Sponsor Children?

[autumnpalm]

I am looking into supporting a sponsor child and there are so many agencies out there that it's a little overwhelming! Are there any DISers here that sponsor a child in poverty? If so, who do you do it through and would you recommend them?

For those who are knowledgeable on the topic, is sponsorship effective? I'm curious as to whether the money actually goes directly to the child you are assigned and what it specifically goes toward. School? Medical supplies? Clothing? Food?

I have looked into Compassion International and it seems like a good program but I would like to do a little research before committing to a specific charity!

Thanks!

 

[shellabell]

I have sponsored through Compassion International for about 5 years now. They seem to be a good organization. I send and get letters from my "child". I don't know exactly what the money goes for. Although my birthday and christmas donations do go directly to buy her gifts. I do believe some is for education.

 

[WL Fan]

We sponsor several children through Compassion. They send letters 3-4 times a year, and really seem to like getting our letters back. The programs provide educational programs and Bible teaching, one child wrote that the center had gotten him his antibiotics that his family wouldn't have been able to get for him otherwise. We picked up several "older" kids, and they seem to especially appreciate the support.

Compassion sends out a quarterly report, but not alot of junk mail or more solicitation. I'd have no problem recommending them to someone who was looking for that kind of a charity.

 

[Pembo]

http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsor-a-family-2

Reece's Rainbow helps connect Down Syndrome children with families all across the world. They are always looking for sponsors to help offset adoption costs.

 

[Avalon_toon]

We sponsor a child through World Vision. The money we send goes directly to the community, though - not the child himself. I think the idea is to improve the lives of everyone in the community, not just the sponsored child. They are pretty good about not sending too much junk mail our way, and we get sent a birthday card and christmas card to fill out and return to the organization, which says it will forward it to our child. Not so sure about that part, have no idea if he actually gets them or not, he's still too young (5 now) to really write letters back.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm interested in this, too. I'd really like one where I'm able to send care packages, but I don't know if any like that exist. I'd like to sponsor an older (16+) child.

 

[MIGrandma]

I sponsored a young girl from Dominica for a few years through the Christian Children's Fund. Our church had sponsored a boy from that organization for many years, so I knew it was a worthy organization. Awhile ago they changed their name though, not sure what it's called now. They dropped the "Christian" from the name.

We were able to send letters back and forth through the organization, and besides the monthly support I always sent $25 extra for her birthday, and $50 extra at Christmas. And I was able to send small care packages through the mail as well. They only wanted you to send things that could fit in large, padded envelopes. I had always wanted to send her a doll, or stuffed bear or something along those lines but they didn't allow it.

 

[Geoff_M]

We've sponsored children through Compassion for a number of years now. We've felt that the money is well used and it's a great program. Another DISer "thumbs up".

 

[Juliegirl1]

Compassion International and Save the Children get high marks from the charity watch groups. I would check out any charity's reputation through those before you start to donate. Some charities give very little to the final recipient - a lot of it goes to administration costs.

 

[autumnpalm]

Thanks so much for the feedback. Glad to hear good things about Compassion International, I think that is who I will go with.

Now the difficult thing is actually choosing a child... clicking through the pages of children waiting for sponsors is just breaking my heart. I feel awful having to choose just one.

 

[powellrj]

My SS class sponsors a child through Horizon Internation. Its for orphans with HIV/AIDS.