“Thank you Ate, Kuya”

by Jenette T. Fariola
Child Sponsorship Program Coordinator

“Thank you” is the common phrase that we hear from the sponsored kids. Hearing those words surely touches everybody's heart. It is even more rewarding seeing those kids grow in progress and being able to appreciate what the organization and the sponsors have been doing for them.

Ate/Kuya sessions, tutorials with Kuya Kerwin.

The Ate/Kuya session is one of the activities that the Child Sponsorship Program is offering to the sponsored kids. In this activity, local volunteers and VFV staff devote their extra time for the kids at least twice a month.

With the said session, the kids are being helped with their lessons. The Ate/Kuya would organize activities for them, like arts lessons and games. During the recent sessions, the kids had a series of tutorial activities, wherein they were trained more with their reading comprehension and numerical skills. The kids were seen with big improvement, especially those who were not able to read and write before. In the case of Darwin Alimpolos, he can now identify the letters and write more legibly.

On December 1 and 3, 2005, the kids had a medical check–up with Mengchie Tsai, a Taiwanese volunteer. While the medical check–up was going on, an art session with was taking place wherein the kids made a simple Christmas lantern to hang at their houses.

The kids are always eager to meet with their Ates and Kuyas at least twice a month. Throughout the program, a close relationship with the staff, local volunteers and the children has been established already that they are now at ease with one another.