My Story

Jhony was the youngest of eight children, born into a world of struggle and survival. His mother, overwhelmed and desperate to feed the children she already had, admitted she hadn’t planned for another baby. She was doing what she could to earn a few coins—selling herself just to keep food on the table. Shortly after becoming pregnant, she was diagnosed with cancer. By the time Jhony was born, she was too ill to care for him. With no one else to help, Jhony was often left alone or passed between neighbors as his mother made three hospital trips a week for treatment and to have fluid drained from her abdomen. By the time he was three months old, Jhony was severely malnourished and neglected. In June 2017, he was brought to ARISE Children’s Village—fragile, but full of fight. ​Today, Jhony is healthy, joyful, and thriving. His story is a powerful reminder that every child—no matter how they come into the world—is worthy of love, care, and a chance to flourish.