We have two sponsoring systems:
- there are people who really like to get involved with their chosen child, send regular letters and Christmas and birthday presents and the child, if able, writes back so a relationship is built.
The children love having an aunty or uncle who loves and prays for them from overseas, but it is really up to the sponsor how far s/he wants to take the relationship.
Note: sending cards and/or letters has to be through regular (air) mail; there is no email facility within the childrens homes which make it impracticle to send e-communication. See the Contact page for our full postal address in Tanzania.
- on the other hand, some people choose to have a named child, but do not wish to have correspondence. They just want to know that their assistance is helping a child.
It is the sponsor's own decision to determine his/her involvement.
All sponsorship finances help to support the childrens' accommodation, provision of a nutritionally balanced diet and all educational and medical requirements.
We make no minimum contribution or state an amount, we choose to let the heart rule. - as we have pensioners and students who have only little money to spare, but they have the hearts to help an African child, and for this we are very greatful.
People have asked about the extent of the LIA Child Sponsorship in comparison with other organizations "Adopt a child" programs.
Of-course, the sponsor is not adopting a child, this is just symbology. All of our children know the procedure for Child Sponsorhip and the money that comes in goes to the general and medical care and education of all our children.
Of-course we would never say to a child: you can not have food today as your sponsor has not yet sent any money - no way! All our children are cared for in the very same way just as we were all born equal.
The sponsorship program is for the relation between the child and the sponsor and perhaps for the extra special gift parcel around its birthday or for Christmas.
If the sponsor would want to make additional funds available for a particular purpose (operation, private school) then after consultation between Light in Africa and the sponsor, such funds would of-course be designated accordingly.
Another question is whether the child will have to share any gifts it receives: whenever we receive a parcel, someone of the staff has the responsibility of ensuring the child receives the gift and that, after the child has opened the gift - and before s/he is given it to use - a letter is written thanking the sponsor for the gift and then the letter comes back to mama Lynn for posting and the child is solely given the parcel for his/her use.
It really is wonderful for the children to receive these gifts, they get great excitement from it, and if there are some sweets, they of course are in a priveleged position to share with their friends.....but that is up to the child.......
There is no set fee for monthly or annual sums, just whatever you feel you would like to give, we allow the heart to decide.
If you would like to sponsor the work of Light in Africa through the sponsorship of one of the children in our homes or cared for through OutReach or food kitchen programs, then please complete the sponsorship form in its entirety (see the menu on the left).
Thank You and God Bless.