Tag Archives: Sponsor

Oct 31 2012

Visiting sponsored aging friends in Guatemala

Posted on by
3
CFCA in Guatemala: Olga Argueta and Cleta, sponsored aging friend

From left are Olga Argueta, CFCA staff member in Guatemala, and Cleta, a sponsored aging friend.

In the countries where we work, the elderly often have no one to depend on for their well-being. They receive no social security and may not be able to count on family members for support, as adult children are often occupied with their own survival.

About three years ago, a community in Guatemala noticed some of our sponsored aging friends had difficulties traveling to the local CFCA office for birthday celebrations, Christmas celebrations and other CFCA activities. So they decided to take the celebrations to the sponsored friends’ own homes, and that’s how regular visits to sponsored elderly began!

In the words of Olga Argueta, CFCA staff member in Guatemala

Every three months we plan one whole day for visiting the elderly. We have identified six friends of the 50 sponsored aging friends in our community who have difficulties moving around, and they are the ones we visit. Read more

Share this post:
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Plusone Reddit Email
Oct 30 2012

Wisdom of the Ages: Regeena, 67, from India

Posted on by
Reply

Regeena, CFCA sponsored aging friend in IndiaRegeena is a 67-year-old widow in India, living in a home for the elderly. She has three grown children and seven grandchildren. When Regeena was younger, she worked in a mill. Regeena lost a foot in an accident at the mill and now has a prosthetic foot.

Regeena has been sponsored since 2007 and enjoys being part of CFCA. “I like visiting [with the CFCA staff members] and making them happy,” she said.

What is your secret for a long life?

I used to work in a mill. That was very good exercise for me. I lost my leg while working and now I use a prosthetic foot.

What advice do you have for young people?

My advice for young people is that they should study well, obey their elders and take care of their grandparents.

What is the most important thing your mother taught you?

My mother taught me to be clean and to work nicely. She always taught me to pray to God.

Tell us something special about yourself. Read Regeena’s answer

Share this post:
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Plusone Reddit Email
Oct 29 2012

Letters to sponsored friends translate into smiles

Posted on by
2

Did you know that every year, we process more than 1 million letters from sponsored friends to their sponsors?

That’s tremendous cause for celebration! Behind every letter is a special story and friendship that we treasure.

Here are three sponsored children in El Salvador who recently received letters from their sponsors. Their smiles say it all.

CFCA sponsored child Norma in El SalvadorNorma is 8 years old. She enjoys attending school and playing with her friends. Photos, like the one Norma is holding from her sponsor, are a fun, meaningful and practical way to deepen ties between sponsors and sponsored friends.

CFCA sponsored child Veronica in El SalvadorVeronica, at 10 years old, writes frequently to her sponsor. They share many things in common. For example, their favorite cartoon is “Tom and Jerry.”

CFCA sponsored child Luis in El SalvadorLuis is 10 years old. He loves to play soccer. Here he is, reading aloud from his sponsor’s letter.

Developing a sense of friendship and mutual encouragement is one of the most rewarding aspects of sponsorship through CFCAís Hope for a Family program.

Don’t wait - write a letter to your sponsored friend today!

Share this post:
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Plusone Reddit Email
Oct 17 2012

Living in an earthquake-prone area in Guatemala

Posted on by
Reply

Suriel-Ramirez-CFCA-staffer

Suriel Ramirez, CFCA social worker in Guatemala.

Sponsored friends who live in the Chiquimulilla region of Guatemala have experienced small, frequent earthquakes for many years. These quakes have affected their lives and the infrastructure.

Suriel Ramirez, CFCA social worker, has worked for CFCA for nearly 10 years. He shared these insights about the earthquakes that affect the area.

How is this area impacted by quakes?

Our town has always witnessed earthquakes ever since I can remember. Many of the earthquake epicenters surround the mountains in this area.

We are vulnerable because two fault lines cross our state. These tremors have gotten stronger and more frequent since June of 2011.

For some reason, maybe it’s a coincidence, we can feel the strongest quakes the middle of each month.

It is scary to witness these tremors. People are alarmed and rumors of great disaster keep us fearful.

How have these quakes affected the homes of families?

A great number of homes in this area are made of adobe. This type of structure is vulnerable to earthquakes. Walls made with adobe easily break and fall with even small earthquakes.

Walls made with cornstalks and mud are also weak and can easily collapse.

Concrete and cinderblock homes are the safest, but even these homes are in danger when a strong earthquake occurs. Read more

Share this post:
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Plusone Reddit Email
Oct 15 2012

Blog Action Day: Working together for positive change

Posted on by
2

CFCA has joined Blog Action Day, which asks bloggers to post about the same issue on the same day. This year, the topic is “The Power of We.”
Judy-Anne GoldmanBy Judy-Anne Goldman, CFCA multimedia manager/producer

The Blog Action Day website explains that, “The Power of We is a celebration of people working together to make a positive difference in the world, either for their own communities or for people they will never meet halfway around the world.”

What a natural fit for CFCA!

CFCA lives “The Power of We” in the work we do all over the world.

Our recently released documentary, “Rise and Dream,” is exactly that kind of celebration. You can see that in the trailer (below). The film tells the story of a community of families working hard to break the cycle of poverty in an area impacted by violent conflict. Read more

Share this post:
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Plusone Reddit Email
Oct 12 2012

Bread winners thrive in Guatemala

Posted on by
Reply

With support from CFCA livelihood programs, Oscar and others parents of sponsored children are now able to put bread on their tables.

There was no bakery in Oscar’s community in Guatemala, so CFCA provided training and a loan for a group of parents to build an oven and start making bread. The initiative and solidarity of parents and guardians participating in the CFCA Hope for a Family program make such efforts possible.

Oscar and others in their group are eager to share their knowledge about baking bread.

Well, now’s your chance to learn, as Oscar explains the process for baking bread in Guatemala in this short video.

Related links

Share this post:
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Plusone Reddit Email
Oct 11 2012

Trip to Africa: ‘Celebrate the unity of our CFCA family’

Posted on by
Reply

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

“Bob’s notes” are reports from CFCA President Bob Hentzen, who regularly accompanies mission awareness trip participants. You can see Bobís full update on his Facebook page.

Photo credits for Kenya and Uganda go to Regina Muburu, CFCA communications liaison for Africa. Photo credits for Madagascar go to Paul Pearce, CFCA director of global strategy.

It’s always a joy to be in touch with you, this time from Africa. Together with Paul Pearce, CFCA director of global strategy, and Karen Allemang, CFCA trips and international volunteer manager.

I had the privilege of accompanying a wonderful group of CFCA sponsors on this September 2012 journey to Kenya and Uganda.

Paul and I also visited the CFCA project in Antsirabe, Madagascar. Read more

Share this post:
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Plusone Reddit Email