Children's Helpers Worldwide

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A Busy Couple of Months and Lots of Projects!
November 23, 2018 2:32 pm

We want to share with you some highlights from September and October. We are grateful to CHW’s supporters for all that they do to help children!

With your help, the following has recently been made possible:

– School supplies were sponsored for Cecilia, a teenager at New Life’s children home in Ghana. She started Senior High School in September!

– Teaching materials were sponsored for the semester for the children at Stepping Stones’ educational programmes in China. Stepping Stones works with migrant children in Shanghai and left behind children in rural parts of China. These are children who stay behind, whilst their parents leave to work in a city.

– The installation of internet facilities and a new networking system were funded for the computer lab at Challenging Heights’ shelter in Ghana. The children at the shelter have been rescued after being trafficked into the fishing industry. They receive special care to help with their rehabilitation. Internet access at the computer lab will improve the education they receive whilst at the shelter.

– On 10 October, ORT SA CAPE in South Africa held a LEGO Six Bricks training session for 13 teachers. The teachers learned about the many important skills that can be taught and developed using LEGO Six Bricks. More information about this training can be found in our report on GlobalGiving, here.

– Last month, we were able to send a donation to FAST in Romania to help them towards the completion of the shower block they are building, as an extension to their centre in the village of Tarlungeni. It is planned that there will be a washing machine in the block too, which will be great for the families who lack washing facilities at home. FAST is looking forward to promoting health and hygiene in the village.

Thank you very, very much to each person who has been involved with making these projects possible! Your support is making a difference for children all over the world!

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Urgent Support Needed for the Children of Casa Mea, Romania
October 3, 2018 9:07 pm

Some of the children with Felicia, outside Casa Mea

Casa Mea provides a warm, loving, family-style home for a group of children in Prejmer, Romania. Children who have been orphaned or abandoned live at Casa Mea. CHW’s supporters have helped with various things for Casa Mea, such as sponsoring a part time salary for an educator or social worker each year, and extra maths tuition for one of the teenagers.

We have received some sad news from Felicia and Jan at Casa Mea. Most of the funding for the home came from the US but this has now stopped. Jan explained that new tax laws mean that there are not the same tax benefits for charitable donations as before.

CHW has already sponsored the salary for a part time social worker, but the rest of the salaries need to be paid, along with the bills. The bills will be expensive over the harsh winter, as heating will be necessary. All in all, around 5000 USD (which is about £3798) is needed each month. Felicia spoke of doing a fundraiser to cover six months of the costs for now.

These are more funds than CHW has ever tried to raise for one project, but we know this is such a great home for the children and that it would be so sad if the children were to be split up and placed into state care. We are doing what we can to help, but if you know of any larger charities or companies that could help, please get in touch and we can provide more details. You can email Catherine on catherine @ chworldwide. org

For now, we have made a Paypal link for emergency donations for Casa Mea. You can donate here. Any help will make such a difference right now. No amount is too small, as if a lot of people contribute a little, together we can try to save this home for the children!

You can see a video of Felicia and of some of the children here. It was taken back in 2016 and Felicia talks about her hopes for the children’s future.

We would like to thank our Patrons, Ottilia and Robert for generously supporting Casa Mea for two month’s worth of costs. Thank you also to Carol for her kind donation and to Sarah for contributing and for suggesting an idea for fundraising. We are so grateful to all who care about these children.

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Children in Ghana send a message to Argentina on its National Flag Day
July 9, 2018 7:15 am

Children at Newness with the Argentinian flags they coloured in.

Argentinian Flag Day is celebrated on 20 June. Last month, the children at Newness Preparatory School in Ghana did a project learning about Argentinian culture and the flag. They also recorded a message in Spanish, saying “Greetings from Newness School in Ghana. Happy Argentinian Flag Day!” Everyone at our Argentinian partner projects were delighted to receive their greeting!

The children at Newness have previously done a video exchange with our partner schools in Unquillo and Villa Allende, in Cordoba Argentina, as well as with the children at Casa Mea in Romania. They have now made more videos, talking about their lives in Ghana, for exchanges with the children at some of our partner projects, as well as for another school in Cordoba. The children in Argentina have enjoyed finding out about Ghana! It has been a great learning experience for all the children involved.

