CFCA stories

Amazing stories surface from Walk2gether in Chile

August 1, 2011

Walk2gether crossed the finish line on June 6 in Valparaiso, Chile, the culmination of a journey that covered nearly 8,000 miles. The walk visited 12 Latin American countries where more than 180,000 families served by CFCA live.

About 3,000 sponsored children, elderly, family members and staffers representing CFCA communities in Chile cheered 75-year-old CFCA President and Co-founder Bob Hentzen as he led the walk team on the final mile to Pratt Stadium.

Hentzen launched Walk2gether in Guatemala to show families living in poverty that they are not alone, and to shed light on the families' challenges and the benefits of child sponsorship. The journey took 17 months and 10 days.

The CFCA program in Chile serves about 5,000 sponsored children, youths and elderly. Hundreds walked with Hentzen to show their gratitude for sponsorship assistance. Many of their stories surfaced in the walk's final days. These are just two.

Alejandra

From left, Cristobal, Alejandra and Denise are served by CFCA
in Chile. Both Cristobal and Denise are sponsored, and
Alejandra runs her own small catering business.

Alejandra has three children, two sponsored through CFCA: Denise, 8, and Cristobal, 9. She was unable to walk with Hentzen and others, but found another way to participate. She cooked lunch for the walkers to thank CFCA for all sponsorship has done for her family.

Alejandra's story began several years ago when her husband, a truck driver, fell ill and became bedridden, unable even to feed himself. The loss of the breadwinner threw the family into crisis. She had three children to feed and a sick husband to care for. Alejandra didn't know where to turn for help — until she learned about CFCA.

"CFCA provided my children with health care, medicine when they were sick, educational assistance, school uniforms, shoes and food," Alejandra said.

Her husband eventually received a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder that affects the nervous system and causes progressive paralysis.

To support her family, Alejandra started cooking for special events and now operates her own catering business.

With income from catering and sponsorship assistance, she was able to purchase the vital medication her husband needed to begin recovering.

Her catering partner, Carmen, is a friend and former neighbor whose 74-year-old mother, Orfelina, is sponsored through CFCA. The two women and their cheery dispositions were as welcome a sight to weary walkers as the delicious meals they prepared.

"Our participation on the walk introduced us to people who have less than we do," Alejandra said. "It taught me that sometimes we are selfish and we have to learn to share with others."

CFCA compensated Alejandra for her work cooking for the walkers, who were immensely grateful for the nourishing food and warm welcome.

Dora

Oscar, sponsored through CFCA, and Dora, his grandmother
who adopted him. Dora and her family have been part
of CFCA for 20 years.

Dora and her family have been part of CFCA for 20 years, and according to Valparaiso Coordinator Sara Leiva, the family is a "10" in terms of participation and dedication.

Dora and her husband have been married 37 years and have five children. Dora's husband is a day laborer and worked intermittently when the couple's children were young.

The family sought help from CFCA when one daughter, Paulina, was born prematurely. Her older brother, Hernan, became sponsored. Eventually, two more of Dora's children were sponsored.

Paulina watches children for CFCA mothers who attend skillbuilding workshops at the Valparaiso project office. The mothers learn hairdressing, and how to knit and sew. Dora has participated in all of the workshops.

"Sponsorship support helped me pay for all of my children's education, their school supplies, their clothes," Dora said.

"Thanks to CFCA, I have been able to educate all my children. I have so much to be grateful for."

Dora also adopted her grandson, Oscar, 17, who is sponsored. She calls him her son. He will become a merchant marine in one year.