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.

Oh, yes, HRH.

I used to sponsor two through compassion but am not sponsoring at the moment. I was able to transfer my support when I emigrated to the UK from their Aussie office to the Uk and still support the two girls I had been supporting - one in Guatemala and one in Ethiopia.

AM hoping to take it up again next year.

if you want money to be spent wisely and efficiently then you need intelligent highly educated people who know what that means and how to do it. It is incredibly complex to get it right. And if you don't pay decent, even high, salaries you'll get charities run by well meaning but not actually that good individuals. Don't assess a charity only by how much it spends on admin - judge it on results too, on what it actually does. difficult, I know but try to see a broader picture. and charity salaries are rarely higher than public sector - they're broadly comparable except at the top end where you tend to get more in the public sector.

but hatstand - I can accept charity executives getting paid 50,60 or even 90k - but when charity executives are getting paid MORE than the people in charge of key public services (ie the NHS), and getting paid in 6 figures then I'm afraid something is wrong.

You also want people who are doing it for the "right" reasons, not just because they get a big pay packet with lots of added benefits.

I use Plan International to sponsor a girl in Benin. I am sure they have a big admin component because they advertise a lot, have a present catalogue etc. I am quite happy with the admin and the way it has gone but am still not sure whether I am doing any good overall. Just feel there's no excuse for not trying, since I have spare cash.

I like the sound of the small charities on here and will check them out if we agree to sponsor another child.

I recently had a flyer for the Addis Abbaba Fistula Hospital which I would also like to support; or Cecily's Fund but it's infinite isn't it.

which charity execs are getting paid more than people "in charge" of public services? and what do you mean by "in charge of"? And why do people's motivations matter? ok, sometimes it helps you be good at a job but not always, and it certainly isn't enough to be good at it.

I've looked at that article. Those top end salaries are absolutely exceptional - as teh article says the median for directors is £83k. salaries of 100-200 are far more likely in the public sector. I honestly don't think you need to worry too much about director salaries when it comes to child sponsorship - go for something reputable - like I said worry more about results. I sponsor a child through Plan btw. Also Oxfam have a new scheme which we do and which I quite like the idea of - it's called Life and you sponsor a community not an individual. I sometimes wonder (a wee bit) if sponsoring an individual is a bit patriarchal (I know we're women but I think that's the word I want) so I liked the idea of the contact being with the community

SHR - so sorry for the delay, I have been visitng Mumsnet so little recently.

When I paid my money, they sent me the names, photos and all info of each child, and the school I can write to them at... I am so pleased you have decided to go for them, I am happy in the knowledge that they are being helped directly!