Sponsering a child
Posted by: butterfly
20th Dec 2010 03:51pm
we have sponsered a child for about 12 years, and now world vision have given us a new child who is only 4 years old. Madalitso our other boy no longer requires help. We are pensioners and if we can find the $50 a month to help a child why can not all this young things who only think of getting drunk and enjoying themselves
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Comments 35
dollymay
Hi butterfly, A lot of the money that world vision get doesn't go to the children or to the places they say it goes to, this has been proven, Id find other ways to get the money to go to the children.
EileenW1
Following on from my earlier reply to this subject, I am now organising a Charity concert for my little one woman charity. I have been overwhelmed by the response from generous sponsors and entertainers willing to make it a huge success so that I can now help more impoverished children in Bali receive an education by equipping a kindergarten. I am also taking a small group of friends on my next visit so they can see where their donations are going and actually meet the children, the grateful villagers and see how we can all make a difference to this World, no matter where we see the need. It is those who always criticise and do nothing for anyone who anger me. And yes! Whatever money I do manage to get from these surveys (even though it is rare) goes towards my project.
EileenW1
For 25 years I raised money for UNICEF through a dedicated band of my students. We raised over $100,000 and always knew we could state where the money went, not for one child but whole communities. We built wells, vaccinated thousands of children, purchased schools in a box, helped with tents, medicines etc during earthquakes. My daughter sponsored two children through World Vision and discovered they did not actually exist. The photos were exactly the same as a friend 's Supposed" children. When challenged WV said, they 'represented children' and money was going to the school where they were! I also learned from a 'celebrity' friend of mine, used in a TV ad that the child filmed with her was not her actual sponsored child but belonged to the cameraman! My daughter had been receiving fake letters from them for years.
Since retiring my husband and I found a kindergarten in a Balinese village we visited. We are on a pension but in three years of fundraising we have furnished two classrooms, one for special needs littlies, built and equipped a kitchen so all can have breakfast, furnished a teachers' room, provided two security gates, new playground equipment, covered play area and paid for three years lease of the land. We visit at least once a year and can see the changes made, the joy on the little ones faces and have no worries about where our donated money is going. Neither are we paying the salaries of staff to process and siphon off as we deal only with the headmaster who tells us what is needed and we then work hard to provide it.
Lynstar59
Hi I have been sponsoring a child for 4 years now through World Vision. I also am on a pension and I make I payment around christmas time for $570. This cover my boy for the year. i also give my presents to family & friends through world vision in the form of a cow,a duck, a bag of feed fro animals, & various gifts on World Vision. All my 5 grandchildren are aware of what they are given as presents & I hope that this will give them a new way to view the world as they get older.
sherri
Butterfly, I am pleased that you sponsor a child, even though child sponsorship is not a mehod that I personally endorse for all sorts of reasons. But maybe the youth that you are maligning recognise that there are problems with child sponsorship as a model and choose to help in other ways.
For example, at the time that you made this post, a group of young people had just returned from Vanuatu where they had dug ditches, and had generally helped out in a community living in a garbage dump. My daughter went to Fiji just after the coup there and had helped in a village community. Another young friend paid her own way and cared for the children of paricipants at a convention so that their parents could recieve much needed training to work in their own communities.
I am VERY impressed with the young things of today who as a whole I have found to be very caring, and aware in a way that I certainly was not at their age. We just tend to express that in different ways.
It is great that you are sponsoring children. But please don't run down those who do not. There are other ways of making a difference that are also valid.
monicag8
I don't want to look after a child that isn't mine. It is unfulfilling. When you fail to form that special bond, it is havoc. It's not my fave ideal.
monicag8
I don't want to look after a child that isn't mine. It is unfulfilling. When you fail to form that special bond, it is havoc. It's not my fave ideal.
Yellow-sun
We too sponsor a boy in africa, and sent a larger donation over a couple of years ago when we got a windfall. We recieved many letters back from the community thanking us and from the school to say that they had been able to get many items for the children. The extra that we had sent over helped our sponsered childs family and community. We still sponser him and recieve many updates on his progress also. We have been sponsering him for 8 years now and he is the same age as our own son.
