CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION (CICO) BUILDS, RENOVATES, MANAGES AND OPERATES, WHERE ALLOWED BY LAW, CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT SERVE KIDS AND FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY AROUND THE WORLD. EACH CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER WORKS IN COORDINATION WITH A LOCAL SPONSORSHIP OPERATING AGENCY. COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE SAFE PLACES WHERE KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS CAN ESCAPE NEGATIVE INFLUENCES IN THEIR IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS GANG RECRUITMENT, VIOLENCE AND DRUGS. WITH CARING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WHO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE, CENTERS PROVIDE SPACES FOR VITAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR KIDS, YOUTH AND PARENTS. THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE SYMBOLS OF CICO'S LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
