Life in Canada is very different from life in a developing country but, as Ryan and Andrea McLeod learned, sponsorship is one way to bridge that gap.
The McLeods have been sponsoring a 10-year old girl named Yorlenis for more than a year, exchanging letters and cards to build a relationship. Recently, they took a trip to Nicaragua to meet Yorlenis and her family face to face.
“They were welcoming, friendly, and so grateful for our visit,” said the McLeods, who met Yorlenis, her sister, three cousins, aunt, and grandmother. “The children were so funny and curious. We brought a scrapbook about Canada and our lives here and it was fun to show that to them.”
The McLeods were pleased to find that Yorlenis and her family had a home with a cement floor, solid walls, a metal roof, and electricity. But the home did not have access to water or sanitation facilities.
“What struck us the most was the sparseness of the house,” they said. “They have so few personal belongings.”
One of the belongings they did see though, were the letters they had sent to Yorlenis.
“Some of Yorlenis’ cousins are sponsored as well, but they told us their sponsors don’t write to them,” said the McLeods. “It showed us how much communication means to these children.”
The McLeods also learned about Yorlenis’ community and CCFC’s programs by talking to passionate staff members like sponsorship manager Rigoberto Shelevy. He told them that even though 10,000 children in the community are enrolled in the program, sponsorship benefits about 30,000 families.
“CCFC is making a real impact in people’s lives,” said the McLeods. “It was wonderful to meet Yorlenis and her family and gain a better understanding of their daily lives.”
“We genuinely care about them, their well-being, and their future.”
Your $38 a month donation is all it takes to make a difference in the life of a child.