Child Sponsorship

A Look Inside: Holistic Child Development in Paraguay

aheckman — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:41:18 +0000

A Look Inside: Holistic Child Development in Paraguay aheckman Thu, 03/13/2025 - 19:41

A Look Inside: Holistic Child Development in Paraguay

This report was submitted by staff of a child development center in Paraguay. To reach their community, this center has a strong focus on sports ministry and English classes.

Each year at our child development center, one group of students graduate, and a group of new students joins. This year, 90 percent of our new children live with ADHD and language difficulties. As a result, the dynamics of the classes, devotionals, and activity times we provide have been adjusted to help them focus, learn sports techniques, follow instructions properly, and develop discipline. All groups have adapted well to these changes and improved their interactions with peers and God.

As part of spiritual care for each child, we maintained weekly follow-ups on devotionals. We covered the book of Genesis, emphasizing the values found in each story and the theme of conflict resolution in relationships. We have begun using new material for the second half of the year, and the discussions have been truly engaging.

The weekly nutritious snack time is a success—fruits, cereals, and milk are devoured! We also provide alternatives for those who have dietary needs.

We have held soccer classes and psychological and family counseling, celebrated birthdays monthly, and observed special occasions with the students. Our English classes focus on conversational and sports-related language. Through interactive games and visual aids, the children have made significant progress.

In January, halfway through the year, we placed a sign at the entrance announcing open registrations.

Juan*, a boy from the neighborhood, had been insisting for months that his parents bring him to the center. However, his mother was convinced that we didn’t offer soccer classes—until she saw the sign on the door! She quickly enrolled both him and his little brother, and they are now happily participating in the center's activities.

Other parents have shared how good they feel about bringing their children here.

“I don’t know why, but I feel so good with you all,” said Carmen, Paulina’s* mother. “Our marriage is going through a rough time, but when we come here, and you listen to us, I feel better.”

A recent special event featured a young woman with a missionary calling who had participated in a mission trip. Before departing on the trip, she visited the center to share her calling with us, and after the event, she returned to share her testimony and show photos.

For the teenagers who attend our center, it was a great blessing to see a young woman from an underprivileged neighborhood get to travel, receive training in missions, and achieve difficult goals. One of the limiting beliefs we face here in Paraguay is the widespread mindset that "it can't be done.” Changes and challenges are often seen as impossible. Her testimony was encouraging and inspiring, showing the students that every obstacle can be overcome by God.

We look forward to the new challenges this next semester will bring. We thank God for His guidance in every detail.

* Children’s names are changed for protection.

Paraguay

Child Sponsorship

children and youth

Holistic Child Development

Looking Back, Looking Forward: The Impact of Holistic Child Development

aheckman — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:45:47 +0000

Looking Back, Looking Forward: The Impact of Holistic Child Development aheckman Thu, 11/21/2024 - 19:45

Looking Back, Looking Forward: The Impact of Holistic Child Development

Sarah*, a recent graduate of a Nazarene child development center in the Philippines, shared her inspiring journey during the center's anniversary celebration this year. From joining the center at age three to becoming a graduate and now a volunteer teacher for other children, Sarah's testimony highlighted the profound impact the center has had on her life. Keep reading for an excerpt from her remarks.

“I am Sarah. I was a sponsored child of the [child development center] program since I was three years old. [The center] trained me and equipped me holistically, taught me about Jesus, and allowed me to draw closer to God.

“Jesus showed a special love for children, welcoming them and blessing them ... that is also how the Church of the Nazarene welcomes children through this ministry.

“I understand that [the] program is not just teaching you about Bible stories, hygiene lessons, singing, etc. It’s not just about that, [it] helps you to go in the way you should go—which is God’s way.

“And [the center] is not just about being compassionate to the children ... [it] also teaches you to be a compassionate one, too. The blessing is not how [the] staff are kind, generous, and compassionate to me, it’s how it made me one of those—a kind, generous, and compassionate person towards others, too. God loves us so that we can love others.

“Thank you to my sponsors. Thank you to the teachers and staff who taught me since the beginning, until I graduated, and until now that I am the one teaching. Thank you to those people whom God used for [the center] to come into existence.

“All glory belongs to God. I’ll continue to surrender my life to God, to serve him, to reach out other people, to strive, to make a difference, to be a light and salt, to lead, to use my gifts for his glory and lastly, to make Christlike disciples of all nations.”

