WHAT BENEFITS GO TO ICA SPONSORED CHILD?

Transcription

1 WhatistheIgniteaChild AfricaSponsoraChildProgram? Ignite a Child Africa mission is to completely restore the lives of children who have been orphaned,abandoned,andterriblyabused.changingthelivesofthesechildrenmeansnot only providing food, clothing and shelter, but also a loving family environment where the childrenexperiencegenuineacceptanceandlearntodevelophealthyrelationships. The Sponsor a Child program connects needy children to sponsors in a personal and individual way. You offer monthly financial support and encouragement through prayer, letterwritingandrelationship.throughphotos,correspondence,updatesandvisits,many sponsorsdevelopadeep,personalconnectionwiththechildrentheysponsor.youcaneven visityourchildandvolunteerindifferentprogrammes. Mostimportantly,achildwhohasbeenabandonedisgivenspecialattentionfromsomeone whotrulycares sometimesfeelinglovedforthefirsttime. WHATBENEFITSGOTOICASPONSOREDCHILD? IgniteaChild Africaprovidesyourchildafuture:aprivateChristianschooleducation, vocationaltraining;birthdayparties;recreationalopportunities;andeverythingelseyour childneedstoliveawell rounded,fulfillinglifewheretheycannotonlysupportthemselves, butbecomeleadersintheirowncommunities. Theopportunitytoreceiveaneducation: Insomecases,thismeansprovidingthecostofschoolfees,clothingandsupplies.Inother cases,itmeansprovidingtutoring,helpwithhomework,encouragementand,ifnecessary, participationinliteracyprogramoutsidetheclassroom.yourcompassionsponsorshipwill allowonespecialchildtostayinschoollongerifformalschoolingisanoptionandgetthe mostoutofhisorhereducation. Theopportunitytobehealthy: Thehealthofthechildyousponsorwillbemonitoredandcarewillbeprovidedasneeded. Childrenaretaughtabouthygieneandhowtomaintainpersonalhealth.Inaddition,and accordingtotheirneeds,manycompassionchildrenreceivesupplementaryfood. Theopportunitytodevelopself confidenceandsocialskills: Thechildyousupportwillbepartofachurch basedprogramwherechristianadultsoffer love,guidance,personalattention,guidedrecreationandsafety. TheopportunitytohearthegospelandlearnaboutJesus: Mostimportant,yourCompassionsponsorshipprovidesthechildyousponsorwithregular BibletrainingandencouragementthroughalocalchurchcommittedtoChristandthe childreninitscommunity.

2 Whatdoesitcosttosponsorachild? Foronly 25/$30permonth,youcanbecomeaSponsorandhelpICAreceiveachildand provideforhis/herfundamentalneedsoffood,clothing,education,counselling,recreation andfieldtrips,andeverythingelsethatisneededtobringcompleterestorationintothelife ofthechild.youcanalsosponsormorethanonechild! WhichcountriescanIsponsorchildrenin? IgniteaChild AfricacurrentlysupportschildreninKenya. WhatifIneedtodiscontinuemysponsorship? Werealizethatyourcircumstancesmaychangeandthatyoumaynolongerbeableto sponsoryourchild.ifthishappens,pleaseletusknowthatyouwillbediscontinuingyour sponsorshipsowecanseekanothersponsorforyourchild. CORRESPONDENCEANDGIFTS HowdoIcorrespondwithmychild? You may write your child as often as you like. If sending your correspondence by mail, pleasewriteyournameandreturnaddressontheoutsideoftheenvelope,butforprivacy purposes,pleasedonotincludeyouraddressorphonenumberontheletterorinsidethe envelope.ontheletteritself,pleaseaddressthelettertoyoursponsoredchild,andclearly printyournameatthetoporatthebottomoftheletter. Similarly,ifsendingyourcorrespondencebye mail,pleasedonotincludeyouraddressor phonenumberinthebodyofthee mail,butbesuretoaddressthee mailtothesponsored child,andclearlystateyournameatthetoporatthebottomofthee mail. Whenthecorrespondenceisreceived,yourletterore mailwillbegiventoyoursponsored childandwillbetranslatedifnecessary. WhatshouldIwritetomychildabout? Correspondatleastonceeverythreemonthswithyoursponsoredchild,butno morethanonceamonth. Tellthemaboutthingsyouenjoydoinginyoursparetime Tellthemaboutyourjob,schoolandfamily ShareyourrelationshipwithChristwiththem Shareyourdreamsforyourfuture Tellthemaboutyourpets,hobbiesandinterests Tellthemaboutinterestingplacesyouhavevisited Writeaboutsubjectsyourchildwillunderstandandrelateto,topicsthattranscend economic,geographic,andculturalbarriers. Includecardsorotherflatitemswithyourletter,suchasbookmarksandpostcards. Includepicturesofyourfamilyandaboutyourlife Don t(toprotectbothyouandyourchild) Makepromisesyoucan tkeep.thisincludesmentioningthatyou dliketovisit sometime. Toalonelychildthismeansyouarecominginthenextfewweeks

