I am not sure if this is the right forum to post this in - but here goes.

My family and I are interested in sponsoring a child in a third world country. However, we've heard stories about programs where 85% of the money donated is eaten up with "overheads". We want to ensure that we choose a program where the children receive all, or a substantial majority, of the money we give.

I am interested to hear from FT members about their experiences, good and bad, with various programs - particularly about programs where the money really does go to the people who need it.

Thanks!

MG

I am typing this from the backblocks of Bali, but it is the most rewarding thing you can ever do. I sponsor two children from PLAN INternational at any one time. Over the years I have sponsored three kids from Sri Lanka (when one child becomes eighteen another child from the same family can take over if you wish), one from the Philippines and one from Bolivia.

They have got a fabulous site and are non_denominational unlioke sothers> (this is a dicky keyboard)

i was a bit suss about where the funds were going and as part of a holiday i visited sri lanka _ talk about humbling> pm me when i get back on unday _ this impossible + i have no "period" but I would thoroughly recommend doing it and checking out the PLAN International site.

Will post when I get back.

If you are interested this is the site of the most respected charity organisation in India. They have many programs...take a look
CRY
I personally do work on holidays for the National Association ofgd (now my keyboards not working???) ffor the Blinfd.

Hi MG,

My only experience with child sponsorship was initially a good one, but ultimately confusing. About three years ago, I sponsored a little girl in India through World Vision Canada (I may be wrong, but I think this organization has chapters worldwide). After about six months, I received a letter informing me that her family had 'moved away', with little explanation as to where they had gone or why that meant my sponsorship of her was being terminated. They sent me the name and picture of another child from the same area, and my monthly donation was automatically transferred to her. After a few more months, I was informed that she too had 'moved', and that my sponsorship was again being ended. I tried to get answers from World Vision representatives here in Canada, but they were unable to provide any further explanation for either of these situations. This gave me pause, and I decided to put off sponsoring another child. To my shame, I have not renewed this donation through World Vision or any other program. I keep meaning to, but like others, I wonder just how much of sponsorship money is being directed to these children. Maybe I'm being harsh, but it disturbed me that this particular organization was unwilling or unable to keep track of the children I was supposed to be helping. Perhaps another member with a more positive, longer-term sponsorship experience or more knowledge of the system could shed some light on this. Has anyone else dealt with World Vision? Does anyone know of a particularly good organization that has a more direct and substantial impact on these kids?

I know there was a report out years ago where a reporter sponsored children from various agencies and then went to go meet the kids. In some cases, the reporter found out the child had died months/years earlier, yet the reporter had never been informed.

I wish I remembered more about this report so I could give you the information as to the name of the offending charity(ies) and what it found with the other ones.

Personally, I like how Heiffer Project International works (no, it's not a child sponsor thing)... You can donate money towards things like a cow, goats, chickens, bees, etc. and the family is taught how to take care of it, etc. My church has a whole little drive for it and we count up how many chickens, rabbits, etc. we are donating. It's the whole "give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime" thing.

I know it's run through the United Methodist church, but I'm pretty sure they aren't the 'preachy' and 'converting' sort of charity.

I too, started out with World Vision and had a not dissimilar experience, plus there is a very 'Christian' outlook, promoting Christianity (at least that was how it is portrayed in Australia).

I also found that highly inappropriate in view of the work that was being done in countries that were of other religious persuasions. That is one of the reasons why PLAN 'sits' well with me. They are also very transparent with their accounting, and one way they also try to cut costs is that they often have volunteer staff working in their offices etc. I used to be one.

At one stage the Head Office in Melbourne used to work out of a converted church hall but then they became to big and had no alternative to find larger premises.

Visits are strictly supervised - you must inform your home country a couple of months in advance that you wish to visit and from then on it is taken out of your hands so that all of the organisation is left with PLAN. Don't forget your sponsored child might not want you to visit them. Highly unlikely in the extreme but you never know.

Child sponsorship with PLAN is not of a child, it is for the community and sounds very similar to what you are talking about Beth. It is only the child that you develop the relationship with but the money goes to the community. Self sustenance for the community is the name of the game and the parents of the child are expected to take an active role in community activities.

There are a lot of dos' and don'ts' (sp?) which are outlined by the PLAN people. I have seen the potable water system developed for the community of one child I sponsor, school buildings, uniforms and equipment as education is one of the high priorities. My child's mother was given a loom to enable weaving for income generation and farm animals as well. Health is also another high priority with immunisation and malnutrition being biggies on the list.

I could expand on this ad infinitum, but MG if you feel more comfortable shop around. I think there are a couple of others here in Oz.

Back to the beach folks.

MotherGoose, I know it has been over a year since you posted this topic. But, I was wondering did you end up sponsoring a child?

If so what organization did you go with?

teabreak.