From L to R: Cris, Ciana and Riza during the Eco-Camp 2025 at Infanta, Quezon. They were there to be as parent volunteers to the children attending the camp 

In the coastal towns of Real, Infanta, and General Nakar in Quezon, three mothers have quietly shaped a generation. Cris, 47, Ciana, 57, and Riza, 59, have been parent volunteers for almost two decades. Long before they took on that title, they were already showing up, not because anyone told them to, but because they cared. 

Their journey began when their children, then a bunch of five-year-olds, became ChildFund sponsored children. Like many parents, they accompanied their kids to seminars and trainings, thinking it would just be a phase, a few sessions here and there, a requirement to fulfill. 

But somewhere along the way, something shifted. 

What began as mere chaperoning turned into full participation. They were no longer just watching from the sidelines. They arrived early to help prepare meals, stayed late to clean up, and made sure every child, whether their own or not, was safe, heard, and cared for. 

At first, they thought the trainings were just for their children. But as they sat in the background, watching and listening, they started learning too. 

They picked up lessons that taught them how to lead in their communities, prepare for emergencies, care for the environment, and communicate more effectively. These sessions gave them practical tools, like knowing what to do during a typhoon, how to keep their families safe, and how to organize their neighbors during disasters. The knowledge they gained didn’t just stay with them, it helped their children feel safer and more prepared, and it brought their community closer together. 

As their children gained confidence and skills, so did they. What they once saw as simple activities became stepping stones to becoming community leaders.  

Ciana, in particular, took on a role even bigger than she imagined. With her natural warmth and quiet leadership, she became a key point person in her community. For the past 16 years, she has helped monitor the well-being of sponsored children, making sure they are attending school, receiving support, and staying safe. She checks in on families, shares schedules of upcoming activities, and helps keep the connection strong between the organization and the community. 

Even after her youngest child graduated from the sponsorship, she chose to stay. 

“My child may no longer be a sponsored child, but there are many others who still need someone to look after them,” Ciana said. 

Cris and Riza have also been parent volunteers for 16 years. Like Ciana, their children are now sponsorship alumni and are already working professionals. But they still show up at trainings and seminars, just as they always have. 

“I got used to being there,” Riza said. “But more than that, I enjoyed what we were doing. It felt right.” 

Looking back, they say the time they spent caring for the children did more than shape young lives. It changed them too. Their children became more confident, learned to speak up, and felt more prepared for school and for life. And as they stood by them through the years, they discovered something greater. They were no longer only mothers at home. They had also become mentors, caretakers, and trusted guides in their communities. 

“I have four children,” Ciana said. “But through this work, it feels like I’ve gained a hundred more.” 

Their quiet work continues to this day. And because of parent volunteers like them, the impact of our programs does not stop with one child. It grows in homes, moves through communities, and stays in the hearts of children long after they’ve grown.