Sponsoring A Child

[carlos]

I would like to sponsor a child in a thrid world country. I've found a few organisations that facilitate this, but how do I know that my donations reach the child, rather than being swallowed up by administration charges etc. Is there a register of some type of reputable charities?Thanks in advance.

[sft42]

Part of me screams that this is completely the wrong thing to do......although your intentions are very good actions like this only serve to prop up the current systems in place in Africa where governments squander loads of money on arms and fighting tribal wars and protecting dictators...plus the countries in Europe and North America continue to get richer off the resourses of this continent while giving so little back in return....by sponsoring children llike this it continues to support this in a very small way.....but of course you only want to try and help...I understand this and agree totally......if you get in touch with christian aid they (in the past anyway) have kept a record of these schemes....

http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/

[Cetti]

I understand your reservations and hard earned cash can indeed be swallowed up in admim - the word 'christian' sadly is not a guarantee.

However the good news is my husband and myself sponsored a lovely little girl for about a year until rendundancy made it impossible to continue. The orginization we chose was the Christian Children's Fund of Great Britain ( now amalgamated and re-named EveryChild). You choose the country and sex of your child - there is absolutely no pressure should you wish to discontinue at any time. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here's the website:

http://www.ccfgb.org.uk/

[Cetti]

Typed in a hurry carlos, spelling atrocious - sorry!

[bobbobley]

sft42, all charities cannot be tarred with the same brush and you generalise too much about African countries. I went to Uganda last year to visit the boy we sponsor and were shown around the charities offices etc and saw the schools and faclities that had been built with the money people like us donate. The staff earn very little for their time and pretty much all of the money we give goes directly to the community in which the boy we sponsor lives.

[j buxton]

Personally I'd recommend Plan International www.plan-uk.org We sponsor a little girl in Guatemala and a little boy in Bolivia through them and they're very big on making sure that the money gets through to the village (not the individual mind - they think it would likely create too much animosity and I'm inclined to agree). You get regular updates from the field workers on how the money is helping and regular communication from the child on their progress.