From behind the desk to out in the field
Our sponsor services manager shares emotional highlights from her first visit to CCFC programs in Paraguay
By Danielle Rosenblum, manager, sponsor services
Breathtaking. Moving. Life-changing. Those are just a few words, which describe an experience that can’t be put into words. It’s how I’m feeling after making a first visit to Paraguay as the sponsor services manager at Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC).
Seeing the communities where we work, and visiting the children and families we help, has been eye-opening. I had read stories and seen pictures, but it’s nothing like being here.
I always try to remember how lucky I am to live in Canada — how I never have to go hungry, how I can walk to the tap and get clean, drinking water; I’ve never had to walk an hour to school or drive more than an hour to get medical attention; it’s easy to forget how good I have it.
The incredible, tireless partner staff in our Paraguay program areas graciously showed me how much they do with so little. For example, they made a Taiwanese flag out of coke bottle caps to show children the country. And, they fearlessly ride their motorbikes on uneven dirt roads ferrying supplies for measurement, evaluation and more. Their dedication and love for the communities where they work shows in everything they do.
The families in these communities welcomed us with open arms; it was clear they felt special to be chosen to host us on our visit. A proud mother showed me the book she had made as part of an early-childhood development program through CCFC, which benefited her four-year-old son. I also visited a school where a mothers’ community group organizes a school lunch program, ensuring children have at least one good meal a day.
It’s easy to sit behind a desk in Toronto, but to see the positive changes and work being done first-hand adds a new element to what I do. I may be here to see and collaborate with country staff about our sponsorship program, but I’ve learned so much more than I could have anticipated about what we do and how we do it.
I would strongly encourage you to visit your sponsored child, if you have one. You’ll see where your money is going, and, no doubt, meet an incredible person.
Learning the ropes: Danielle (in black and white) was excited to visit and learn about the team she works with and the families she helps through her role as sponsorship services manager at CCFC
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About Christian Children's Fund of Canada:
Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC) is a child-focused international development organization and a member of ChildFund Alliance. For more than 50 years, CCFC has been helping children and families of all faiths move from poverty to self-reliance. CCFC supports children and communities in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nicaragua and Paraguay. Currently, CCFC has almost 50,000 children sponsored, benefiting nearly 400,000 people around the world.