You can make a difference in the life of a child or teenager like Sarah today. Your monthly gift of only $30 USD will provide a student with a strong foundation that supports their growth from childhood through adolescence and beyond. Learn more at ncm.org/sponsor.

*Children’s names are changed for protection.

Holistic Child Development

Child Sponsorship

children and youth

Philippines

Seven Days of Praying for Children

aheckman — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:54:18 +0000

Seven Days of Praying for Children aheckman Tue, 11/05/2024 - 18:54

Seven Days of Praying for Children

In a world that constantly changes, the needs of children around the world are always present. Whether it’s protection from harm, provision for their basic needs, help escaping the weight of poverty, or spiritual care, children need our prayers now more than ever. As parents, educators, caregivers, and compassionate individuals, we are called to intercede on their behalf—lifting up their health, safety, well-being, and dreams before God.

To help guide our posture toward children, we invite you to join us in a powerful journey of prayer: seven days of intentional intercession for the children in our lives and around the world. For each day, we will focus on a specific aspect of children’s lives and the lives of the adults around them. It’s a simple, yet profound way to make a lasting impact, not only for the children we know personally, but for those who are suffering, overlooked, or in need of hope.

Will you take the next seven days to pray with us?

Day 1: Pray that all people would come to appreciate the gift that children are and see them as infinitely valuable.

Day 2: Pray for the protection of children, that the plans of those who would seek to harm or abuse them or their families would be thwarted. Pray that we would seek ways to assume the responsibility of protecting children in our communities and around the world.

Day 3: There are many children who live in poverty or difficult circumstances. Pray that they would experience the provision, love, and care they need. Ask God to raise up advocates, resources, and opportunities for them to thrive and grow in a safe and nurturing environment.

Day 4: Pray that families would be inspired to teach their children to follow the Lord and seek wisdom as they grow. Pray for leaders in child development centers as they seek to do the same.

Day 5: A parent’s love is meant to be deep and comforting from the moment a child is born. Pray for children who have lost their parents or those who have a difficult relationship with their parents. Pray they will find comfort and strength in Christ.

Day 6: Pray for children who are sponsored in Nazarene child development programs to come to faith in Christ, along with gaining the skills needed to take steps out of poverty. Pray they will learn to look to the Lord for strength and hope each and every day.

Day 7: Pray for teachers, caregivers, social workers, and all those who work with children to be filled with compassion, patience, and understanding. Ask God to equip them to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the children in their care.

children and youth

Child Sponsorship

Prayer

The Heart of a Kingdom Servant

aheckman — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 18:27:11 +0000

The Heart of a Kingdom Servant aheckman Tue, 08/06/2024 - 18:27

The Heart of a Kingdom Servant

AUGUST 6, 2024 - CRYSTAL GIBBONS

In the heart of Yerevan, Armenia, lives Miriam*, a remarkable young woman whose journey with the church began at the tender age of seven and has since blossomed into a testament of faith, service, and love for the Kingdom.

Mariam’s connection with the Church of the Nazarene started through the vibrant and engaging Vacation Bible School (VBS) held at the church. Drawn in by the crafts, the loving atmosphere, and the warmth exuded by the church members, Mariam found more than just a weekly gathering; she discovered a home away from home.

For a decade, Miriam faithfully attended the Kids Club through the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries child sponsorship program, cherishing the fun-filled activities and forming lasting bonds with the church community. It was during this time that the seeds of faith were planted in her heart, leading to a pivotal moment at the age of thirteen when Miriam accepted Christ as her personal savior. From that moment forward, her life took on a new purpose centered around serving the Kingdom.

As she embraced her faith, she felt a calling to give back to the place that had nurtured her spiritual journey. Now seventeen, Miriam dedicates her time and energy to helping run the same Kids Club where she first encountered the love of Christ.

This past summer, she took on a leadership role, orchestrating a VBS program that touched the lives of more than 40 children. Miriam’s commitment to service extends beyond the walls of the church. She is currently pursuing a degree in finance at university. She sees her studies as a means to contribute to the community and make a positive impact.

Despite her busy schedule, Miriam remains deeply rooted in her faith, finding strength and purpose in her relationship with God.

“The Nazarene church is my home. It is the place where I discovered the power of faith and found a family of believers who embraced me and supported me every step of the way,” said Miriam.

