sponsoring a child

[shivvy]

I am looking for a reputable organisation who have a system for sponsoring a deprived child ie a long term committment to pay for meals, schooling etc.
I know that there are a thousand websites that would offer such a service (both reputable and dodgy) so I would prefer to hear from people who have personal experience in this area as opposed to links to general sites.
Thankyou.

[beweypm]

http://www.plan-uk.org/

My family have been sponsors of a young girl in Ecuadaor for about 8 years now.

We pay �14 a month and whilst 'Veronica' is ourpersonal link to her vilage the money goes towards community based projects such as schooling, mdecial facilities, farming, water and sanitation etc.

You are encouraged to write to your sponsored child as much as you can and we look forward to getting her letters back.

Plan have a gift catalogue of practical items that can be brought and sent your child for birthdays and Christmas but this doesn't prevent you sending your own gifts as long as they are sensible and appropriate.

You also receive refular newsletters from Plan plus community/country updates.

Hope this helps.

Peter

[Bev2007]

Hi Shivvy
We sponsor a 6 yo girl in Zimbabwe through World Vision and it has been just as rewarding as we imagined. We get photos and a school report, and a Christmas card with a drawing from her.
The monthly money goes to the village though - not directly to her (otherwise the inequality would be heartbreaking). We also sent some extra money at her birthday one year, I think �70. They split the money and bought paper and pencils for the school, a goat for her family and a dress for her - how cool is that! We had a photo of her in her dress (with the goat!!) and a letter from the headmaster.

I thoroughly recommend www.worldvision.org.uk
Good luck in your search.
Bev

[Bohne]

I have been sponsoring a boy in Guatemala through World Vision for about eight years now.

It's nice that you get a yearly update on the child's development and what's been happening in his/her environment with your money.

[Mistopheles]

I sponser a child through the Boo charity.

When I was looking for a suitable charity, I discovered a site called "Don't buy ice cream" which sets out masses of sites, what they offer, how much it costs, loads of facts and figures, and just about everything else you could want to know. It's reputable and very useful. It's here if you want to look:
http://www.dontbuyicecream.com/

[Nearlyfortyfive]

I sponsor with both SOS Children and ActionAid (one each for my own kids) but they are rather different and this site compares all of the UK charities which offer child sponsorship with pros and cons. I think it is pretty fair Media URL: http://www.sponsorachild.org.uk/different-uk-child-sponsor-charities
Description: genuine fair comparison of child sponsorship charities