In an ideal world, financial capability should never be a barrier to a child’s pursuit of their dreams. However, there are many Filipino children and families that struggle to lift themselves out of poverty because of lack of opportunities due to poverty.
World Vision has been hard at work in breaking this vicious cycle and as it celebrates its 65th year of helping others, it launched the book “The Day My Life Changed”. The book launch was also a way to celebrate the successes the organization has achieved in its task.
The book is a collection of inspiring stories from sponsor children throughout the years, from Ace, now a policeman looking after his community; Bishop Alconga, who was World Vision sponsor child No 7; Commodore Armand Balilo, one star General and spokesperson for the Philippines Coast Guard; and the many teachers, nurses, business owners, professionals, and others who flourished through World Vision’s programs.
Commodore Balilo recalled the difficulties he faced as a child and how World Vision opened the doors to a better future for him. “Years back, I was the one who needed to be saved and rescued. I grew up in a community where poverty and misery was a norm. I was selling rice cakes to put food on the table and there were times when I would attend Sunday School shirtless. One day, a World Vision project staff approached me and that day changed my life. My wonderful sponsors gave me the opportunity to create a better life for myself and my family,” he shared.
The book changed not just the lives of the children helped by the organization, but also the sponsors who supported World Vision’s programs. Award-winning broadcast journalist and World Vision sponsor Karen Davila, writes in the foreword on how her life changed ever since becoming a child sponsor and how she actively helped in transforming the organization to help more of our most vulnerable to get their opportunity.
Rommel Fuerte has also been a sponsor of World Vision, having sponsored children for over 25 years. This expanded to being a volunteer for on the ground operations until he became World Vision Philippines’ National Director. Today, he is now responsible for guiding World Vision Philippines and has led strategies and emergency responses for World Vision in 16 countries. He is also a member of some of World Vision International’s committees.
While Fuerte admits that addressing and alleviating poverty worldwide is a difficult undertaking, but seeing the smiles of the children and the success stories give them hope.
“Thanks to our supporters, many of our children have been able to write their own life story. I am excited to see many more stories of transformation being written by our sponsors and their sponsor children,” he said.
