But two of Martin’s four children, Emmanuel and Sandra, are registered at the Compassion-assisted Church of Pentecost Child Development Center. It is very important for every child in the program to also attend school, so Emmanuel and Sandra were enrolled in school at the same time.



Emmanuel is a very serious 13-year-old who rarely smiles. He and his younger sister, Sandra, are in grade two at school — a situation he does not like.

“Because Sandra is in the same class with me she does not respect me as her older brother. She talks to me as if I am her age mate but I am 4 years older than her. Sometimes I want to hit her but my parents would not like it so I don’t. But I get angry.”

But Emmanuel enjoys and appreciates the child development center, where he and Sandra receive nutritrious supplemental food, medical checkups, tutoring and social nurture, school books and school fees, and Bible teaching. And there, Emmanual was also placed in the Highly Vulnerable Children’s program.

The center’s health social worker tells us,

“When we registered Sandra and Emmanuel, they were very sickly looking. We knew that they needed special care. So when the Highly Vulnerable Children program was introduced they were the first two names on the list.

“But the two of them could not benefit because the number was restricted to only six children. Emmanuel was chosen over Sandra because his condition was worse.”

Compassion’s Highly Vulnerable Children (HVC) program provides services or assistance for children in especially critical situations — conditions which may threaten their lives or prevent them from growing and developing in the way God wants them to.

HVC provided Emmanuel with nutritional supplements and nutritional food items such as beans, eggs and milk. The program also offered income-generation training for Emmanuel’s father, Martin, to help him provide for his family’s other needs. Once Martin received the training, HVC gave him a small-business grant of GHc100.00 (equivalent to about $61) which he invested into his vegetable farming.

Now Martin no longer needs the market women money lenders; he is able to keep his profit and better provide for his family.

Martin shares,

“I am now enjoying my work. Since the ministry gave us that hundred Ghana cedis, which was a far bigger amount than I was getting from the money lenders, I have control over how much I want to sell my farm produce for.”



No longer do Martin’s children need to be pulled from school for lack of fee money. With the help of Compassion’s child development and HVC programs, Martin’s four children are all now attending school.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

]]> http://blog.compassion.com/investing-in-a-good-harvest/feed/ 6 http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-east-indonesia/ http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-east-indonesia/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 07:11:45 +0000 Web Team http://blog.compassion.com/?p=24604 We began our ministry in East Indonesia in 2005, with the Child Sponsorship Program and in 2006, we started the Child Survival Program.

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We began our ministry in East Indonesia in 2005 with the Child Sponsorship Program, and in 2006 we started the Child Survival Program.

Country Director

Georry Nefiantuty Suardi (Tuty) joined the ministry in East Indonesia as country director in 2005. Before this, Tuty served as program manager in the Bandung office.



Prior to joining Compassion, Tuty served as a program manager and trainer for the Indonesian Christian Church Training Center, and as a consultant in human resource development for the Fidicia Consulting Group.

Tuty is the founder of the Youth Empowerment Station in Jakarta and the Youth Leadership Movement in Manado.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from the Christian University of Duta Wacana, a master’s in development management from the Asian Institute of Management in the Philippines, and a master’s in holistic child development from the Malaysian Baptist Theological Seminary in Penang, Malaysia.

Implementing Church Partners

Implementing Church Partners are local churches in East Indonesia with whom we work to deliver child development programs and ministry in the field.

• Spiritual Climate
  The majority of the population in East Indonesia is Christian; the evangelical movement is strong, and spiritual revival activities are held often.
• Unique Challenges
  One challenge unique to Implementing Church Partners in East Indonesia is that there are five major islands, all with different cultures and tribes. This makes it difficult to contextualize the program.

  The “field-based partnership facilitator” approach has been helpful in minimizing cultural barriers, because the partnership facilitator is able to focus on the cultural issues and deal with each partner strategically.

  Another challenge we face is that denominations are fairly divided. When we open a new child development center in a new area, neighboring churches belonging to different denominations are often suspicious of our program and partnership. But in time, denominations are usually able to build solid relationships with each other.