Catherine from CHW and James from Newness with the group who learned about the Argentinian Flag Day.

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Carol and Sarah Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge to Support CHW!
6:34 am

We are very grateful to mother and daughter, Carol and Sarah, for supporting CHW by climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge! This is not the first time Carol and Sarah have done a challenge for CHW. In 2013, they also did a skydive to support CHW, to help the children at an education centre in Romania that we work with. This time, they were supporting our Impact Fund, which allows us to respond more effectively to any urgent or unexpected needs at our partner organisations and also assists us in completing any projects that we are struggling to fund.

On their fundraising page, Sarah wrote:

“My Mum and I will be climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge to raise money for Children’s Helpers Worldwide… A few years ago my Mum was diagnosed with cancer. It made us realise how important it is for us to pursue our dreams and our ambitions while we still can. My Mum has always wanted to walk over Sydney Harbour Bridge and in March this year we will be doing it together…

All funds raised will be used as part of an impact fund which will be used when the charity is struggling to complete projects or when they receive an urgent request from one of their partner organisations. This fund allows for donations to go where they are most needed.“

Carol and Sarah, we cannot thank you enough for climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge to support CHW, and for all your help over the years. During this challenge, Carol and Sarah were aiming to raise £1000 and they went over their target, raising £1060!

The first beneficiary of the Impact Fund was Ismael in Argentina. He is ten years old and was born with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. With the help of the Impact Fund, he has been able to continue with his equine-assisted therapy sessions at one of our partner organisations in Argentina, Fundación Cordobesa de Equinoterapia. Another beneficiary of the Impact Fund will be Isaac in Ghana. He grew up at New Life’s home. One of CHW’s corporate partners is currently sponsoring his tuition fees, as he attends Cape Coast Technical University to study Mechanical Engineering. Isaac also needed a stipend towards buying food and the Impact Fund will help with this.

Ismael in Argentina and Isaac in Ghana.

A massive thank you to each person who sponsored Carol and Sarah and helped support the children and young people we work with! You are giving them a brighter future.

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A Tribute to Mrs Priscilla Martin
July 4, 2018 11:13 am

A Tribute to Mrs Priscilla Martin
13 June 1950 – 4 July 2017

Written by Catherine Franks.

On 4 July 2017, Mrs Priscilla Martin sadly, and unexpectedly, passed away. She was an incredibly special lady and I am not sure I am going to be able to find the words that can truly express what a kind, loving and giving person she was, but I am going to try. My heart and thoughts remain with her husband Mr Armin Martin, and with her children, Dean, Michelle and Angelo, and with her grandchildren and with the rest of her family.

Up until a few years ago, Mr and Mrs Martin used to host international volunteers and interns. I first met the Martins when I was placed in their house, whilst doing a human rights internship. Mrs Martin had an amazing way of making everyone feel welcome in her home straight away. The volunteers I met at the Martins’ house remember her as someone who was both very caring and, at the same time, as somebody who had a great sense of fun. Going to South Africa that first time, I never could have imagined that I would find family there and I am so happy that Mrs Martin became my “Cape Town Mom”. I know she was a mother figure to many others too.

Mrs Martin touched a lot of people’s lives. I saw how she was always helping others. She had a way of making anyone who went to her feel special and cared for. She was genuinely interested in other people and her warmth always shone through. When staying with her, I saw that, after meal times, she would gather uneaten food into containers to give away, as she told me that there is always someone who is hungry. She also allowed weekly food donations from a certain store to be kept at her house. This food was then distributed by Anne, the founder of the local organisation, The Future Factory. After CHW linked with Seawind Educare, a creche for disadvantaged children, Mrs Martin said I could invite the Principal of the Creche, Rita, to her house to meet her and Anne. After that, Rita was regularly given some of the food for the children at Seawind too. These are just a couple of examples of Mrs Martin’s kindness. There are many, many more, as anyone who knew her would be able to tell you.

Mrs Martin with some of the donations of food.

