How Does a Child Become Your Sponsored Child?
Not every child in the community can become a "sponsored child". In the previous issue, we talked about how "Child Sponsorship Programme" benefits both the sponsored child, as well as other children in the community. Moreover, the sponsored child can also receive personal follow-up and care from the sponsor. What children may become sponsored? Among all other children in need, how are you "matched" with your sponsored child? The 7th issue of our "Discovery Sponsorship Journey" will take you back to the origin of you and your sponsored child's story!
Does destiny play a role in sponsorship? How does the one-to-one bond begin?
We believe that every child is born precious, regardless of race, gender or health. Once a sponsor registers, we will randomly assign a registered child. Therefore, you were actually "destined" to meet!
In fact, before fate brought you and your sponsored child together, this child, his/her family, and the entire community went through a very important process to select the neediest children and families:
We involve local leaders and a diverse group of community members in the selection process to:
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Train community members' ability to engage in community affairs, and work together for the well-being of children
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Understand common problems in the area, and challenges faced by particular families and children
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Raise awareness of "Child Protection" in community through the process.
Setting Principles for Selection
Ensuring Effective & Fair Poverty Alleviation
The "selection criteria" is a set of principles we use worldwide in order to address more families in need. Factors considered include:
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Represent community diversity – regardless of gender, race, disability or religion, all children have the chance to participate
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Family economic condition – with the help of child selection committee, prioritizes children from the poorest and most vulnerable families.
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Age - under 13 at the time of registration (or over 13 but with special needs)
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Participation - children selected must live in the targeted geographical area of the project, the children and their families must agree to participate in development projects for better livelihoods.
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No multiple sponsorships - every child can only be registered once. Children who are participating in child sponsorship programmes run by other organisations will not be selected. If the child's siblings have already registered, they will not be able to participate.
Registration by need
Assignation by fate
Following these steps, we select the children and families in need, then explain the "Child Sponsorship Programme" to them, as well as World Vision's other development projects in the community. They also understand the possible chain of events that may happen after their children are sponsored, which include: writing letters to their sponsors, regular visits from World Vision to monitor child's growth and take photos, etc. Upon parental agreement, they will sign a consent letter to officially sign the child up, to become a sponsored child.
On the other hand, when we receive your sponsorship registration, we will randomly assign a child from the selected children to become your sponsored child. A child's information booklet which includes the child's photos, education status, family background, and living environment overview, etc., will be sent to you, along with a letter template, for you to introduce yourself to your child!
Can I choose a particular type of children to sponsor?
We understand that sponsors may prefer to help children from a certain area or of a particular gender. You can let us know during the registration process or before start of a new sponsorship journey. We will randomly assign a child who matches with your specific requirements.
It is really something when a child who lives miles away in a foreign land becomes your sponsored child. If you haven't connected with your sponsored child for quite some time already, please do so now! World Vision's e-letter platform is not a bad option for that!（https://cs.worldvision.org.hk/en/eletter）！
If there are any questions about sponsorship, or other topics that you would like us to cover, please send us an email at [email protected] to "Discovery Sponsorship Journey". Your questions may become the topic of our upcoming issue!
