Why Sponsor a child?
Sponsoring a child is an opportunity to change someone’s life for ever. If you sponsor a child, you will be making a long-term difference to one of the poorest children in the world. In addition, you will have the opportunity to be involved in your child’s life as much or as little as you want. You can contact them by writing letters or sending birthday and Christmas cards. It can be the start of a long-term relationship
How does Child Sponsorship work?
If you want to become a child sponsor, first of all you select the child that you would like to sponsor. Once you have registered with us as a sponsor, you start to support that child monthly by setting up a direct debit to ABC Children’s Aid in the Faroe Islands. Your money is specifically ear-marked to be spent on that child and won’t be used for anything else. We will send 93 % of the money that you give overseas to finance the involvement of the child that you are supporting in the ABC school. Attendance at the school includes free food and medical care.
How much does sponsorship cost?
Sponsorship costs a minimum of 33 USD a month.
Can I write to my child? Will I receive letters back?
When a person sponsors a child, he receives a report with information on the child and a photo. To See a model initial report¸ click here. He will receive a Christmas card, letter or drawing, a photo every year and an annual report To see a model annual report, click here.
You will also be able to write to your child. We will also let you have your child’s birthday, so that you can send your child a birthday card if you wish to, and we also encourage the sending of a card at Christmas too. If your child doesn’t speak English, we will make sure that your letter is translated for your child into his/her own language. Whilst the children always like getting letters, we do not make children reply to every letter that they receive. Some children do so themselves and sometimes they correspond frequently with sponsors, especially if they can communicate in the same language.
Can I send presents?
Yes you can! We recommend that gifts are no bigger than an A5 size envelope. It is not recommended to send larger gifts for various reasons:
Large gifts usually incur customs taxes which have to be paid by the local family before the gift is released, money which they don’t have.
Larger presents are more likely to go astray! Remember that your package will pass through the hands of many people within the destination country’s postal service before it arrives at the ABC project address. Many of these postal workers will themselves be poor and may not be totally honest!
Larger items are also more likely to get damaged in the long journey over bumpy roads to the package’s final destination!
Child sponsorship admin costs
No deductions are made from the sponsors’ payments for administration. We are very grateful for work done by volunteers which helps keep our costs low.
Will this cost rise as the child grows up?
In general, if the cost of sponsorship rises we tell donors. However, if this is a problem, existing donors may carry on paying their existing rate, unless the difference becomes too great.
What happens if I stop my sponsorship?
Once you choose to support a child, ABC Children’s Aid is committed to that child. If your circumstances change and you can no longer sponsor a child, we will understand. We will, however, need to find another sponsor for the child as soon as possible. We would be grateful if you could let us know if you decide to end your support. If it is possible to give us a little advance warning, that would be even better. If you stop your support, we will immediately look for a new sponsor. The development of the child will continue uninterrupted.
How can I be sure that my money gets through to pay for the cost of my child?
ABC Children’s Aid only works within countries where we have our own projects. In this way, we ensure that our funding is handled by people that we trust and are in regular contact with instead of by any third parties. Over the years, we have developed a system of financial accountability that makes is difficult for money to be misdirected or used in an inappropriate way. In addition, all the money received has to be accounted for in an annual report that is sent back to our head office. We are able to account fully for all the money that we receive, and have audited accounts that are publicly available at any time.
Can I visit my child?
Yes you can, although this does require a lot of preparation by everyone involved. Travel within the third world can be unpredictable and difficult for those who are not used to it. In order to help us ensure that your visit is a positive experience for both you and your child we would ask for a minimum of three months notice if you wish to visit your sponsored child. Remember, if you can’t speak the same language as your child, we may also need to arrange for an interpreter to be present. For more information about visiting your child, please contact the ABC office at abc@abc.fo.
Can I choose which child I sponsor?
Yes. When ABC in the Faroe Islands receives its charity registration (within the next few months), you will be able to choose which child you would like to sponsor from their photograph and personal profile information.
Apply to sponsor a child today: Write to fb@barnahjalp.fo