• Typical Contributions
  Implementing Church Partners provide buildings and training for local staff and volunteers.
• Partner Development Activities
  We develop partners by providing tutor and administrative training and training on child protection, as well as offering conferences for pastors.

Child Survival Program

• Caregiver Literacy
  Our Child Survival Program staff members evaluate the literacy level of the mothers and teach each one accordingly. We hold group classes once a week and also have follow-up lessons during home visits.
• Income-Generating Skills
  We offer various income-generating skills according to the different locations of the Child Survival Programs. For instance, the Child Survival Program in Papua offers “noken” making. A noken is a traditional bag from Papau, so it is only appropriate to offer that particular skill in that area of the country.

  Another region of the country teaches a certain type of flower making while another offers cake, bread and pastry making. Generally these skills are taught once or twice a month. If Complimentary Intervention funds are used for income-generating activities, then these classes are usually taught once a week.



• Health Care
  Indonesia has community health centers which are provided by the government and offer most services free of charge. Mothers in the Child Survival Program take their children to these centers for monthly check-ups.

  Pregnant mothers also receive prenatal care, and children and mothers receive immunizations. If medication is needed, there is often a charge, but it is nominal.

  In remote villages, the nearby community health center sends staff members to perform checkups, and they pay specific attention to mothers and children. Every six months we typically pay for routine medical checkups done at the development center by either a general practitioner or a pediatrician. We also pay for ultrasounds for pregnant women.

  If a program participant is ill and has unusually high medical expenses, we will pay the majority of those expenses. Hygiene items such as soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and shampoo are also provided.



• Nutritional Support
  Once a week, beneficiaries are given nutritious food at the development center, receiving a balance of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They also take milk home with them to have during the week.

  Some development centers also provide food to the mothers during home visits. We teach mothers how to cook nutritious food for their families using simple, inexpensive ingredients.

  During home visits, we sometimes cook together with the moms, ensuring they fully understand how to prepare the food correctly and cleanly.



• Involvement of Fathers
  Generally, fathers participate in a family fellowship event once a month. We also invite fathers to help with building projects and cleaning days, and they are usually glad to help with these needs.
• Transition Out of the Child Survival Program
  In order to begin transitioning children out of the Child Survival Program and into the Child Sponsorship Program, we introduce children to activities such as art, singing, and performing songs or memorized Bible verses in front of their classes.

  Children are also encouraged to learn to play appropriately in groups. The purpose of all these activities is to develop their social skills and their self-esteem, so they will not be overwhelmed when they enter the Child Sponsorship Program.

  Mothers in the Child Survival Program need to master at least one income-generating skill, and have the necessary skills to parent their children properly and manage their families well. Also, we hope that the mothers have developed a faith in Christ.



• Areas of Expansion for the Child Survival Program
  We would like to expand further in Papua. Our first Child Survival Program center is located there, but the mothers in this area still struggle a great deal, and many cultural barriers exist. There is a great need for further care and education.

  We would also like to expand into Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo), because there are many pregnant mothers and children under five. In this region, mothers adhere to the traditional way of delivering babies which is extremely high-risk.

Child Development Through Sponsorship

Your sponsorship of a child in East Indonesia provides a variety of benefits.

Children are very busy with school during the weekdays, so we conduct our activities in the afternoons after school.

• Meeting Times
  • 3 to 5 year olds: 2 hours a day, 4 days a week
  • 6 to 8 year olds: 2 hours a day, 3 days a week
  • 9 to 11 year olds: 2 hours a day, 3 days a week
  • 12 to 14 year olds: 2 hours a day, 3 days a week

  

• Nutritional Support
  Each child receives a nutritious meal every time he or she goes to the child development center. A typical meal consists of rice, meat, milk, fruit and vegetables. We also give additional vitamins to the children. This food is provided because the lack of nutritious food is still a major challenge in East Indonesia.
• Vaccinations
  Vaccinations are typically given before a child is registered at the development center. Crucial vaccinations, such as polio and hepatitis, are usually given free of charge at the local health clinics, but there is sometimes a charge.