I have been fortunate to have had various opportunities to work on projects in Cape Town. When you are abroad, one thing you lack is a family base, but I never felt like that in South Africa, thanks to Mrs Martin. She was always welcoming and I loved spending time with her and her family. When I was not in South Africa, we would talk on the phone. I could turn to Mrs Martin any time and she would always give generously of her time and energy. She was an important person to so many, offering words of comfort, guidance and support to those who needed it. I learned a lot from Mrs Martin and always felt uplifted after speaking with her. With her wonderful sense of humour, we laughed a lot together too. She told me lots of stories about her life and I am blessed that I had the opportunity to listen to her. Mr Martin once noted that she and I would talk for hours and he was right! I miss the conversations we used to have and I know that I am far from the only one who misses the unique light she brought to this world.

A couple of years ago, when I was back in South Africa again, Mrs Martin said that she would like to visit some of the projects that CHW works with. Mr and Mrs Martin and I went to Seawind Educare and to Rooikappie Creche (a link we made through the Future Factory). The week that Mrs Martin passed away, we had made plans to visit the creches again. Rita and Faranaaz, the Principals of each creche, had been delighted when I said she wanted to visit. It is so sad that those second visits could not happen. I greatly treasure all of the memories I have of Mrs Martin.

Visiting Seawind Educare in 2015: Me, Rita, the Principal of the creche, Mrs Martin and Mr Martin.

Thank you to the Martin family for sharing this wonderful lady with us all. With her love, kindness and compassion, Mrs Martin made this world a better place. She was a blessing to all who knew her.

This tribute appeared in our newsletter on New Year’s Day. We are republishing it today, on the first anniversary of the day Mrs Martin passed away.

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Gardening to Help the Children
May 25, 2018 8:57 pm

We are so grateful to Alex who fundraises for CHW in a very original way! In her free time, she does gardening to support the children and young people we work with. We cannot thank her enough for her time and dedication. The funds Alex has raised has helped children at projects all over the world! Four of these most recent projects have supported children and young people in China, Ghana, Romania and South Africa.

The donations from Alex’s gardening have helped with teaching materials for the migrant children at Stepping Stones’ educational programmes in China in previous years and will help to support this project again over the summer.

In 2016, CHW started to support young people, as well as children. The first young person we are assisting is Isaac, who grew up at New Life’s home in Ghana. He wanted to study Mechanical Engineering at Cape Coast Technical University but did not have the means. One of our corporate partners sponsored his tuition fees but we still needed to fundraise to sponsor his food. Isaac will be entering his third and final year of studies in September. We are grateful to Alex’s fundraising efforts, as part of the money she has raised will provide food for Isaac.

Funds raised by Alex also went towards extra maths tuition for Ana, one of the teenagers at the home, Casa Mea in Romania. Ana will be taking her exams to enter high school at the end of this term. According to Felicia, who works with the children at Casa Mea, this extra help with maths has made Ana feel much more confident.

As well as helping the children, Alex finds doing the gardening rewarding. She said, “Quite a few of the people I garden for are people who are very knowledgeable about gardening but now, for various reasons, just can’t manage their own gardens, so it’s particularly rewarding to be helping people like that.“

—With thanks to Cui at Stepping Stones, James at New Life and Janet at ORT SA CAPE for these photos from projects that Alex is supporting

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Will YOU be one of 30 special people making an impact this week?
April 9, 2018 11:51 am

On Monday, 9 April, GlobalGiving will be launching their Little By Little Campaign at 2.01pm (UK time). The campaign ends on Friday, 13 April. As it is CHW’s 11th birthday, later this month, we want to invite you to take part in this campaign, to celebrate this milestone and to help you continue to make a difference in the lives of children who are disadvantaged.

Why 30 people?
GlobalGiving will be awarding bonus funds to organisations that raise at least $3000 (around £2150) from 30 people. If you are able to contribute, you will be one of those people helping to reach this goal! If you are unable to donate but want to help, please do share our project during the campaign week, as you can actively be a part of reaching those 30 people!

Is GlobalGiving doing anything else?

Yes! Whilst matching funds last, donations of up to $50 (around £35) will be matched by 50%, so your contributions will go extra far this week!

Who will I be helping?
The Impact Fund helps children and young people at CHW’s projects who have unexpected or urgent needs. The fund also supports children’s projects that are very worthwhile, but that we are struggling to get help with.

