Child Sponsor Handbook

Child Sponsor Handbook

About World Vision World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities living in poverty. We serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision, cares for needy children around the world. As followers of Jesus, we are dedicated to working with the world s most vulnerable people. World Vision was established by Dr. Bob Pierce, an American journalist, in 1950. Currently, we are working in nearly 100 countries. World Vision focuses on children because when they are well fed, sheltered, schooled, protected, valued, and loved, a community thrives. Our Vision Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness; Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so. Our Core Values We are Christian We value people We are partners We are committed to the poor We are stewards We are responsive

Contents 1-2 Learn about Child Sponsorship What is Child Sponsorship? How does Child Sponsorship help children? 3-5 Build a relationship with your sponsored child Sponsorship information you will receive Writing to your sponsored child Sending gifts to your sponsored child Sending greeting cards to your sponsored child 6 Activities for child sponsors New sponsor orientation 7-8 FAQs Sponsor gathering Visiting your sponsored child

Learn about Child Sponsorship What is Child Sponsorship? World Vision Child Sponsorship is a child-focused and community-based programme which aims at improving the long-term livelihood of a sponsored child, his/her family and the entire community. How does Child Sponsorship help children? World Vision pools together the monthly donations from sponsors to implement Area Development Programmes (ADP) in sponsored children s communities. Typically, an ADP will last for 15 years, covering a wide range of development projects including water, agriculture, healthcare, education and economic development. Community participation is strongly encouraged and valued because it is through this process that community members are empowered to establish a self-reliant and sustainable community where your sponsored child will grow and blossom. Phases of an ADP Trust building Years 1-3 Build partnership Joint planning and decision-making Gradual transformation Years 4-14 Momentum builds on initial project success Increase community ownership Sustainable development Year 15 to project close Establish capacity and confidence Community-led development 1

A thriving community enriches children s lives Implemented by World Vision in 2006, Birampur ADP in Bangladesh has worked with the villagers to improve nutrition, education and economic development in their communities for the benefit of their children. Islam, a sponsored child, is one of the beneficiaries. Through the nutrition project, women have learnt to prepare nutritious meals from local produce. They have also become more aware of proper personal hygiene, which helps improve children s health. Farming households have received training in agriculture and livestock rearing, which enables them to increase their family income and become more food secure. As part of the women s group, Islam s mother learned to sew. She has since been able to bring in extra income while taking care of her family at the same time. She has also enjoyed a higher status in the family. Islam has witnessed gradual improvement of his living environment. He is delighted to have a caring and encouraging sponsor who gives him support as he grows. 2

Build a relationship with your sponsored child Sponsorship information you will receive At the start A picture folder It contains your child s photo and personal details, as well as his/her country s profile. Through these you can better understand your child s background and the needs of the family and community. Child s introductory letter Excited to have you as his/her sponsor, your child will write you the first letter 1 with the assistance of World Vision field staff. The letter marks the beginning of a unique relationship between you and your child. One year on Annual Progress Report After a year of sponsorship, you will start receiving your child s annual progress report 2 which provides updates on your child s growth and the progress of the ADP. You will also find a recent photo of your child. Child Sponsorship Annual Report In mid-year, you will receive this report which summarises World Vision s global programme achievements in the previous financial year. 3 Remarks: 1 For young children who can t write yet, their letters will be written by relatives, friends or World Vision field staff on their behalf. 2 Please contact us if you have not received your child s Annual Progress Report by the end of the year.

Writing to your sponsored child Your sponsored child loves to hear from you. A nice and simple letter would warm his/her heart. Please be patient while waiting for your child s reply as it takes time for delivery. If you do not receive a reply 4 months after you have sent your letter, please contact us for follow-up. Mailing Letters should be sent directly to the World Vision office in your child s country. If translation into English is required, please send it to World Vision Hong Kong. Child s name and ID number XXX ABC-123456-0000 Dear..., How are you? XXX 654321 Your name and your partner number Name of World Vision Office Office Address AIR MAIL The address of the World Vision office in your child s country is printed at bottom right corner of the picture folder. Writing eletters You may also write your sponsored child an eletter at www.worldvision.org.hk/en/child-sponsorship/eletter which will be directed to the World Vision office in your sponsored child s country. Tips: Due to different cultural and living environment, avoid sensitive topics such as wealth, religion and politics. To protect your privacy, do NOT disclose your contact details such as address, email or phone number in the letters. Letters from all sponsors will be screened before they are sent to your sponsored child. Any sensitive or culturally inappropriate content and sponsors contact details will be removed. 4

