Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Foster Little Children of the World.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Little Children of the World (LCW) is a non-profit organization based in Barnesville, GA, right outside of Atlanta, providing child sponsorships, educational support, and holistic programs addressing urgent needs for people experiencing extreme poverty in Dumaguete City, Philippines, with hopes of expanding to other places to truly be Little Children of the World and make a global impact.
LCW was founded in 1987 by Drs. Bettie and Doug Elwood, Peggy and Dean Houk, and Luther Carroll. Through 39 years of service, LCW has grown from a small mission helping 8 little boys sleeping on the streets to now sponsoring nearly 1000 children and ministering to nearly 10,000 people through our programs with supporters coming from 47 US states and 18 countries.
In January 2025, Brittany Foster was elected as President of LCW. She brings over a decade of experience in international service work and nonprofits as well as a master’s degree from Middle Georgia State University in Organizational Management. During her time working with LCW, she has lived and served in the Philippines to learn the culture and build relationships with the people we serve. She looks forward to carrying on the legacy of LCW as we grow and expand.
Our US team consists of 6 employees who handle fundraising, while our team in the Philippines has grown to 50+ local staff members who live in our communities, understand the needs of the people, and are dedicated to giving back in a hands-on way by serving as social workers, nurses, physical therapists, educators, and more.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to where LCW is now was not an easy one. There have been many instances throughout our 39-year history where economic unpredictability and global conflict have contributed to uncertainty. Hard work and faith have grounded our organization, as that is central to our mission.
Daily, we see individuals struggling with poverty, food and housing insecurity, lack of educational opportunities, heinous abuse and neglect, and so much more. These things can be discouraging, especially since these things are happening everywhere. However, we take pride in knowing we are doing all we can to break the cycle of poverty and provide life-changing services that transform these difficult realities for good.
As you know, we’re big fans of Little Children of the World. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our mission is to help develop caring communities for the world’s children at risk so they will be able to escape poverty and abuse. We share love by letting poverty-stricken children know that someone cares about them, give help through financial partnership and child sponsorship, and bring hope through sharing peace and faith. We are lending a helping hand to those in need through our holistic strategy for ending the cycle of poverty, which is best described by the acronym HELPS:
H – Health and Housing, E – Education at all levels from preschool through college, L – Livelihood trainings and opportunities for parents, P – Peace and Faith, and S – Child Sponsorship
2025 Highlights of Accomplishment:
H – Health and Housing – 130 children were served lunch every weekday through 2 soup kitchens; 192 malnourished children were provided nutritional support and monitoring; 205 children with disabilities received therapy services, medication assistance, family support, surgery, and/or home management; all 15 communities received monthly health education; over 3,000 patients visited the free clinic to see a doctor, nurse, or dentist; a monthly average of 61 kids were housed in the 5 residential dorms for 24/7 care; and various medical missions, blood drives, and check-ups served thousands of people throughout the year.
E – Education at all levels – 14 out of school youth completed the School on Wheels year-long program; 110 children graduated from 7 LCP preschool centers; over 4,000 children borrowed books from the library and community book exchange programs; 102 children participated in summer tutorials; 55 students graduated from senior high school; 43 new students proceeded to college; 147 students received college scholarships; and 28 students graduated from college.
L – Livelihood trainings and opportunities – Over 100 parents learned skills like meat processing, safe food handling, making liquid dish detergent, cooking food products like banana chips, atchara, siomai, tocino, and chorizo, and creating handmade paper cards equipping parents with skills to generate income for families in need.
P – Peace & Faith in Jesus – Over 4,000 people attended Easter sunrise service; 200 elementary aged children attended VBS; 350 youth participated in evangelistic Sportsfest; 125 grade 10 & 11 students participated in the week-long Summer Venture Bible Camp; over 40 people gave their life to Christ during an LCW volunteer trip; and weekly worship and Bible studies were conducted for all members: children, youth, mothers, and fathers.
S – Sponsorship – 760 individuals from 47 US states and 18 countries sponsored 962 sponsored children at LCP for basic needs and educational support! We will hit our goal of 1,000 by mid-2026.
How do you think about happiness?
We pride ourselves on being relational and holistic in the services we provide. Every part of the HELPS model is important and contributes to creating opportunities that change lives.
I love seeing the positive changes that are happening each day, whether it be a first-generation college student walking across the graduation stage or a child getting their first doll after being rescued from an abusive situation. Every step of the way, we are helping children and families know they are loved and provide opportunities to break the cycle of poverty by giving a hand up to a better future.
Pricing:
- Child Sponsorship – $35/month
- Any donation amount
Contact Info:
- Website: littlechildren.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlechildrenoftheworld/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlechildrenoftheworld/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-foster-445168215/
- Other: info@littlechildren.org
