Sponsor a child

[hedgehogger1]

Thinking about doing this. Any know anything about this?

My parents did it when we were growing up but I'm aware now that some of the charities that do it are evangelical and try to convert the children. Don't want to risk doing more harm than good

I sponsor a child through World Vision. Have done for about 10+ years. Not the same child, once a project in a village ends and they are able to continue without support you get to sponsor a child from a different project.

I don't think there is pressure to convert but we do send a Christmas card but with a non religious 'peace on earth' type picture. I know one child I sponsored was probably muslim.

If you want to know anything else ask away.

I really recommend SOS Children's Villages. There is no religious element and it's a wonderful charity.

More info here:

www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are

Thanks both I'll have a look at those

Do you get contact from the children, the selfish part of me wants my kids to be aware of what other children go through

We have adopted a child via SOS, and get regular updates from her via the charity, as well as updates from the charity itself.

Yes, we get regular updates about our sponsored child and updates about life in the SOS village. They might write back if you write to them too.

I love the idea of giving the children a family with a "mother" and a real family home. It's such a great concept. There are lots of videos online about how it works, if you want to find out more.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/nov/16/child-sponsorship-ethical-dilemma

This is an old article, but in my opinion it can be problematic to sponsor children like this, especially if you are wanting contact from them - letters etc.

Plan International. Research the ethos of the charity if you are concerned about how faith may play a part in mission. It's something that concerns me, so hence selecting Plan.

@covetingthepreciousthings

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/nov/16/child-sponsorship-ethical-dilemma

This is an old article, but in my opinion it can be problematic to sponsor children like this, especially if you are wanting contact from them - letters etc.

Yes this concerns me. We've donated to water aid for years, and will continue to, I was just looking for a charitable approach that would engage my kids more now they're the right sort of age for it. I remember as a kid we'd get a photo and a little letter about what the donation had been used for.

Plan sponsor girls through school so they are at less risk of child marriage and have a better chance of a future;

plan-uk.org/sponsor-a-child/sponsor-a-girl

That's why I like SOS, because all the children in the Children's Villages are sponsored so it doesn't create ill-feeling.

I sponsor a child through Plan. While the poor sod has to write me letters, the cash doesn't just go to him, it supports the village as well as keeping my sponsored boy in school. He is the eldest in a family where his mother died while giving birth to his youngest sibling.

Take a look at Village africa:
villageafrica.org.uk/donate/sponsor-a-child/

Maybe look closer to home to support children's charities in this country ? There are many families in dire need here too.