Thank You

Dear Sponsors and Friends,

Thank you so much for your gifts to Give Children Hope this year. With your love and financial support, Give Children Hope has had a truly remarkable year.

Never before has any child sponsorship organization, anywhere, done so much to help further the cause of children devastated by hunger and poverty.

During the year 2011:

- Give Children Hope served daily meals to over 700 elementary school children living in some of the most devastated areas of the world

-During the year a total of more than 140,000 meals were served to  these impoverished children through our  Meals at School program.

You have blessed the lives of these children with your gifts to them.      

In behalf of your sponsored children and us at Give Children Hope, we wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Don Cooper, 
Give Children Hope,

Chief Operations Officer

Family Day at Sua Elementary School

December 15th, 2011 marked the day of celebration for the student's families.  We are so happy that the families were able to meet together and enjoy themselves this special day.  There was great food available, presents for those attending, and a great production put on by the talented children and their families.  Happy Family Day Sua Elementary School!

2nd Place Winners of the Family Singing Contest

The set up for the show

Showing their Appreciation

Getting the presents ready for the families

Musical Contest

Great dancing performances

Merry Christmas

Dear Sponsors,

Time has gone so fast and we are now on our last month for this year. How is your country and families preparing for the coming Christmas?

Our families are blessed by your kind and loving hearts. The Meals at School Program continues to feed the children at Maravilla and Sua Schools  We see a lot of noticeable changes in terms of the children’s physical appearance and their study habits. Many parents notice that their children have gained weight that makes them look a lot better than their previous frail looks.

 Philippines is now so busy with all the Christmas bazaars, lights, Christmas caroling, and all the traditional things that we usually do as the Christmas day approaches. We love this feeling, no matter how busy everyone may be.  This is because they are preparing for this season to be celebrated with their families. It is really wonderful when families are together.

 

 The children have been very excited to go to school and they study their lessons well, since hunger is no longer a worry for them. The parents want to send their messages to all of you that you are saving their children from hunger. They want so much to thank you in person.  Here's a short note of thanks from Helen Grace, Meals at School coordinator, by two of the mothers with children at Sua School:  

    Norma Buena approached me and said that she and many Sua people are so grateful for the Meals @School given everyday to their children. They hope that someday they can see you all in person so they could show their gratitude.

   She also made mention of a mother who told her, that the Meals at School are SAVING her children from hunger .... everyday.  This is how they value the help you are all giving. Your help means so much to them.

  Thank you for all the support  you have been giving the children.  You have made the life of these children so happy . The children value their education so much and I know that they don’t want to miss a single day in school.

May you have wonderful Christmas and may you all feel our love for you through the many miles and waters.

For the Give Children Hope
Sponsored children

 

Kristina Lou C. Sunico

Family Day at Sua Elementary School

This letter was forwarded to us by Helen, our Sua Elementary School representative.  We have been asked to fund the cost of a Family Day held at the school.  We feel this is an important celebration because families are of key importance, and we especially want our sponsored children to enjoy the blessing of having loved ones that care.  Thank you for all of your support in making this happen.

Monthly Update

Dear Sponsors,

We hope that you are in high spirits as you read this letter.

It is semestral break for the children here in the Philippines. It's the time when students of all levels have a week off from school. Also, everybody here is so excited for the long weekend we have to enjoy next week. It's a National holiday from October 31st until November 1st. It’s our Memorial Day here and a time for people to spend time with their family and pay respect to their dead loved ones as one of the traditions that we follow. It is really such a wonderful few days to be with our family despite all the worries and stresses of everyday life.


The Meals at School programs for the past month have been so great. We thank all the parents who volunteer to prepare food for the more than 700 students in Sua and Maravilla Elementary Schools.  For the parents, this is one way of thanking the people who feed their children. They feel a sense of responsibility that even though their life in the countryside is difficult, with your help, they can still do something to provide food for their dear children. 

The parents, together with the Give Children Hope volunteers, are there every day, checking every detail to ensure that every child will be fed well. I've never heard of any organization that gives your dollar donations direct to the children and lets parents be a part of the program. Your every dollar donation goes directly to feed more than 700 elementary school children in the desperate areas of Camarines Sur and Pototan, Iloilo.

