Category: Countries

Chalice has been serving children and seniors in Paraguay since 2012 in four sites in primarily urban communities. Compared to neighbouring countries, there are very few international NGOs working in Paraguay. In the communities where Chalice works, there are no similar programs and the family circle-based sponsorship program is highly distinctive.

Children in Paraguay are at a high risk of dropping out of school to find work, exacerbated by the high cost of education after junior high and the few opportunities for post-secondary education. Families who live outside major urban centres have extremely little access to public services. In the communities where Chalice works, families struggle with high rates of domestic and criminal violence.


Chalice sites in Paraguay:

Dominica
Chalice has partnered with Proyecto Dominica, based in Luque and Villarica, since 2004. Site Director Hermana Ursulina Benítez, O.P and the Dominican Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament oversee the sponsorship program for both children and seniors across five locations. They run four separate homes for boys, girls, seniors and at-risk adults.  In addition to sponsorship, the site provides adult skills training workshops on baking, embroidering, sewing, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Dominica site also has a partnership with a local health centre to provide checkups for the children and elderly.
Annual Report 2020 for Dominica - Read about our Year!

Villeta (CMAVIL)
Chalice has partnered with the Hijas de Maria Auxiliadora (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) in the city of Villeta since 2012. Sr. Marcelina Irala and her Salesian congregation run the sponsorship program from the Centro María Auxiliadora - Villeta (CMAVIL), as well as providing after-school programming and two soup kitchens. The site runs an illness prevention program, clinics, dental and parasite programs, and artisanal skills training for women.
Annual Report 2020 for CMAVIL - Read about our Year!

Category: Countries

Many sponsor sites in Bolivia are located in Cochabamba, a large city and the agricultural hub of Bolivia. It has a prosperous side and a much underserved side - and the disparity is significant. One of the biggest challenges in Bolivia is to keep kids in school instead of going to find work to help their family. From as young as nine, girls will start to drift away to help their mothers sell products in the market, while boys will find work minding parking lots. Chalice focuses on after-school programs, which are effective for a number of reasons: students can get extra help and keep their grades up; they can receive a healthy meal; and they are safe from negative influences, especially drugs. 

Chalice sites in Bolivia:

Amanecer

Category: Countries

Philippines

Chalice has been serving children in the Philippines since 1999 in four sites in both rural and urban communities.

It is difficult for many children to attend school, because public schools are poorly funded and teachers are often under-qualified. The two most urgent issues of children’s health is stunting, which is caused by poor fetal development, and malnutrition. Anemia and dental health are also of major concern. Internal political disruption and civil armed conflict have kept communities in conditions of extreme poverty and prevented large populations of children from attending school. Families in urban settings typically construct their homes in “squatter” conditions, and rural families are very vulnerable to extreme weather and natural disasters, especially typhoons, floods and mudslides.

Through the support of sponsors and donors, Chalice and our local partners focus on:

1. Education - Ensuring each child completes their education until high school graduation, at a minimum.  Our sites places special emphasis on providing access to education to children of marginalized groups.
2. Nutrition - Our partners ensure children have balanced, nutrient-rich diets by implementing school feeding programs through the support of the Chalice Nutrition Program.
3. Resilience - Bolstering parents’ abilities to generate income and take leadership in their communities, as well as building physical infrastructure before and after extreme weather events and natural disasters.

Our Philippine sites:

Bulacan - Chalice has partnered with the Bulacan Diocese, near Manila, since 1999.  Leila Fernando-Tolosa directs the sponsorship program from Bethlehem House of Bread, a home for orphaned, abandoned and abused children. The site works to create opportunities for families, especially women, to generate family income. The site aims to empower parents and youth to become decision-makers and leaders in their communities.
 
Samar - This NGO is associated with the Diocese of Catarman. Maricel A. Abangan oversees the sponsorship program. With the support of the Chalice Children Nutrition Program, the Liceo de Bethlehem of Samar elementary school runs a school feeding program for more than 350 children. Children participate in regular activities and seminars teaching them about healthy and active living. 

Tondo - Chalice has partnered with BYSMP Bless the Children Foundation Inc., in the densely-populated Manila slum region since 2014. Eunice Cheng-Chua oversees the sponsorship program which runs through the school year and has summer activities for the children. The site provides regular daily meals, supported by the Chalice Nutrition program, as well as supplemental nutrition to anemic and vitamin-deficient children.  In addition to sponsorship, the site provides extra-curricular activities in arts, dance and music, and remedial tutoring in Math and English. The site conducts awareness programs such as prevention of violence against women and children, children's rights, hygiene, and parenting skills. They also provide vocational skills training for parents. The site has a regular dental program for sponsored children and their siblings and this year, there are plans to include parents in the program.