This loving community has changed Miriam’s life, and she is excited to serve others the way she has been served.

* Children’s names are changed for protection.

Taken from the latest NCM Magazine. Click here to read the issue.

Child Sponsorship

Holistic Child Development

From the Magazine

Armenia

children and youth

Joy, Despite Obstacles: A Child Sponsorship Story

aheckman — Wed, 10 May 2023 20:29:57 +0000

Joy, Despite Obstacles: A Child Sponsorship Story aheckman Wed, 05/10/2023 - 20:29

Joy, Despite Obstacles: A Child Sponsorship Story

MAY 10, 2023 · BY AMY HECKMAN

Marsha* is a sponsored 17-year-old girl in the Philippines. She’s overcome many challenges across the years, including her family losing their home when Super Typhoon Rai hit the nation at the end of 2021. The storm damaged or destroyed millions of houses, at least 16,000 schools, and 330 health clinics, eventually impacting close to 10 million people.

Marsha, her mother, and nine siblings live in St. Bernard, a town that was almost completely destroyed by the Typhoon. Dan Balayo, child development coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Region Church of the Nazarene, reported that all families of children served by the Nazarene child development center in St. Bernard were directly impacted by the storm.

The Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines responded immediately to the needs of the most vulnerable population, distributing relief goods and establishing safe spaces for children to process traumatic experiences from the storm.

Thankfully, Marsha’s family survived (as did all the families of other children at the center), but they had to move into an evacuation center right before the holidays.

At the time, Marsha shared this with her sponsor, saying, “It was really sad that we didn’t celebrate our Christmas at our home. Despite that, we never gave up. We still celebrated Christmas with happy faces. We prepared spaghetti, pansit, and bread. We were happy because we were safe and healthy.”

When recovery efforts started, and school work began again in earnest, Marsha didn’t let this ongoing upheaval deter her from her goals. In the midst of recovery and rebuilding, Marsha received an award for academic honors at school.

“My heart is full of joy [because of] receiving the award,” Marsha wrote to her sponsor. “This allows me to study harder. I am thankful and bless God for everything He did.”

A little over a year later, finally back in her home, she wrote the update below. Keep reading to see how joy continues to be a hallmark of Marsha's outlook and attitude.

Child sponsorship gives children help right when they need it. When you choose to support a child living in poverty through sponsorship, you give them encouragement to continue to on through whatever obstacles come their way.

Learn more here.

“Hi, how are you? I hope you are doing well.

After a long time, I am going to write a letter for you, with lots of love. First, I want to greet you a happy new year. I hope that your new year will be one of the best in your life. I'm writing this letter because I want to share with you how I celebrate New Year’s...

I celebrate those great days with all the [fun] that I can. Two days before the new year, we started our preparations. We cleaned our house, got ready and we look forward to the great day with my family. I made a list of delicious food item on December 31st and prepared it with my sister. I had an amazing celebration with my family.

How about you? How do you spend your holidays? I hope you are enjoying those days.

Thank you for your continuous support and for the Christmas gift that I have received. May God continue to bless you more.”

*Name is changed for protection.

Child Sponsorship

children and youth

Holistic Child Development

Emergency Relief

Philippines

Through Grief to Hope in Guatemala

aheckman — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 17:46:43 +0000

Through Grief to Hope in Guatemala aheckman Fri, 04/28/2023 - 17:46

Through Grief to Hope in Guatemala

APRIL 28, 2023 · BY AMY HECKMAN

Evan*is a 7th grader in Guatemala who attends the child development center in his town. Evan’s mother experienced complications with childbirth and passed away four years ago. Since then, Evan and his seven siblings have had to face life without her love and care. The teachers at Evan’s center report that despite this tragedy marking his life, Evan is a hard worker who loves to improve. He strives diligently to overcome the obstacles he faces. Evan also attends the local Nazarene church that hosts the child development center, where he participates in children’s church and youth services.

Making ends meet is not easy for Evan’s family. Evan is one of the ten percent of children in Guatemala who work in order to help out at home. He spends a few hours each day in a local bakery to cover his educational costs, as school is only free in Guatemala through the 6th grade. Sometimes, Evan uses his income to help pay for the needs of his younger siblings. To balance all of his responsibilities, Evan goes to work in the morning before school. After work, he goes to school, then to his center in the afternoon, and studies in the evenings.

