Indonesia

Indonesia is located in Southeast Asia. It comprises of over 13,000 islands. It is the fourth most populous country in the world, and has the world's largest population of Muslims.

Indonesia has high urban growth, which puts strain on the capacity of major cities to provide housing and social services. There also remains a lack of adequate infrastructure and resources, with the conservation of Indonesia's forest and peatlands a current struggle.

While poverty and low living standards persist throughout Indonesia, particularly in rural areas, there has been some progress in recent years, including a new poverty task force.

Issues children face in Indonesia:

• Malaria
• Malnutrition
• Dengue Fever
• Lung Infections
• Influenza
• Respiratory Disorders
• Skin Diseases
• Diarrhoea
• Colds
• Typhus

Many communities are in desperate need of employment opportunities, tuition assistance, educational materials,life skills training, affordable education, health services, improved sanitation, teachers, vocational training, suitable land for farming, improved housing, libraries, increased wages, clean water, recreational centres, income-generating programs, better access to public transport, and adult literacy.

Compassion International began working in Indonesia in 1967. A second office was opened in East Indonesia in 2005. Altogether, over 69,000 children participate in over 460 Child Development Centres across Indonesia. Compassion Australia assists over 7,800 of these children, Currently 132 Indonesian students are enrolled in the Leadership Development Program and around 31 Child Survival Programs.

Indonesia:

East Indonesia:

To sponsor a child from Indonesia though Compassion Australia, and change their life forever, click here

Honduras

Honduras is a republic in Central America. It shares borders with Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.

Currently, over half of the nation's population still live below the poverty line.

1/3 of infants are malnourished

18% of the population have no access to basic health services

10% lack access to safe water

1/3 lack access to sanitation

Recently, Honduras has been hit unusually hard by tropical storms and hurricanes in recent years, including severe flooding in 2008 that killed dozen of people, and displaced over 20,000 Hondurans – half of whom were children.

Issues children face in Honduras:

• Diarrhea
• Colds, Coughs, Fevers
• Respiratory Illnesses
• Skin Diseases
• Worms
• Malnutrition
• Gang Violence
• Allergies
• Parasites
• Dengue Fever
• Dental Problems

Many communities are in desperate need of employment opportunities, potable water, sewage systems, schools, vocational training centres, paved streets, security from gang violence, drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation centres, health care, tuition assistance, teachers, scholastic materials, garbage collection, recreational centres and increased incomes.

Compassion International began working in Honduras in 1974. Close to 37,000 children participate in around 174 Child Development Centres. Compassion Australia assists over 1,900 of these children. Currently 55 students participate in the Leadership Development Program.

To sponsor a child from Honduras through Compassion Australia click here

Haiti

Haiti is located in the Caribbean, and occupies the smaller potion of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. 80% of the population live in abject poverty, half of all primary school aged children do not attend school, and ¼ of all infants had a low birth weight. Most people living in rural areas lack access to basic needs such as clean water and sanitation facilities.

 

On January 12^th, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti and devastated the capital city, Port-au-Prince. Over 220,000 people were killed. Many people were left homeless, also ruined were businesses, Parliament and the Presidential Palace. In the months following the earthquake there was a Cholera outbreak, killing many more people across the country. The country is attempting to recover and rebuild. There are nearly one million people are still homeless, living in 'tent cities'.

Issues children face in Haiti:

• Coughs and Colds
• Typhoid Fever
• Malaria
• Malnutrition
• Tuberculosis
• Worms
• Diarrhoea
• Single Parent Families
• STD's

Many communities in Haiti are in desperate need for schools, qualified teachers, employment opportunities, vocational training, scholastic materials, proper sanitation improved infrastructure and medical facilities.

Compassion International began work in Haiti in 1968. Over 60,000 children participate in around 233 Child Development Centres. Compassion Australia assists over 4,400 of these children. Currently 87 Haitian students are enrolled in the Leadership Development Program, and around 49 Child Survival Programs are in operation in Haiti.

To sponsor a child in Haiti, and change their life, please click here

Guatemala

Guatemala is a country located in Central America. It is bordered by Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador.

Social investment in Guatemala continues to be one of the lowest in Latin America. More than half of the population live in poverty, and approx 12% live in extreme poverty. The situation is worse in rural areas and among indigenous populations.

In 2005, Hurricane Stan left hundreds of people dead, and close to one million people homeless. More than half of these were children.

