Child sponsorship
Encyclopedia
Child sponsorship allows an individual, typically in a developed country
, to sponsor, or fund a child in a developing country
until the child becomes self-sufficient. This could mean financially supporting the education, health or security of the sponsored child, or in some cases all of these. This could also mean contributing more widely to the child's community developing without directly helping an individual child.
was one of the first to begin a child sponsorship program, in 1932. Children International (started in 1936), Plan USA (started in 1937) and ChildFund (started in 1938) followed suit as the concept grew in popularity.
Two of the largest and most prominent Child Sponsorship organizations today are World Vision
(started in 1950, with over 4 million children registered in its sponsorship programs worldwide) and Compassion International (started in 1952, with more than 1 million children enrolled).
There is a distinct difference in how programs are operated. Some organizations have actual family homes where the children without parental care are housed, clothed, fed, educated, and nurtured, while others distribute funds to parents, and some, sign up all the children in the catchment area of a community development project such as a medical centre.
Critics have argued that child sponsorship could alienate the relatively privileged sponsored children from their peers and may perpetuate harmful stereotype
s about third-world citizens being helpless. They also claim that child sponsorship causes cultural confusion and unrealistic aspirations on the part of the recipient, and that child sponsorship is expensive to administer. This latter problem has led some charities to offer information about a "typical" child to sponsors rather than one specifically supported by the sponsor.
Developed country
A developed country is a country that has a high level of development according to some criteria. Which criteria, and which countries are classified as being developed, is a contentious issue...
, to sponsor, or fund a child in a developing country
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
until the child becomes self-sufficient. This could mean financially supporting the education, health or security of the sponsored child, or in some cases all of these. This could also mean contributing more widely to the child's community developing without directly helping an individual child.
History
Save the ChildrenSave the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
was one of the first to begin a child sponsorship program, in 1932. Children International (started in 1936), Plan USA (started in 1937) and ChildFund (started in 1938) followed suit as the concept grew in popularity.
Two of the largest and most prominent Child Sponsorship organizations today are World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
(started in 1950, with over 4 million children registered in its sponsorship programs worldwide) and Compassion International (started in 1952, with more than 1 million children enrolled).
Child sponsorship process
After choosing a child to sponsor, the charitable organization that manages the sponsorship typically sends information about the child to the sponsor. These organizations direct money to, and manage communication between sponsored children and their sponsors, including translating letters, and in some cases ensuring that the communications are appropriate. Some organizations pay school fees and other educational needs for the sponsored children and hold a weekly club which includes a supplemental meal, educational and health topics, counseling, and sometimes inspirational teaching.There is a distinct difference in how programs are operated. Some organizations have actual family homes where the children without parental care are housed, clothed, fed, educated, and nurtured, while others distribute funds to parents, and some, sign up all the children in the catchment area of a community development project such as a medical centre.
How sponsorship funds are used
Some major child sponsorship organizations use the funds given for community development and do not claim any direct benefit to the child. Others use the funds directly for the child and their immediate community or family, others again are somewhere in between, with the child benefiting from a wider community project such as a school or medical centre.Critics have argued that child sponsorship could alienate the relatively privileged sponsored children from their peers and may perpetuate harmful stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
s about third-world citizens being helpless. They also claim that child sponsorship causes cultural confusion and unrealistic aspirations on the part of the recipient, and that child sponsorship is expensive to administer. This latter problem has led some charities to offer information about a "typical" child to sponsors rather than one specifically supported by the sponsor.
Organizations
Many organizations run child sponsorship programs all over the world in 3rd world countries, including 35 based in the UK alone. Some of the more notable ones are:- AbaanaAbaanaAbaana is Northern Ireland based charity raising money for children in Africa. Founded in January 1998, it works with children in countries such as Uganda, Zambia and Malawi. Projects include Building schools, Street children, child sponsorships, access to clean water, education and medical treatment...
- Action Aid
- Baptist World Aid
- Barnardo'sBarnardo'sBarnardo's is a British charity founded by Thomas John Barnardo in 1866, to care for vulnerable children and young people. As of 2010, it spends over £190 million each year on more than 400 local services aimed at helping these same groups...
- Child In Need Institute (CINI)Child In Need Institute (CINI)CINI, known internationally as Child In Need India and in India as the Child In Need Institute, is an international humanitarian organisation aimed at promoting "sustainable development in health, nutrition and education of child, adolescent and woman in need" in India...
- ChildFund International
- Children InternationalChildren InternationalChildren International is a nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to bettering the lives of impoverished children, their families and communities....
- Compassion InternationalCompassion InternationalCompassion International is a Christian child sponsorship organization dedicated to the long-term development of children living in poverty around the world. Compassion International, headquartered in Colorado Springs, functions in 26 countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Haiti, Kenya, and...
- Every Child MinistriesEvery Child MinistriesEvery Child Ministries is a Christian charity and mission agency that specializes in uplifting African children. The charity is specially known for its advocacy on behalf of neglected, downtrodden, and marginalized groups of African children...
- Food for the HungryFood for the HungryFood for the Hungry is an international relief and development organization working in more than 26 countries around the world. Food for the Hungry was founded in 1971 by Dr. Larry Ward...
- Gospel for AsiaGospel for AsiaIn 1978 K P Yohannan, a native of India working as a pastor in the USA, was financially supporting ten pastors in India. He founded Gospel in Asia, with a professed goal to support indigenous missions, opposing direct mission work by western churches, which it sees as religious neo-colonialism. It...
- International Childcare TrustInternational Childcare TrustThe International Childcare Trust, also known as ICT, is an independent, non-governmental organisation; a children’s charity that exists for the purpose of relieving poverty, relieving sickness and advancing the education of children and young persons anywhere in the world who are in a condition of...
- Partners in AidPartners in AidPartners in Aid is an aid organisation supporting projects in India, Bangladesh and the Philippines.- Transfer of Ownership of the Action Aid Australia Name :...
- PlanPlan (aid organisation)Plan is a global children’s charity which operates in 48 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas. It is made up of 21 national organisations responsible for raising funds and awareness in their respective countries...
- Save the ChildrenSave the ChildrenSave the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
- SOS ChildrenSOS Children's VillagesSOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental international development organisation which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since 1949. It was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Imst, Austria...
- World VisionWorld VisionWorld Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
- Worldwide Faith MissionsWorldwide Faith MissionsWorldwide Faith Missions is a non-governmental international Christian relief and development church missionary organization based in the United States of America with mission branches in India, Burma , and Thailand. It is a part of the worldwide missions church movement.- History:Worldwide Faith...
External links
- The Rough Guide to a Better World a UK government publication reviewing some types of sponsorship, including arguments for and against.