3 Makeanytypeofsuggestionthatyoumaywanttoadoptthemortotakethemto theanothercountry,whetherforavisitorpermanently Givepersonalmailinginformationorphonenumbers Writeaboutthingsthataccentuatethedifferencesbetweenyouandyourchildsuch asdescriptionsofexpensivevacationsorlavishparties,thesizeofyourhomeorthe newcarthatyoubought Sendpicturesthataccentuatetheabovedifferences Sharepersonalfinancialinformationwiththem. Sendgiftsormoney(seeGiftGivingGuidelines) Howoftenwillmychildwritetome? Yourchildwillwritetoyouatleasttwiceeachyear.Wheneverpossible,localvolunteersin Kenyawillprovidetranslationsofthecorrespondencewhenneeded.Ifyouwritetoyour childonamorefrequentbasis,wewillencouragethechildtowritetoyoumorefrequently. However,pleaseunderstandthatthiswilldependontheageofthechild,thevolumeof correspondencebeingreceived,andtheabilityofourvolunteerstoassistthechild. CanIsendpicturestomychild? Yes.Westronglyencourageyoutosendpicturesofyourfamily.Youmayalsosendother flatitems,suchasdrawingsorcards.however,pleasedonotsendphotosofyourhouse, car,orotherthingsthatwouldillustrateyourstandardofliving. Ifyouwouldlikeyourchildtohaveahigh quality hardcopy ofapicture,werecommend sendingitbyregularmail.youcansendphotosase mailattachments;wewillundertaketo printforthechild. Isitimportantformetocorrespondwithmychild? Whileitisnotrequiredthatyouwritetoyoursponsoredchild,sponsorshipisasmuchabout relationshipasitisfinancialsupport.thesechildrenknowyoubynameandtheyprayfor you.thechildrendoenjoyreceivinglettersandpicturesandknowingthatyoucareabout them CanIsendpackagesorgiftstomychild? Weaskyounottosendgiftstoyourchildforseveralreasons: BirthdayandChristmaspresentsarealreadyincludedinthecostofsponsorship, alongwithalloftheotherneedsofyourchild. Giftscansometimeshavedifficultiesproceedingthroughcustoms,andoftentimes resultinsignificanttaxesordutieshavingtobepaidbyica. Bypurchasingpresentsinthehostcountry(Kenya),thelocalvolunteersareableto providethechildrenwithmaterialpossessionsthatareappropriatetothelocal cultureandstandardofliving. Allowingthelocalvolunteertocontrolthedisbursementoftoysandotheritems providesthevolunteerswithcontrolofthechildren supbringingandthe developmentoftheirvaluesystems.thisapproachalsoensuresthateachchild receivesthesamenumberandtypeofgiftsastheotherchildren,achieving consistencywithintheprogram.

