Compassion International is bringing poverty experience to WG

West Orlando Church is hosting the Compassion Experience this weekend to give residents a look at daily life in third-world countries.

By Amy Quesinberry Price
| 9:15 a.m. February 24, 2016

West Orange Times & Observer
News

Churches and organizations from throughout the United States send members on mission trips each year to the far reaches of the globe to help improve the lives of impoverished children.

And although thousands go each year, many more feel a calling to help but may not have the means to make the trip.
Enter Compassion International.

This weekend, the child-advocacy ministry is bringing the experiences of two children living in poverty in Kenya and the Dominican Republic to West Orange County with the Compassion Experience.

POVERTY DEFINED

With poverty comes the issues of infant mortality, hunger, disease, illiteracy and child labor, according to World Bank, which defines poverty in strictly economic terms — earning less than $1.90 a day. The World Bank is a source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. It is a cooperative of 188 member countries, made up generally of their ministers of finance or ministers of development. Established in 1944, the World Bank Group is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

According to World Bank:

• 600 million children worldwide live in extreme poverty.

• Almost half the world lives on less than $2.50 a day.

• Among the poor living on less than $1.25 per day, just under half have electricity.

• Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia account for about 80 percent of the global poor and 81 percent of all child deaths in the world.

• Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 43 percent of the global poor.

• 30 percent of the world’s extremely poor live in India.

• Almost three-fifths of the world’s extreme poor are concentrated in just five countries: Bangladesh, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India and Nigeria.

• A third of all poor in the developing world are children 0 to 12 years.

• In developing countries (where 92 percent of children live) 7 in 100 will not survive beyond age 5.

Two tractor-trailers will be set up from Feb. 26 to 29 in the parking lot of West Orlando Christian Center, Church of God in Christ, so the community can experience how these children live each day. The exhibits are free, appropriate for all ages and allow visitors to walk through a replica of the humble homes in which the children live.
Each child’s story starts in hardship but ends in hope.

Elder Daniel Starks, of West Orlando Christian Center, said his church contacted Compassion International about bringing the experience to Winter Garden.

“We’re a mission-minded church, and Compassion (International) is a ministry that operates all over the world in different countries, assisting those in need,” Starks said. “We just wanted to connect to a ministry that had a larger reach when it came to mission work.”

About 3,000 people already have registered for the experience of growing up in a third-world country. Appointments are suggested but not necessary, and walk-ins are welcome. There are some Friday and Monday afternoon appointment times still available; reserved time slots are no longer available on Saturday and Sunday.

Guests are given headphones and iPods for the self-guided journey.

“We built ‘The Compassion Experience’ to really bring the developing world to America,” said Mark Hanlon, Compassion International’s senior vice president of global marketing and engagement. “When people think of poverty, they often think of the lack of things, the lack of stuff, the lack of money. Those are all symptoms of poverty. The real issue of poverty is the lack of hope. Through our holistic child development program, Compassion stirs hope in children. And you’ll see that hope come to life at this event.”

Starks said Feb. 28 is the church’s Compassion Sunday and members of the church will be asked to sponsor a child through Compassion International for one year. There are currently more than 2,400 children waiting for sponsorship. Individual information can be found at compassion.com.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].