Has anyone done a sponsorship of a child abroad with a reputable organisation?
I am looking to sponsor in Asia and for a long term commitment where we can also exchange emails/letters etc
Thank you for any tips - if organizations is in CH and I can tax deduct all the better but it must not be.
K
For some people, child sponsorship is a commercialising of the child and violates their rights as they cannot give informed consent to participating in a relationship.
Travel tourism for child sponsorship is seen as even worse - allowing random foreigners to spend large sums of money to visit children... both from a child protection point of view, ethical and respect for the privacy of the child.
Apart from reports of corruption in some organisations (which, I grant, is why OP is asking for a recommendation of a reputable one), one does wonder about the changes such donations cause, behind the scenes.
I knew someone who took that flight to lavish gifts on that sponsored child and family, and when she arrived the child ran away and hid. When finally persuaded to come back and explain, the girl said, in tears, that she knew that after the lady had gone, she would have to write another thank you letter and if she didn't do it nicely enough, her uncle would beat her, and every time the lady didn't send all the money he wanted, the uncle said it was her fault and beat her because her letter had not been pretty enough.
The charities that receive the least, often are 'not very pretty' from a donor point of view:
https://borgenproject.org/10-poverty-charities/
If you are still very keen to join a child sponsorship charity then there is a list of ratings here:
You gave food for thought.
I already donate quite a bit to projects and also microlending via Kiva. I have been thinking about the sponsorship for a while as wanted to give an insight to my children of life of other children in other side of the world. Been thinking about it for years but never quite found the right place etc.
Will not do it then and continue to sponsor reputable organisation as well as look into the links provided.
Thank you!
Have been with them for over 5 years now and sponsoring 2 children and have been part of churches who partner with them too here in Switzerland.
Other churches I know of in the US also partner with them and no complaints.
I also volunteer with translating sponsor letters -- German to English.
The people who work in the Swiss office are incredibly dedicated. Have even met sponsored children who have succeeded in life due to individual sponsorship.
It's only 42 CHF a month. My sponsor child, Megan (11 years old) in Bolivia wrote me recently that Compassion is delivering food parcels to her family monthly which is helping her family greatly.
Yes, it's tax deductible too
EF has members from many different countries who know many more, so perhaps it would be possible to set up a correspondence connection to a family with children far away.
Since you sound like a generous soul, you could silently (i.e. without telling your children or the other family) allocate a certain financial reserve ready to contribute later if, as the pen-pal relationship developed, you ever deemed it necessary or desirable.
I try to focus on women only and on projects which have the potential to lift the person (versus just going from loan to loan) or also projects to make family life better (i.e. build a well or a toilet etc).