Meet Sophia

This is Sophia. She was recently enrolled in Children International’s program and, like scores of other children, she hopes to soon become sponsored.

Sophia, 5, began kindergarten this year, at a public school on the island of Luzon, Philippines. So this is her first holiday season attending school. It’s a fun, exciting and formative phase of her young life.

Caroling with her cousins and opening presents on Christmas Day are her two favorite things this time of year. Her Christmas wish-list has two items on it: A new pair of shoes and a watch.

Sophia’s mother is a housekeeper and her father paints homes and businesses for a living. He has virtually zero job security, but can earn roughly US$8 per day when the work is steady. Unfortunately, that kind of unstable income doesn’t go very far for their family of five. She and her family live in a cramped concrete house, owned by her uncle, who also lives there with his own family of four.

The family’s financial hardships are persistent, and this is affecting their nutritional wellbeing, especially the children’s. Providing basics like milk and other nutritious foods for Sophia and her siblings is often beyond their reach. They sometimes must borrow money from relatives in order to get by.

Sophia’s favorite things to do include drawing, playing with dolls, and pretend cooking. Sophia tells us that she wants to be a chef when she grows up – and that she loves fried chicken.

Sophia, left, with two of her cousins, who also happen to be among her favorite playmates.

If you’re interested in sponsoring Sophia and making her holidays extra special, please contact our Care Team: 800-888-3089 or children@children.org.