Issues children in Guatemala face:

• Respiratory Diseases
• Intestinal Illnesses
• Skin Diseases
• Malnutrition
• Diarrhoea
• Parasites
• Colds / Flu
• Bronchitis
• Asthma
• Dental Issues
• Child Labor
• Gang & Domestic Violence

Many communities are in need of employment opportunities, vocational training, literacy programs, education, drug and alcohol abuse prevention/ rehabilitation programs, improved schools, qualified teachers, increased wages, computer training, school supplies and improved public security.

Compassion International began working in Guatemala in 1976. Over 31,900 children participate in around 143 Child Development Centres. Compassion Australia assists over 1,800 of these children. Currently around 100 students are enrolled in the Leadership Development Program.

Currently, I am looking for sponsors for two Guatemalan children, Erik and Julia, to view my post on them please click here, or to view other Compassion Australia children from Guatemala click here

Ghana

Ghana is located in West Africa. It is bordered by the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo and the Gulf of Guinea. The name Ghana means “Warrior King”.

Ghana has a population of over 24 million people. It is home to more than 100 different ethnic groups. Unlike many other African countries, Ghana is one of the few who have not had civil wars created by ethnic conflict.

Ghana has 83% of its children enrolled in school. This is one of the highest school enrolments in West Africa. But, only 56% of teachers have been fully trained, and many are expected to handle as many as 100 students at one time. Ghana is currently in the process of eliminating over 3,900 “under tree schools”.

Issues that children in Ghana face:

• Malaria
• Malnutrition
• HIV/AIDS

Many communities in Ghana are in desperate need for secondary schools, employment opportunities, portable water, improved sanitation, paved roads, health facilities, vocational training, educational materials, improved housing and qualified teachers.

Ghana is one of Compassion International's newest countries. The Child Sponsorship Program began working in Ghana in 2005. Over 21,300 children participate in around 107 child development centres across the country. Compassion Australia assists over 1,500 of these children.

To sponsor a child in Ghana, click here

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a landlocked country in Africa. It is the second-most populated nation in Africa, with a population of over 88 million people. It is estimated that over 35 million people are living in severe poverty in Ethiopia.

Ethiopians are constantly fighting against disease, particularly HIV/AIDS and malaria. Currently, approx 980,000 Ethiopians are living with HIV/AIDS and approx 67,000 people die as a result every year, leaving behind many orphans.

Over 50 million Ethiopians live in malaria-prone areas, with only 47% of the population protected by treated bed nets.

Ethiopia is currently the highest producing country for coffee and honey.

There are over 80 ethnic groups and a diversity of languages. Over 80% of the population lives in rural areas.

Issues children face in Ethiopia:

• Rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, leaving many children orphans
• Malaria
• Tuberculosis
• Diarrhoea
• Malnutrition
• Colds /Flu
• Abdominal Parasites
• Pneumonia
• Asthma
• Typhoid

Many communities in Ethiopia are in desperate need of water, employment opportunities, proper sanitation, schools, food, shelter, clothing, vocational training centres, scholastic materials and suitable housing.

Compassion International began working in Ethiopia in 1993. Over 72,100 children participate in 321 child development centres. Compassion Australia assists over 7,400 of these children. Currently, 155 Ethiopian students are enrolled in the Leadership Development Program, and 14 Child Survival Programs operate throughout the country.

To sponsor a child in Ethiopia, on of the world's poorest countries, click here

El Salvador

El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. It is situated between Guatamala and Honduras.

El Salvador is the smallest but also one of the most violent countries in Central America. The country is still recovering from civil war that ended in 1992. The inequality between the wealthy and the poor, which started the war, still exists. Recently, the government has committed to stimulating the economy and reducing poverty in the prime areas of conflict in the civil war (the countries northern region) through investing into education, public services, enterprise development and transportation infrastructure.

Approx 75,000 Salvadorans were displaced and had their homes damaged when Hurricane Ida hit in 2009.

Issues children face in El Salvador:

• Respiratory Infections
• Gastrointestinal Problems
• Fevers
• Diarrhoea
• Influenza
• Malnutrition
• Lice
• Endemic Diseases
• Colds
• Bronchitis
• Asthma

Many communities in El Salvador are in desperate need for employment opportunities, vocational training, school supplies, telephone services, electricity, recreation centres, literacy education, libraries, law enforcement, improved roads, tuition assistance and drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs.

