For a number of years CALMS has coordinated a Sponsor-A-Child ministry in Panama working with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Panama (Iglesia Evangelica Luterana de Panama - IELPA) and congregations in that country. The goal of the program is to link Christian sponsors in the United States to at-risk children who might not otherwise be able to go to school or finish school due to financial limitations or other reasons.
Presently there are approximately 50 children in the program, so it is possible to give very personal attention to the individual children and build strong relationships between children and sponsors.
CALMS and IELPA work together through a Sponsor-A-Child coordinator (a CALMS staff person) and a national field coordinator in Panama to administer the program and assure good communication between the children and their sponsor.
The Panama field coordinator visits each child and their parents each month and works with the child's local congregation to encourage each child to do his best in school and to pray with each of them. The field coordinator also provides tutoring for those needing help so that all the children can remain in the program and finish school as well as Bible study to help them grow in their faith.
A new aspect of the program recently introduced involves older youth who have been in the program and are entering university mentoring and tutoring younger children.
CALMS is also in the process of introducing a new leadership training component to the Sponsor-A-Child program to help children learn basic leadership skills, learn to give back through age-appropriate service projects, and to develop as future leaders of their churches and communities.
Goals for 2010 include the addition of a Sponsor-A-Child program for Belize to help at-risk children in two communities in Belize City and the Placencia area.
Sponsors are always needed in order to help more children realize their full potential with their natural and spiritual gifts. Contact CALMS at calmssponsorachild@calms.org for more information.