The Sua Elementary School in particular, feeds more than 300 elementary students every day. They serve the meal every morning as the schedule of the classes takes the whole day for the schools in the country-side. The parents prepare different menus everyday so that the kids could get a taste of what different foods taste like.

The students don’t get to eat these foods at home, so it makes them really happy and excited every day for the  Meals at School program. There is a pre-school meals program at the schools for the children in the morning and afternoon shifts.

Your dollar donations have been creating a great difference for the children in these areas. We are all so grateful for all the help that you have been extending for their benefit. Thank you for the opportunity that you’ve been giving them to enjoy school and be fed well.

We hope you have a wonderful falls season. Enjoy it as much as we will.

Please see latest pictures of the children and the Meals at School Program at Sua School and Maravilla Schools and other places we serve children on our Give Children Hope blog at: givechildrenhope.blogspot.com/  and our Facebook at: www.facebook.com/givechildrenhope

For the Sponsored Children,

Kristina Sunico

Good News From Sua

Dear Give Children Hope,

I was in Sua Elementary School early yesterday morning.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  Since it was a Monday, I got to attend their flag ceremony.

I told the Principal, Mrs. Cordez, that we will be giving them a 3 month extension of the "Meals @ School Program" in Sua.  She was so happy along with the teachers and, most of all, the parents who were there to help for the day.  The parents were exceptionally grateful for this good news.

I also visited with the Barangay Captain of Sua in her place of residence just situated near the school... about 150 meters away.  She told me that she had wished that we could meet, so that she could personally thank Give Children Hope for this big blessing Sua Elementary School has for having this wonderful program.

She shared with me one of her programs for her people, one which helps feed undernourished children in Sua.  In order for this program to be realized they have to have the funds for this project.  She asks her 19 barangay officers to contribute 100 pesos (about 2 dollars and 20 cents) each, every month, so that each month they have 1,900 pesos (45 dollars) to spend for this program.

When she heard about the Meals @ School Program by Give Children Hope, it was a great shock to her... "a great blessing from heaven," she said.  She was surprised that it just came to their place and that no one had solicited it.  I invited her to always come and see how it is running... and she said she has already done so.  In fact, she enjoyed a meal already with the children.  It was a very good visit with her.  She also now supports the program! 

As soon as I get the money I will send our financial report. I have found out yesterday too that they will also have a short semestral break for a week.  They will resume their classes on Nov. 3, 2011, after Memorial Day.

This is my report for the month of October.

I hope everyone is doing well and happy.  We give you many thanks for all these things you are doing for the Filipino children.

Helen Grace Putong- Agawin

GCH- Cam. Sur

Focusing on Studies

We believe that healthy students are happier and will learn more in the long run.  That is our goal... to feed children so that their main concern is their studies and not their hunger.  We are pleased to see the positive changes that are taking place in our students lives.

Congratulations! . We got 1st place in 4th Grade, 2nd place in Grades 1,2, &3, and 3rd place for Grades 5 and 6 during the district math competition .

Eager to Learn

An Updated Letter from Helen, Our Filipino Representative

Dear Give Children Hope

           Hello from the Philippines!   The Meals at School Program in Sua Elementary School is almost 3 months old now!  Everything is going well and the children are getting fed everyday.  The Principal, Mrs. Isabel Cordez, told me that the children are now a lot heavier, active, and have sparkling eyes! 

I have talked to one parent and she said how grateful she is for this wonderful program of Give Children Hope.  She knows, and is assured, that her children will not go hungry as long as they go to school.  Because her children do not have a good breakfast in their home due to poverty, for her and her children, this is a great blessing. 

They are sad that 3 months is almost over... they ask me and hope that this program will still continue to feed their children for the future.  With your continued support and efforts, we can continue to bless their lives as needed.  

On behalf of all these people... A million thanks to all of you!!!

Helen Grace Agawin

GCH -Cam Sur

"Meals At School" Program in Action

The children are so eager for their warm meals that they are always willing to help 

The Sua school just got a new water pump which means cleaner running water for the students

Poor Living Conditions

These are some pictures sent to us by our Filipino representatives.  It shows the humble circumstances that many of our students are living in.  It is easy to see why these children yearn for a better opportunity at life.