 

Compassion International began working in El Salvador in 1977. Nearly 33,900 children participate in around 165 child development centres. Compassion Australia assists over 2,100 of these children. Currently, 18 Child Survival Programs are in operation.

To sponsor a child in El Salvador click here

Examples of what a monetary gift can buy your sponsor child in El Salvador:

$10 and under: beans, book, rice, salt, shampoo, soap, sugar, tools, toothpaste, underwear

$15 and under: ball, blanket, chicken, clothes, doll, lamp, pants, shirts, shoes, toy

$50 and under: various amounts of food, mattress

Examples of what a monetary gift can buy for your sponsor child's family:

$100 and under: bicycle, goat

Income generating ideas which can be purchased for under $300

Medium sized pig

Used sewing machine

Ecuador

Ecuador is located in South America. The country shares boarders with Colombia and Peru. The country also includes in Galapagos Islands, which are located about 1,000km west of the mainland, in the Pacific Ocean.

Economic instability in Ecuador has made life difficult for the poor. Currently, approx 35% of the population live in poverty. In 2008, heavey seasonal rains caused flooding to nearly half the country. Approx 300,000 people (40% of these were children) had to flee their homes, and more than 14,000 people were living in shelters and schools.

Issues children in Ecuador face:

• Colds / Flu
• Kidney Infections
• Respiratory Illnesses
• Skin Diseases
• Anaemia
• Malnutrition
• Parasites
• Dental Problems
• Kidney infections
• Malaria

Many communities need high schools, proper sanitation, education awareness, recreation facilities, medical facilities, improved sewer systems, improved access to nutritious food and clothing.

Examples of what a monetary gift can buy for your sponsored child in Ecuador:

$10 and under: two chickens

$20 and under: goat, pig, pair of guinea pigs for breeding

$30 and under: sheep, used bicycle

Examples of what a monetary gift can purchase for your sponsor child's family:

$75 and under: new bicycle, used sewing machine

$150 and under: new sewing machine

$250 and under: cow

Income generating ideas which can be purchased with a monetary family gift are:

$45 and under: coolers to sell cold drinks or ice creams

$120 and under: blender and electric juicer to prepare juice for sale

$250 and under: BBQ with table for selling fast food

$300 and under: A set of hand tools and electric tools to be used for wood-working, bicycle pulling a cart to sell fruit/ vegetables

Compassion International began working in Ecuador in 1974. Over 47,000 children participate in around 189 child development centres. Compassion Australia assists over 2,400 of these children. Currently 137 Ecuadorian students are enrolled in the Leadership Development Program. 35 Child Survival Programs are currently in operation.

To sponsor a child in Ecuador click here

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is located on the island of Hispaniola, in the Caribbean. Two thirds of the island is occupied by the Dominican Republic, and the other third by the nation of Haiti.

Approximately 55.4% of the Dominican Republic's children under the age of five live in poverty. Children in most rural and some urban areas are most vulnerable, and often suffer from malnutrition and a lack of health care and education.

While primary school education is free, many children fail to complete it because they are required to contribute to the family income. 10% of children are involved in child labour from the age of five.

There is no national health system or old-age pensions, leaving many people, young and old, struggling to survive.

Many communities require proper sanitation, water services, employment opportunities, recreational facilities, drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs, hospitals, schools, law enforcement, scholastic materials and vocational training.

Issues children in the Dominican Republic face:

• Malnutrition
• Parasites
• Stomach Illnesses
• Flu
• Skin Infections
• Vision Problems
• Fevers
• Headaches
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting

Examples of what a monetary gift can buy your sponsor child in the Dominican Republic:

$10 and under: baseball, baseball bat, doll, Ping Pong, set of jacks, ball, books, shirt, chicken, lamp, socks.

$25 and under: set of bed sheets, pants, school books, shoes, small bike, skateboard.

Examples of what a monetary gift can buy for your sponsor child's family:

$75 and under: bicycle, blender, fan, toaster

$200 and under: goat, mattress, sewing machine (used), stove, washing machine

Compassion International began working in the Dominican Republic in 1970. Over 39,600 children participate in around 144 child development centres and Compassion Australia assists over 2,700 of these children. Compassion's Leadership Development Program, Children Survival Program and various Complementary Interventions operate throughout the country. Currently 70 students are enrolled in the Leadership Development Program and 14 Child Survival Programs are in operation.

To sponsor a child in the Dominican Republic click here