My name is Natalia Del Pozo. I was born in Segovia, Spain in 1972. I am a kindergarten teacher at Grant Elementary School in Richmond, California. I love being a teacher because it is the most rewarding job. Watching my little ones learn is the most fulfilling experience. I love young children because I not only get to teach them but also nurture them. I decided to support VFF because I had a good picture on how my money would be distributed, and I understood the great impact that my monthly donation would do for a family in rural India. Most of us can live without $30, and knowing that my modest investment would support a girl’s education is worth every cent. I always dreamed about having a connection to someone, somewhere in the world. I established that connection through the VFF USA Sponsor a Child program. At first, I started writing to my sponsored child, and after a year of exchanging letters, I was able to travel to India and hugged her when I visited her house which made it all worth the while and made my dream come true. I finally met Pavani after a year of writing letters on June 27th, 2022. My son and I left the RDT campus early in the morning accompanied by a driver and a translator. After 3 hours, we reached Byluppalla village. Everyone in the village was there to greet us. We were received with great love and affection, especially by Pavani’s family. I got to talk to so many kids in the village. The highlight of the day was the kisses and hugs from Pavani and her sisters. Each moment of the day was a moment of personal and spiritual enrichment. In addition, RDT staff took me to visit other important project sites, such as hospitals and schools. In particular, I was very impressed with the RDT Inclusive Development School that teaches differently able students with cerebral palsy, as well as hearing and vision impairment and other disabilities. RDT takes special care of people with disabilities. I had the incredible opportunity to visit places where people’s lives were completely transformed. For example, I saw rural women who received professional development training so that they could gain extra to help their community. The most memorable experience of the trip was to sponsor my second child, Rajesuari. I did it because after seeing with my own eyes how Pavani’s life had changed because of my donation, I decided to give the same opportunity to another girl. In fact, I was able to visit my newly sponsored child right after I visited Pavani. This was my personal confirmation that I wanted to become more involved with VFF and its cause. Overall, my trip was full of memorable moments. I met a lot of people: volunteers, translators, organizers, and collaborators. I got to meet Moncho Ferrer and his wife Visha, Yamuna, and Anna Ferrer. My son made friends with Vicente Ferrer’s grandchildren. It was all magical but very real, spiritual, and yet down to earth, without a doubt, the best trip of my life.
Volunteering with VFF USA has been an incredible experience. Their dedication to empowering rural communities in India is truly inspiring. From education and women's empowerment to healthcare and sustainable livelihoods, VFF USA's impact is tangible and meaningful. The team's commitment to community-driven initiatives creates a genuine connection, making every volunteer feel like an integral part of positive change. It is truly an honor to contribute to their mission!
The child sponsorship program of VFF USA is unique, as it provides support for the child throughout their career journey, supporting their immediate family and also the community where the child will grow. It is effortless to build a bond with the child and send communication or gifts on their special occasions. It is a heartwarming experience to see the child grow towards a secure future and witness the impact of the donation. Rural Development Trust's community development members at the village level deserve much credit for their support towards the children and their families throughout the process. I highly recommend considering the Vicente Ferrer Foundation for anyone thinking of sponsoring a child and transforming their future.
I have been a donor to the Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA (VFF USA) since 2019 when I sponsored two children. I chose to support the child sponsorship program because of the positive impact that the program has on rural communities. The program doesn’t support only children’s education and healthcare, but the whole community, providing income generation activities for their mothers and fathers, housing for families in need, clean water, accessible health care for the whole family, additional support for people with disabilities, sustainable agriculture, etc… so the whole community thrives with the program. In 2022 I had the opportunity to visit my sponsored children in India and saw firsthand the impact of the Foundation’s work, an experience that I will never forget. The whole community welcomed us and shared their gratitude to the Foundation and the sponsors for the improvements done at the village and the impact on their lives. Children were very happy with the opportunity to continue their education thanks to the Foundation, and their parents were very proud of them and very thankful because their children had opportunities that they didn’t have and couldn’t provide for them. During my visit, I had also the opportunity to see the care, passion, and sense of service of our local partner in India employees, without any doubt, they were following Vicente Ferrer's example. I have continued supporting other Foundation programs, such as housing, providing bikes, and scholarships for students because I truly believe that “If we join our hands we will transform the world” Vicente Ferrer.
I have known Vicente Ferrer's work for a very long time, which is the symbol of a permanent fight against adversity, transforming the desert landscape of Anantapur (India) into a fertile land, creating schools and hospitals, eradicating poverty.
I have been lucky enough to meet some volunteers who work at the foundation and who have explained their experiences to me, realizing how people's lives have been changed. I am happy to know that his legacy continues today through the people who work at the foundation and the incredible work they are doing.
I have known the organization since I was young. Vicente Ferrer spent his life working to improve the lives of the most vulnerable populations in rural India. VFF USA is devoted to transform million of lives through different programs (education, helathcare, housing, women's empowerment, sports and basic infrastructure). The work they are doing is impressive!
VFF USA has been working in India through its trusted implementing partner, Rural Development Trust (RDT). RDT has an impressive track record of 55 years of dedicated service in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
During my recent visit to the Anantapur Inclusive High School, I was deeply moved by the outstanding work being done by VFF USA and RDT. The school stands as a shining example of inclusive education, where students with and without disabilities study side by side. This commitment to inclusivity sets a remarkable standard for educational institutions everywhere.
What particularly struck me is the school's continuous efforts to improve its learning methodologies and harness new digital technologies. These initiatives are instrumental in creating enhanced learning opportunities for visually impaired students, ultimately opening up brighter career prospects for them. The school's dedication to innovation and inclusion is truly commendable.
I have known the organization since my childhood and have seen the organization's helpful hands reach out to so many poor and needy people in and around my home town. I know many people whose lives changed and made their dreams come true because of vfffusa.org various enrichment programs. Highly recommend helping/donating to this organization.
As a former board member and current donor and volunteer with the Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA, I have firsthand knowledge of both the huge amount of hard work and heart that goes into the foundation and the huge impact it can have on the many diverse RDT-supported programs in rural India. One of my favorite aspects of the foundation is the opportunities it offers individuals for engaging with the foundation's beneficiaries in India, from volunteering on Zoom to help young adults prepare for job interviews, to receiving letters from a child you might sponsor, to funding a piece of technology for a new school and then visiting RDT to see it in action!
Recently, I had a nice visit to RDT Hospital at Bathalapalli, Anantapur district, India (affiliated with Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA). They’re doing such an amazing work, helping the poorest of the poor and providing medical care to some of the most underserved people in one of the poorest areas of India. They are providing high-quality care with great outcomes. For example, organophosphorus pesticide poisoning used to be a common way of committing suicide in rural parts of India when I was in medical school in the 1980s and 90’s. For these poisonings, there is a relatively cheap and effective antidote called Atropine. Nowadays, unfortunately, many, especially young women are attempting suicide by drinking hair dye which has no antidote. The mortality in this population used to be very high, but now I was told that they’re able to bring down the mortality significantly with effective supportive management at RDT Hospital.
Please check out their website to get more info or to donate-
https://www.vffusa.org
https://rdtfvf.org
Every penny you donate will be put to great use.
I've worked with and visited several non-profit organizations, but Rural Development Trust/ Vicente Ferrer Foundation is like no other. With the guiding mission of eradicating poverty, RDT has brought about measurably significant changes in different sectors of society and improving the lives of individuals in rural parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Their sincere efforts and passion in each of their projects is visible. I see myself doing some collaborative work in the future.