  If a child has not been given a vaccination prior to registration, the child will go to the local health clinic or to the hospital for the needed vaccination, and the Implementing Church Partner will cover the cost if needed.

• Extracurricular Activities or Community Service
  There are sports activities for children of all ages and camps for the adolescents. In suburban centers, they also have lessons in traditional art, music and dance.

  These activities are offered according to the teachers’ availability and the interest level of the children.



• Vocational Activities
  Most of East Indonesia is made up of forest land, and many people work as farmers or on plantations as substitute farmers. So it is important to offer vocational training related to farming and agriculture.

  Because of this, we offer income-generating skills such as farming and English.

• Areas of Expansion for the Child Sponsorship Program
  As with the Child Survival Program, we hope to expand in Papua and into Kalimantan (the island of Borneo) because of the vast needs in these areas.

Complementary Interventions

Our core Child Sponsorship Program, while comprehensive, does not address all obstacles to a child’s healthy development. The Complementary Interventions program was created to work with our holistic child development model to provide additional services, such as our AIDS Initiative, funds for Bibles, disaster relief and water projects.

Typical Complementary Interventions
Complimentary Interventions funds are used for curriculum, prevention and treatment of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, water projects, and non-formal education.



Highly Vulnerable Children

In East Indonesia, most of our highly vulnerable children suffer from severe child abuse or parental neglect. In order to address these needs, we work closely with the Implementing Church Partners to reinforce the importance of child protection.

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]]> http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-east-indonesia/feed/ 7 http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-ghana/ http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-ghana/#comments Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:51:52 +0000 Web Team http://blog.compassion.com/?p=22626 Compassion began its ministry in Ghana in 2005 with when the Child Sponsorship Program. Since then we have registered 25,000 children.

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Compassion began its ministry in Ghana in 2005 with the Child Sponsorship Program. Since then we have registered 25,000 children.



Some children who were not attending school due to financial constraints at the time of registration have all been enrolled and are doing well in school. In addition, four of our registered children have participated in and won awards at the National Sports Championship.

Country Director of Ghana

Jemima Amanor joined us as Country Director of Ghana in 2005. Before coming to our ministry, she worked at World Vision Ghana where she served in various capacities.

Prior to her time at World Vision, Jemima worked as a district public health nurse and a nurse educator in a nursing institution of Ghana’s Ministry of Health.

Jemima holds a bachelor’s degree in education, a diploma in nursing education, a state registered nurse certificate with specialization in public health, and a Master of Arts degree.

In 2008, Jemima was ordained as a minister of the Methodist Church Ghana. She assists in ministering to a local church on the weekends.

Implementing Church Partners

Implementing Church Partners are local churches in Ghana with whom we work to deliver child development programs and ministry in the field.

• Spiritual Climate
  The spiritual climate in Ghana is healthy and there is no persecution, but the growth of Christianity is quite slow.
• Unique Challenges
  One challenge our ministry in Ghana faces is the frequent change of pastors due to transfers. This makes it difficult for them to understand the mission and vision of Compassion.

  Also, some denominations have greater resource and infrastructure constraints, which can cause the selection of church partners to skew towards one denomination over another.

• Contributions
  Implementing Church Partners provide the office space and furniture as well as labor to support some of the Complementary Intervention activities.

  The Implementing Church Partner committee spends time monitoring the program and volunteers commit time to the child development center.



• Church-to-Church
  There is a church in the United Kingdom that is in partnership with two Implementing Church Partners in Ghana. A playground was built for one Implementing Church Partner and a computer resource center for the other.

  Members of this supporting church are sponsoring all of the children in these two child development centers. Also, community members have become more sociable and involved due to their interaction with members from the supporting church.

• Partner Development Activities
  Our ministry in Ghana develops our partners through training, vision sharing, cluster meetings, a holistic child development course for church workers, and pastor’s conferences. The training provided includes project management, technical skills, on-the-job training, training for Implementing Church Partner committees and pastors on their roles and responsibilities, and child protection.

Child Development Through Sponsorship

Your sponsorship of a child in Ghana provides a variety of benefits.

