A smiling boy in a group of boys straining to read a letter from a sponsor

Sponsor a Child

10 Ways to Choose a Child to Sponsor

You Want to Sponsor a Child but You Don't Know Where to Begin.

"Exactly how does one go about choosing a child?" It's a daunting prospect when you consider the affect your sponsorship can have on the child and the child’s family.

How do you choose whom to help and whom someone else must help?

Here are 10 suggestions.

1. Choose a child who has been waiting the longest.

There are children who have been waiting for months and months, hoping and praying that the Lord will bring them a sponsor. Are you the answer to their prayers?

2. Let your kids pick.

When many of us talk about sponsorship, one of the things we point out is how it has transformed the lives of our kids. Our kids have learned caring, sharing and empathy. They’ve learned to write letters. Sponsorship has piqued their interest in the world around them.

Give your children ownership in the sponsorship process. Let them choose.

The thought and care they put into the decision just may surprise you.

3. Consider a child who is mentally or physically challenged.

Do you have a heart for children living with a medical condition? Perhaps it's a population you work with. Consider taking your ministry global and sponsor a child who is mentally or physically challenged.

Your sponsorship will help that child access treatment and support. Your letters and prayers will bring him or her hope.

4. Browse compassion.com.

We have thousands of unsponsored children here on compassion.com. Look around a bit. You may find a child who grabs your heart.

5. Pray.

Isn’t it ultimately God who leads us down the right path? Pray for guidance. Pray that God will bring you to that one child whom you are perfectly and ideally able to love, nurture and encourage.

6. Choose by country.

Is there a particular location you are interested in? Is God repeatedly drawing your heart to a certain region? If so, you may want to choose a child based on where he or she lives.

Warning: Whichever country you choose, you will come to care for it deeply.

Drought in Ethiopia, hurricanes in Haiti, flooding in Bangladesh — these will no longer be just headlines in a newspaper for you. Your heart will be tied to that part of the world.

7. Choose by age.

Are you interested in corresponding with an older child, a youth on the verge of adulthood, a teenager or pre-teen? Perhaps you want a child who is the same age or is close in age to one of your own children.

8. Choose by cause.

Orphaned child
Affected by HIV/AIDS
With a higher risk of exploitation or abuse

9. Find a child who shares your birthday.

Kids think it’s cool to share a birthday — your Compassion kid will, too. It’s a special link to share with another person.

10. Let us decide.

If you are ready to sponsor but prefer not to choose, we can select a child for you.

Call us at (800) 336-7676. Or choose our online "Select a Child for Me" option.

Special thanks to sponsor Lisa Miles for contributing to this article.

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With Compassion, your donation is used wisely to help children around the world.

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HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPASSION AND HOW WE WORK?

We know that donating to a charity is an important decision, and encourage you to fully research an organization before you donate. If you have any unanswered questions about Compassion’s commitment to financial integrity or how we help those in need, please contact us today.

Questions?

Please call us at 800-336-7676, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. MT, to speak with a Compassion representative.