My Friend in London

Annely and her cousin at the Student Centre 2008

I met Carol almost a decade ago when we both happened to be on holiday in the British Virgin Islands. It’s one of those chance meetings that turns into a life-long friendship punctuated by bursts of connection, recognition and catching-up, amidst sometimes long lapses in contact…but always just picking up right where we’d left off. It’s just that kind of connection. For the past four years, Carol has been sponsoring Annely, now six, who lives with her grandmother, sister, aunt and cousins in the Dominican Republic. One of the beneficiaries of Carol’s sponsorship is the Student Centre, Restauracion Infantil where Annely attends twice weekly health and hygiene instruction, recreational activities, social events, tutoring and educational classes and has regular medical examinations.

Carol and Annely outside Annely's home July 2008

This past summer, Carol and her friend, Julie visited Annely and her extended family, as well as Annely’s teachers at the Student Centre to see all the progress being made there. Carol has two grown sons of her own, and she and her husband, Tony felt they had something more to give after cherishing the of raising their own children. So in conjunction with waiting and hoping for grandchildren to arrive, they “found” Annely and are cherishing that relationship through sponsorship. Seeing Annely thriving, and knowing that sponsorship of her is helping not just Annely, but other children in the area in which she lives brought an unexpected emotion. As Carol put it, “It was an unbelievable experience to see Annely so happy and well-adjusted. I felt a sense of contentment and happiness that I hadn’t thought possible through sponsorship, but sponsoring Annely has given us immeasurable rewards.”

Julie with the girls at the Student Centre