Children in Ghana are busy with school during the weekdays, so they go to the child development center on Saturdays. However, some Implementing Church Partners do meet for two hours on weekdays during holidays in addition to the Saturday meetings.

• Weekly meetings
• 3 to 5 year olds: 8 hours on Saturdays
• 6 to 8 year olds: 8 hours on Saturdays
• 9 to 11 year olds: 8 hours on Saturdays
• 12 to 14 year olds: 8 hours on Saturdays
• 15 to 22 year olds: There are no children in this age group.



• Nutritional Support

Each child receives breakfast, lunch and dessert at the child development center.

Breakfast consists of maize porridge, milk, sugar, bread and ground nut paste. Lunch consists of rice with sauce and either chicken, fish or meat. Dessert is an orange, banana or pineapple.

We provide this food because children do not always eat nutritionally balanced meals at home, and most of them come to the child development center hungry. Parents are educated to provide nutritious food for their children, and highly malnourished children are given a package of nutritious foods including eggs, milk, beans, rice and oil once a month.

• Vaccinations

When the government mandates that a specific vaccination be given, then children will go to a nearby health clinic to receive that vaccination free of charge. Sometimes, the government will even send health workers door-to-door to ensure the particular vaccination is given to all children under the age of 5.

However, if a child needs a vaccination that has not been mandated by the government, the family must pay for that vaccination.

• Extracurricular Activities or Community Service

The children participate in choreography, drumming and dancing, and football every Saturday. Sports, arts, camps and community cleanup is offered yearly.



• Vocational Activities

Specific vocational activities offered to adolescents are common in Ghana and trainers are readily available. Adolescents are typically involved in formal secondary schooling and vocational training. Many are learning bead making and batik making at the child development centers.

In addition, the Implementing Church Partners have implemented a “peer education” program. We feel that when the children reach the teen years, it is more effective to allow them to discuss issues such as sex and body changes with other teens since many of them do not feel comfortable discussing these issues with parents or teachers.

However, when peers discuss these issues among themselves, often the information shared is incorrect and even detrimental. To mitigate this, the Implementing Church Partners equip certain children called “peer educators” with the correct information to share with their peers in their development centers, communities, churches and schools.

• Parent Involvement

Parents and caregivers meet at least once a month at the child development centers for education on parenting, health and nutrition and business management training.

Complementary Interventions

Our core child sponsorship program, while comprehensive, does not address all obstacles to a child’s healthy development. The Complementary Interventions program was created to work with our holistic child development model to provide additional services, such as our AIDS Initiative, funds for Bibles for All Children, disaster relief and water projects.

Typical Complementary Interventions in Ghana include:

• Water facilities
• Sanitary toilet facilities
• Insecticide-treated nets for children and their caregivers
• Heart and other major surgeries
• Resource centers such as computer labs and libraries
• Curriculum printing



Highly Vulnerable Children

Malnourished children whose caregivers are not working are our greatest need. Children are given nutritional supplements, and parents or caregivers are given start-up support for income-generating businesses and business management training.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to work hard and save money to help them get out of poverty and most of them are doing well. We also provide counseling for the registered children and their caregivers.

Eventually, we would like to expand into the eastern, Volta and Ashanti regions of the country. These regions are next in Ghana’s national the poverty rating.

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]]> http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-ghana/feed/ 3 http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-burkina-faso/ http://blog.compassion.com/ministry-highlight-burkina-faso/#comments Fri, 29 Jul 2011 07:08:47 +0000 Web Team http://blog.compassion.com/?p=21968 We began our ministry in Burkina Faso in 2004 starting with the Child Sponsorship Program. So far we have 20,000 registered children in Burkina Faso.

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We began our ministry in Burkina Faso in 2004 starting with the Child Sponsorship Program. So far we have 20,000 registered children in Burkina Faso.



Country Director

Palamanga Ouali joined us as Country Director of Burkina Faso in May, 2009. Palamanga is an economist with almost 17 years of experience.



Prior to coming to our ministry, Palamanga worked at the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Burkina Faso, the United Nations Development Program and the United States African Development Foundation.

He has expertise in economic analysis, business development, management and human development, as well as a special interest in advocacy and policy dialogue.