Being part of the child sponsorship program means that Evan is able to attend the development center for free. There, he receives help with his homework after school, along with spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social care that is designed to develop all aspects of his life. Evan’s sponsor is a Nazarene church in Wisconsin, and Evan regularly writes notes to the church to shares gratitude and updates. In a recent letter, he expressed how happy he was to be a part of the center.

“I thank God first of all for putting in your hearts the will to help me,” he wrote. “I know that our God will multiply you in abundance.” Evan is not the only one in his family to benefit from sponsorship; two of his younger sisters attend the center as well.

The care given by the staff is impacting each of Evan's family members with the help needed to thrive despite both grief and economic challenges. In a country where only 79% of children complete primary school, the center’s activities help keep children engaged and learning. Most importantly, the center is built on a foundation of faith.

“We take the opportunity to pray with [students] and remind them of how important they are to us, to the church, and above all to God,” said Arnoldo, center coordinator. This kind of encouragement can give children confidence and a reason to hope for a bright future, no matter their current circumstances.

That encouragement is echoed in the care felt through the sponsorship relationship. “I am very grateful to my sponsor,” said Evan. “Even though I do not know them, I feel a great love for them because of the support I have received.”

When you sponsor a child like Evan, committing your financial resources and prayer support, you are making a tangible difference. Learn more here.

*Child’s name is changed for protection.

Holistic Child Development

Caring for Children Around the World

aheckman — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 19:27:14 +0000

Caring for Children Around the World aheckman Wed, 04/05/2023 - 19:27

Caring for Children Around the World

APRIL 5, 2023 · BY AMY HECKMAN

In Nepal, the children at one Nazarene child development center share a common experience—many have never celebrated their own birthdays. For families in this area who struggle with ongoing poverty, there’s no time or money to spend on play or celebrations. Instead, parents have to stay focused on earning enough to eat and have housing. Many of the children have worked alongside their parents to support the families’ needs. When they are enrolled in the center, though, not only are children given opportunities to grow spiritually, educationally, and physically, but special moments like birthday and Christmas celebrations with their classmates help shape their emotional development.

The local church that hosts the center has noticed an increase in relationships between community members and their members thanks to this ministry.

A child development center in Romania provides a safe environment so children and teens can develop positive self-esteem, grow spiritually, and improve their academic skills. The center provides Bible teaching, meals, clothing, tutoring, access to health care, and a place for kids to play together.

Sometimes the benefits a child takes home from their center are intangible, yet no less impactful. “To be part of this program helped me to see myself with different eyes,” said one teenager who attends the Romanian center. “I learned to control my emotions.”

Life in Nicaragua can be difficult for children. At least 42 percent of the population lives in poverty, and that widespread unemployment, poor infrastructure, and other stressors leave many families struggling to survive. At one child development center, parents are educated on helping their children grow through proper nutrition and food preparation. A water well provides clean water for children and their families to use. Younger children receive academic coaching, and teens are supplied with vocational training. These activities are in addition to the regular spiritual guidance and extracurriculars like music and art lessons that make up the rest of the center’s activities.

Still, the stressors outside the center are sometimes a strong pull. Because of this, last year, several teens stopped attending. The center staff are committed to praying for the teens' safety and that they would be able to make wise choices for their futures. Due to work shortages in the area, some families had to leave for a season to harvest coffee in the mountains, taking their children with them. Other parents were concerned with earning enough money to pay fees for their children to graduate from school.

“God supplied all the needs,” reported one leader.

Last May, two teens who also attend the church graduated from a baptism class. After their baptism in a nearby lake, the church and center community enjoyed a celebration together.

The center staff continues to press into their mission to help children and teens develop and grow. “The task ahead of us is very challenging,” said the leader. “We are praying and fasting that the Lord will help us continue in the race of compassion. We have seen God's support in everything we have done for his work and for his beloved children.”

When you sponsor a child, you help them attend a child development center like these. To learn more about making a difference for children living in poverty, visit ncm.org/sponsor.

Child Sponsorship

children and youth

Holistic Child Development

Perspectives from Both Sides

aheckman — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 18:52:02 +0000

Perspectives from Both Sides aheckman Thu, 07/28/2022 - 18:52

Perspectives from Both Sides

JULY 28, 2022 · NCM STAFF

Divya*, age 15, lives with her family in Nepal, where her father works as both a Nazarene pastor and a brick-layer. This story is all too common for many families struggling with limited opportunities for income. Often, school fees are unattainable after basic living expenses are paid. To address this, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries has a specific ministry that assists pastors' children with their primary and secondary educational costs. Like all NCM child development programs, the ministry is holistic, helping support families spiritually and physically as well as meeting their educational needs.

