Over 500 students greeted us at Bacoor Elementary School when we hosted a meal program on Wednesday, November 11, some went to school hungry and dirty without shoes or adequate clothing, however, the children were very optimistic. In this trip I met hundreds of children and dozens of families. While my heart aches, I am encouraged that despite the extreme poverty they live in, the children still have hopes and dreams. The school is filled with laughter and kids running around. When I asked the children what they want to be when they grow up? The answers are lawyer, teacher, doctor, nurse, policeman, fireman, president. Their potential is being lost under the weight of the extreme poverty they deal with every day.

Even though education is the right of every child, not all children get to go to school. Education is essential to every child that I met. It’s the most reliable way of working towards breaking the cycle of extreme poverty. Every child has a right to it. As the world becomes a smaller place with technology advances, we become more aware of of the well being of children around the world. It is up to us to decide whether we choose to try to help save the lives of these children. The weakest and the most helpless in our world can only depend on the goodwill of those who have the means to help. Thank you all for sharing this journey with me. What we accomplished on this trip made a huge impact on the lives of so many children. You are a hero for over 900 children we that we visited on this trip. You made an immediate difference in their lives.

Happiness, freedom, love and peace of mind are always attained by giving it to someone else.