Sponsored-child Evalyn, 10, in grade five, shares her first day of school experience.

“I was extremely excited for my first day [back] at school. I woke up early [in the] morning, took a bath, and ate a heavy breakfast. Mama cooked rice and the usual fish paksiw (fish in vinegar sauce). I had all my requirements laid out – school bag, packed lunch with little fork and spoon, a hankie and a little towel, and school supplies labeled with my name written in black ink.

There are hundreds of impoverished children in the Himaya hinterlands whose parents are struggling to provide for their family’s basic needs.

Although public school education is free, Angelica’s parents could barely support their kids’ education because of the additional costs of sending children to school. Thankfully, World Vision has provided Angelica and other poor children in Himaya the means and motivation to stay in schoolSponsored child Angelica, 10, could have been out laboring in the fields or working with her mother as a servant at a wealthy household.

Sponsored child Reil Gleo Seth, 16, was beaming on stage as his name was called as the batch salutatorian. A consistent honour student since Grade 1, Reil does all his best to reach his dreams. “Education is the foundation of success,” Reil says.

Sponsored child Reil, 16, graduated as the class salutatorian in this batch. He got several awards like Best in Math, Best in English, Best in Science and Best in Scrabble. He dedicates these to his mom and Filipino sponsors.

A dramatic increase in the number of informal settlers in a Himaya coastal village has made proper waste management a problem.

Many children suffer from skin diseases due to frequent bathing in the now-polluted bay. As their own concrete remedy, sponsored kids in this village initiated a community clean-up drive to advocate for proper garbage disposal.

Teaching other children moral values has been the highlight of Rayland’s summer. Having this responsibility has likewise helped him to mature, something his parents appreciate greatly.

Rayland is well loved in the communities where he taught because he is good natured and skilled in smooth interpersonal communication. And, he is flexible and can easily adapt to different kinds of people, especially to his students. One particular student he particularly invested effort into connecting with was Leomar, who is mute.

Being a mother is already a full-time job but Nanay Victoria chose to volunteer for World Vision to help other children besides her own.

The mother of six began her community volunteer work with World Vision in 1984, but soon found so much fulfillment that she expanded her volunteering activities to cover so much more. She shares the story of how her involvement changed her life, and brought her family closer together.

World Vision sponsored child Blessy (center) enjoys going to school and excels in academics as an honor student.

Many would wonder how Blessy manages to excel well in school while doubling as lady of the house. Blessy shares she draws inspiration from her mother. "I'm so proud of mama. She is the most courageous woman I've known," she says.

“There are many sacrifices and hard choices made but it was all worth it because it is for our beloved angels. This is the same experience I have had with being a mother to our sponsored children. There were times when life was hard and it was so easy to give up sponsoring our children due to ever increasing expenses and challenges in life but we were committed to helping our sponsored children have a better future.” 

Kicking off their summer vacation, ten volunteers for World Vision came together to help kids through the summer tutorial program held in a Cavite World Vision community. About 30 World Vision kids gathered for a fun-filled time of singing, games and learning.

International pop music sensation, budding actress, and World Vision child sponsor of six kids, Charice Pempengco kicked off her first solo concert tour in Manila on March 9, 2012 treating over 80 children from a World Vision assisted community to her Infinity Tour.