Sponsored Child Statistics Name: Sheena Year of Birth: 1991 Community: Himay-angan, Southern Central Phillipines Local Language: Cebuano Parents: Father, who is a fisherman Mother, who is a housewife
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Sheena is doing well under the work provided by the Plan organization. Sheena is in the first grade of secondary school (an equivalent of being a freshman in high school), and enjoys her favorite subjects of Mathmatics, Local Language and Reading. Sheena walks 30 minutes to school with her friends. Sheena enjoys volleyball, dancing and singing. She is literate and able to write to her sponsors personally. She eagerly looks forward to letters and photos from friends abroad, and enjoys learning about other cultures and lifestyles.

Sheena's family progress and survival revolves around everyone's participation, and all children in this part of the world are expected to do their part in helping the family meet their daily needs. Sheena helps with the family's household chores, which include fetching water for the house, gathering firewood and preparing family meals. Sheena has two brothers and a sister.

Sheena and her family are fortunate enough to have indoor plumbing and a clean water supply. The family also has electricity to power their lighting. Despite these provisions, the family has a very small income and struggles to make ends meet. Fishing has under-populated the coastal waters, making fishing incomes very low. The nearest hospital is an hour away, making it virtually impossible for them to receive emergency treatment for preventable diseases.

Several community projects have been undertaken in Sheena's area to improve living and social conditions. Children's events, such as a special Summer Camp and Children's Congress provide a unique avenue for encouraging communication of not only the children, but also of their parents, regarding growth of each child's potential. A Children's/Youth Ecological Camp was conducted with a group of 160 children, where nature and coastal clean-up and health education were taught. There has also been Leadership training and Agricultural training provided to establish self-sustaining groups to continue support of the local communities. A focus on Natural Resources Management has been the theme of these educational events. There have been dramatic improvements in basic sanitation practices in family homes and the environment. To continue to educate the community, the Plan has provided sets of library books to elementary shools.

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