Merry Christmas from the HOCT Family and Friends! We have resumed work today, and we did what we could, as many shops are still closed, as well as the banks on all countries.
We are so happy to work, to be with the children and to do our part in this world.
We thank all the people who feed the children and who help in so many other ways.
Work lovingly done by Veronica and Mugoya
Media by Mihaela
It has been an incredibly long, hard week for us, HOCT coordinators. We have distributed hundreds of tons of food (very literally and without exaggerating), and after having finished this task (at around 9 PM each evening) we spent other countless hours working on reporting and the distribution of photos towards the long-distance parents.
But at the end of the day, we are so happy! Children have food, toys, even meat and juice, they will prepare a good Christmas meal that will be filling and nourishing, so it was all so well worth.
I would have never thought to have so many children registered in the system, when I first started coordinating HOCT. But here we are, years later, nearing 700 children and managing to also feed about 100 others through one-time donations from HOCT’s good friends. I am happy and grateful and honored by the people’s trust. HOCT was founded on mutual confidence, and the results are showing. Needless to say, we are not perfect, and we also do our share of mistakes, but we acknowledge them, and we fix them. At HOCT, we work with love, we learn how to do things better each day, we cherish each other, and we build.
It has been an incredibly long day which is far from over 😆 We worked on delivering food and Christmas gifts to about 100 ++ children, and the next two days will be the same. Just enjoy their happiness and be glad that such kindness exists in our world.
I had my first contact with Help One Child Thrive’s main woman, Veronica, at the end of January 2021. I had seen a post of a child my friend sponsors and I asked for a contact. Little did I know that this would be the start of a beautiful journey.
Let me start by saying that Veronica was extremely patient with my fifty million questions. She explained everything to me, showed me whatever I asked for to prove the legitimacy of HOCT, and left no stone unturned.
My first child was Nankwanga Rauzati, who had just turned 4 years old. I began by sending money for her monthly food until she started school, at which point I added a bit more to her budget.
About 6 months later, another angel, Lilian Nabirye, came into my life. A 16-year old princess. No sooner had I seen her picture on the HOCT wall did I contact Veronica and offer to sponsor her too. It’s tough for the older kids, and I didn’t want her to suffer just for not being a small child.
Two years go by and my third princess, Nafisha, enters my life. Her sponsor had abandoned her, something that happens way too often, and I decided to save her.
By then Lilian had turned 18 and was thinking about her next steps. I got one final phone call from her and as much as it pained me, I had to say goodbye.
I now care for Nankwanga and Nafisha, two beautiful angels who I have the pleasure of seeing grow and progress in their lives.
They don’t always smile (I don’t think I’ve ever seen either of them smile, actually), and they don’t call every month, but I trust that Veronica and Mugoya are doing everything they can to make sure they and the other children don’t lack anything. After all, sponsoring a child is a kind act from the heart and should not come with any expectations other than the children receiving their food and education.
Over the years I’ve been able to send packages and see them enjoy their birthday parties with presents and cakes. Sponsoring a child is about knowing that you’re taking care of someone. It isn’t about phone calls, it isn’t about perfect grades, it’s about knowing that the child has a chance to live, a chance to be a part of society, a chance to have a proper childhood, and most importantly, a chance to be alive.
I try to bring in as many people as possible because HOCT is a legit EU-registered NGO that has saved the lives of hundreds of children. They built a medical centre a few years back and are now building a school.
These children lack what we take for granted: food, shelter, medical assistance, and education. A small contribution every month gives them all of these.
Claire Said
Word Guru, CEO, Founder
Alpha Content
We are working so much, so hard, that I barely have the strength to write a few words at the end of the day.
I try, because I want you to see the beauty that exists in our world.
The colors of love!
Today we have resumed accumulating construction materials for the roof of HOCT school, which is almost ready. The roof is expensive to make so it took us a while to fundraise and organize. And now, day by day, we will make this dream go forward.
Apart from this, we distributed a whole lot of food today. We are working since early morning. The number of kilograms is already too difficult to be computed!
Some Christmas gifts have started to be distributed.
We have had a massive day of work. I still haven’t finished wrapping everything up, but then again… tomorrow is another day.
Sometimes we remain a bit behind, sometimes we work ahead, and each day we do our very best.
Dear beloved new friends, that want to become a long-distance parent: I am happy to hear that! We have many children that need help.
Our method consists in pairing a child (in vulnerable position) to a person willing to help (you), so that you can grow and develop a beautiful relationship together over time, and so that you can see the progress and the change you make. Believe me, your impact will be extraordinary!
Financially, children need 20-30 euros / month – includes a lot of food that lasts for a whole month.
I encourage you to talk to any of our actual sponsors beforehand and consolidate your trust, as we should start from a place of mutual understanding and not of doubt.
Remember, we are a charity, so please do not ask the child to do anything “in order to” deserve the support (such as, to condition your support by phone calls, or smiling, or learning well…). If you give, it is because you want to, and without expecting a benefit.
We are a registered charity. All our legal documents are on our website: www.helponechildthrive.com.
Whenever you feel ready, come to me!
It was a day with a little bit of everything: food distribution, phone calls, emergency medical treatments, new cases registration and documentation, clinic supplies purchase. At the end of the day, we are tired, but we have done our part in our world, so we are happy.
You will notice a little boy called Igalo in the photos. He suffers from hydrocephaly and we are going to attempt to treat his condition in the near future.
Mondays are usually difficult for everyone, but somehow, they are my favourite day of the week. I have high spirits and good motivation and I work with fresh energy and joy.
You see children in all my daily posts, but I know their lives, and each of them has a story that inspires me and gives me strength to continue this work.
Mary, a young mother with two babies who do not have names; Teddy, who is HIV-positive, but who always dresses with great care, as a sign of respect for her sponsor; Roham, who learnt how to say “Multumesc” (“Thank you” in Romanian) to thank the beautiful soul that fed him this month; Kagoya, with a dreamy look on her face – perhaps she pictures her future; Shield, having a very particular name, special and poetic; Babirye, smiling brightly and enjoying the generosity and grace shared by Ernest; Apollo, one of the five children lovingly nurtured by John and Patti.
Butterflies in my day, those come, then they go, and others will come tomorrow; each day, I work with love and gratitude.
Work lovingly done by Mugoya Swaliki and Veronica Anghelescu
Media by Mihaela Florentina Stoica
