Historically Australians like to support disadvantaged children. In 2019, thirty percent of Australian donations went to causes that support children. The dominate way this happens is via child sponsorship.
Of the 700 million people living in extreme poverty, around half are children (Unicef). A child growing up in poverty is potentially at risk in numerous ways:
Child sponsorship is a fundraising method used by charities to help children living in poverty. A sponsor is aligned with a specific child beneficiary, and the sponsor regularly gives an amount for the child. Depending on how the charity operates – the money is directly allocated to the child's expenses, or pooled together to support a number of children (and/or families) in a community. Updates on the child are typically sent to the sponsor, and in some cases there is an exchange of personal letters.
Globally there are probably over 10 million sponsored children. Reasons for this strong support include::
The secular charity 'Save the Children' was the first to commence child sponsorship (as we know it) in 1919. It started by helping disadvantaged European children after World War I. British households were encouraged to 'adopt' a child via their sponsorship program.
A couple of early child sponsorship organisations from the 1930's included the 'Child Fund' (previously 'Christian Children's Fund') and 'Children International' (previously 'Holy Land Christian Mission'). Both have since dropped 'Christian' from their names and presumably their mission statements. The largest child sponsorship program is now operated by 'World Vision', which was formed in 1950 and initially focused on Korean and Chinese children. 'Compassion International' started with Korean children in 1952 and now has over 80,000 Australian child sponsors. The 'Baptist World Aid' child sponsorship program started with Indian children in 1947.
There is a wide variety of child sponsorship programs. The core differences include:
The implications of these approaches will be expanded on next.
For the most part, child sponsorship programs have a good reputation. Over the years a number of criticisms have been dealt with through changes in programs and approaches. The main criticisms against child sponsorship has been directed against the traditional 'welfare' approach which has largely been superseded by the 'development' approach. It is worth knowing the differences when looking into sponsoring.
You may have heard the saying - "If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.”
Giving someone-in-need a fish to eat is the welfare approach. Essentially, it is a 'handout'. This is the approach early child sponsorship programs used. It focused on in-effect giving gifts ('fish') to specific children and families. The concern is that families became dependent on the monthly gift and the underlying problems of poverty are not addressed. An additional concern is that the selecting of specific children (or families) was creating jealousies in the community. While there are problems with this approach, it is important to note that much good has been done via this approach.
Teaching someone-in-need to fish is the development approach. Essentially, it is a 'hand-up' where-by the person can help themselves. Applied to child sponsorship programs - the development approach pools the money from child sponsorships to fund community development programs to deal with the underlying problems of poverty. The pooled funds might be used to: help create jobs in the community (eg- microfinance, improved farming, infrastructure); invest in education; and implement health care projects. These projects try to create self-sustaining solutions which don't rely on future 'gifts' (handouts). The goal is to help all the kids in the community rather than specific children. Feedback is still given to child sponsors on the kid they specifically sponsored.
The above explanation is a bit simplistic, but hopefully demonstrates the concept.
For completeness, it is worth noting ‘rights-based child sponsorship’, which uses child sponsorship fundraising to advocate for changes in a community to advance human rights of children. They often lobby governments and institutions to try and bring about changes. Some programs may integrate rights-based with the development approach.
Can you help provide a better future for disadvantaged children? If so, please check out some of the child sponsorship programs on Givehigher. Please prayer regularly for these children and those operating the programs.
As a closing challenge - have you considered sponsoring multiple children (by yourself or as a group) in different parts of the world? For example - a child from each continent.