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Sponsor a Child

How Does Child Sponsorship Work?

Through monthly financial support, prayer and letter writing, sponsors invest directly in the lives of children living in extreme poverty.

Not All Child Sponsorship Programs are the Same

Child sponsorship is the most cost-effective way to end child poverty. It not only addresses a child's immediate physical needs, it also builds self-esteem and self-respect.

Although there are similarities across sponsorship programs, there also many differences.

>>  Six Questions to Ask Before You Sponsor a Child

>>  Best Child Sponsorship Organizations

How is a Child Selected and Paired With a Sponsor?

That's easy enough. YOU choose the child you want to sponsor.

Choose a child that's been waiting a long time, or if you have children, let them pick the child to sponsor. Some people choose a child based on the country the child lives in or because the child has the same name or birthday as a family member.

>>  10 Ways to Choose a Child to Sponsor

Once you have made your choice, we’ll send you a packet with a photo and information about him or her and about the child's community.

You can start writing letters and developing a relationship with your sponsored child as soon as you like.

>>  How to Write a Letter to Your Sponsored Child

>>  18 Reasons Why You Should Write Letters to Your Sponsored Child

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How Does the Compassion Child Sponsorship Program Work?

Our Child Sponsorship Program is implemented by the local church. We have thousands of local church partners tailoring our holistic child development model to the contextualized needs of the children they serve — the children in their communities.

When you sponsor a child with us, the beneficiary of your support is your specific sponsored child. The family may receive additional or indirect benefits, but our focus is the one child.

The minimum standards for our Child Sponsorship Program dictate that each church-run child development center provide four to eight hours of programming each week, at least 48 weeks out of the year, and that individual child attendance be taken each time the center is open. Learn more about how child sponsorship helps.

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How Does a Child Benefit From Sponsorship?

Through our sponsorship program we address every major aspect of a child's well-being, every element that he or she needs to survive, develop and thrive. We work to address each child's spiritual, economic, social and physical needs. Our program provides:

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LOVE

that unlocks the potential within their heart

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EDUCATION

to defeat illiteracy and provide critical skills

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SUPPLEMENTS

to protect against malnutrition

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HEALTH CARE

to fight back against disease and sickness

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CHRIST-CENTERED GUIDANCE

through a local church to overcome fear and hopelessness

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RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

to protect from crime, violence, and danger

What is Expected of Sponsors?

Simply put, your role is to participate. Engaged and active sponsors help children to flourish.

Beyond your monthly financial support, we ask that you pray for your sponsored child and write letters a few times a year. If you're able — and not every one is, so that's okay — you can also visit your child.

If you want to do more, we have other ways you can get involved as well.

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Does Sponsorship Actually Work?

Yes, sponsorship works. In fact, a poll of top development economists, rated child sponsorship as the most effective long-term development intervention for helping the poor.

Our Child Sponsorship Program has large and statistically significant impacts on the educational, employment and leadership outcomes of our children. In a nutshell, Compassion Child Sponsorship definitely works!

Compassion Supported Children:

Spend an average of 4,000 hours in safe, nurturing programs

Stay in school up to 1.5 years longer than unsponsored peers

Are up to 18% more likely to have salaried employment in their adult years

Are up to 40% more likely to finish secondary education

Are up to 80% more likely to graduate college

Are up to 75% more likely to become leaders in their communities

Compassion International Is Proof of How Child Sponsorship Works

Are you ready to sponsor a child?
Search for a Child
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Give With Confidence

With Compassion, your donation is used wisely to help children around the world.

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Trusted Charity Since 1952

Have Questions About Compassion and How We Work?

Donating to a charity is an important decision. So when you’re passionate about a cause and want to make a difference, we encourage you to do your research. Compassion is 100% committed to financial integrity, stewardship and using each dollar wisely. If you have any questions about Compassion or exactly how your donation will be used, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Questions?

Please call us at 800-336-7676, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. MT, to speak with a Compassion representative.