13 January 2015 - What has become a yearly tradition on Epiphany or “Three Kings Day”, thousands of German schoolchildren have taken to the streets as “Sternsingers” or “Star Singers” to carol for a cause. This year, German children placed their focus on raising money to help improve the nutrition of disadvantaged children in the Philippines.
From Lübeck in the North, Marburg in the Center, and as far down as Passau in Bavaria, carolers visited houses to inscribe “20 * C * M * B *15” (“Christ Mansionem Benedicat” or “Bless This Home Christ”) with chalk to bring the Magi blessing and to collect donations for charitable projects. Children representing all of the 27 German dioceses conveyed this same message as well as this year’s motto of “Bring Blessings – Be a Blessing. Healthy Diet for Children in the Philippines and around the World” when they paid Chancellor Angela Merkel a visit at the Federal Chancellery. Organizers noted that one in three children in the Philippines faces problems of under-nutrition or malnutrition.
This yearly campaign was first launched in 1959 and is considered as the world’s largest solidarity action where children raise money for other children, having raised more than 902 million Euros since its inception. The initiative, led by the Children's Mission "The Star Singers" and the Federation of German Catholic Youth, supports more than 1,800 projects for children in need in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Oceania and Eastern Europe. Sternsinger is supporting projects in the Philippines that focus on professional care and support for vulnerable children, young people and pregnant women as well as implementing a school course focused on nutrition and diet. The latter initiative involves children helping in tending their own school gardens and in providing supplementary food.
Chargé d’Affaires Mardomel Melicor, of the Philippine Embassy, praised this youth-led initiative. He stated: “I am heartened by the fact that children across Germany take time from their holidays to campaign for a better future for children across the world. The Philippine government is working hand in hand with aid and charity organizations to improve children’s access to balanced diets and health services. Last year, we expanded our conditional cash transfer program (CCT) to more than 4 million households covering more than 10 million beneficiaries aged between 3-18 years old. The World Bank has lauded the CCT program, which has proven successful in providing families with additional income if mothers avail of maternal healthcare services and their children regularly attend school and receive immunizations. We are also working with BMZ and GIZ through our Fit For School initiative to improve health and hygiene.”
More information on the initiative may be found at: http://www.sternsinger.org/. A Youtube documentary entitled “Unterwegs für die Sternsinger: Willi auf den Philippinen” (Heading for the Carolers: Willi in the Philippines) may be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgS1CXvt3Ms. END