Impacting countries one child at a time for the kingdom of God

The team at Child Care International is seeing that when you believe in the potential of a child, there's no telling what God can do with their future.

Jose Prem is the Executive Director at Child Care International (CCI), based out of Surrey, B.C.

"This year we have been expanding our presence in the countries we are working in," says Prem. "We have added a new school in the Dominican Republic and I just made a trip to Guatemala where we're going to more than double our presence there."

Those are two of the 10 countries CCI sponsors children out of.

"They are challenging places, mostly on the outskirts of the city where there's a lot of violence, gangs, drug trafficking, and crime. We want to prevent people from going down that path. What better way to do it than when they are young and we start telling the gospel story to the children."

The past year CCI has focused on getting children back into school regularly after the pandemic, as well as helping certain countries like the Philippians after their latest natural disaster, Typhoon Noru.

Partnering with Ministries

CCI works with established ministries in Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Thailand.

"Most of these countries present elements that show there's a lot of poverty and in other places, there is a need to share the gospel," says Prem. "For example you take Thailand and less than two per cent of the population has heard the gospel story."

For a family to send their child to a Christian school in any of these 10 countries means they have to pay a tuition fee.

"The schools are functioning, legal, and operating in the best way they can. They are recognized in their community so it's not that we're starting something fresh. We just join hands and come alongside them. The local schools are the main protagonist in this story so we just come along to help them with training, finances, and a boost in their ministry."

A girl in Guatemala getting her first Bible because of Child Care International.

What Education Does for a Child

"It makes a huge difference to have a document or certificate that says I finished school. That opens an immense amount of doors. If you don't have that paper, then you're stuck in a very difficult reality."

Children and teenagers who don't have an education must find ways to support themselves and their families. This could mean they can only get low-level income jobs. Perhaps they are exploited or turn to crime as a way to fund themselves.

"Working with Christian schools is a double-edged sword. On one hand, you provide formal education but on the other side, you have the opportunity to share the gospel daily through devotions, camps, and spiritual retreats. Usually, a church is attached to the Christian school so the pastor is involved. In the spiritual development, that brings the best results."

Prem says there is a ripple effect when people sponsor a child through CCI.

"The first effect would be on the school. Basically, sponsorship covers the tuition fees for the child. It also helps things like disaster relief but the core idea is to pay tuition. Imagine there is a boy that is struggling to pay tuition. Now we're helping the family because even though we're paying the school, the family gets the relief because they have more money for the family unit."

When multiple children in one school get sponsored, the teachers have a regular salary as well the school can improve its facilities and programs.

"In the future, imagine if a child reads a daily devotional and we give him a Bible. On the side, he receives all his instructions regarding math, grammar, and history. He stays in the school for 10 years. In the end, that child can become a significant person in the community."

Lives Changed Through Sponsorship

Prem has seen and heard about the difference Christian education and sponsorship have made in children's lives, as CCI has been involved with many countries for over 25 years.

"There was a graduate in Uganda, he's working with the government making policies regarding health issues. He helps the population in taking care of their health. There's another person in Kenya that is running a national park with all these beautiful animals on safaris. They're making a significant contribution to their society."

Even children who grow up and don't have high-level jobs but graduate from the program have another type of success.

"If they just become God-fearing men and women, they will affect their family unit. That's when we break the cycle of poverty."

Prem explains that poverty often starts in the mind.

Jose Prem with a boy from Guatemala. All the sponsor children there recently received a new water filter.

"It's not only economic and money. Poverty is also a mindset. It's accepting the message every day that you're not worthy and it'll never be different. Bringing a message of hope breaks that cycle."

For people interested, it costs $40/month to sponsor a child through CCI.

"The money isn't the most important thing. The most impactful thing when you sponsor a child is sending a message to the local partners in the field, that we believe in them, their ministry, and their vision. That message is invaluable. The fact that we believe in you, may God bless and strengthen you, that's the strongest message and the most important thing sponsorship provides to our partners in the field."