My sponsored kids amaze me

[May1980]

I just wanted to share that I’ve really felt blessed lately getting to know through letters some of the kids I sponsor around the world. They have almost nothing (certainly enough food would be a luxury), and they are so sweet, have a strong faith in God, and work hard (many help on family or orphanage farms). For many of them, getting to go to school is a dream come true. They are all faiths (Christian, Hindu, Muslim, etc.) and most tell me God bless. They are real blessings and I hope they can reach their dreams.

Even the staff who work with them have told me, about some of them, how they never complain. I cringe that my own biological children (ages up to 11), who lack for nothing really, complain about school, feel church ruins their Sunday, fight over food when there is plenty…not saying anyone wants their kids to live in abject poverty or lose even their own family members to disease or war, but these kids across the ocean are a good reminder of how to appreciate what one does have and continue on despite challenges. I’ve even sought out some from locations where there are terrible challenges or war (Syria, Iraq, Indonesia, Yemen), and suddenly those problems are not “over there” but affecting real people I write to.

 

[Theo520]

Have you considered the concept of subsidiarity, and looked into perhaps helping foster kids in your own city?

 

[TheHolyTrinity]

Thank you May for sharing your joy.

My parents also sponsered a young girl in Africa and it was enjoyable to write to her and also to recieve letters from her and her family.

 

[Theo520]

My parents also sponsered a young girl in Africa and it was enjoyable to write to her and also to recieve letters from her and her family.

From ;my time in Guatemala, I learned that the letter writing is a highly orchestrated process by the marketing team in these non-profits. The kids are highly coached in their letter writing.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Yes, someone I know used to sponsor kids in distant foreign countries. They stopped after they received, slightly spaced apart, two identical letters from their sponsored child. It seemed either the child was being given a script to copy, or someone else was writing the letters.

Because of that, I am always suspicious of these sponsor organizations. And will only donate to foreign countries if it is being run by a reputable group (such as one of the Missio organizations, or a Catholic order pemitted to do fundraising at our Sunday masses). And of course you can donate to children’'s charities in your own city and see with your own eyes what is being done for the kids.

 

[kesa82]

Have you considered the concept of subsidiarity,

That is precisely why I write checks to one kid on the other side of the world . I’m afraid if I wrote such checks to one kid next door I would be met with hostility , not a “Thank You”.

I am always suspicious of these sponsor organizations

I can think of a score of jobs which are essentially no different than they were 50 years ago. Yet, 50 years ago, such jobs only required a high school diploma , or not even that.
But, increasingly these same jobs require some sort of credential you have to pay considerable sums for, when, meanwhile, the jobs available to the young steadily dwindle.

Few protest or criticize any of this, and least of all , educators.

Just one of dozens of reasons I’m suspicious of pretty much anything and everything having —at least supposedly — to do with children.

But the alternative is to write them off completely. shrug

 

[Theo520]

Yes, someone I know used to sponsor kids in distant foreign countries. They stopped after they received, slightly spaced apart, two identical letters from their sponsored child. It seemed either the child was being given a script to copy, or someone else was writing the letters.

Because of that, I am always suspicious of these sponsor organizations. And will only donate to foreign countries if it is being run by a reputable group (such as one of the Missio organizations, or a Catholic order pemitted to do fundraising at our Sunday masses). And of course you can donate to children’'s charities in your own city and see with your own eyes what is being done for the kids.

They’ve elevated fundraising to a high art form, they really know how to pluck the emotional strings.

That being said, I wouldn’t say the don’t do good. For example they show up with a truckload of shoes and distribute them among the villagers. I think they provide help but it’s less targeted than it appears.