Becky
ha ha stetch,you are sadly very cycnical.You dont think there is coruption in our countries ? The greedier get more greedy,the drug gangs get extremely wealthy.... i bet butterfly also donated to CHCH /QLD as we did a couple of times,& other disasters in the world,until you have been to Africa like some of us have you cant even comprehend wat true poverty is....think bigger guys....dont be so insulated & inward looking all the time.Our govt will always help those in need as we have alot more funds availble for diasters in our own countires, etc our kids will ALWAYS have the opportunity to get an education(if they want one)
bernmar
I also have sponsored a World Vision child for about 12 years. It was so good when we received letters and correspondence from our sponsored child. I would place their photo on our fridge so my grandchildren would see. We are also self funded retirees and find the higher cost of living a strain but while we still can we will continue to support.
Anonymous
i dont know why these agencies keep feeding and clothing them without considering long term options. why not open camps and offer food and shelter in return for voluntary sterilisation. they may be hungry and thirsty but the little shits can still breed. and yes. if they said no to the option i would let them die outside the camp gates. we all have options. who do they love the most. their religious beliefs or their lives.
Sammbo
What a load of offensive tripe.
Hitler your pinup boy??
sherri
are you for real? or are you just trying to stir in order to get a response? Either way that comment is ignorant of the facts and just plain not funny.
ashjay001
I find it interesting that World Vision child sponsorship costs $43 a month yet The Salvation Army do child sponsorship as well but for $25 a month and take out less for admin fees. So you can almost sponsor two children for the same as one, yet they both provide the child with the same needs.
Anonymous
I think that helping someone to grow and evolve is an awesome gift ... I just wish people did this in their own back yard / country.
When you meet a person you never really understand what conditions they live under ... therefore you can not judge, as this is not our right or place. People who are physically abused, generally have bruises that show, people who are mentally abused, their bruises are very hard to find unless you know what you are looking for and the scaring and damage can last throughout their lives.
Both NZ and Aus still have cases of spouse abuse which is generally committed in front of their children ... what great role models eh? so we need you wonderful people who have compassion to look within your own countries are see where your aid (whether it's time or money) can be of use so that OUR CHILDREN grow to be happy (as this is not a crime, and is this not what we all parents want for their children?) and then maybe once we have resolved our own countries issues, we can then look to helping other countries.
Anonymous
Do you know how much of your money actually reaches the child. I hate how World vision uses pictures of starving children to tug the heartstrings but these are not the children sponsored.
There are more effective charities to help children in poverty.
Mumof3
I am just copying a reply that I made to someone above but it answers your fairly ignorant response...
I visited my sponsor child in Indonesia and the world vision staff showed us exactly where our money went. Some went directly to the child, helping her to go to school and have the uniform, supplies etc but some also went to her local community. The showed us a project where they were building rice fields where previously all the locals had to eat and earn money from was palm sugar. The rice field would help them earn money and feed themselves and their families. We had grown men coming up to us and shaking our hands to say thank you for our help.
We also visited the school and my sponsor child's home. The responses that we got from the teachers and her parents showed us exactly how much our sponsorship helps.
It was the most amazing experience and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend sponsoring a child through world vision.
Anonymous
I totally agree that young people should help to sponsor a Child in a poor
Country .But I do commend on all the young people who are helping with the Clean up of the Queensland Flood victims who in many cases have lost everything but they haven't lost their sense of Community Spirit and their sense of Humour ,My Prayers and thoughts go out to all of the Flood people who have lost all their possessions and also some of their loved ones.I unfortunately am unable to help with the clean up but have offered to help house any dogs or cats while they are cleaning up.
butterfly
well done, I am unable to assist with the clean up due to bad health, and as I already have resue dogs am not much use there; But I have donated what I could and send all my prayers. It is wonderful to see young people out there, they are doing a really wonderful job.
stretch
did you ever meet the child
there is no way of telling where this money went to
for all you know
he smokes marijuanna and has to pay the dealler
why support them unless you can verafy the financers went toi this or that
pictues are real easy to fix up so are video clips
remember you are on a pension look after your self for a while $50.00 may not sound like a lot but hey would this not pay for a perm or a night out for a couple of lets say over 50
let the politicians take care of them
and the money is needed at home after all
dollymay
Hi Nanadel. that is a lovely story about the young lady you helped from phillipinies. God Bless
Nanadel
I absolutely agree with you about "stretch". He/she is obviously not a Christian with a loving heart., and only wants to think the worst of everyone. I too am a sponsor and have some wonderful thankful letters from my child in Africa, who is now able to attend school because of me. But my most heartwarming story of sponsoring, is that over 10yrs ago I sponsored a child in the Phillipines, and she has now contacted me through Facebook and is the most loving and thankful young lady, who now calls me Nana and continually tells me she loves me. Get a life Stretch.............it is far better to give than receive!
