At What Age Does Sponsorship End?
Compassion’s mission is to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. By the time they graduate from our program, we want them to have the tools they need to grow into thriving adults empowered to leave poverty behind.
Most children are ready to leave the Compassion sponsorship program somewhere between the ages of 18 and 22. The graduation age varies by country and is also dependent on when a young adult meets our completion guidelines (we’ll discuss this in more detail later).
Some Circumstances Can Cause Children to Leave the Program Early
Although we’d love for every child we serve to complete our program, this sometimes isn’t the case. Some children have to leave the program early. Why?
Children may leave because their family’s financial situation has improved. Others may have parents who decide to remove them from the program for various reasons. For example, parents may want the child to care for a younger sibling while they work.
The most common reason children leave our program early is because their family has moved to a place where we don’t yet have a Compassion center.
Whatever the case, we make the most of the time any child is in the program. Even if it’s shorter than expected, we know our church partners share the love of Christ and plant seeds that will continue to grow, even if children have to leave the program.
Currently, Compassion partners with 8,000+ local churches in 29 countries and counting. We’re actively working to open new Compassion centers across the globe.
What Happens After a Child Graduates From the Program?
When a child graduates from the Compassion program, it’s a cause for celebration! This means they’re now equipped with the tools to leave poverty behind, from confidence and education to physical health. They’re poised and ready to reach their God-given potential.
So what does life after Compassion look like? According to a recent survey of 100 Compassion alumni in the Dominican Republic:
97% surveyed said they were released from poverty in Jesus’ name.
95% surveyed said participation helped them have hope in their adult life.
95% surveyed said participation helped them achieve their educational goals.
95% surveyed said the Compassion center helped them have self-confidence in their adult life.
92% surveyed said participation helped them provide their children with a better life.
79% surveyed said participation helped them break the cycle of poverty in their family.
90% surveyed reported serving in their community, with 73% doing so at least weekly.
We’ve watched as Compassion graduates have become doctors, pastors, loving parents, nurses, inventors, aspiring college students, members of parliament and beyond.
These Compassion Alumni Are Changing Lives
Meet John: From Struggling in Poverty to Community Hero
John grew up in an impoverished community in Haiti, where his family couldn’t afford school fees or even enough to eat. To John, the future was incredibly uncertain. Then, one day, he was registered at his local Compassion center.
At the center and through the support of a loving sponsor, John received the care he so desperately needed, from nutritious meals to an education. As he grew, he found his confidence and excelled in his studies. This led John to a successful career in banking after graduating from the Compassion program.
After a few years in banking, John felt God calling him to something more. Now, he serves as a Compassion center director in his impoverished community, working to release other children from poverty.
Meet Frizky: From Abandoned to Hope Giver
When Frizky was a child, he was abandoned by his parents. While his grandparents took him in, they struggled to survive, unable to afford the food and care he needed. Anything beyond the absolute bare essentials was out of the question, including an education.
When Frizky was registered at his Compassion center, things changed. Compassion staff mentored Frizky and provided him with the care he needed, from food and medical care to an education and the belonging he desperately needed after being abandoned.
After he graduated from the Compassion program, Frizky went to university to study agriculture. Remembering what life was like as a hungry child living in an impoverished community, he formulated a plan: He would use his knowledge to build a hydroponic greenhouse for his Compassion center.
Now, Frizky’s greenhouse is thriving and provides fresh produce for people in his community. Plus, the greenhouse provides learning opportunities for the children who attend the Compassion center, teaching them how to grow food to feed their own families. Through Frizky’s efforts, a whole community has hope.
John and Frizky are just two of the incredible young adults who have graduated from the Compassion program and gone on to achieve their God-given potential and give back to those around them. With love and care from supporters around the world (like you!) thousands of other children can do the same.
