NOW CLOSED: Do you give money to charity? Are you interested in discussing issues around sponsoring a child? We've been asked by Plan UK to find MNers willing to discuss this topic.

[AnnMumsnet]

We've been asked by Plan UK to find 20 Mumsnetters willing to talk online about giving to charity and about sponsoring a child. We need to find UK based MNers who already give to charity (at least 3 times a year) - possibly already to children's charities or international development charities who are willing to discuss the idea of sponsoring a child (it doesn't matter if you currently do or don't sponsor a child).

If selected to take part, you'll be invited to take part in a discussion in a private area of the site. This will take place between 10th and 14th October. You'd need to respond to some initial questions early in the week and then towards the end of the week we'll add some additional questions which you'd also need to respond to - making your final comments by Sunday 16th October.

Your views will be used by Plan UK to help attract more sponsors. Your comments (not with your nickname) may be used on the Plan UK pages on Mumsnet which are coming soon. All comments are confidential.

As a thank you each participant will be sent a £10 Amazon voucher.

In case you don't know about Plan UK - this is what they say "Plan UK Child Sponsorship: the Plan that changes lives. When sponsoring a child with Plan, you'll become part of a very special plan. A plan that will transform their life and yours. For just 50 pence a day, sponsors share a unique one-to-one connection with a child in one of the developing communities in which we work. Sponsors receive letters and pictures direct from the child they sponsor, plus reports showing exactly how sponsors' donations are improving the lives of children, their families and whole communities"

If you're able and willing to take part please add your details here

Many thanks - MNHQ

I sponsor a child through Abaana. Like others I have been a little disappointed how little feedback we get from our sponsored child compared to what was initially promised or suggested at least by the company. 9y DD has written a number of letters, sent small gifts, photos and drawings, but we never get anything back from them, no recognition they have even been recieved. We got a standard letter and a school photo at th estart, and one follow up letter a year or so later, but no further photos and no real updates at all.

If this little amount of update had been told at the start I would have known what to expect and wouldn't feel so disappointed. We thought it would eb a good real way for DD to be involved in a charity, and that she could learn through the experience, as the child is the same age as DD. But it is all very much one way.

There appear to be quite a few people on here unhappy about there not being proper "contact" with sponsored children etc.

TBH, I can see where you'd be coming from. On the other hand, though: there are IMHO very legitimate concerns about child sponsorship leading to conflict within families and/or communities due to a child being singled out or given preferential treatment. About parents feeling inadequate about not being able to provide for their own children. There are potential issues of a cultural nature, such as christmas cards or even christmas itself not necessarily having the same or any meaning in the child's culture. There's also the question of whether the child or their family will benefit in any way from learning about a UK family's life or whether it will make them feel worse about their own circumstances. Also, I am not sure how legitimate it is to really ask children to show gratefulness by writing letters etc. as I feel it may reinforce the perception that they are dependent. E.g. An education is really a right - even if some may not be able to exercise it - not a gift from auntie and uncle in the UK.

My point basically is: while I'm not actually a fan of child sponsorships as such I think it may actually be a good rather than a bad sign if there is less letter writing etc. I'm hoping this might mean that the organization responsible is aware of some common pitfalls and desperately trying to avoid them. And that it is a program where funds are channelled into useful projects, rather than the bureaucracy necessary to keep sponsors up to date with everything that's going on.

HI Norma
I've sponsored a child with Plan UK for a couple of years and generally it's been a great experience. Yup - the communication I've received from my child is mixed - sometimes good, sometimes not, but I feel as adults we need to be a bit grown up about this and accept that not all children are the same and not all children will be able to write us a long letter. Just like kids in the UK differ - I'm sure children overseas will too. I'm sure she / he appreciates you're writing and you should continue to do so. All the feedback I've had from Plan is that sponsored children treasure the letters they receive. I'm sure you're doing her heaps of good. :)

justaboutstillhere - there are obviously very different agreements in place in your country (where are you based?) as I've just checked the UK World Vision site, and there isn't an option to send direct payments to the sponsored child, so your 'minimum payment' things isn't relevant here.

carrazz I know what you mean about 'being a bit adult' about it, and I suppose that's why I've continued to pay out over the years. However this discussion has really made me think about the whole thing, and I went back and looked at the WV website to see what they promise in terms of contact/relationship building...

In the section about How child sponsorship works for the sponsor
www.worldvision.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.2626

it says you "do have the opportunity to form a relationship with them" and features a very prominent section saying "Within 12 weeks, you should receive your first letter from the child you have sponsored."

I know elsewhere it says that they never force a child to write (which is fair enough) but that is hidden away really.

At the end of the day, I don't want to be churlish about this. It shouldn't be about me/ my children etc, but of course is about the communities who desperately need the help these organisations offer. However if there is a 'learning' for PLan/ World Vision and other organisations like this, then I think it would be for them not to let their over-zealous Marketing departments promise things which then can't be delivered on the ground.

Better to under-promise and over-deliver IMHO... but then of course that may not attract sufficient ££ interest, might it?

carrazz - I do understand what you're saying, but if I'm honest, there are times when I wonder whether my 'sponsored child' really exists, or whether she is a stock photo with a false name because I have never had any direct communication from her...

Quick update - someone from WorldVision has messaged me, so they've obviously seen this. They want me to contact them to discuss.