birthday wish

Another year off my calendar!

This year's birthday wish is going to be different from the usual "good health," "more wealth," and the staple "world peace!"

It just happened that the opportunity presented itself in class yesterday. Prof Velasco used World Vision (www.wvi.org) as the last case study for the term. The non-profit organization helps put less fortunate children to school, one among its many programs. The topic was about motivation, how to motivate volunteers considering that they are offering their services and selfless commitment for free. According to the case, World Vision also has salaried employees, those who handle support functions such as bookkeeping. From its 100 employees worldwide only 7 resigned over the past 15 years. Four of them even came back! A direct opposite compared to the IT industry where annual turnover rate of some companies even reach as high as 80%.

After being involved in several other non-profit groups, Prof Velasco is strongly endorsing World Vision. He has successfully brought it to Johnson & Johnson because he was able to personally see how World Vision operates and how successful it is in fulfilling its noble mission of providing a meaningful and long-term difference in the life of thousands and thousands of children. One of the guest speakers, Ethel, was a sponsored child from Leyte. From grade 2 to college graduation, her education was supported by a couple who lives in Canada.

I have always wanted to do charity work but always have an excuse for not doing so. World Vision's child-sponsoring program is convenient yet fulfilling. It just needs the sponsor to give 15 pesos each day or P450 per month (that's 5,400 per year) to help put a child in school. As a sponsor, you get to choose the child by browsing his profile and family background. You are encouraged to get to know more about him through letters. I think letters are screened so that you won't be giving him unnecessary info like how financially rich you are, for your protection, I guess. Each year, a progress report will be sent to you, informing you how your "child" is doing.

Prof Velasco, who himself is sponsoring several children the for past 6 years, was able to convince his skeptic lady boss to sponsor a child too. After she saw the program, probably through ocular visits, being the skeptic that she was, wholeheartedly decided to support 10 children!

And so I signed up, so did almost all of my classmates. I did not have any preference, so I asked Ethel to choose a child for me. Antonio Vina, from the photo in his profile, is a good-looking boy with intelligent round eyes. He's in grade 3, plays basketball and loves Math!

I "adopted" a child on my 25th birthday! My wish is for him to grow up to become a God-fearing, responsible, and upright person.