Sending gifts to your sponsored child We usually encourage sponsors to write more frequently to sponsored children. Your love and support to your sponsored child are already the best gift of all! However, if you would like to send gifts, please note the following: Your gift should fit into an A4 envelope Do not send bulky or expensive gifts because this may stir jealousy amongst the children, and will increase our administrative and handling costs Avoid gifts with religious messages as sponsored children are from culturally different backgrounds. E.g. pigs are regarded as unclean by Muslims, so any gifts with pig images or graphics to Muslim sponsored children are strongly discouraged. Recommended gifts Postcards Birthday cards Photographs Stickers Bookmarks Stationery Gifts to avoid Clothes * Food * Jewellery * Cash * Second-hand items * Watches or other electronic products * Fabric products (applied to DR Congo only) * Some countries have import restrictions and impose high taxes on these goods Sending greeting cards to your sponsored child Every year, World Vision will design a festive greeting card for you to send your love and blessings to your sponsored child. A sponsored child in Bangladesh smiles cheerfully as she receives the greeting card from her sponsor in Hong Kong. 5

Activities for child sponsors New sponsor orientation * (Monthly) This is specially designed for new child sponsors. You can learn more about our Child Sponsorship and how to communicate with your sponsored child. Sponsor gathering * (Annual) You will gain a better understanding of how your contributions can help your sponsored child and his/her community. You are also welcome to share about your sponsorship journey. Visiting your sponsored child Supporter tour Sponsors are welcome to join our supporter tours, which are organised on a regular basis. Participants may see in person the lives and needs of local people, and understand the development works of World Vision. If your sponsored child lives in the area, we will try our best to arrange for you to meet your child in person. Gigi had an unforgettable experience meeting her sponsored child, Nada, in India. Self-guided visit A self-guided visit to your sponsored child can be arranged through World Vision s offices worldwide. Please notify us at least three months prior to your departure to allow for the necessary arrangements with field offices. Since sponsored children usually live in remote areas with limited communication network, it takes time for us to coordinate with the field staff to ensure your safety during the visit. * The gathering will be conducted in Cantonese 6

FAQs How much of my monthly donation actually goes to my sponsored child? Your monthly donation will be pooled with that of the other sponsors to implement an ADP in your sponsored child s community cash will not be given directly to your child or the child s family. To free a child from poverty, it is more effective to help his/her community achieve sustainable development than to just meet the child s individual needs. For example, instead of using donations to buy water for sponsored children, we will help the community dig wells and train villagers to maintain the water supply system, so that the whole community can have access to clean water, with future generations also benefiting from this lasting change. How long does a sponsorship usually last? The duration of sponsorship varies according to the progress of the community s development. When the community has achieved self-reliance and the ADP is closing, your sponsorship will also come to an end. However, changes in a child s circumstances may also affect the duration. Your sponsorship will end when your sponsored child finishes school, gets married, moves out of the community, * or when his or her family has achieved a better living. In these cases, we will give you a written notification, and transfer your sponsorship to another child in need. If you prefer other arrangements, please contact our Donor Services Department. * Some sponsored children may leave the community temporarily for specific reasons. To avoid losing their sponsorship, World Vision s field staff will monitor their situations for six months. Once we confirm that a child has permanently moved out of the community, we will notify the child sponsor. Donations received during the period will be used to support the ongoing development projects in the child s community. 7

Can I share my sponsored child s information through social media or other channels? You are welcome to share the joy of sponsorship with your friends and relatives and invite them to become child sponsors, helping more needy children. However, please take note of the following to ensure your sponsored child s safety and privacy: The child must be adequately clothed in the shared photos. Family name, sponsorship ID and location/address of the child should NOT be disclosed. Uploaded child photos should NOT be geo-tagged to the precise locations of sponsored child. Storage and transmission of the child s personal information using internet, mobile devices, or other electronic means should be password-protected. When will I get the donation receipt? At the beginning of each fiscal year, you will receive an annual receipt detailing all your donations made in the previous financial year. If you require receipts for individual payments, please contact our Donor Services Department. How can I donate? Direct debit is the most effective donation method in reducing our administrative costs. Besides, you can use credit card, PPS (Payment by Phone Service), crossed cheques, our online donation service, or you can visit our office in person to make your donations. 8

World Vision Hong Kong 2/F Mayfair Centre, 4 Anchor Street Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong Hotline: (852) 2394 2394 Fax: (852) 2394 4844 (852) 2789 4744 Email: hotline@worldvision.org.hk Web: www.worldvision.org.hk World Vision of Macau Association Rua de Abreu Nunes No. 6, Edf. lao Lun 1 Andar A, Macau Hotline: (853) 2835 2740 Fax: (853) 2835 2737 Email: macauservices@worldvision.org.hk Web: www.worldvision.org.hk/macau World Vision Hong Kong, incorporated with limited liability, is a Christian humanitarian organisation working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities living in poverty. 2013 CS13h13/EN