February Update

To: Give Children Hope

      Dr. Don Cooper Sr.

      Dr. Doug Cooper

      Mr. Don and Cathy Cooper

Dear Sir:

     Hello from the Philippines!  I hope things are going well for you all and I hope everyone is in the best of health.

     So far, all is well for us.  Meals @ School is doing great because parents and teachers are so cooperative.  They know it is a great blessing for them and they can’t believe that in these days there are still people from the United States who are doing these acts of kindness for their children.   

      Kristina Sunico’s second visit was so fun and exciting.  We have worked as a team with one purpose in this great cause.

      We visited 3 families at random and have listened to their stories.  Life for them is so difficult because they are always struggling to have enough food for their children.  The Meals @ School Program by Give Children Hope means so much to them because of this.

     One mother, Sofia Lavandero, told us that when the Meals @ School Program started in their school (August 9, 2011), her son, Ken, weighed only 15 kilos.  Now he weighs 25 kilos... amazing!  Hearing her testimony helped me realize how these people really value and appreciate the program. 

     She also told us that it is a big help to their budget because, instead of spending their money for lunch, she can have it spent for their supper.  Her two children are in school, while she prepares the meals, and sometimes they are so full from lunch that they don't ask for much food at home.

     We also have visited with the leader of the Sua school.  She welcomed us with warm Filipino hospitality and, although it was an unexpected visit, still she offered us a simple snack.

     Anyway, they are very grateful of what Give Children Hope is doing in their school.  Many children are a lot happier, more active, and are excited to be in school now.  The parents and children are confident and know that they will be all right for the day... that even if they have little, or to some ... nothing at all, for breakfast... they will not go hungry because of your generosity.

     They also told us that they are sure that the food is clean because they are the ones preparing and cooking the food for their children.

     They hope these meals will continue in their school.  They ask me after every 3 months if the Meals @ School is still going to stay in their school, and if the answer is YES, they are almost in tears… tears of joy!

     A million thanks on behalf of the people of Sua to all the sponsors... to the founder, Don Cooper Sr and his wife Mary, to the President, Dr. Doug Cooper and wife Tatiana, and to a very special couple,  Don and Cathy Cooper.

Helen Grace Putong- Agawin

GCH- Camarines Sur

Sua Elementary School

Our representative, Helen, visiting Sua Elementary School (on left)

A mother washing the dishes after a meal.  The school principle, Ma'am Cordez has reported that they plan to construct a wash area beside this water pump so parents will not have to wash dishes as shown.

The little boy at the bottom is named Ken.  He is in 1st Grade.  Before the Meals @ School Program started last August, he weighed 15 kilos... after 4 months he now weighs 25 kilos.  This is what Sofia (his mother) told us during Helen's visit Jan 23, 2012.  The mother is so grateful.

A collection of thank-you letters from the children

Happy Valentines Day from the Philippine​s!

Dear Sponsors,


Greetings from the Philippines!


We hope that you’ve had a great start for this year. Time is really flying so fast and we are on the 2nd month of this year. I know that there are a lot of exciting things that will happen this year. We are so glad that you have been with us all this time.  Valentine’s Day is coming and we hope that this day will be filled with love and that you will always find happiness with your families.


Our Meals at School program has been doing so good. We still continue to feed the children in Sua Elementary School in Camarines Sur and in Pototan Elementary School in Iloilo. That is more than 600 children we are feeding every day.

There have been a lot of significant changes in the lives of the children and the families who benefit from our program. The parents say their children have increased in weight and they are more active in school and more motivated to study.

The children want to wish you a happy New Year and they are handing letters to us expressing their gratitude. Here are some of the words from these children.

“I am Adrian Bautista, a grade 4 student in Sua Elementary School. My favorite meal in the feeding is macaroni soup. Thank you friends for giving us the meals in school everyday.”

“I am Ken, grade 1 student from Sua Elementary School. I love the feeding every day and my mother volunteers to cook. My mother is so happy to tell me that I have gained weight from 15 kilos to 25 kilos since I participated in the feeding. Thank you for helping us!”

“Hello, I am Joemarie Lique, 12 years old. My father is a laborer in a construction site and my mother stays at home, the feeding program helps us a lot because most of the time, my parents cannot buy food for us. Thank you for your help”

“How are you? I am Sherelle, I love to study and I love to learn things in school. Life in the Philippines is hard but we are happy. Thank you so much for the help that you have been giving us.”

These are just some of the message of thanks that we always get from the children. They all love to be in school and the help that you have been extending to finance the Meals at School Program of Give Children Hope makes a great difference in their lives.

We thank you for all your help. We hope that we could continue to support and change the lives of these children for the better.

Please visit our facebook and blogspot (Give Children Hope) page to see pictures of our everyday Meals at School Program

May you all have a blessed February!  Our love for all of you!

For the sponsored children,

Kristina Sunico

Happy New Years

Dear Sponsors,

Happy New Year to all of you and to your wonderful families. We hope that you've had a wonderful New Year's celebration.  Ours was a blast with all the fireworks and all the people so happy.

We are all excited for this New Year, especially for all the possible advancements that we could do for the Meals at School Program of Give Children Hope. Our 2011 was so good and so blessed.  With your help, we have fed the students in Sua Elementary School in Camarines Sur, as well as in Pototan Elementary School in Iloilo. That is about 600 children that are being fed on a daily basis!  I had the opportunity to attend the feeding in Camarines Sur and it was really a heartwarming experience. I find it wonderful that the parents are so hands-on in doing their voluntary work for their children.

 

They know these feedings have been a blessing in their children's life and that it is possible to provide good meals for their children with your sponsorship donations to help them. Their children are being fed with different healthy meals everyday and there have been positive results considering their weight gain and their happy attitude. I love to see those children so happy and I know that it would melt your heart too.

We are looking forward to a happy 2012 with you and with the children.  You can see updates on our facebook account and our Give Children Hope website. Your continued support will continue to feed these children in Sua Elementary Schools and in Pototan Elementary School. We hope that we can give them a very wonderful 2012.
The goal of Give Children Hope will never be materialized without the help of the good people like you.  We know that we are helping the lives of these children and that motivates us to continue our efforts.

Thank you for all the work that you do for these children. May you continue to be blessed with all the things necessary for you and our family. We love you!

For the sponsored children,
Kristina Lou Sunico

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