Share In Their Future

8-Year-Old Dinosaur Expert Gives Tours at Museum

Young Oscar of Sucre, Bolivia wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up, and he's already well on his way to achieving that goal.  At just eight years old, he is an expert on dinosaurs, and he has been hired by Sucre's Cretaceous Park to lead tours on Saturdays and Sundays.  For five hours on each weekend day, Oscar guides groups of visitors through the park and shows off its extensive collection of dinosaur footprints and full-scale models. 

Oscar has become something of a local celebrity.  He has been featured in several Bolivian newspapers and websites, and he is one of the most popular guides at the park.  Visitors are always charmed by the clever boy who is eager to tell them all about the lives of prehistoric creatures. 

When asked about his favorite part of working at the Cretaceous Park, Oscar responded, "I like how the children listen to me and ask me questions like I'm an adult.  They're my inspiration.  And that makes me want to go on learning more."   And his favorite dinosaur?  "The T-Rex!"

Oscar has been sponsored through Children, Incorporated since 2006.  His sponsor's support pays for a portion of his school fees, which helps to ensure that Oscar can continue to progress toward his chosen career. 

Oscar stands next to one of his favorite dinosaur models:

A newspaper in Sucre published an article about Oscar:

Photo Essay: Our Richmond Children

New Furniture for Children Affected by the 2004 Tsunami

The area surrounding the Dadella Children's Center in Sri Lanka was badly affected by the 2004 tsunami. Last year, Children, Incorporated completed construction on ten new houses for Dadella families. We recently received funds to buy each Dadella child a bed, a mattress, and a pillow.  Every Dadella family also received a plastic table and four chairs.

In response to this donation, one of the Dadella volunteers wrote:

"We extend our sincere gratitude and thanks for the helping hand given to the families by providing needed household goods. All the families greatly appreciate the gifts. There were three families who had never used such goods in their lifetime as they use ordinary mats for sleeping purposes. Those children were surprised to sleep on foam mattresses. We were also so pleased to be able to provide the children and their families with a plastic table and four plastic chairs. The family members, especially the children, were very happy as the majority of them use the tables and chairs for homework and to store their school supplies. The kids use those given items with great joy. Most of the families were short of household goods, as their belongings were taken away by the tidal waves during the Tsunami. Those families extend their gratitude. We observe the development in these families; slowly and gradually their lives have been tremendously improved."

Above: A girl who attends the Dadella Children's Center sets up her new bed.

ODU Students Volunteer at Project in the Dominican Republic

This past March, students and staff from Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia spent a week volunteering at the National School for the Blind in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  There they worked with many students sponsored by Children, Incorporated.  Special thanks go to the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in  St. Augustine, which sent a representative to Norfolk to help the ODU students understand how to work with blind children. 

International Education Programs of Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida facilitated the ODU trip. This year, IEP also sent students on spring break trips to Guayaquil, Ecuador to work at projects where CI supports children.  In the summer, IEP sends student volunteers to CI-affiliated projects in the Philippines. 

You don’t have to be a college student to volunteer.  IEP welcomes participants of all ages.  Please visit IEP's website for more information.

The ODU students shared with us many photos of their work and of the wonderful children of the Dominican Republic:

 

Update: Bolivian Crisis

Most of our Bolivian projects are once again receiving funds.  A majority of schools are still open, and the children are receiving the support that they need.  Some paperwork has been delayed by the recent mail strike (which ended on April 21), so your children's letters may arrive much later than they normally would.  This delay, however, is for the most part no longer affecting our ability to send money to Bolivia.  If you have questions about a specific project, please contact Magda Kegley, Director of the Latin American Division, at (800) 538-5381 or at mkegley@children-inc.org. 

We Love Our Supporters

Last night, we hosted a reception for our donors who live in the Richmond, Virginia area.  CI supporter Bill Hall graciously donated the use of his home, and Dominion donated refreshments and valet services. 

We truly enjoyed meeting so many of our local supporters.  You all do amazing things for our children, and we love to talk to you about your experiences with CI.  Thank you so much to everyone who came to last night's event--and to all our supporters everywhere. 

Update: Bolivian Crisis

Bolivia is still experiencing major unrest. 

A postal workers' strike--which is entering its third week--is the most recent crisis. Bolivia has had no mail service since late March . The country is also suffering from violent political protests and the devastating effects of a series of natural disasters. Major roads are blocked, and airports close for undetermined hours every day. The price of food has nearly tripled, and parents struggle to feed their children. President Juan Evo Morales Aymo is urging Bolivia's citizens to carry arms in anticipation of civil war. Bolivia's most developed and industrialized city, Santa Cruz, is on the brink of seceding and becoming an autonomous country. 

If you sponsor a child in Bolivia, please be aware that your child’s letters will be greatly delayed by the mail strike. Distressingly, our financial support will also be late in reaching our Bolivian projects. All of us at Children, Incorporate are deeply concerned about this situation, and Magda Kegley, Director of the Latin American Division, is leading the effort to find a way to send help. If you have any questions about the status of our Bolivian programs, please contact Magda at (800) 538-5381 or at mkegley@children-inc.org.

Health of HIV-Positive Child Improving

Wilmer is an HIV-positive 4-year-old boy in Paraguay.  His mother and siblings have died of AIDS, so he lives in an orphanage managed by an order of Catholic nuns.  When Wilmer arrived at the orphanage in December of 2007, he was very ill.  His skin was covered with sores, and he was lethargic, underweight, and withdrawn. 

Today, merely four months later, Wilmer's health has improved tremendously.  He has plenty of energy, he has gained weight, and his skin condition is nearly gone.  The nun who serves as Wilmer's primary caregiver attributes much of this improvement to the support the child receives from his Children, Incorporated sponsor.  In a recent letter to the sponsor, she wrote:

Dear Mr. David,

Have you seen a more beautiful picture than this?

I told Wilmer while they were taking the picture to "smile for your sponsor, Mr. David," and his beautiful face lit up!  As you can see in this photograph, he is doing really well and is very playful. 

Thank you very much for your monthly gift.  Because of your assistance, Wilmer does not lack for anything.  He loves for us to talk to him about you.  He understands somewhat. 

I'm sure you're happy to know that Wilmer is really improving.  We pray that science or a "miracle" will make him totally well.  Why not!  We take very good care of him, as you can see.

When Wilmer first arrived at the orphanage, he was shy and diffident.  He could not communicate in any way.  Time and the love we offer have turned him into the treasure of this orphanage.  All of the children are beautiful, but there's something very special about Wilmer. 

Wilmer sends you his love, and I send you mine.  Once again, THANK YOU.

Until next time,
Sister Elfride

Read Across America Day

On Monday, March 3, many of our United States schools celebrated Read Across America Day, an annual event commemorating the life and works of Dr. Seuss.  At one Appalachian elementary school, teenage volunteers dressed as Dr. Seuss characters read classics like The Cat in the Hat to students enrolled in kindergarten and Head Start.  Older children took turns reading to one another.  Through a partnership with The Pajama Program, we provided the children with new pajamas and copies of Dr. Seuss books. 

A volunteer from the local high school reads to children in the Head Start program:

Some of the volunteers in costume:

In the older grades, the children took turns reading to one another:

Kite Festival at Summer Hill

Summer Hill Elementary in Richmond recently treated twenty of its top students to an afternoon of kite-flying--and Children, Incorporated provided the kites!  For two hours, students, teachers, parents, and volunteers convened on the Summer Hill lawn to fly kites and play games.  It was a lovely afternoon.

We are very grateful to Richmond's CBS Channel 6 for the donation that made the Kite Festival possible.