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Original poster

child sponsorship abroad

33 replies

justinshouse · 04/12/2011 16:49

I'm sorry if this is the wrong place for this but I didn't really know where to post this.

I was just wondering of anyone had experiences of sponsoring a child abroad? There are quite a few different charities that do this and I wanted to know if anyone had used any of them. Also, am I being unreasonable to want something back for the sponsorship...such as letters and updates from the child?

Please go easy on me - I'm in a fragile place right now as this quest has been triggered by the fact that I am booked in for a termination this week and I want to mark this loss by giving to another child :(

OP posts:
Onemorning · 04/12/2011 17:01

Oh just (((((lots of very unmunsnetty hugs))))) I am so sorry for your loss. x

I have recently started sponsoring a little girl (aged 2) through Plan. I've had one letter / update and a photo, she really is an absolute poppet. I need to write back at some point.

Take care of yourself xxx

baskingseals · 04/12/2011 17:02

justins - I am really really sorry to hear that. I wish I could say something to make it all go away.

sponsoring a child is a good idea. i sponsor with Plan International. we get letter and photos. i am glad i do it, it can give me some much needed perspective at times.

please take care of yourself. be as kind to yourself now as you would be to a best friend.

flatbread · 04/12/2011 17:02

Justin, nothing to add here, except that I wish you all the best and am sending good thoughts across to you. xx

Original poster
justinshouse · 04/12/2011 17:03

Thanks for your support onemorning. Will look at that one x

OP posts:
IV · 04/12/2011 17:04

World Vision is worth a look.

We're about to start sponsoring with them after Christmas.

IV · 04/12/2011 17:05

Sorry, I just re-read your OP and caught the last bit.

Sending you lots of x

Original poster
justinshouse · 04/12/2011 17:07

thanks everybody. Your support and kindness is really touching. I will look these up x

OP posts:
faeriefruitcake · 04/12/2011 17:17

World Vision are good. I sponsered a boy for many years but then when he got to 18 and decided he wanted to get married they just dropped him and gave me somebody else without any word. I would have liked to have sent him something for his wedding. I also felt the tone of the letter was very judgy.

I'm going to be going with Plan this time round, I took a break, but Plan looks good.

www.plan-uk.org here

I love being a sponser and the lovely little letters and drawing you get are nice.

PositiveAttitude · 04/12/2011 17:24

"Compassion uk" is a good charity for sponsoring children and you get regular personal letters written from the child to let you know how much the money means to them and how it has helped them in their life. here's the link You can choose your child, too.

Plus ((hugs)) to you. I think this is a wonderful way to help another child through your traumatic time.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/12/2011 17:29

We sponsor a little girl in South America through Plan. We get regular updates etc and can send letters and gifts, although I must admit that now our dds are older we are less good at doing this than we used to be. Blush

It's thoughtful of you to be thinking of this at this time.

CotherMuckingFunticalChristmas · 04/12/2011 17:31

Another vote for Compassion. I sponser a girl in Ethiopia through them and we get letters back.

flyingspaghettimonster · 04/12/2011 17:33

So sorry to hear about the termination :-( It is good to mark it somehow and that is a great way to do it. I also bought a necklace of a little cherub that I wore all the time for the first two years, to help deal with the loss. Good luck to you.

cat811 · 04/12/2011 18:01

Another one for Compassion here :) Very regular letters, you can sent presents, go online and send money whenever you like, they remind you about birthdays and Christmas and you can send those cards online, or choose your own and post.
You can also go and visit your child where they live, by arranging it through the organisation.

peacypops · 04/12/2011 19:55

I have sponsored a little girl in Ethiopia through ActionAid for around 7 years now. I get letters and a drawing around three times a year as well as a report on what is happening in the community where she lives. Sorry you are having a tough time x

guffawstythesnowman · 04/12/2011 21:15

actionaid for us too, we sponsored individual children for many years, in Nepal, getting pictures and photos, then we were asked to go on to 'the next stage', which uses the money for community projects, so now we get various community newsletters and photos. actionaid work with people at a local level, assisting them to do what is needed, rather than dictating what is best from our eurocentric/christian perspective

scaevola · 04/12/2011 21:23

I have sponsored the education of a girl in Nepal through a small specialised charity Maiti Nepal which rescues girls from sex traffickers. We did receive letters and photographs, but it was a bit hit and miss. But despite it being erratic, we did think what we did was right.

2ndtimeroundandfeelingclueless · 04/12/2011 21:42

Sending you LOL at this difficult time. I have sponsored a boy for about 5 years through SOS Children. They create villages for the children, with groups of children and a new "mum" creating their own family. They also open up the facilities to the local village - so no-one missed out on improved healthcare and schooling etc. We receive letters and photos, plus newsletters.Details here www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/

Original poster
justinshouse · 05/12/2011 16:14

thanks for all the responses. I've had a look at some of these and am thinking action aid or sos children as they were non religion affiliated. (I hope that's not offensive to anyone, they all do amazing work, it's just that I'm an atheist)

And thank you ALL for taking the time to respond and being so caring.

I had the termination today but really feel this is one way to make it all make a bit of sense. Lots of love x

OP posts:
Crabapple99 · 05/12/2011 16:45

so sorry to hear of your situation.

We have sponsored for years. Action aid go and visit the sponsoredchildren and give them the letters and give them the materials to respond

We also sponsor through SOS children's village, they are fantastic, they have a philosophy of raising orphans in stable groups with permenant carers, to help them grow up "normal" rather than traumatised and instituationalised. They do NOT require children to respond to letters, if the children don't want to, but you do get personal acknoledgements and updates from carers who know your children.

I really hope doing this gives you some comfort.

Best wishes

hester · 05/12/2011 16:47

I'm so sorry for your loss, justinshouse.

I sponsor a child through Plan UK. I think they're pretty good.

MorelliOrRanger · 05/12/2011 16:50

Hi Justin's house - So sorry about your loss X

We use Actionaid too and we recieve I think 3 or 4 letters a year. Our little girl is 7 and we started sponsoring her last year after seeing a programme about her country. We write 4 times a year.

Hope this helps X

PositiveAttitude · 05/12/2011 19:31

I am not offended in any way about your choice to go with the non-religious sponsorship. Whatever way you do it you will be making a really positive input into a child's life. JUst want to come and give you big ((hugs)) for what you are going through. Smile

Onemorning · 05/12/2011 19:36

More hugs from me too xx

diabolo · 05/12/2011 19:36

I do ActionAid - I used to sponsor a boy in Kenya and now he's all grown up, I have another little boy in Zimbabwe.

£15 per month, I get a couple of letters or drawings each year. It's worthwhile.

I don't need or want anything back and I don't write to him, it's enough for me to know that his village school gets the money (or at least the majority of it).

diabolo · 05/12/2011 19:39

Also, War Child UK is another amazing charity I support. You don't sponsor children directly, but all the work they do is with children - some of their stories and the lives these poor kids have led makes you weep.

(And about 75% of monies raised go out in the field - a good proportion compared to many mainstream charities)