The Goodness and Mercy Missions Handbook. Introducing the GMM Africa Child Sponsorship Program

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1 The Goodness and Mercy Missions Handbook Introducing the GMM Africa Child Sponsorship Program

2 Situation of Children in Africa Many of us provide our children with cell phones, ipods and various other extravagant items forgetting that there are children around the world who go to bed hungry and lacking basic human needs. Many of these children live in Africa. One may wonder how we can possibly help African children who live in extreme poverty when we are so far away from them. One may wonder why we should even care when we have people in need here in our own country. I would ask you to consider the fact that even though there is poverty and even extreme poverty in your country, the poverty experienced by children in Africa is probably the most extreme. African children have the worst life chances in the world and the gap between the survival rates, the education and the development of African s children and the children of other continents is increasing. Life is simply hard for these children since most families earn very little and unemployment exceeds 60% and more, so parents or guardians have little money the children, their education, clothing, shoes, housing, food and much more. 2

3 What is The GMM Africa Child Sponsorship Program? Goodness and Mercy Missions (GMM) was founded in late 2007 by Teh Francis Yai and Natalie Runyon as a non-profit organization aimed at impacting communities in Cameroon. GMM was formed because there was a great demand of the community s needs. GMM works with many children who are orphaned or who are living in abject poverty. They do not have access to education, healthcare or sufficient food and GMM has launched a Sponsorship Program to help them. Through finding sponsors to these children and young people GMM hopes to not only provide them with basic needs, but also to help the children raise their self-esteems. Sponsorship can be a truly life-changing experience for a child. For many of them it can be the only chance receive the education and to break the cycle of poverty. Facts about GMM: GMM is a Non-profit organization aimed at impacting communities in Cameroon GMM is a charity based organisation formed in response to community demands GMM was founded in late 2007 by Teh Francis Yai and Natalie Runyon, and legally registered in GMM aims to work with orphans and needy children by supporting the children to receive nutrition, healthcare and education required to survive the threats of poverty and orphanhood. 3

4 The Realities of Life in Cameroon 40% of Cameroon s population fall below the national poverty line. 31% of children in the age group of 5-14 years are involved in child labour. Thousands of children live with HIV or have been orphaned as a result of HIV. 36% of children face child marriages. Under-five mortality rates are extremely high. There are lots of needy and orphaned children as a result of: Losing both or one parent Parents who are negligent or addicted to alcohol Parents who are physically incapacitated. 4

5 How Can You Help? Your support will enable one of these children to grow up to the responsible citizen of the society while being capable of earning a good living. The GMM Africa Child Sponsorship Program focuses on a personal touch. We encourage potential sponsors to choose, which child they would like to help and to take an interest in their lives. After having decided which child you would like to sponsor, you start providing him or her with financial support, love and care and in response receiving drawings from your child, recent photographs, annual progress records and newspapers. Your sponsorship money is used to support the child you have chosen to help. Record is kept on every dime used. Periodical reports are sent to the Board of Governors, as well as to the sponsor. You are also welcome to visit your child any time. However, since children may be engaged in an activity, therefore, it is advisible to contact the GMM office beforehand. How Much Does Sponsoring A Child Cost? Level 1: min $10 per month (there is no max limit) this sponsorship will pay for a child s educational needs, including fees, books and equipment. Level 2: min $18 per month (there is no max limit) this sponsorship will pay for a child s educational needs and for healthy, nutritious food. Full sponsorship: min $22 per month (max $30) - this will pay for all of child s basic needs, including education, food, clean water, healthcare and clothing. 5

6 Become a member of the Sponsoring Team! GMM provides you with the opportunity to sponsor a child by becoming a member of the Sponsoring Team! Here is how it works: since many people, who are willing to help, cannot afford sponsoring a child alone, we ve decided to give you a chance to sponsor a child all together. If every member of the team monthly donates a small amount of money, together you can collect the sum required to sponsor a child. You can form a Sponsoring Team yourself, together with your friends or family members or you can join our Facebook group and let us know how much are you ready to spend on a child per month. Together the group members will form one or several Sponsoring Teams, which will choose a child a sponsor together. IT S CHEAPER AND EASIER IF WE DO IT ALL TOGETHER! EVEN 2$ PER MONTH IS ENOUGH TO BECOME A PART OF THE SPONSORING TEAM! Please join our Facebook group and contact us for further information: [email protected] 6

7 Children Waiting For A Sponsor Zelma, 7 years old Zelma s father is uneducated and his health condition does not permit him to earn a living. Her mother died some years ago following a long illness. Zelma has one brother, who is 10 years old. She loves singing and playing with her friends. 7

8 Precious, 10 years old Precious is in class 6 and has two other sisters. Her father died when she was 6. Her mother had lost 3 husbands and doesn t dare to get married again, though she is still a young woman. It s very hard for her to support 3 children by herself. Precious favourite food is rice, her favourite colour is black. English is her favourite subject and her favourite sport is handball. 8