In this report, you can find out more about Ismael, the first beneficiary of the Impact Fund. Ismael is 9 years old (although his birthday is tomorrow!). He is from Argentina and has Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. The supporters of the Impact Fund have enabled him to continue with horse assisted therapy sessions in 2018, which helps him physically, mentally and emotionally. Through the Impact Fund, you will be supporting more children and young people, who are in need.

Want to know more?
If you would like any further information about the campaign, or want to let us know that you will be one of the amazing 30 people who are going to make an impact for children, you can email Catherine at catherine @ chworldwide. org.

Ismael riding Cafe the horse, with Veronica

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Join us on #GivingTuesday – 28 November 2017
November 22, 2017 10:30 pm

#GivingTuesday is a global day of doing good. This year, it will take place on 28 November. We will be taking part in a special challenge run by GlobalGiving. Make sure to donate on the day, and your contribution will be partially matched! The funds raised will go towards urgent needs at our partner projects, allowing you to help children and young people most in need! See our project page here.

On #GivingTuesday, people often take an UNselfie – a selfie showing a cause which they support. Feel free to use our sign and don’t forget to tag us on Facebook or tweet us with your photo!

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My Box Office gives a generous donation to help the children
October 16, 2017 6:53 pm

Thank you to My Box Office
Photo from Stepping Stones, China

We are very grateful to My Box Office for giving a generous donation of £500! They made this donation at the perfect time, as it was just before the new school year started! We had almost raised enough to sponsor teaching materials for the migrant children at Stepping Stones’ educational programmes in China, and still needed £180 to be able to provide funding for the whole semester. We were able to use part of My Box Office’s donation to complete this project. The rest of their donation went towards helping two of the young people in Romania and Ghana.

Ana lives at Casa Mea’s children’s home in Romania. She is 14 and has just started Grade 8. In Romania, the exams taken at the end of Grade 8 determine whether or not a pupil will be able to go to a good high school in Grade 9. Ana is doing well in most of her subjects, but she needs further help with maths. Felicia, the home’s administrator, has arranged for Ana to have extra maths tuition. My Box Office’s donation will help to fund over two months of this tuition.

Ana

CHW helps young people, as well as children, particularly those who have grown up at, or received assistance from, our partner projects. Isaac grew up at New Life’s Children’s Home in Ghana. He wanted to study Mechanical Engineering at Cape Coast Polytechnic. Working together with New Life, we have been able to assist Isaac and he has just started his second year of studies. As well as proving funding for Isaac’s tuition fees, we also raise funds to be able to provide him with a stipend for food. My Box Office’s donation has helped to provide Isaac with food. Isaac is very grateful for this help.

Isaac

Thank you very much to My Box Office for making a difference in these children’s and young people’s lives!

With thanks to Cui at Stepping Stones, Felicia at Casa Mea and James at New Life for these photos.

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Children go back to school in China, Ghana and Romania!
6:19 pm

In September, the new school year started in three of the countries where CHW supports projects (China, Ghana and Romania), so it has been a busy time for the children and young people in those places! A huge thank you to each of CHW’s supporters who made it possible to run programmes for disadvantaged children this term, and who helped individual children and young people to continue with their education! You are making a big difference in their lives.

CHW’s supporters made it possible to:

– Provide teaching materials for Stepping Stones’ educational programmes for migrant children in China for the semester.

– Sponsor Refugiu’s tutoring programme for disadvantaged Roma children in Romania.

– Give school supplies, clothes and shoes to the children at Refugiu’s programmes in Romania, in time for the new school year.

– Provide a scholarship for Isaac, a Ghanaian student, who grew up at New Life’s children’s home, to study Mechanical Engineering. With thanks to the company, Ronco Cayman, for this sponsorship.

– Provide Isaac, the Ghanaian student, with a stipend for food.

– Sponsor the school fees for Sophia, a high school student, helped by New Life, Ghana.

– Provide the fees for extra maths tuition for Ana, who lives at the children’s home, Casa Mea, in Romania.

You can see more about these projects, and the supporters who made it all possible, in our latest newsletter, here.

Thank you for helping these children and young people!

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