Ira's Helping Hands
I'm Ira Faraoni. I'm 7 years old from Warwick, NY. These are my mission trips to the Philippines.
During our visit to the Philippines in 2016, as I was sitting outside my grandparents’ store I saw some kids walking in barefoot going to school and some carrying plastic bags with notebooks in it. My mom explained to me that they don’t have a school bus and they can’t afford new flip flops or backpacks so they are using plastic bags. When I asked my mom if that doesn’t hurt their feet, she said it does but that doesn’t stop them to go to school because they believe that education is an effective route out of poverty. That’s when I realized I have to do something, I want to help them attend the school year by giving them backpacks, school supplies, and snacks.
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Let's Raise Good World Citizens
As parents, we can guide our children to have diverse experiences that will help them grow and thrive - no matter how the world evolves. There are vast opportunities to expose our children to the world - its cultures, people and communities. It's all about taking a global view that will help them cultivate their unique viewpoint of the world and their place within it. We love it when we see Ira using his ability to imagine that anything is possible. We want to instill in his mind that all of us have the power to imagine bigger and that we can make the world better all in our own creative little ways.
During our annual mission trips to the Philippines, Ira will be handing out backpacks and school supplies to children from a remote mountain province in the Island of Davao, Philippines. He also have an opportunity to sit in class as an International Student visitor to observe and also learn.
For us, basic school supplies may not seem difficult to acquire, but the same cannot be said for some of other children in that part of the world. Some of the children have to hike miles to get to school barefoot because they can't afford to buy flip flops. The parents are unfortunately not in a position to provide the quality and quantity of supplies needed. We thought this would be a great way to teach Ira a global lesson by donating backpacks and other needed supplies. We want to show him that having the opportunity to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds is a gift.
During our annual mission trips to the Philippines, Ira will be handing out backpacks and school supplies to children from a remote mountain province in the Island of Davao, Philippines. He also have an opportunity to sit in class as an International Student visitor to observe and also learn.
For us, basic school supplies may not seem difficult to acquire, but the same cannot be said for some of other children in that part of the world. Some of the children have to hike miles to get to school barefoot because they can't afford to buy flip flops. The parents are unfortunately not in a position to provide the quality and quantity of supplies needed. We thought this would be a great way to teach Ira a global lesson by donating backpacks and other needed supplies. We want to show him that having the opportunity to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds is a gift.
December 2017 to January 2018 Mission Trip
My school, St. Stephen-St. Edward Elementary School also helped my mission trip by having a dress down day in exchange for family donations. My second grade class had a letter writing activity to write friendly letters to the children receiving the backpacks and school supplies. The recipients of their letters and gifts also sent back thank you letters. This year, GoFundMe recognized me as one of the "Kid Heroes"- a worldwide campaign created by GoFundMe recognizing kids that are making a difference in the world. As a "Kid Hero", my campaign was awarded $1,000 by GoFundMe and was presented by the Mayor of Village of Warwick. Because of that, together with the donations collected in my campaign and my school, we were able to give food, money, clothes and shoes to Indigenous families; throw a Christmas Party for children in need at San Isidro, Davao del Norte in Philippines; gave backpacks and school supplies to children in need at Sawata Ernandcor Elementary School; gave flip flops to children; and sponsored a feeding program for children with disabilities and malnourished children in the Village.
January 2017 Mission Trip |
Ira's First Grade Class in Warwick, NY also participated as helping hands from afar. The class had a letter writing activity and each sent a small school supply and included a simple letter that students wrote to the recipients of their gifts. The recipients of their gifts also sent back thank you letters.
To the children receiving their gifts, who rarely receive nice gestures, simply knowing that someone from thousands of miles away cares enough about them to help them attend this school year is sufficient enough. They do not take things for granted. And, what a great way for our children to open their eyes to a world they didn't know about.,
To the children receiving their gifts, who rarely receive nice gestures, simply knowing that someone from thousands of miles away cares enough about them to help them attend this school year is sufficient enough. They do not take things for granted. And, what a great way for our children to open their eyes to a world they didn't know about.,
To donate in our campaign, please click here- https://www.gofundme.com/IrasHelpingHands