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Eric Visser, the founder of Children Asking, believes that the organization has always been working in some shape or form, because children have always been in need. Many children who are hurting ask “Why me”? Eric first felt his calling to help children when his fellow Jewish neighbor had to die in the gas chamber at Auschwitz, but he himself was saved.
2002- Before Children Asking started officially, Eric was a professional artist. Eric believed that through his paintings he could create power, so he decided to paint a picture of hurting children in the slums of Brazil. He submitted the painting for UNESCO, The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. As a result, the Director General of UNESCO, Mr. Matsuura, said “The painting has a significant contribution to the awareness among the general public of the situation of Brazilian street children. These children deserve commendable initiative of our support, and such awareness is undoubtedly an important step towards effective action to improve their living conditions.”
Eric’s painting was officially accepted by UNESCO and he then decided to fly to Sao Paulo, Brazil to meet the children face to face.
2003- Once Eric had decided to visit the children in Sao Paulo, he felt it was his “God-given mission” to dedicate the rest of his life to these children. He and his wife sold their house and invested everything they had into the foundation of Children Asking.
They encouraged and organized correspondence circles, and many voluntary translators were recruited to help the cause. Children Asking set up its first after school educational program. Many Padrinho’s, people who adopt a child financially, helped children attend this program. Less children were on the streets, and more were able to learn to read and write in a more structured atmosphere.
2005- More adoptive learning centers were created all throughout Brazil, and Children Asking was becoming more popular.
2007- Children Asking had severeal buildings completed within the Sao Paulo slums.
2010- Eric Visser was consecrated as a missionary pastor at the Evangelical Center in Rotterdam.
Today- The latest challenge is to spread the after school educational program to more areas throughout Brazil. With your help, Children Asking will be able to save many more lives of children.
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