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World’s strongest woman sponsors poor child from Togo

Details are finally emerging about Compassion International's one-millionth sponsored child from Togo -- and the questions surrounding his superstar sponsor from South Korea, reports Michael Ireland, chief correspondent, ASSIST News Service.

Although seemingly worlds apart, eight-year-old Fellow Blewussi Kpodo and Korean Jang Mi-ran were brought together through the one-on-one child sponsorship program offered by Compassion which helps to release children from poverty while fostering a strong relationship between the child and the sponsor.

According to a media release, Mi-ran, a long-time supporter of Compassion International, is probably best known for the title she holds of "world's strongest woman" after winning the gold medal in last year's Beijing Olympics for weightlifting in the Women's Super-Heavyweight division. While Fellow will soon be corresponding with his famous sponsor, his world is far different from hers.

Fellow is one of four children who live with his father in Kelegougan village, 10 kilometers northeast of Togo's capital city of Lomé.

Compassio International expains that life has been difficult for Fellow and his family in the small West African nation of Togo, a country whose population has been seriously affected by the devastation of AIDS.

However, the struggle was intensified when Fellow's mother was killed while saving one of his older sisters from an oncoming car. Following this tragic loss, Fellow's dedicated father continues to work for the family of five as a driver.

This unique story of kindness and goodwill, however, doesn't begin and end with a world champion sponsoring a young boy from West Africa.

"This particular sponsorship is very special in that it represents a milestone for our ministry," said Wess Stafford, president and CEO of Compassion International.

"Compassion is now serving 1 million children and their sponsors! One million!"

Over Compassion's 57-year history, more than 2 million children have been served through the organization's various programs. However, this occasion marks the first time that 1 million children have been sponsored concurrently.

"Who better to stand alongside this precious little one than the world's strongest woman?!" Stafford asked emphatically.

"Fellow's sponsor is Jang Mi-ran, a long-time Compassion supporter and Olympic gold medalist weight lifter from Korea. So, the strongest woman in the world is now sponsoring one of the most vulnerable children in the world!"

Compassion International is the world's largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children in 25 of the world's poorest countries.

Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works holistically through local churches to address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children -- enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator, has awarded Compassion its highest rating -- four stars -- for seven consecutive years.

TAGS: Africa South Korea Compassion International Jang Mi-ran poverty sponsorship

[07/04/2009]

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