9 Velma, 14 years old Velmas father died in 2006 following a two month illness. Her mother does subsistent farming and sells the crops to support her children. However the crop is Irish potatoes, and this harvest is seasonal. She has nine children, and four of these currently live with her. Velma has two years of Primary School left, and then seven further years will complete her full time education. Velma enjoys reading and playing with her friends. When she grows up she wants to be a mechanic. Sponsorship would help to guarantee that Velma will finish her education, and ensure that she has all of the resources she would need to do well in her schooling and in life. 9

10 Happiness, 18 years old Happiness is a 4 year student at GHS Abuh, Fundong central Sub Division of Cameroon. She has two siblings. The poor mother who has successively lost 3 husbands and is sick most of the time has been the only one supporting her. The uncle, mother mostly relied on, has recently fell ill and died. Right now Happiness s mother is in desperate strait, as they owe fees to the school and Happiness will most likely drop out if no one agrees to sponsor her. Happiness s favourite food is corn fufu, her favourite colour is white. She loves reading and her favourite subject in school is Economics. 10

11 Rene, 17 years old Rene's father died in His mother has two other children to care for. She tries to send Rene to school but she can only just afford the tuition fees, and not textbooks and school equipment. If Rene does not find a sponsor he will not go to college next year. He will probably join their brothers at the timber business in the South West Region. 11

12 Ianic, 11 years old Ianic's father died before Ianic was born. Ianic's mother has seven other children. She does a little seamstress work, but struggles to support the children. This means that the children often do not attend school. Ianic attends the elementary school in Jinkfuin village of Cameroon. His favourite subject in school is General Knowledge. He loves football and hunting giant rats when he returns from school and when there are no chores to do in the house. 12

13 Annabel, 14 years old Annabel is in form one at the Government technical school Bolem in Fundong Central Sub Division. Her father died when she was 9 years old and left her to the mother who had lost another husband before. The mother remarried later, but lost the husband again. This was the real disaster for the family for she was left to fend for the children alone. Through struggles she feels like giving up, for ends are not meeting. She has two other children to bother about and life is being very cruel to her. Annabel s favourite food is rice and her favourite colour is blue. She loves reading and her favourite sport is handball. Annabel will need someone to intervene in her life. 13

14 Etienne, 12 years old Etienne's father died some years ago. His mother is not educated and has no job, and depends only on subsistent farming to support her children. She has no money to send her children to school. Etienne attends the Primary school in Jinkfuin and is in class 5. He is good at mathematics. Etienne loves football and going tadpoling in the dry season. 14

15 Romanus, 10 years old His mother died in September 2007 as a result of abortion. She was not married and left behind four children, three of whom live with their uncle, who is blind and cannot earn a good living. Their aunt is a subsistence farmer. Romanus is in Class 4 in the integrated school ALMBDC. His favourite subject is maths. Sponsorship would enable Romanus to complete his education, and provide him with the resources that would allow him to gain the maximum benefit. In his present situation, this is highly unlikely as his uncle s family simply cannot afford it. 15

16 Nelisse, 10 years old Nelisse's father died in 2009, following a long illness. His mother embarks on farm work and sometimes sells crops to support her children. Nelisse attends the elementary school in Junkfuin. He is in class 3. His main interests after school are hunting and using his catapult. He nees to continue with his primary education, but his mother cannot afford the fees or equipment. Nelisse has a brother and a sister. Both of them already have sponsors, so it would be wonderful for Nelisse to find one as well. 16

17 Hanniel, 12 years old Hanniel has had a sponsor up until a few months ago. Therefore it would be wonderful for him to find another sponsor, to help him continue to thrive. 17

18 Linda, 15 years old Linda's father died in 2006 after being ill for two months. Her mother does subsistent farming and sells some crops to feed her children. The crops are potatoes, but these are seasonal. She has nine children, and four of these are living with her. Linda loves schooling, doing the household chores - she never complains. Her favourite sport is handball. She also loves caring for the young children in the house. Her favourite subject at school is English Language. If Linda doesn t find a sponsor, she will be unable to go to college and will have to give up her education. 18

19 Janet, 11 years old Janet is Linda s little sister. She attends the primary school in Jinkfuin. She has been helped by Goodness and Mercy Missions up to this level. Janet's favourite subject in school is Nature Study. She loves children's games, especially skipping. She also loves telling African folktales to her friends. Janet will almost definitely face tough times if no one sponsors her. She has largely been helped by GMM so far, but she desperately needs help in all areas of her life. 19

20 Melvine, 11 years old Melvine loves reading and playing football. He lives with his mother and brothers. His mother is a widow and supports her children with subsistence farming. This is not enough to support him through school. 20

21 Gladys, 13 years old Gladys is a smart and thoughtful girl. She likes to read in her spare time. Gladys lives with her disabled mother. Her father died some time ago. Gladys wants to be a teacher when she is older, but it will stay a dream, if she doesn t find a sponsor. 21

22 Quincy, 8 years old Quincy loves reading and visiting her friends. Her mother is a widow, and does the best she can to support her. Quincy needs an education to give her hope for the future. 22

23 Let s form a Sponsoring Team today! Together we can make a difference! Join our Facebook group: You can also visit our website for the additional information about the work of GMM: 23