One of the things that happens when you become a parent is that you become much more aware that not all children are as lucky as yours; it makes you determined to help whenever you can, which is why I’m proud to write this post for the excellent charity Plan UK.
Because the truth is that all over the world, there are children in developing countries who are denied the basic essentials they need to secure a healthy and happy future: education, healthcare, and even food and water.
Plan UK are determined to put an end to the neglect and despair that such children and their families face on a daily basis.
However, they need the help of sponsors.
For as little as 50p a day, you could sponsor a child and provide them with necessities such as clean water as a result of renovated wells, healthcare and immunisation, education and food as a result of agricultural training.
These projects teach communities in need to take ownership of these plans so that families can become independent and work their way free from poverty. Contributions are put to work where they’re needed most, and the focus is always on allowing the community to take charge of any initiatives.
The thing about sponsoring a child is that you get the chance to make a real connection with a kid who needs your help and shape their future for the better. Letters, photos and reports between you and the child will continue to make a huge difference to their life. It’s such a simple thing, but just knowing that someone else cares can do wonders for their motivation and self-esteem.
You also have the opportunity to learn exactly how your money has made a difference, not only to the sponsored child but to the community as a whole, which I think is really important. Local children are involved in deciding, planning and carrying out these projects and through this, you’ll see them grow stronger in confidence and achievement.
Any contribution is important, and at least 80p of each contributed £1 goes towards each each charity’s development work for children and their communities. Some of the contribution goes towards the translation of letters and the provision of writing materials and postage, but the idea is that by writing to the sponsored child and them writing back, you’re helping to improve the child’s literacy skills as well as their self-esteem.
You can choose a child in a particular country you’d like to donate to, and gender and age if you feel it’s important. Children are sponsored until they are 18, but sponsors can stop at any time if they need to.
If you’re wondering how you can make a difference to the life of a child less fortunate than you own, get involved in child sponsorship. No amount of money is too little, and it can make an enormous difference to the poverty these children experience every day. Visit Plan UK for more info.