WHY SPONSOR A CHILD WITH WORLD VISION?

Incredibly, at World Vision, Child Sponsorship has been around for 75 years. Yet, for many people, it's something they're not entirely familiar with or may fully understand. You too may have questions: What are the benefits of sponsoring a specific child? What happens to other children who aren't sponsored but live in the same community? How do I know the money I give truly makes a difference? 

Maybe you're thinking about sponsoring a child but need to know more before you take that first step. You want to be sure it's the right thing to do in a world where there's so much need and where so many children are struggling to survive.  

If this is you, read on. We’re here to lift the lid on modern-day Child Sponsorship by looking at:

• What the benefits of sponsoring a child are
• What sponsoring a child involves
• Why World Vision is the charity you should choose to sponsor a child through.

What are the benefits of sponsoring a child?

There are many, many benefits to sponsoring a child, but here are three key ones.

1. A personal connection

Sponsoring a child is the beginning of a meaningful and unique journey. It offers you a window into another part of the world – into the life, culture, and daily experiences of a child and their community, often thousands of miles away. You get to walk alongside them (in a metaphorical sense) as they grow up. You can write letters, send photos, wish them a happy birthday, send Christmas cards, and even choose thoughtful, appropriate gifts.

In return, you'll receive handwritten letters – and sometimes drawings – where they share stories about their daily life, family, and interests. You’ll also get video messages, photos, and community updates, so you can see the real impact your support is having.

Over time, you’ll build a connection with the child you sponsor, helping them feel loved and supported. You’ll be one of the people in their lives who inspires them to follow their dreams.

2. A transformational partnership

Rather than going directly to one child or family, your monthly gift is used where it can make the greatest impact, investing in the entire community to help create a stronger, more supportive environment for your sponsored child to thrive.

Together, child sponsors are funding:

• Water points with safe, clean water, saving children and adults from walking many miles a day for dirty water that makes them sick.
• Toilets and handwashing facilities in schools and health clinics – keeping children safe from illness, giving girls dignity during their periods, and helping mothers deliver their babies safely.
• Support for families with seeds and tools that withstand drought and floods, so they can grow their own food and feel confident about the future, season after season.
• Community-based business training and savings groups so families can diversify their incomes and plan ahead.
• Skills training for young people who’ve dropped out of school due to poverty, teen pregnancy or to financially support their siblings.
• After-school reading clubs that boost learning and confidence.
• Child rights training for children, parents, community members and leaders, as well as safeguarding activities that keep children safe and protected from harm.

These are just some of the initiatives World Vision child sponsors support, helping to make an incredible difference in the quality of children’s lives, including individual sponsored children.

And what’s more, these activities aren’t done for them – they’re done together with them. Children and community members are at the heart of every programme, taking ownership and leadership over the work being done to change lives for good. 

3. It’s more than just one child

For every one child sponsored through World Vision, four more benefit. 

Those four children may still be waiting for a sponsor, or they may not want to be sponsored but they need support too and will also benefit from your giving. 

What does sponsoring a child involve?

In its simplest form, sponsorship is donating money to help free a child from poverty. 

Through World Vision, there are two pathways: choosing a child or being chosen by a child.

Option one: Sponsor a child

When you first visit our Sponsor a Child page, we’ll introduce you to a child who needs a sponsor today. If you’d prefer, you can specifically sponsor a boy or girl, a child from a particular country, or even a child the same age as your own children. On our website, you can narrow the search by age range, gender and country. So you can look for a girl aged 7-9 in Nepal or a boy aged 4-6 in Malawi.

You can also choose to see which children have been waiting the longest for a sponsor.

Option two: Be Chosen

Chosen is a relatively new initiative where the power to choose is in the child's hands. At present, communities in Uganda are piloting the Chosen approach, hosting regular parties for children to pick their new sponsors. It's always an exciting and special occasion for the children choosing! To take part, you'll send in a photo of yourself, and we'll let you know which child has picked you.

FIND OUT MORE: Chosen sponsorship

How to sponsor a child

If you’re going with option one, head to our Sponsor page - it's quick and simple. You’ll be asked to provide a few details, including payment. You can choose how much you give, starting from £30 per month, which works out at less than £1 a day.

When all of this is complete, you’ll receive more details about your sponsored child. You’ll also be able to sign up for a My Sponsorship account, where you can add your own photo, write your first letter and learn more about your sponsored child and their community.

Why is World Vision the best charity to sponsor a child through?

World Vision has been around since 1950 and is one of the largest children’s charities in the world. We work in some of the hardest places to live, helping children not only survive but thrive.

Choose World Vision to sponsor a child because:

• We have 75 years of experience in working alongside children, families and communities, helping them not just to survive but thrive.
• Sponsoring a child with World Vision doesn’t create division within a community – the whole community benefits, including the sponsored child, their siblings, parents and friends. Remember, for every one child sponsored, four more benefit.
• You will get to see the progress first-hand. You'll receive regular updates from the community, and can learn about the progress being made in our annual reports. You’ll be kept fully informed.
• Through our programmes, children are empowered to know their rights and can participate in making decisions that impact them.
• We have stringent policies and procedures in place to protect children – as well as vulnerable adults – from all forms of harm.
• It's simple and easy to stay in touch with your sponsored child – and you can do so as often or as little as you feel comfortable.

Become a World Vision sponsor today

It only takes a few minutes to start your journey, but the impact lasts for years to come and breaks generational poverty for good.