Child Sponsorship Reviews & Testimonials

Child Sponsorship reviews

Child Sponsorship pairs you, the sponsor, with a child who needs your help. Once you’re matched with a child, you’ll be their only sponsor. Your monthly donation is pooled together with the donations from all of the child sponsors in the community, and that money is used to make changes that are desperately needed to transform the lives of everyone that lives there. You’ll see changes such as improved schooling, clean water taps, healthcare facilities, and more, through the eyes of the child via letters, photos, and updates.

Being a child sponsor is a life-changing experience, but don’t just take our word for it, hear directly from sponsors in the Child Sponsorship reviews below.

A young boy in Kenya smiles at the camera

Judith, sponsor for 30 years

"The first child we sponsored was a boy of 10 from Haiti. His father was disabled and his family very poor. We supported him through school and training as a tailor. When he left school he was given a sewing machine. In his last letter he thanked us and said he could now support his family. A humbling and enriching experience."

A young girl in a child-friendly-space in Bangladesh smiles and holds up a drawing

Scott, sponsor for 15 years

"Many times over the years I have felt I am making a big difference to Sinory's life and her community. When I see the major changes that have been made to their village and way of life I am very happy...Things we take for granted such as basic health care and education, clean water, a road, yes, something as simple as a road makes such a huge difference to these people. Most recently I bought her a bike to go to school on and this will really help with her education as she is older now and the school is further away."

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Harriet, mum of two, sponsor for over 11 years

“I have one sponsored child at the minute, Rimer, he’s 11. Being a Mum, you feel like you want to help someone else’s child. It’s really heartwarming. It’s so nice to read about his family, school life and seeing the improvement in his writing is lovely.”

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Shemi, mum of two, sponsor for over 14 years

Sponsoring Racheal was life-changing for Shemi’s whole family. Her sons watched Racheal grow up letter by letter, rushing to open the envelopes, each time amazed at the transformation. After sponsoring Racheal, they chose to sponsor a little boy, Vincent. Shemi’s sons loved writing to him about their favourite football teams. Shemi says “I would say to someone who is thinking about sponsoring a child - go ahead and do it, it is the most life-changing thing ever!”

What does it feel like to be a child sponsor?

To watch them grow and flourish is inspiring and deeply satisfying

Judith, sponsor for 30 years

It makes me feel that I am doing something positive (no matter how small)

David, sponsor for nine months

It feels very meaningful to be a sponsor, to be a positive in a child's life

Jane, sponsor for 10 months

It's a responsibility that fills my heart with love

Francisco, sponsor for two years

Heart warming and very special

James, sponsor for 25 years

Just great, only wish I had started earlier in life

Helen, sponsor for 10 years

To enable a child to have an education is very special

Esther, sponsor for 14 years

Getting to sponsor a child feels life-changing for me

Gabby, sponsor for three years

What to expect when you sponsor a child

How does Child Sponsorship work? Here's what it involves for you, and how sponsoring one child changes the lives of many.

One: Visit our Child Sponsorship page to find children waiting to be sponsored.

Two: You'll receive a welcome pack with a photo, more information, and a letter from your sponsored child, plus you can send a letter back.

Three: Your generous monthly donations will help transform the community; from building schools and boreholes for clean water, to providing protection.

Four: In your regular updates you'll see the community and child flourish before your eyes. You'll also receive letters or drawings, and you can send birthday and Christmas cards.

Five: You won't just be helping one child. Because of our community-focused solutions, for every child sponsored, four more benefit, too.

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Amanda Redman, child sponsor since 1997

Celebrity Ambassador Amanda Redman has loved the experience of sponsoring a child and seeing her grow up alongside her own daughter.

Amanda's daughter Emily was the same age as Diaw, when they first began sponsoring her. They grew up alongside each other, in different continents, and formed a wonderful friendship.

"Diaw would write letters, to Emily particularly, and tell her about what was going on in her daily life... so I think that has opened her eyes in a way that has formed her to the young woman that she is now."

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Child Sponsorship FAQs

You can easily sign up to sponsor a child on the Sponsor a Child page or by calling our Supporter Care Team on 01908 84 10 10.
World Vision has had a Child Sponsorship programme for more than 70 years, we pair donors with a vulnerable child who needs protection and empowerment.

Child Sponsorship brings much-needed change to more than just one child — the benefits you help provide extends to each child's family, their community and other children in need.

This is because World Vision partners, plans and works alongside local community members to help build healthy, sustainable communities for vulnerable children in the world’s hardest places. Learn more about how Child Sponsorship works.
All of World Vision's work begins with listening to communities in need. Community leaders work with us to identify the most vulnerable children and families who will benefit from Child Sponsorship.
We work with national governments and other international agencies to identify the regions and communities that are most in need and where the most vulnerable children live. We then meet with community leaders and the wider community to gain a greater understanding of the challenges and the opportunities that exist for them and we develop a long-term plan together, to break the cycle of poverty. Find out more about how Child Sponsorship works.