Nikki Gil's Way Of Helping Underprivileged Kids Deserves All The Praise

On April 12, 2021, the National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal was placed on MECQ until April 30 to combat the surge of COVID-19 cases.

Unfortunately, quarantines mean families will continue to find it challenging to make ends meet. And children are the most vulnerable when it comes to education and health crisis.

How to help can be a simple process — you will find many charitable organizations that match your philosophy. And each one does its best to make the kids they are helping feel they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, which can be tricky.

Underprivileged kids who want to be free of poverty are grateful for any support, whether it comes as a donation of time, talent, or money. But they likely feel that they don’t have much choice with the help they get. Magiging choosy pa ba sila, some will point out.

And that’s why this new campaign of World Vision deserves praise. The international NGO, which has operated in the Philippines for more than 60 years, is known for its “sponsor a child” program.

You sign up and get matched with a child whom you will “provide life-changing essentials like education, clean water, health and nutrition and more.”

In January 2020, World Vision launched its global campaign called “Chosen” in the Philippines, and it flips the sponsorship process. The kids get to choose their sponsor among the volunteers based on their photos and background.

Once chosen, the volunteer will receive a photo of his new sponsored child who is holding his picture and a letter telling him why he was chosen.

World Vision says this new and effective way of child sponsorship transforms the lives of the sponsors and the kids. The way kids describe their volunteer choices will make you laugh and cry, probably at the same time. Here are a few:

“Ms. Lilian, pinili po kita dahil maganda po ang iyong ngiti.” – Ervin James

“Dr. Francisco, pinili po kita dahil gusto ko din pong maging doktor paglaki ko.” – Michael

“Kuya Manuel, pinili po kita dahil mukha kang mabait at lagi kang masaya.” – Argel

Giving kids the power of choice delivers a profound message — they are told they get a say on their future.

World Vision celebrity ambassador, Nikki Gil, says, “There are times in our lives where you are in a situation where you have limited choices in life. For you to be given this to choose who will journey with you to a brighter future, that’s such a big deal.”

That’s what you are signing up for with World Vision Chosen, says national director Rommel Fuerte.

“When you sign up to be #Chosen, you are empowering kids to take the first step in changing their future.”

To know how you can change a child’s life, you may visit https://www.worldvision.org.ph/chosen.