A kitchen area

This is a nicer bedroom than most because it actually has a bed.  Notice the dirt floors and holes in the walls.

A Message From Our Filipino Representative, Kristina

Dear Sponsors and Friends,

Time has gone by so fast and we can hardly believe that we are down to three months until this year ends. How have you all been? We are all doing well here, though we have been battered by several strong typhoons that you have probably seen on the news. The latest one we had were typhoons locally known as "Pedring" and "Quiel" that have affected Manila and most of the Luzon provinces. We are still expecting more, as we have an average of 23 typhoons per year. Some leave with little affect but most exit leaving us with great devastation. Most of the effect would be on the farmers.  Their crops and expected harvests sometimes all go to waste, thus affecting the entire country. Philippines is an agricultural country, so fishing and farming are the largest source of income among many Filipinos, especially in the rural areas. If the farms have been destroyed and there is no more to be harvested, we expect an increase in the price of commodities. It will be hard for all of us, as we have little income and we need to buy high priced foods. It has always been like that during typhoon season. So it is really smart to save and store food during this season so you wont have to  suffer with the other people, and you could assist them in any way that you can.

The school that we help feed is doing very well and thank God that they did not have to suffer very much. During this time, the Meals at School Program is really a great help for these children. The more than 600 school children that we feed everyday benefit so much from this program, as well as their parents and their school.  It is always hard for the parents, especially those that do not have much to provide all the meals that their children need.  What you do for the children is help them to realize that people are there to help. Their eagerness to be in school overrides their hunger, but with your help, it has never been a problem since.

Our volunteers in Manila are making sure that those who are in great poverty will be supported by this program. Thus, the sponsored school in the Camarines Sur area has been changed since it was determined by the school district that this particular school is not in the poorest situation. We felt sad that we have to leave the former school that we sponsor, but we hope that the help we have given them for several months has left them the motivation that they need to continue to be in school despite their circumstances. What we do now is really a great help though we want so desperately to do more.

The children have been blessed physically... most of them have been gaining weight since. We always try to provide the most nutritious food that we could serve them. The parents who have been helping for the preparation of these meals have been very great as well. They wanted their children to have the best meal during the feeding so they themselves make it a point to prepare the most nutritious meals that they know their children can have.

It is really true that people draw strength from each other. We all thank you for the things that you do for us. The impact of your goodness cannot be measured in specific ways but as we see these children endure each day and as we leave a smile on their faces, we know that we have done what we could for them.

Thank you so much for all the help that you have been extending to us. May you have a blessed month and we always pray for you and your families.

Please see latest pictures of the children and the Meals at School Program at Sua School and other places we serve children on our Give Children Hope blog at: givechildrenhope.blogspot.com/  and our Facebook at: www.facebook.com/givechildrenhope 

 

For the Sponsored Children,

Kristina Sunico

A Letter About Sua Elementary School

Dear Give Children Hope,

I was on my way to visit Sua Elementary School last Thursday... I left the house at 6:30 am.  Sheryl and I, with her youngest son Andrei (age 5), went together to Sua.  We rode a tricycle with all the things needed for the Meals @ School program.  When we arrived, some boys were already waiting for us along the highway to help carry all the stuff we had.  They were all so eager to carry the goods towards the school!  They do this every day, early in the morning  before the bell rings... so impressive!!!  That is how they show they appreciate and are grateful for the program.

At about 7 am, the high tide comes in so we look for a place to situate the stove so that we are not bothered by the tide.  I have suggested to the Principal that we hold a meeting every end of the month with all the teachers.  That way we can talk about how we can better serve the children and if they have any good suggestions and concerns that need to be addressed.  I have taken some pictures of these meetings last Thursday with 100% attendance. They are all very eager to see and meet the people behind this program. They all hope that someday you can come to visit them.

The Meals at School Program here is doing well and organized and, most of all, everybody is cooperating and happy.  We feel the true meaning of service, from the students, parents teachers and the School Principal.  They all hope that this will continue in their school.

