As families in Cornwall get ready to celebrate their child’s high school graduation, one family will be celebrating the success of a very special graduation in the small town of La Chacarita, Paraguay.

For a few years, Therese Bouchier has sponsored 12-year-old Shirley Yanina Rodriguez, providing her with a classroom, school books, nutritious food and even helping to pay the teacher’s salary. With the support of the Bouchiers, Shirley will be one of a few children in Paraguay to graduate from school.

“This is a huge accomplishment for Shirley. It’s the best thing I’ve done in my life. I give to other charities and churches but it’s wonderful to know that these children and their families are being helped. She had the potential all along, she just needed the support to help her unlock it,” says Mrs. Bouchier.

This is a remarkable achievement for Shirley considering the extreme poverty in Paraguay and the lack of basic infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. In fact, each day hundreds of children die in Paraguay before their first birthday, let alone graduate.

“The Bouchier family have always been supportive of me. I am grateful for their on going encouragement and assistance. I never thought I would hear myself say I’m graduating,” says Shirley. The Bouchiers are not alone in their generosity. They are just one of 28 families in Cornwall who sponsor a child through Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC). Yearly, Cornwall donates over $15,000 to CCFC to help provide assistance to families that need it the most. “After hearing the stories of these innocent children, I felt compelled to help. I know that living in poverty isn’t a choice; it’s a reality for millions of children around the world,” says Mrs. Bouchier.

For the Bouchier family, fostering their relationship with Shirley was an important part of the sponsorship experience. Each year they send Shirley letters, family photos, and birthday and Christmas cards. “Shirley is part of our family, she writes to us often, telling us how she is, how her family is doing, what she is learning in school. Her letters are always heart warming and express a sense of gratitude.We are very proud of her,” says Mrs. Bouchier.

As the Bouchiers discovered, their support not only helps their child, but is also filtered through to the family and into the community. Sponsoring a child provides clean water, nutritious food, health care and vaccinations. Sponsoring one child can mean saving the lives of a handful of people.