Giving Hope to the Future of Tomorrow

Happy Wednesday! I can’t believe how fast time flies. The celebrations have already begun. While I make it a point to give thanks and give back throughout the year, I also take some time to reflect on my life. It has almost been one decade since I made the move from Nigeria to the United States.

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As a child and teenager growing up in Nigeria, it was a common sight to see children beg for bread on street corners. It was tough to watch these children go hungry while I sat in the back seat of the car, well fed, as the driver drove my twin sister and me to school to get an education.

This harsh reality made me wonder about what would become of my nine siblings and me if my parents were no more. In Nigeria, there is no such thing as Medicaid and life insurance is nonexistent. My fear was real because two of my cousins, now siblings, had this sad reality. It is situations like these that make me thankful for organizations like Children International (CI).

Children International is changing the lives of children worldwide in Zambia, Colombia, Mexico, Honduras, and the United States, to name a few. CI has more than 70 extraordinary community centers around the world that provide a safe haven for kids while giving them access to healthcare services, libraries, computer labs, activity and play centers.

As I delved more into CI’s website, I came across a story by a Zambian girl, Audrey. I was initially drawn to Audrey’s story because I had seen her capturing a shot of a young boy with a camera. As I read her story, I was deeply touched. Audrey wrote about the pain of seeing her niece talk about how “being happy” made her “feel disloyal to [her deceased] mum and dad,” to Audrey’s own experience of losing her dad.

Through all of it, she gained a new perspective and took to photography, an art that her father had taught her. She now shares the stories of kids at Children International through pictures for sponsors to get to know more about the children.   

I especially love the unique focus of Children International. By rooting its vision in health, education, empowerment, and employment of every kid, CI is helping to break the cycle of poverty. And you can too. You can sponsor a child, make a donation, or share by speaking up for kids. You are welcome to do all three as well.

In a world where 400 million children live on less than $2.50 a day, sponsoring a child for $32/month goes a very long way to providing them the necessities of life. The power of (every)one is the power to change the lives and future of these 400 million children one child at a time.

If you are touched by the work Children International is doing around the world, please take action during this season of giving to support CI and the future of our tomorrow. As always, thank you for reading.

I am wearing:

Boriah Clothiers African print Buba dress

JustFab gladiator heels (similar)

Outfit photos by Sarah Manriquez