On behalf of Sua Elementary School, I thank you all for the kindness and help you are extending, especially to these children.  I am doing the best I can to help GCH’s mission be fulfilled.  You can always be assured that the fund goes to them 100%...this I have promised you, and as always, may you all be blessed a hundred fold because you share.

Helen Grace Putong-Agawin

GCH-Camarines Sur

More Photos from Sua Elementary School

Meeting with the school teachers and principal... we have this meeting at the end of each month.  This is so we can serve the children of Sua Elementary School better.  They are so cooperative.  Thank you Maam Marcela Isabel Cordez (the school principal) 

Things are going great for the Meals at School program at Sua Elementary School.  We thank you all for your continued support.  The children are really showing progress in their attendance and performance at school.

August Letter to Sponsors

Dear Sponsors and Friends,

I am so overwhelmed that we are finally down to the last four months until this year ends. And as the “BER” months begin, Christmas spirit is now all over the Philippines. This is probably the only country in the world that starts celebrating the Christmas season beginning in September.  We all love it and it is traditional in our Filipino culture.

We hope that you had a very wonderful August as you celebrate good times with your families. Ours was great. There was a long weekend in celebration of the National Heroes Day.

Along with the continuing typhoon count, just this month, our country was again battered by a Typhoon named “Mina”.  It finally moved away last Tuesday leaving 22 deaths and millions worth of destroyed properties. We are still expecting 11 more typhoons as this year comes to an end.

As for our good news from here in the Philippines, with the recommendations of Helen Agawin (our Philippines Meals at School Program Coordinator) we are pleased to announce we have started our popular Meals at School program in a new school in Camarines Sut Region earlier in August.  The name of the new school is Sua Elementary and provides daily school meals for more than 300 Filipino children located in one of the most devastated areas of the Philippines.

We have rotated the meals program this year, from Dugcal School to Sua School, and feel especially good about this change.  Sua School was designated by the superintendent  as one of  three most impoverished schools in the Camarines, Sur school district. The meals will be a life-saver for the children coming to school relying on this as their only decent food for the day. 

We so much appreciate those of you who are helping to sponsor the more than 600 children who presently participate in our Meals at School programs.  You also provide individual sponsorship programs and other support for the children here in the Philippines.

Give Children Hope is now truely a global children's charity and we do not want to miss thanking sponsors for our other programs like the Give Children Hope Food for Families packages given to needy families in Brazil.  We also recognize other individuals who so kindly help other needy children wherever they live to have better lives.

I know that all of us can do something to help those in need. Whether it be great or small, everything touches their hearts and they will remember it for the rest of their lives.

We thank you all for what you do for these children. Your outreached hand to them makes a big difference in each of their lives.

Please see pictures of the children attending our new Sua School and in other areas globally on our Give Children Hope blog and Facebook at: givechildrenhope.blogspot.com/ and www.facebook.com/givechildrenhope

In behalf of the sponsored children,

Kristina Sunico

Manila, Philippines

National Language Month

Sua Elementary School celebrated its "Buwan ng Wika" (National Language Month) on Thursday, August 25, 2011 in the afternoon. The meals were served after the program. Thanks to the sponsors of Give Children Hope- USA

The children are always so excited to carry in the food for their school meal.

With the School Principal Ma'am Isabel Cordez. She's so grateful that the Meals @ school is in her school.

Exciting New News

We have a new school that we have implemented the "Meals at School" program in.  Sua Elementary School began it's first feeding day August 9th, 2011.  We are very excited about having this program available for these children.  Sua Elementary School is located in a very poor area of the Philippines and it is not uncommon for some of the school children to faint from hunger throughout the day.  We hope to change this real soon!  So far we have had a great response to the program and many of the parents, even, are getting involved.  Here are some pics from the first day

so excited to have the Meals Program in their school..

Their school garden after the flood...

The School food coordinator Maam Tomasa Aguilar and Sheryl ... getting ready for the food preparati

.. more firewood... their participation to the program... so cooperative!

the school daily attendance... 

The school is about 150 meters away from the main road

we arrived early... no teachers were there yet... so we waited for a while...

this is Paolo Buena, he and his brother are studying in this school

This thing touched my heart ... one by one they came carrying bundles of wood to be used for cooking their meals

...and here's another one...

a father bringing a bundle of wood too...