Stacie and David Levis, Citrus Heights, Calif. have sponsored children around the globe for 12 years. ChildFund InternationalSponsorship. They sponsor children to provide basic necessities, clean water and educational opportunities.
The couple, who have their three children, consider their 14 sponsored kids part of their extended family. They look forward to receiving letters and updates from them. However, it was a Facebook campaign last summer that would change their relationship to their sponsored children.
ChildFund has received hundreds of applications “Experience of a Lifetime”Online promotion. The finalist were asked to make short statements explaining why they should win. Facebook fans then voted for their favourite. David Levis was the winner after receiving the most votes.
His prize was an all-expense paid five-day trip to Uganda for five of his sponsored children. He met five of them – Dixon, age 9, Margaret, age 14, Sarah, age 13, Robinah and Shafik – age 6; Shafik age 6; Robinah age 11; Shafik age 6.
“It’s ChildFund sponsors like David and his wife who really represent what our organization is about,”Anne Lynam Goddard is the president and CEO at ChildFund. The organization serves over 13.5 million children in 31 countries. “It’s exciting to provide him the opportunity to meet his sponsored children and see what his support has done through the years.”
Levis got a firsthand view of the ChildFund programs’ impact on Ugandan communities by meeting his sponsored children. He visited villages, met community members and engaged students in discussions about American life.
“I teach public school, and I have about 35 students in each of my classes,” Levis said. “I’ve been in classrooms in Uganda that have over 100 students. To be able to see smiles on the children’s faces, to hear their music and their voices -; it’s been overwhelming.”
To share his journey and capture it “life-changing”Levis shared his experience with his family members and ChildFund sponsors. He used Skype, Facebook, blogging, Twitter, and Instagram to create photo albums, post status updates, and record videos which he posted online.
“My only hope is that by documenting my journey and providing a glimpse into what it’s like to visit a sponsored child, others will be able to see the difference they can make,” Levis said. “By sponsoring a child, you’re not just helping one individual. Your sponsorship is combined with others to support an entire community. The multiplication effect is huge.”
