A Can of Soft Drink a Day

Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development. - Kofi Annan

Having lived for a long time below the Philippines' poverty line, I now believe that education is a daily gift. Education is a daily gift given by those who want to make a difference in the lives of others and by those who hope to transform lives.

If not for the kindness of these people, you may not be reading my ideas now and you may not have seen the photographs I passionately try to take.

My college education seemed to be a far-flung dream for me and my parents. Heavens decided to close its doors to my childhood dream of becoming a doctor. However, it opened a window - an academic scholarship for an engineering course.

The generosity of the donors in the Handumanan Science Foundation of the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City made a difference in my life. I was truly grateful for there was no contract involved, no payment to be made after graduation and after I find work. There was however that unspoken honor, privilege and resolve to  pay it forward.

I am currently sponsoring a child to school through World Vision. I have been sponsoring him since 2006. He likes to play with his toy car. His family lives near a stream and a mountain and their house is surrounded by trees.

It is always a joy when I receive small notes from him such as these...

For the past three Christmases, I have received one hand-made card and 2 World Vision cards. They have made my Christmases more meaningful...

Sponsoring a child's education through World Vision is like giving a daily gift. It is the gift of sparing a can of soft drink a day for your sponsored child.

There were times when it becomes really hard to spare those cans of soft drinks, especially if they have been accumulated for three months. But I made a commitment and every time I go out of the bank after making my quarterly deposits, I feel relived, joyful and satisfied knowing that for the coming three months I am again making a difference in a child's life, a day at a time.

World Vision is a Christian organization dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people - children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision looks beyond religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Just as Jesus Christ extended love and compassion to all people, especially to children, World Vision aspires to partake and manifest these values to all, especially to those living in poverty or suffering from oppression and injustice.

World Vision Philippines currently has 120, 000 sponsored kids with 23,000 children supported by fellow Filipinos here in the country. There are 8 local communities (Zambales, Isabela, Cebu, Aklan, Misamis Occidental, Cavite, and two at Palawan) in the country that are being supported by World Vision.

For 2009, World Vision aims to send 9,000 more children to school.

If you are willing to make a difference by saving for a can of soft drink a day for one of these children to go to school for them to have a chance for a better future, you can visit their website here. If you have further inquiries, you can also email them at: wv_phil[at]wvi[dot]org

Imagine the possibilities that you might be giving a child now for his future.

Imagine the chain and the linkages of people who will someday pay it forward.

Imagine the bright future of our country when every child truly has the right to education.

If you can imagine it, let's work together to make it happen. Make education a daily gift.

A can of soft drink a day goes a long, long way...