Benzar Ali Datuan (second from right in the above photo) has been a sponsored child since Grade 5. Today, he’s a senior high school student in Grade 12 with a big dream—to become a lawyer someday. Throughout his journey, Benzar has been an active member of BSCOPE (Bawing Sponsored Children Organization for Perfect Education), joining leadership trainings, children’s rights advocacy, and activities raising awareness on online sexual abuse and exploitation.
Life at home hasn’t always been easy. After his parents separated, his mother became the family’s sole provider, working hard to support Benzar and his two older sisters. Despite these challenges, his family has remained close, and his sisters have helped care for him while their mother earns a living.
During the pandemic, like many students, Benzar struggled with modular learning. He got into online streaming after a friend introduced him to it, and he began earning from live broadcasts. But as streaming took up more of his time, his studies and health started to suffer. At one point, he considered dropping out of school. Thankfully, with the encouragement of his family and project staff, he realized the value of education and his mother’s sacrifices.
Benzar returned to his studies with renewed focus and was soon recognized as one of the top achievers in his class. With his teacher’s encouragement, he ran for president of the Supreme Secondary Learner Government—and won. As SSLG president, Benzar led meaningful school programs like the “Do Day” campus clean-up, the “No More Plastic” campaign, Teachers’ Day celebrations, Brigada Eskwela, and student-led intramurals and flag ceremonies.
He also represented his school in seminars and conferences, boosting his confidence and leadership skills. Through it all, Benzar discovered his voice and overcame his fear of public speaking.
Looking back, he’s deeply thankful for the support he’s received from the sponsorship program, his family, and his teachers. Their guidance helped him stay on track. Today, Benzar is more determined than ever—not just to reach his goal of becoming a lawyer, but to be a leader who uplifts others in his community.