4 WhenwillIreceiveupdatedpicturesorinformationconcerningmychild? Eachyearwewillsendyouanewpictureofyoursponsoredchildandanupdatedescribing howyourchildisdoing. CanIvisitmychild? Ifyouareevervisitingyourchild,wecanarrangeforyoutovisitwithyoursponsoredchild. Youarewelcomeandwewillmakepriorarrangementsforyouraccommodation,whichwe willcommunicateinadvance. Whatpercentageofexpendituresisspentonprogramactivities? 100%ofyoursponsorshipgiftsgodirectlytothechild'sneeds!IgniteaChildAfricadoesnot usethesefundsforanyadministrativecosts,marketingorprojects itisstrictlyforthe sponsoredchild'seducation,clothes,food,medicalcare,spiritualmentoring,andproviding achrist centredenvironment. HowdoesIgniteaChildAfricaensurethatmysupportactuallybenefitsthechildI sponsor? ICAworksexclusivelythroughlocalchurchesandChristianfellowshipstoassistchildren.The localstaffcanbecomepersonallyacquaintedwitheachsponsoredchildandhisorher uniqueneeds.sponsorshipsupportforallofthechildreniscombinedandmanagedto provideawiderangeofdevelopmentalactivitiesandopportunities. ICAconductsauditsregularlytomakesurefundsareproperlyreceived,trackedand managed.butit'snotenoughtoensurethatfundsarereachingyourchild'slocalchild developmentcentreandbeingspentonplannedactivities.likeyou,wewanttobesure thatrealdevelopmentistakingplaceinthelifeofeverysponsoredchild.icaworkshardto monitorandevaluateeachchildintermsofprogrameffectivenessandlong termimpact. Anytimeweseeanirregularity,wetakeimmediateandappropriateaction. Afterthecompletionoftheeducation/trainingofmychildwhathappensnext? It is our commitment and that we endeavour to see all of our beneficiary children and families become successful in their education and their different activities. After the child completes his/her education we will effect the monthly sponsorship payment for up to 6 consecutive months, to ensure that the child and the family have financial security. Our team will contact you and will let you know about the final situation of the child and the familysothatyouwillhaveanoptiontoeitherstopyoursponsorshippayment,ortostart supportinganotherchild. IfIpaymorethanUS$30howwilltheadditionalmoneybespent? Itwillbetoyourentirediscretionhowtheadditionalpaymentyoumaywanttobespent.If youletusknowonwhatyouwantustodisburseit,wewilldoaccordingly.otherwise,we willusethemoneyasageneraldonationwhereitismostneededwithintheorganization. Aconsiderablenumberofsponsorsrequestustogivetheextramoneytotheirfamilyeach month,andtheadditionalamountisclassifiedas FinancialGift andisdisbursedseparately andsignedforreceivingit.

5 TellmeaboutthedifferencebetweenPrivateandStaterunschoolsinKenya? Government runstateschoolsprovideeducationfreeofcharge(althoughyoustillneedto pay for food, medical, school uniform and educational trips), and this has made them to becomehighlydemandedfortheirinexpensivecostsaswellasoperateonfulltimebasis. Privateschoolsalsoprovideanall dayeducation;inslightlysmallerclasssizescomparedto governmentschoolsandtheychargeexpensively.werunapolicyofsupportingourchildren in Public schools; however if individual sponsors prefer their child to study in a private school, we will arrange and advice on the school charges, which are much higher, and dependantonindividualschools. CanIpayformychildtoattendprivateschool? We are grateful to your benevolence in this respect and most happy to facilitate the enrolment of sponsored children in a Private School, which is facilitated through our community,basedchildcareprogram.theappropriatetimeforenrollingchildreninprivate schoolsisatthestartoftheannualschoolseasonwhenallschoolswillbeopenedduring themonthofjanuary.butpriorarrangementsneedtohavestartedaroundoctoberofthe pastyear WhatotheralternativeoptionsareavailablebywhichIcanhelpmysponsoredchild? Thereareplentyofwaysinwhichyoucanhelpyoursponsoredchildandtheirfamily;such options include monetary gifts that will be utilized for installing a water tap or paying for house repairs. Occasionally the Sponsorship Coordinators will inform sponsors the areas highlyregardedbythefamiliesrequiringassistance,whichtheyinformtheteamduringthe Home Visits they make, and they in turn will dispatch the information to sponsors along withthereportwesendyoueverymonth. Ihavereceivednotificationthatmysponsoredchildhasdroppedoutoftheprogram.Can youexplaintomewhy? Wedoourbesttoensurethatallsponsoredchildrenareprovidedwithallthenecessary supportfromourenduntiltheycompletetheirassignmentmeaninguntiltheycomplete theireducation/trainingprogramsthattheyareenrolledin.withsomethismaynot becomeasuccessfulreality.someofthemmaydecidetodropoutofschoolbecausethey moveawayfromtheprojectareaandduetootherreasonsbeyondtheirability.ignitea Child(ICA)hasanumberofrules,whichthebeneficiariesandtheirfamilieshaveagreedto abidebyinorderto,qualifyforsponsorship.theseareprimarilyfocusedaroundthe continuationofeducation.iftheteamfindsthatthechildisnotabidingbytheserules,the teamwillinvestigatethesituationandprovidethefamilywithadviceanddifferentoptions. Ingeneral,theteamwilltrytoworkwiththefamilytofindasolutionfor3separatetimes butif,afterthistime,nosolutionisfoundthentheteamtakesthedifficultdecisiontostop sponsorshipforthechild.ifthishappens,theteamforabriefupdatewillcontactyou;we willsendyouacloseoutreportwithfurtherdetails.