stretch
ok if you believe i am a bad person fair enough
the reason i dont put in for over seas work is i am not allowed out of australia as have criminal history for a few mild crimes
also i dont believe in volunteering not even for australia
but i do believe the people that continue to request finances from australia should be given contraceptive from there government
and why go hungry for some one you will never meet
you must have a large heart
butterfly
Thank God you are no relation of mine. How dare you say these things, you do not even know the child, my new child is only Four years old. I feel very sorry for you, what a horrible mind you must have to think the worse of people, I dread to think what will happen to all these poor children when only people like you are left. I will go hungry before I let my little fellow down. Why do you not volunter for over seas aid work then you can see for your self what is going on. I would do this if I did not have bad health. Shame on you and those like you.
Anonymous
Iam always weary of these things. I would prefer to give help at home in Australia. But I care for all people its just there is so many gaps involved with the money and if they tell the truth.
Mumof3
I visited my sponsor child in indonesia and the world vision staff showed us exactly where our money went. Some went directly to the child, helping her to go to school and have the uniform, supplies etc but some also went to her local community. The showed us a project where they were building rice fields where previously all the locals had to eat and earn money from was palm sugar. The rice field would help them earn money and feed themselves and their families. We had grown men coming up to us and shaking our hands to say thank you for our help.
It was the most amazing experience and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend sponsoring a child through world vision.
Jim
actually good on you , becouse believe it or not the child " " doesnt get help from all the $ you give , But many children get the help from your $ , which amounts to $1 each for 10 children from a $10 note. So in fact The child that you sponsor does not come out poverty or ill health as quick as it should. As you can see i would rather see all the $ I give given into helping the child i sponser.
Becky
Yip same with me tommy,we sponsor 2 kids in the world & luv getting all their updates & school results etc. It DOES make a difference & giving money regularly to a well known proven organisation makes all the difference.Just choose carefully who you want to go through & enjoy the rewards :)
Becky
Atheries,it is the aid money which gets syphened by corrupt govt members but world vision,tearfund etc stay away from govt fund groups & go direct to village situations where if you sponsor a child you end up helping the whole village.Its an awesome concept & develops independance for many families who can then provide for their tribes future & even get to send their kids to school instead of out working in the fields all day every day at extremely young ages.Great discussion guys :)
Anonymous
That is really great Tom! It must be exciting to have such great correspondence with the person you sponsor. I also sponsor a child in Africa and I receive regular letters from her in her own handwriting (which is then translated). I agree, good fun and very satisfying.
Jode
tommy
i just wonder whether you have children. it is our generation who failed. i olso did sponsored a child in haity . i am now sponsring a young african . i met his mother in zambia and know that there is no middle man and the young man is getting a good education. i get all the results from his school . he is on email and i know where the money is going to. good fun very satisfying tom
tommy
hi noms i do agree with you i visited zambia 5 years ago and met a mother who tried to educate his son ( then 11) as there is no good school in the little village at the lake they are living , she wanted to send him to a boarding school. my friend and i are sponsoring him since then . he now passed all exames, and will go to high school . we get all papers from school and know where the money is going. very satisfying . if you are interesting to sponsor with some money let me know.
tom can give you all details and prove . this is not a hoax .
butterfly
yes this is so, but one must weigh it all up and find one that is true blue. I also give a small donation every month to children with out borders, just take at look at the honest ones. The Church is always a good way to find help. I believe firmly in World Vision but there are those I would never use, of course I can not name them, just look at their records. I would never give to one of those dictator countries, or those who only employ their own families. Give it some more thought
Anonymous
I am very weary about sponsoring in other countries, as I am aware from experience that the governments of certain countries take a higher percentage of the money than what the sponsored child gets.
butterfly
I agree that there are some who I would not sponser with, but World Vision is not one. As for all the help needed at home, we do have Goverment pension's these poor people have nothing. There are no Salvo's going to knock on their doors, no Supermarket's with donation baskets for food items, no wish tree's, no Smith family, Vinnie's etc, all they have is us. Young people today mainly only think of themselves, then when they are older and ready to settle down it is, I must have a four wheel drive, holidays, boat, the largest house and biggest mortgage I can find (not what I can afford) the Government will give us more hand outs for our kids etc, no the world is not such a nice place any more, and I dread to think what will happen when all us oldies who will go with out to help others are gone.