Independent researchers have conducted an in-depth study of Compassion’s child sponsorship program to determine its impact on the adult life outcomes of formerly sponsored children. The researchers concluded that Compassion’s program has large and statistically significant impacts on the educational, employment and leadership outcomes of our children. This research has been peer-reviewed and will be published in the April issue of the Journal of Political Economy—one of the most prestigious economics journals in the world.
More Education
The research found that former Compassion sponsored children stay in school longer than their non-sponsored peers.
- Former Compassion sponsored children stay in school 1 to 1.5 years longer than their non-sponsored peers. (In Uganda, the numbers are much higher—2.4 years.) An extra year of schooling could have long-lasting impact on a child’s future employment possibilities as an adult.
- Former Compassion sponsored children were 27-40% more likely to finish secondary education than those who were not enrolled in the child sponsorship program.
- Former Compassion sponsored children were 50-80% more likely to complete a university education than non-sponsored children.
- When asked which component of Compassion’s program was most beneficial to the formerly sponsored children, the most common answer given was “educational support” (38.5%). The second-most common response related to “spiritual or character development” (29.4%).
Employment
The research found that former Compassion sponsored children were more likely to have salaried/white-collar jobs than their non-sponsored peers.
- Former Compassion sponsored children were 14-18% more likely to have salaried employment than their non-sponsored peers.
- As adults, former Compassion sponsored children were roughly 35% more likely to secure white-collar employment than their non-sponsored peers.
Leadership
The research found that former Compassion sponsored children were more likely to be leaders in their communities and churches.
- Former Compassion sponsored children were 30-75% more likely to become community leaders as adults than their non-sponsored peers.
- Former Compassion sponsored children were 40-70% more likely to become church leaders as adults than their non-sponsored peers.
- Compassion sponsorship increases the probability that a child becomes a teacher by 63%.