Four months ago, I made the decision to sponsor a child through a charity. I conducted careful research on reputable and honest charities before choosing one, and finally decided that I would go with Compassion International due to their transparency rating and the fact that they are a Christian organization. Sponsoring a child means committing to a monthly donation, usually of around $40, that goes to help meet needs in the child’s community. Compassion International also has the option to give an extra $7 a month as a contribution to the fund for highly vulnerable children, such as those who need homes urgently, or who are or may be exposed to domestic abuse or sexual exploitation. During the Christmas season and for the child’s birthday, there is also an option to send a monetary gift for your child, which is used to purchase something that the child has been needing. In addition, one of the most unique things about sponsoring a child is the ability to write to the child. Being able to write to your child means that your child gets to receive encouragement from you, which can be a major way to lighten and inspire your child.
Choosing my child was not an easy task. The number of children waiting for a sponsor is overwhelming. I was finally able to choose by narrowing down my search to include only children who are vulnerable to exploitation and who are in an area affected by HIV. I also included a filter that showed children with my same birthday. It was then that I spotted the picture of a little girl from Burkina Faso, who had been waiting for about 370 days for a sponsor. In her picture, she is standing up straight in the cutest awkward manner, and she is wearing a green dress, sandals, and plastic bracelets on her arms. Her expression is serious and determined. She is 4 years old. I immediately chose her as my sponsored child, and that picture is now hanging on my wall. In the time I have been sponsoring my child, I have received three letters from her. In them, she tells me about her family, her life, and her aspirations; she also draws pictures. I am so excited to see what this relationship will become over the years of sponsorship. As I gain more experience, I would like to possibly sponsor more children, and I hope that someday, I am able to visit my child (or children ;)).
In my letters to my child, I make sure to remind her how much God loves her, no matter the situation she is in. I feel blessed that I am able to have the opportunity to sponsor her, and I feel it is a duty of those of us who have more resources to come to the aid of those who are in less ideal and more helpless positions. It is meaningful to become conscious of the fact that there are people in the world suffering and doing something to help, even if that something is simple. God teaches us to love our neighbor, and that includes loving those that are far in less fortunate situations than us. Loving our neighbor means helping to uplift them both physically and spiritually, and sponsoring a child is simply an excellent way to do that.
“Love each other as I have loved you.” -John 15:12
In case you are interested in sponsoring a child, here are four child sponsoring organizations that are well rated:
| CN – Charity Navigator CW – Charity Watch | Compassion International | World Vision | Save the Children | Unbound |
| CN Score (out of 100) | 84.76 | 88.42 | 85.57 | 91.76 |
| CN Accountability & Transparency Score (out of 100) | 100 | 100 | 90 | 100 |
| CW grade | A | A- | A- | A+ |
| Percent spent on program (from CW) | 82% | 81% | 86% | 93% |
| Monthly Contribution | $38 | $39 | $39 | $40/$45/$50 |
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