“Because of the [child sponsorship program], it is reducing the financial burden of my parents,” Divya explains.

Gregory and Armig Ekmekjian live on nearly the opposite half of the globe, in Los Angeles, California. Since 2016, they have been supporting Divya through NCM child sponsorship. Last year, Gregory began to make plans to fulfill a dream of visiting Mount Everest Base Camp—a dream that he thought might take him close to where Divya lives.

Meetings between sponsors and the children involved in the program have been nearly impossible during pandemic-driven safety precautions, unlike normal times. Gregory reached out to NCM, and the director of child sponsorship programs in Nepal, Hari, helped coordinate with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

“This visit was the first visit of a sponsor with a child [in Nepal],” he explains.

Despite several setbacks, including nearly being cancelled altogether, Gregory was able to meet with Hari, Divya, and her family at an outdoor café, where they could spend time getting to know each other beyond the occasional letters and to exchange gifts. Gregory works in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, and he had brought Divya a camera to practice photography. Divya had hand-knitted a Nepalese scarf for Gregory in advance, explaining that, "I chose to give it because it was knitted by myself.”

Having the opportunity to meet Divya and her family impressed upon Gregory the importance of the sponsorship program. “There should be more,” says Gregory. “There should be more children in the program. ... Everybody has to do their part. They are our brothers and sisters.”

Divya shares that she also has been affected by her involvement with holistic child development: “I would like to give thanks to all of you who are contributing through the child sponsorship program,” she shares. “... My future plan is to help support needy people after completing my studies.”

Armig and Gregory Ekmekjian live and work in Los Angeles, California. They began sponsoring children through NCM in 2015, when Armig moved to the United States from Lebanon and found the sponsorship program to be a way to express her gratitude for God’s blessings.

*Children’s names are changed for protection.

Photos courtesy of Gregory Ekmekjian. This story was featured in the most recent issue of NCM Magazine.

Child Sponsorship

Nepal

children and youth

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Make a Difference Through Child Sponsorship Sunday

aheckman — Thu, 19 May 2022 19:18:02 +0000

Make a Difference Through Child Sponsorship Sunday aheckman Thu, 05/19/2022 - 19:18

Make a Difference Through Child Sponsorship Sunday

Every year, Nazarene churches around the world extend compassion by highlighting the ministry of Nazarene child sponsorship. While this event has traditionally been held in the spring, we invite your congregation to choose any weekend that is most convenient to host Child Sponsorship Sunday!

“I hope that in the year that comes, many more children and people can benefit from this wonderful program and receive great opportunities for life and education.” - A sponsored child in Colombia

Child Sponsorship changes the lives of children living in poverty. Children who attend child development centers benefit from caring teachers and comprehensive programming that nurtures children by assisting their academic, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth. In addition, parents are released from the fear of being unable to provide for their children’s needs. Children of Nazarene pastors receive assistance with educational costs, and all sponsored children are connected to caring sponsors who encourage them through financial support, prayer, and letters.

"Receiving a letter makes me very happy, it makes me feel that there are people thinking about me and that I have friends who love me. When a letter arrives, I like to read it first in English and then in Spanish because that's how I'm learning. I [read] with my parents and then I keep it in a place of memories of mine." -A sponsored child

Child Sponsorship is also an investment in the community. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries partners with local congregations to operate child development programs. This partnership resources churches as they seek to serve others, introduce change to their communities, and point people to the love of God in Christ. Many child development centers offer savings groups and financial training for parents and guardians of enrolled children.

Right now, there are 240 child development centers in 37 countries around the world. These centers currently care for 17,163 children.

“The CDC has changed my life. Since I was in CDC, I [did] well in my studies and after graduation, now am helping my parents by earning.” – Graduate of a Nazarene Child Development Center in India

Why should your church host a Child Sponsorship Sunday?

Many do not know about child sponsorship. This is an opportunity to educate your congregation on the ministry of child sponsorship.

Many do not realize that there is a uniquely Nazarene child sponsorship program. This is an opportunity to highlight child sponsorship through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday is itself an act of compassion to care for “the least of these.”

