Due to the generosity of Global Impact Orphan Outreach sponsors this past Christmas, a party was held for the students of LTCF’s CHOSEN Learning Center. Love The Children Foundation (LTCF) currently sponsors a kindergarten and first grade learning center that is held at the LTCF home daily. The learning center’s classes are attended by the children of LTCF and 9 selected children from the surrounding community. These community children are the poorest of the poor. Unable to afford public education, CHOSEN Learning Center is their only hope for schooling.

On January 6, Global Impact Orphan Outreach, gave a very special Christmas to the community children who are being schooled at LTCF’s Chosen Learning Center!   

One of the children, Leonardo, comes from a family where his parents divorced and his mom remarried.  His new father only has one arm, so it is hard for him to find work.  The mother works day and night just to feed the nine kids.  Leonardo has six siblings of his own and the new father has three of his own, which leaves Leonardo not receiving much attention.  So the experience of being neglected and feeling rejected is his way of life.  At age 16, he has never been to school.  Due to malnourishment, he physically looks only 12 or 13.  He was so excited because this was the first Christmas that Leonardo was ever given presents to open!

The party started off with lots of games and fun!  The children had no idea what to expect since this was the first Christmas celebration held for them at the school!  After the games and prizes, it was snack time.  The kids hurried eating knowing that there was something special waiting for them upstairs!

After eating the snacks, they all went upstairs into the library full of joy and excitement!  As they entered the room, they were smiling from ear to ear as they saw presents wrapped and sitting all in a semi-circle waiting to be unwrapped!

As they each took turns opening their gifts, you could see the overwhelming feeling of happiness on their faces!  These kids never had a Christmas like this before!  They were each given a bookbag, tennis shoes, socks, and paper with a pencil holder for their school supplies!
 
Most of these kids had never even worn socks or shoes before because they were too poor to afford it.  They had to be taught how to put their socks on! Each of  them were also very happy to get a bookbag!  It was like a luxury to them! 

After all of the picture taking and putting on their new shoes, the kids went home with bright smiles and couldn’t wait to show their moms and dads, brothers and sisters, what had happened to them that day!  Some of the children were so excited to show their parents what they received they would not wear their shoes home, but wanted to keep them clean and covered.  The parents were so amazed at the gifts that were given to their children!  They only thought their kids were going to receive a free education.  Christmas presents were way beyond their wildest dreams!  They never expected such generosity!  Their joy was overflowing to see their children so happy! We were told that the community was talking about it for days.

Thank you so much to all of the people who donated to this project and made it possible for these children to have an incredible Christmas!