Sponsoring a child - do you?

[Mervynne]

Am looking into sponsoring a child via ActionAid, and learned that the money doesn't go directly to a child, it goes into local charity work (this is fine with me) BUT that you do get 'two messages a year' from a named child.

Somehow this makes me a bit uncomfortable. I can't put my finger on why. Maybe I feel like I am buying a 'product' or something. I don't know.

Anyway, what are your experiences with sponsoring a child? Is it better to donate in another way or does this way have advantages? Which charities are worth supporting in this way?

Hi - we're also just starting to look into this - this is quite a helpful summary here.

Still haven't decided which to go for though!

Thanks, that's interesting.
I'll have a look at some of the smaller ones as well.

We sponsor a specific girl at the Mercy Centre in Bangkok. I know it isn't a scam, I helped out in the hospice when we lived there.

Good on you kreecher.

We sponsor a little boy in Bangladesh through World vision - no limit on letters etc but as they all have to be translated it can take quite a while to receive a reply - but I think we've had about 4 this year so far. Money goes into community and making sure sponsored child gets schooling etc. It's amazing how far our very small payment goes.