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday provides an opportunity for current sponsors to share how sponsorship has blessed them.

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday creates an occasion to pray for children living in poverty (consider using this prayer video - click HERE to download video directly to your computer.

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday gives children waiting for a sponsor the chance to become sponsored. Church members can choose a child to sponsor right after the service.

"For the future, I would like to be a great businesswoman and to help other children the same way I have been helped.” - A sponsored child from Bolivia

Free resources for promoting Child Sponsorship Sunday are available on our website. There, you can order profile cards of children waiting to be sponsored, posters, brochures, talking points, and more. If you have any questions, we’d love to help. Drop us a note at cs@ncm.org.

"I pray for you. Thank you for all the support you gave me during these years. You will be in my heart forever." - A sponsored child in Panama

“Dear Sponsor, thank you for all you have done for me, because of your love and kindness I feel so much blessed and positive for my future.” – A sponsored child in Rwanda

children and youth

Child Sponsorship

Holistic Child Development

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Finding Joy In and Out of Lockdown: Child Development programs in Nepal

aheckman — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 05:21:48 +0000

Finding Joy In and Out of Lockdown: Child Development programs in Nepal aheckman Wed, 09/29/2021 - 05:21

Finding Joy In and Out of Lockdown: Child Development programs in Nepal

Being a teenager anywhere in the world can be a challenge. For Siva*, a 16-year-old boy who attends a child development center in Nepal, the last year and a half has been in and out of restrictive lockdowns.

Instead of growing frustrated, Siva wrote to his sponsor to tell her that he was using the time in lockdown, “as a great opportunity to learn creative things.” So, always a creative soul, Siva is teaching himself how to play the ukulele.

Siva*

In Nepal, most children have had the same uncertain experience Siva had. Schools were closed for much of 2020 and had only just reopened when they shut down again in April of 2021 during a second surge of the virus. Many children couldn’t access the remote lessons that the government provided.

According to groups like the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, the numbers of children in the labor market in Nepal increased when schools closed; instead of going to school, children were working (often in dangerous jobs like making bricks, crushing stones, weaving carpets, or collecting recyclable waste) to try to contribute at home. Not all of them were able to channel the lockdown into something creative.

The Church of the Nazarene in Nepal operates six Nazarene child development programs that care for close to 400 children. Five of these programs are child development centers that are open during after-school hours to provide educational, spiritual, physical, and emotional support. With the guidance of trained teachers, children who otherwise might struggle to stay in school are encouraged to continue learning.

Students studying quietly in a child development center

The centers provide uniforms, school supplies, homework assistance, food, medical care, enrichment activities, and more. Instead of having to leave school to work, these children are able to focus on school and the doors it will open for their futures.

Sunit also attends a Nazarene child development center. Before the pandemic, the 14-year-old wrote that she loves it when it snows, mostly because she loves to play in it. “Nepal is small in size, but it [has] a lot of beautiful places …” she wrote.

Sunit*

Since the pandemic started, Sunit has worried about school and the safety of her family. While Sunit’s father is an officer, Siva is like many of the other children at the center whose parents are small-scale farmers or day laborers, earning what they can each day. Other parents work as housekeepers for wealthy families, and in some families, one parent will travel to a city or even another country to find higher-paying work, leaving families separated for long periods of times. The pandemic has been disproportionately stressful for these low-income households. In many cases, their sources of income were lost once the first lockdown went into effect.

During the closures, child development centers continued to care for the children enrolled in their programs. Center staff trained parents to access the government lessons that were broadcast online and on television and radio stations, supplementing the training with home tutoring for children who didn’t have enough support at home. On top of regular educational activities, the staff members also made health education calls covering topics like disease transmission, hygiene practices, and how children could stay safe from infection. And to make sure the children and their families had enough to eat, they distributed food packs containing staples like rice, lentils, salt, and sugar.

CDC teacher home visit

Child development centers provide space for children like Siva and Sunit to nourish the things that spark their curiosity and joy, affirming their dignity and helping them grow in Christ.

Sunit wrote that she was very thankful for her center, where she has attended since she was a young child. “Now, I am happy because the [center] and school has been opened,” she said. “I am learning new and different things with [my friends]. … I like to go to the CDC and learn new things and teach my juniors.”

*Children’s names are changed for safety.

Learn how you can sponsor a child on our website.

Holistic Child Development

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children and youth

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