We asked some of our employees and sponsors to share the most important things they thought you should know for a meaningful child sponsorship journey. What follows is their collective wisdom and encouragement.
1. You’re an Example
“You are an example of the goals that the child is now able to dream of.” — Compassion employee, Colombia
2. The Child You Sponsor Waits for Your Words
“Behind each letter you receive, there is always a hopeful child waiting for a word of encouragement.” — Compassion employee, Colombia
3. Each Child & Culture Is Different
“Not all sponsored children will be engaged in the program the same way. Each child and culture is different, with different backgrounds and ideals. For example, try not to compare how often your friend’s sponsored child writes vs. how often your sponsored child writes to you.” — Ruth, Compassion sponsor
4. Letters May Seem Repetitive in Certain Cultures
“Latin American culture is oral. We like to make jokes, to hug, to laugh out loud, to express ourselves orally, but we are not used to expressing ourselves through writing. This is why you may find that sometimes letters seem repetitive or shallow.” — Compassion employee, Honduras
5. Your Letters Motivate Children
“Many children feel discouraged when they don’t receive letters from their sponsors and other children do. Children feel so much more motivated when they receive letters. It makes them feel loved, motivated and encouraged to keep at the Compassion program. The children and their families treasure the letters as very valuable items. Not sure what to write? Pray on it; you’ll find the right words.” — Compassion employee, Honduras
6. Your Letters Are Prized Possessions
“Children highly value your letters and usually keep them inside a special box (e.g., an old shoebox made beautiful with colorful designs and drawings). There have been documented cases (from numerous Compassion countries) when, during typhoons and floods, this box was one of the first things the children thought of rescuing.” — Edwin Estioko, Compassion employee
7. The Child You Sponsor Is Cared for By the Church
“The child you sponsor is helped through a local church partner — not a community center. The child comes to the church center and is ministered to by the church-based staff. The child you sponsor is known by name.” — Former Compassion employee
8. Sponsorship Says, “You’re Valued”
“Poverty does more than rob a child of his or her physical life; the child loses his or her God-given sense of dignity and self-worth. Children in poverty miss out on the understanding that God loves them. Child Sponsorship helps to rebuild a child’s sense of God-given value and meets his or her spiritual, physical, educational and relational needs.” — Former Compassion employee
9. Every Sponsorship Experience Is Unique
“Your sponsorship may be a different experience than what you initially think it will be. And you may never know the full impact your sponsorship has on a child’s life. Be okay with letting it be exactly what God wants it to be.” — Becky, Compassion sponsor
10. Don’t Forget the Critical Letter Details
“When writing to your sponsored child, please make sure your sponsor number and the child’s number are included on the letter. This saves us hours of research in determining which child to send the letter to.” — Former Compassion employee
11. Short Letters Are Best
“Short, frequent letters are better than yearly updates. And keep in mind it may take several months to receive a response.” — Former Compassion employee
12. The Child You Sponsor Wants to Know You
“The two things that are far more important than your financial commitment to sponsoring a child are your prayers and your letters. When children don’t get letters, and they regularly write letters to you, it gets very discouraging. They want to know you.” — Kees, Compassion sponsor
13. Community Is Critical at Compassion Centers
“The interaction, guidance, prayer and support of loving, caring adults in the lives of children is core to our sponsorship program. The exact ratio of adults to children at each development center is determined jointly by each church partner and our local country office. While some development centers may have 50 children enrolled and others may have 400, it's up to the church to determine how many volunteers and staff are needed to run the program and to provide individual attention to each child.” — Former Compassion employee
14. It’s Important to Keep Your Info Updated
“Having a current email address or cell phone number on file allows us to share important sponsorship information with you more quickly, eliminating the need to wait for mail to arrive. And in cases we need to share crisis information affecting the child you sponsor, getting that information to you as quickly as possible is our goal.” — Matthew Kruger, Compassion employee
15. Consistent Encouragement Is Key
“Just remember that your sponsored children are going to read your letters again and again, as you do theirs. They will notice recurring themes. I tell Mateo in just about every letter that I am proud of him. I’ve been sponsoring him since he was 6; he’s now 13. A sentence in his last letter really melted my heart. He thanked me for being his sponsor and for always believing that he could do great things. Then he asked me to keep writing him.” — Jennifer, Compassion sponsor
16. Children May Have Help Writing Letters
“Generally, our registered children start attending school when they are 7 or 8 years old. They start in first grade (without going to kindergarten) and are not able to write and read very well until they are in third grade of elementary school. That is why many letters are written by a tutor or a parent, until they are able to write in a legible way. And in many instances, even the parents don’t know how to write and read, so almost every letter is written by the child’s tutor.” — Compassion employee, Guatemala
17. Language Differences Can Make Writing a Challenge
“In Guatemala, we have 23 different languages, and that is one reason children raised with their native language find difficulties in learning how to express themselves correctly in Spanish, until they are 11 or 12 years old. Additionally, many volunteers at the development centers don’t understand Spanish, so they can't help write letters. The ones who barely understand Spanish find it difficult to write good-quality letters. They also are not used to writing letters.” — Compassion employee, Guatemala
18. Sponsorship Doesn’t Work Overnight
“Always know that whatever level of engagement you have with the child you are sponsoring, you are making a difference in his or her life. Stay the course. The fruit of sponsoring a child takes time; it is not an overnight matter. It takes steady, consistent support and prayer.” — Catherine, sponsor
19. Avoid Direct Communication
“We ask that you don’t communicate directly with your sponsored child, via e-mail, phone, Facebook, etc., outside of the letter-writing channel we offer. This is to protect the child you sponsor. Direct communication can develop into problematic situations — for you, the child and us. Before a child is registered in our program, the child and the parents agree to our communication guidelines. Initiating contact outside of Compassion places the child, family and church partner staff in a difficult situation.” — Former Compassion employee
You’ve heard the heartfelt experiences of team members and sponsors. They’ve shared their wisdom and insights, expressing the profound impact that your letters and support can have on a child’s life. Let their words guide you as you deliver hope to a child in need through sponsorship.
