Jayson Yañez, 19, hails from Barangay San Simon in Cagayan de Oro city in the south of the Philippines. Born to a single mother who soon had to leave the country to find work, he was placed in the care of his grandparents, whom he still lives with today. He has been an enrolled child of ChildFund since he was 6 years old. Through this sponsorship, he receives educational assistance in the form of school supplies, which really helps his family cut down on expenses.

Every December, in the middle of the year, and at the start of every school year, he writes letters and sends photos to his sponsor in Taiwan – greeting them, asking how they and their family are doing, and most importantly, giving them updates about his life, especially how well he’s doing in his studies. He was especially proud to tell his sponsor that he is now in college on a scholarship and is actively participating in community work with ChildFund Philippines.

Jayson was very shy as a child and was not that involved in ChildFund’s activities for enrolled children. However, his confidence gradually developed, and he dreamed of becoming a tutor. He started participating in peer tutorials, training courses, and seminars to prepare for community work. Today, Jayson tutors enrolled children and other children in the community in Math and English using age-appropriate learning materials provided by ChildFund Philippines. Most notably, he and his fellow youth tutors reach out to children in far-flung areas who are unable to go to school to give them opportunities to learn.

Seeing great potential in Jayson, ChildFund gave him more opportunities to get involved. He was invited to do advocacy work, particularly against the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child labor. Jayson’s heart went out to these children and youth whose childhoods were taken away from them, as he was never made to feel incomplete despite being raised in a non-traditional family. He stepped up to educate his fellow children and youth on the dangers of OSAEC and how to avoid it. He also raises the awareness that children and youth engaged in child labor don’t need to work and lift heavy objects, instead, they should be in school and their hands should be holding paper and pencils. In fact, Jayson has been invited by other development organizations to be an advocate against the worst forms of child labor.

Jayson is most grateful to ChildFund for helping him develop into the resilient, mature, and confident youth he is today. The community, especially his fellow children and youth, are reaping the benefits of all that he has learned. He used to envy his peers who receive money from their sponsors, but he muses that the opportunities, learnings, and self-improvement he gained through ChildFund are priceless.

Now in the second year of his BS Social Work course, Jayson wants to finish college and give back to his family. He wishes to become a registered social worker or find work where he can help the youth and at the same time teach them. He even wants to pursue graduate studies and obtain a master’s degree or a PhD. Lofty dreams? Yes, that’s exactly what ChildFund imparted to him – to dream big.

Jayson also dreams big for the two advocacies he is passionate about. He acknowledges that OSAEC and child labor in Cagayan de Oro and throughout the country are difficult to eradicate, but believes that everyone can do their part to help prevent their occurrence, mitigate their effects, and alleviate the suffering of victims.

Should Jayson get a chance to meet his sponsor in person, what would he say to them? Jayson turned tearful. “I want to tell them, ‘Saying thank you is not enough. At first, I thought sponsorship was just about the money I could receive, and I’m sorry I felt that way. Who I am right now, and what I have achieved, are all because of you. Thank you for choosing to sponsor me. It is one of the best things that anyone has ever done for me, and you are one of the most important people in my life. Because of your sponsorship, the previously shy, quiet Jayson is now an active youth leader making a difference in the lives of others. I am who I am today because of the strong learning foundation that ChildFund laid through your help. You helped pave the way for the fulfillment of all my dreams. ’”