Image Source
International organizations that focus on child sponsorships tend to have a poor reputation among the public. Most people see them as a way to guilt people into donating, a strategy to funnel money from wealthy households. But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, is it? The money would be more useful to the needy child than the kid who has a weekly allowance, access to food and education, and also has a roof over his head. Though some people still think it’s “uncool, because it’s a form of development assistance that is primarily by NGO marketing departments” rather than compassion, that still isn’t a sufficient enough reason to sponsor a child.
NGOs have to have the ability to sell a marketing pitch to the public, as people are very selective with what charities to donate to. Then people beg to question whether they’re donating as a way to fight poverty, or simply just to feel better about themselves. But a child sponsorship program isn’t something that you should close yourself off from, especially because these charities actually work.
Research showed that children in one particular program were up to 40 percent more likely to complete their secondary education, in comparison to the non-sponsored children. Also, sponsored children were up to 80 percent more likely to obtain a university degree than the kids that weren’t part of the program. Supporting children in educational pursuits was a defining factor in the success of child sponsorships.
Image Source
Education makes all the difference in the world, and so many kids are lacking that human right, especially in developing countries. UnaKids, an organization primarily operating in war-torn nations, aims to get their sponsored children to pursue a university education, and eventually finding a job that will contribute to their community. The nonprofit is currently supporting more than 250 children, and hopes that this number will increase to 1000 in three years, and 2000 in five years time.
Child sponsorships hardly make a dent in your bank account when you compare it to the cost of private education in a first world nation. However, the impact you make on your sponsored child will be priceless.
