A Garden of Hope: Introducing the Sponsor a Child Program
In this triumphal Easter season—a time of renewal, joy, and hope—I am honored to share a monumental milestone in the life of World Villages for Children and the Sisters of Mary.
Today, with full hearts, we officially launch our Sponsor a Child program.
This initiative has been years in the making. When I first stepped into the role of CEO in 2020, the idea of child sponsorship came as something of a dream—one that felt both exciting and impossibly ambitious. How could we capture the spirit of over 20,000 children cared for by the Sisters of Mary, and present them to the world, one by one, with compassion, dignity, and love?
And yet, here we are.
What Sponsorship Really Means
Sponsoring a child is not just about giving financial support—though your gift does provide essentials like food, medical care, and quality education. It’s about something deeper. It’s about relationship. Encouragement. Hope.
It’s about helping a child not only survive, but thrive in a world that once seemed stacked against them.
As a sponsor, you’ll have the opportunity to send letters, offer prayers, and witness the transformation of a young life—one filled with renewed dignity, purpose, and possibility.
Through this program, you’ll be walking alongside children rescued from desperate poverty—children who are now growing each day in virtue, knowledge, and joy under the care of the Sisters of Mary.
Baraka’s Story: A Blessing in Bloom
To understand the power of this program, we’d love to introduce you to Baraka, one of the many bright souls growing in this garden of hope.
“My name is Baraka—in English, it means ‘blessing.’ I am very thankful because I know studying here at the Sisters of Mary School will help me become a blessing to my family someday.”
Baraka is 15 years old and comes from the Dodoma Region in Tanzania. His father left the family when Baraka was young, and his mother—who is disabled from polio and struggles with stomach ulcers—works from home as a tailor to support him and his younger sister.
“Even though my mother didn’t finish school, a kind lady taught her how to sew. She works hard for us. I like studying English, bookkeeping, and commerce. I also love praying the rosary because of the story of the children of Fatima that our sister taught us. When I grow up, I want to be a tailor and a businessman so I can support my family.”
Children like Baraka are the heart of this mission. And there are thousands more with stories waiting to be written—stories you can be part of.
The Journey Here
Bringing this vision to life has not been without challenges.There were moments when the project seemed like it might never come to fruition. Stubborn glitches, late-night problem-solving sessions, system breakdowns… Yet we pressed on. Because we wanted to show you what resurrection resembles—and to offer you a new way to encounter and support the children Venerable Aloysius Schwartz began lifting from poverty over sixty years ago in post-war Korea.
What began as a labor of love has blossomed into a sacred space—a secret garden of saints-in-the-making.
Join Us: Sponsor a Child Today
Now, we invite you to step through the garden gate. Meet the children. Hear their stories. And if your heart is moved, become a sponsor and a companion on their journey.
👉 Sponsor a child today and be part of the resurrection story unfolding in the lives of the children we serve.
Thank you for walking with us. Together, let’s cultivate a world where every child is known, loved, and given the chance to flourish.
With joy and gratitude,
Paul Gesterling
President/CEO
