video courtesy of Chriz Padilla's Youtube channel

Numerous time I had asked myself if I should blog about this, there are voices inside me telling my inner self not to but a louder echo is stating otherwise. So thus this blog was created.

To start with this new entry, I would like to ask you this question and I know the scenario is available in whichever country, island, area or community we situated:

If a child is asking you some alms in the street, would you give a few pennies to the poor child?

There are two answers which I would definitely receive for that, one is Yes, I will and a No. I sure will respect each others' opinions and thought on this matter. There have been hundreds if not thousands times that I have been asked by a child for some pennies and most of the time, like 80% I would give in. The rest of those opportunities, I would say no when I can see lots of these kids asking which will make a scene as others would be begging too and for sure they'll be flocking me or if this child obviously don't look like he or she needs help. It would be a case to case scenario and it's up to the giver if he or she will give.

I remember the first time I felt really sad was when I was on a public vehicle in the Philippines we refer to as jeepney. I came from work, it was almost Christmas and it has been a normal sight of kids hanging on these jeepneys asking passengers for coins after singing a few Christmas songs. I can't forget that moment because the kid who was singing was singing the song entitled "Sana Ngayong Pasko" with so much emotions that I was about to cry while listening to him.

Usually, they come in group but this time, he was all alone sitting at the edge of the jeepney which is a bit dangerous by the way singing his heart out serenading the passengers. I can only give him a few pennies but that specific scene, the sadness that I could see through his eyes remained in my memory. Almost a seven years passed and I can still remember how it felt that day although I can't anymore recall his face.

At that time, I wish I have lots of money so I can help the poor child, not just that child but the rest of those poor kids, unable to go to school, deprived by their rights to Education, to proper nutrition and a lot more.

♥ BITLANDERS AS A CHANNEL FOR HELP ♥

Aside from being able to earn here in bitLanders, there's one more thing that I love about it. And I strongly believe that you and I would agree on this. I actually have the faith that this is also the main reason why this site is still up for years. Many earning sites had come and go in my three years experience here in bitLanders but this is the only site that have stayed after everything.

bitLanders also have a huge part on my prayer list because with bitLanders, I am able to share something out of what I earn here. Although they are as little as 280KB bitMiles points, I definitely believe the small things are the ones that go a long mile.

I am commending bitLanders for this great effort of being a channel of love and charity. Through the Charities that we have in here, majority if not all of the users here are able to share back to the community what we have also earned because there's this saying that with great power comes great responsibility at the same time.

bitCharities have a long list of charities but I have specific favorites. This is not because the other charities don't matter but because these top five charities are the ones that I have learned to know that has huge impact to the children from different countries and maybe the entire world.

♥ SAVETHECHILDREN.org.ph ♥

I would say that my husband and I's were introduced to save the children organization when we were just walking around the SM Seaside City Cebu last month. This was the same day we ate at the Japanese restaurant. I had even taken a video of the chef cooking our orders right in front of our eyes.

After dining, we thought of walking around so to burn what we had eaten until we were approached by some friendly ladies who were volunteers on the said organization. Their liveliness somehow gave us the sense that something is going to happen. Hubby and I agreed to listen to their story and what they had to say about the posters put up in this corner of the huge circular shaped mall.

Then we started getting information on what this is all about. Here's the start of the presentation:

Every child has the right to a healthy, educated and safe future. Sadly, this is not the reality for all children. Millions of children in the Philippines still don’t have access to quality education, suffer from poor health, or are abused or exploited. This just isn’t right and Save the Children is working hard to change this.

A kid playing with the water after a storm - image courtesy of savethechildren website.

 

Save the Children does exactly what our name says we do – we save children’s lives. With the help of our supporters from all over the world, Save the Children in the Philippines made a difference to the the lives of 5.1 million children and adults through our programs in 2013. Guided by our vision to protect the rights of children to a happy, safe and healthy future, we help children in the following areas:

Education

With 6.2 million primary school-aged children still not in school here in the Philippines, Save the Children works to create better access to quality education and lift children out of poverty.

Health

We improve the health of children and their families so children get the nutrition they need to grow up healthy and strong, and have access to healthcare. Children should not be dying of easily preventable illnesses before their fifth birthday.

Child protection

In the Philippines, we work hard to protect the most vulnerable children from abuse, neglect and exploitation. This includes children separated from their families due to natural disasters, armed conflict, extreme poverty and exploitation.

Emergencies

Children are the most vulnerable when an emergency strikes. They face injury, malnutrition and serious illness. We provide life-saving supplies and emotional support to children during emergencies and also support communities with the often slow process of rebuilding.

Livelihoods

Stronger and more resilient households means better nutrition and healthier children. Save the Children runs small-scale livelihoods projects such as village gardens to help families break free of the poverty circle.

Dedicated to helping children, Save the Children - the world's leading independent children's organization - has worked in the Philippines for over three decades, providing both emergency and long-term support to improve the quality of life for children.

Present in the Philippines since 1981, Save the Children has been working with Filipino children and their families for over 30 years. Through our emergencies, education, health and nutrition, child protection, disaster risk reduction, child rights governance, and livelihoods programs, we are supporting children growing up in the poorest and most challenging of circumstances. In 2012, we reached over 1.9 million Filipino children, and directly impacted the lives of 560,000 children.

These information is also available from their website which you can find in this link: savethechildren.org.ph

♥ BE A SUPPORTER! ♥

I have a soft spot for the children and the image of the story I had stated at the start of this article returns to me again while looking at the photos of the kids whom they had helped out on the gadget the volunteers were showing to us.

Now the big question was if we would say YES to the call of saving the children. Of course there was no doubt at all, we will and we are willing to do our part. After filling out everything and setting up our card information, we had received a personal thank you message from the director himself. I know that was an auto response email for the supporters but we definitely value that email which goes below:

 

As a Save the Children supporter, you're now taking an active step in improving the lives of Filipino children.

It's not easy to find the right words to tell you how special and important your regular support is to us. So we'll let the children and Save the Children staff speak on our behalf.

By becoming a Save the Children supporter, you are now part of a special group of people taking an active step in improving the lives of thousands of Filipino children.

Your regular donations will allow us to reach out and support even more children. We’re providing both long-term and emergency assistance to those who need it – be it attending a school that inspires them, seeking medical help from a Save the Children trained health worker, or learning valuable lessons which enable them to grow up strong, healthy and safe.

From today, children in need will have a new friend at their side: YOU

Over the next year, we will update you regularly on projects your donations are helping to support and how they are transforming children’s lives. Without your support, our work would not be possible.

 

- Ned Olney

Country Director

James and I are looking forward to be receiving these updates on how far our donations are doing. This is one way of returning back to the community and I am grateful that I am a channel of blessings to others specially to the less fortunate ones.

Here's the Thank You video link they had sent to us:

Going back to my doubts if I should post this or not, I realized this article would also encourage others to share and give back. Even invest to our future - the children. If you happen to pass by any of these savethechildren organization volunteers, please do reach out and support it too!

That's all for today. God Bless everyone! God Bless bitLanders.

 

Regards,
Jean Beltran-Figues