Island churches are coming together to celebrate the difference they are making to hundreds of the world's poorest children.

Members of the Freedom, Jersey Baptist, St Andrew's and St Mark's churches sponsor 318 children.

In total, they provide more than £120,000 a year towards the health and education of impoverished children from 19 countries.

Islanders have helped 300 impoverished children from 19 countries. 

International Child sponsorship organisation Compassion UK is in the island to show its gratitude for Jersey's contribution, which has provided 90,000 nutritious meals, 283,000 hours of support at projects, and more than 1,600 medical checks.

The charity has been working with 29 countries worldwide since 1952.

One graduate from the scheme, Rose Ildefonso Asse grew up in one of the poorest families in a Filipino village in the mountains.

Her mother left her when she was just eight years old to find work, leaving her with her grandparents, aunties and uncles, in a single room, flimsy wood and hay hut.

Rose Ildefanso Asse

Rosie's family struggled to send her and her siblings to school, provide medical care, and often could not give them food due to living in extreme poverty. She and her brother and sister found work on a farm, planting, harvesting and cleaning to survive.

Their mother was gone for two years, which Compassion UK says was 'painful' for the siblings.

The charity sponsored Rose and her family benefited from food and medication, even for her grandmother's tumour, and the young Filipina could attend school.

When she turned 13, Rosie moved to another province in the Philippines where she became a housekeeper and finished her education.

Life then took her around the world, including nannying in Saudi Arabia, and finally to Slough in the UK where she is now happily married with three children.

Rose is addressing an event at St Mark's Church to explain the difference sponsorship made to her.  She told Channel 103:

"I had a sponsor called Barbara, and when I started receiving her letters I was very happy because it was the first time I heard the words 'I love you'.  Because of the love of Barbara, I was able to go to school."

The local churches contributions include:

o Freedom Church, a long-standing supporter with a focus on Burkina Faso supporting 161 children.

o Jersey Baptist Church focusing on 63 children in Ghana.

o St Andrew's Church supporting 17 children in Ethiopia.

o St Mark's Church, focusing on Uganda and 24 children.