Palamango holds a statistical working engineer degree from the African and Mauritius Institute for Statistics and Applied Economics in Kigali, Rwanda as well as a master’s in economics from the University of Ouagadougou.

He received his postgraduate diploma in economics policy management from the University of Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, in France.

Implementing Church Partners

Implementing Church Partners are local churches in Burkina Faso with whom we work to deliver child development and ministry in the field.

More than 50 percent of the population in Burkina Faso claim to be Islamic, while only 6 percent claim to be evangelical Christians. The Islamic population receives scholarships and investments from Islamic countries whose claim is to Islamize the country.

The lack of denominational diversity is a challenge for our ministry in Burkina Faso. Our standard is not to have more than 25 percent of the registered children from any one particular denomination. Currently, there is one denomination that accounts for more than 60 percent of our registered children in Burkina Faso.



The lack of infrastructure in churches in Burkina Faso can sometimes make child development center implementation difficult.

Another challenge is that prices of goods remain high because Burkina Faso is a landlocked country. This means that money does not go as far.

We offer training to our church partners in Burkina Faso on issues such as financial management, holistic child development, proposal writing, child development center planning, child nutrition and other topics.

Child Development Through Sponsorship

Your sponsorship of a child in Burkina Faso provides a variety of benefits.

• Meeting Weekly

  Primary schools do not hold school on Thursday because that is when the younger children go to the child development centers. Secondary school children go to the child development centers on Saturdays.

  • 3 to 5 year olds: 8 hours on Thursday
  • 6 to 8 year olds: 8 hours on Thursday
  • 9 to 11 year olds: 8 hours on Thursday
  • 12 to 14 year olds: 4 hours on Saturday
  • 15 to 22 year olds: There are no 15-22 year olds in our program at this time
    because it is still relatively new.
• Nutritional Support

  Each child receives breakfast, which consists of milk, bread and porridge, and lunch, which consists of rice, beans, sagabo (a local food made of millet or corn flour) and spaghetti on the day they come to the center.

  Additional nutritional support such rice, maize and oil is provided for extremely needy families such as those affected by HIV.



• Vaccinations

  In the case of an epidemic, the government will give free vaccinations at the public health center. In other cases, our ministry in Burkina Faso purchases the vaccines and hires nurses to administer them to the children.

• Extracurricular Activities or Community Service

  Extracurricular activities offered include camps and field trips to museums and national parks. The children also have the opportunity to do community service such as planting trees and cleaning at the child development center and in the community.

• Vocational Activities

  Several areas of vocation-focused activities are offered to older children including mechanics, hair dressing, sewing, soap making, gardening and animal breeding.

  

  We offer activities that the children are interested in as well as activities that will expose them to something new and will be profitable in our area. If a child wants to learn a skill that is not offered, Implementing Church Partners will make an effort to make that training available.

  The children learning these skills are too young to need job placement at this time, and there is no plan for job placement assistance in the future.

• Parent Involvement

  We have parents’ classes on hygiene, malaria prevention, reproductive health and nutrition two or three times a year depending on funds available.

  We provide training on income-generating activities, such as food and grain selling and tool provision, and we offer HIV testing which is part of the voluntary counseling and testing program.

  

  We are planning to expand toward the north and south, taking into consideration poverty level, church preparedness and denominational diversity.

Complementary Interventions Program

Our core child sponsorship program, while comprehensive, does not address all obstacles to a child’s healthy development. The Complementary Interventions Program was created to work with our holistic child development model to provide additional services such as our AIDS Initiative, funds for Bibles for All Children, disaster relief and water projects.



Typical Complementary Interventions in Burkina Faso include provision of clean water, shelter, health, playgrounds, farming, toilets, disaster relief, food and income-generating activities.

Highly Vulnerable Children

Children in Burkina Faso are deemed to be highly vulnerable when they experience one or more of the following situations:

• Caregiver deprivation and incapacitation
• Abuse and exploitation
• Disability and special needs

Most of our needs for highly vulnerable children in Burkina Faso center around food, accommodation, clothing, health monitoring, nutritional and educational support and counseling.



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