Does anyone sponsor a child in another continent?

[SecondhandRose]

Can anyone recommend the company they use? I am concerned about my money being spent on admin. and expenses rather than going where it's needed.

Plan International

and they also allow you to visit if you wish

Really zippi?

That is cool. I sponsor a girl in India through Action Aid. As far as I know most of the money goes to the work carried out in her village, housing, schools and so forth.

Hi, I sponser 4 children in Nepal, through Himalayan learning. (www.Himalayan-Learning.co.uk)

I can highly recommend them as every penny goes to the children. I got involved through someone who did the photos for my wedding, she very kindly did me a favour as I repaid her by sponsering these kids, as her son works for or runs the charity. I had her personal guarantee, that my money was not being wasted on bureacracy (spelling)?

Btw, it costs only £7 a year to put each child through school for a whole year. which includes books, pens clothes etc.
They could not do this if they were paying anyone a salary... so I really think they would be the ones to trust!!

Action Aid, sponsor child in Haiti. Money doesn't go to 'her' iyswim, but to provide things in the village's best interests - e.g. wells etc.

I also sponsor through Plan International, have sponsored same child for about 4 years now, they are very good at keeping in touch etc

We sponsor a child in Zambia through World Vision

roisin, I've been on the website but it doesn't say how much the donation is each month.

smellymelly, do you just make the donation or do they keep in touch with you at all? Do you get photos or a name of a child?

we sponsor through World Vision and it is £18 per month.

we used to sponsor a girl in zambia who was old enough to write her own letters to us. her family moved to another area not covered by WV and we have been given a little boy. i am ashamed to say i can't remember his name or his country but we have only been sponsoring him for a few weeks. we have sent a christams card etc despite being passed the ridiculously early deadline...Sept 9th i seem to remeber

Roisin and smellymelly bump for you

We sponsor through SOS childrens villages

www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/children-charity.htm

It's a reputable organisation. Presumably all organisations need to spend some on admin. We pay 20 pounds per month and we get a letter updating us about the village and a photo of "our child" every year. Also send money to our child's b-day and Christmas.

we sponsor through compassion it is a Christian based one (and yes I know some people on here think they're bible bashers......) but they take children from all beliefs.

It's £18 a month, and over 80% goes to the child. We get 3/4 letters a year, a yearly general 'report' on how she's doing, a magazine telling us about Compassion Projects around the world and latest news in general, and a yearly photo. We've been sponsoring Thea for 3 1/2yrs now.

oh and you can also visit them if you want too

I sponsor a child through Action Aid.

Yes, use Plan International.

My parents have also used them for about 25 years, I think. We are still on our first child but mum and dad have had several (when the child got too old they were allocated a new one).

Minimum monthly donation for child sponsorship with World Vision is £18.

Who does pay the salary of the people who sort all this out?

Perhaps they don't get one, I put in hours and hours each day for the NCT's House Swap Register and don't get paid.

I'm going to go for the Himalayan Learning one as I can do several Christmas gifts for children I know for £7 per annum each so it still leaves some money for a small gift too. Have emailed them and they say that the sponsored children do keep in touch.

I know that over 80% of the money you give to Compassion is spent on the child. The rest is taken up with admin/employment of staff (both in the UK and in the projects). I personally don't mind if some of my money goes to pay the people who help it all run smoothly - however what I DO object to is the 'bosses' of some of the charities that get paid 6 figure sums.

We sponsor through Action Aid

I know what you mean about wanting the money to be spent wisely and where needed but I do think it's important that it's administered efficiently and that's worth paying for. Also properly paid staff who get inspected and fired if corrupt are less likely to fraudulently divert funds than unpaid volunteers with nothing to lose.

We sponsor through personal links though so there's no admin cost. An Open Door (Uganda/India) is good. I've visted one of their homes.

World Vision and Compassion seem very good too.

We sponsor through Arobanam a child in Sri Lanka.

They seem very good, they have a meeting once a year in London for all the sponsors and they are very small and all their admin staff are volunteers so all the money gets through.

We send money to a school on a small island off the coast of North Africa, Kerkennah. We have been there quite a few times and always fill our suitcases with pens, pencils etc for the school and clothing for the children. Ds1 had the pleasure of schooling there for four days last year and loved every minute.

oh of course you want it to be adminstared properly but I don't agree that the bosses need 6 figure salaries.

With Compassion - during 2003/2004 they spent a total of £409,768 on personell costs, of which £336k went on salaries, one employee earned between 50 and 60k, (I guess that would be the person at the top) meaning that on average the other 16 employees earnt and average of £22k each.

I've seen adverts for various 'admin' jobs in other charities with salaries well into the 30-40k mark, and according to this article (from 3years ago I know - but I doubt salaries have dropped ) 52 UK charities payed their highest-remunerated staff member £100,000 per annum or more.

Interesting to note in that article the salaries of many public service executives is lower than that of some of the charity executives !