child sponsorship

Philippines

Compassion began partnering with churches in 1972.

	469 church partners

	More than 95,053 children registered

	Over 1,180 mums and their babies supported

About Philippines

Kamusta (Hello in Filipino)

Made up of more than 7,000 individual islands, the Philippines is home to a population of over 108 million people. It is known for its rich marine biodiversity and warm hospitality. The nation has made strong progress in poverty reduction over the past two decades, due in part to the momentum of its tourism, finance and insurance industries. However, this advancement has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and relentless typhoons and flooding, which have the greatest physical and economic impact on the most vulnerable people—children living in poverty. Yet Compassion's local church partners are committed to sharing God's love with their local communities. They know children by name and work to meet their unique needs so they can know a future free from poverty.

Watch the latest video update to learn more about Compassion's work in the Philippines.

HOW YOU CAN PRAY

Thank you for praying for staff, children and families in Philippines

+ Pray that every child will have their rights upheld and protected.

+ Pray that God will bless the local child development centres with new staff where needed, and protect the existing workers.

+ Pray for safety for families and staff during typhoons, heavy rain and extreme weather events.

+ Pray for wisdom and unity among national leaders and government.

A snapshot of Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program in Philippines

Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.

Children aged 1 to 3 receive home-based care.
Children aged 3 to 5 visit the Compassion centre for eight hours on Saturdays or for four hours a day, two days a week.
Children aged 6 to 11 attend for six hours every Saturday.
Students aged 12 to 18 attend for four hours on the weekend, while those over 19 attend for six hours.

Compassion Program Activities in Philippines

Compassion assisted children in the Philippines typically attend program activities at their local child development centre on Saturdays. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in the Philippines.

8:00am - A time of prayer and devotion.

9:00am - Spiritual lessons where children sing songs and learn Bible stories.

10:30am - Break time where children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships. A nutritious snack is provided often in the form of bread or soup.

11:00am - Social-emotional lessons from conflict resolution to developing healthy self-esteem and a godly character.

12:00pm - Lunch time where the meal usually consists of fish or meat, vegetables and rice. Many children don’t receive regular meals at home due to food scarcity.

1:00pm - Health lessons where children are taught practical health and hygiene tips. An example topic is how to prevent malaria.

2:00pm - Letter writing and career planning. Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests and set goals for their future.

Children also often have opportunities to join in extracurricular activities such as camps, sporting events and talent shows. Parents can attend general assemblies and orientation, and there are some churches that have initiated activities like Bible studies and care groups. Mothers are also involved in letter writing.