How child sponsorship works

How does Child Sponsorship work?

Child Sponsorship pairs you with a child living in one of the world's toughest places.

Your monthly donation helps to fund our work in your sponsored child’s community, and you’ll get to experience the transformation through their eyes.

"Sponsorship gives you the chance to help someone out of poverty and give them hope to lead a better life, achieve their dreams and put something back into their community." - Francis, sponsor for 30 years.

With Child Sponsorship, you’re not just helping one child; you’re helping their entire community thrive.

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Child sponsorship and you

When you sponsor a child, you'll receive a welcome pack introducing you to your sponsored child and their community. You’ll then receive regular photos so you can watch them grow through the years, and updates so you can find out how their life and community are changing.

They’ll send you letters and drawings. And you can write straight back, by post or online, and become a powerful positive force in their life.

You can easily see how your donation is making a difference by logging in to your online account and viewing your sponsored child's latest photos, videos and updates.

Rodger, from Limerick, sharing photos with his sponsored child, Faith Linda (Uganda 2025), and his previous sponsored child, Christine (Uganda 2015)

Rodger, from Limerick, has been a sponsor for over 20 years! Here, he shares photos of him meeting both his sponsored child, Faith Linda (Uganda 2025), and his previous sponsored child, Christine (Uganda 2015)

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Child sponsorship helps the whole community

The best way to change a child’s life is to transform their whole community. Child Sponsorship helps communities tackle the root causes of poverty.

We work with local leaders and families to understand their challenges and the areas where they need support. Together, we focus on helping the most vulnerable children in the greatest need – those at risk of the worst poverty, exploitation, and abuse.

We help to create a plan to transform the community into a safe place, where children are cared for and protected, long into the future. Your sponsorship helps communities feel empowered to break free from poverty and become self-sustaining.

Your sponsorship will help children and families access the essentials they need to build a better future, such as clean water, education, healthcare facilities, nutritious food, protection, and job opportunities for parents to improve their income.

Sponsor a child

What your sponsorship provides

How your sponsored child benefits

Regular visits from one of our community team to check on their progress and wellbeing
Community-wide solutions such as water pumps, classroom equipment, teacher training and healthcare
Taking part in activities like children’s clubs, training and community celebration
Storytelling and creative activities to help them express themselves and build self-confidence
The opportunity to share their voice and play a part in how the community changes
Protection from abuse, neglect and exploitation
Any messages, photos or letter you send, translated and delivered by hand

What you can expect

A welcome pack introducing you to your sponsored child and their community.
A welcome journey via email, that will provide you with all the information you need about sponsorship and how it works.
A letter from your child, introducing themselves, soon after signing up. You can write letters or send your messages to us via email anytime. We’ll translate and hand-deliver them.
Christmas and birthday cards for you to send – by post or online – for some extra encouragement.
A photo of your child each year, with an update on how their life is changing. And regular updates, videos and photos from your community to show how your donations are making a difference.

What child sponsors say

“To anyone considering becoming a child sponsor, I would say, Just do it! You’ll be able to share the experience with family and friends, and if you have children, your children will get to learn the beauty of giving at an early age.”

Christina

Child Sponsor

More Child Sponsorship reviews

How being sponsored changed Nancy's life

Growing up in Kenya, Nancy watched as all her friends were forced to grow up too fast.

One by one, the girls in her class left school to become child brides. She worried that her family wouldn’t be able to afford to send her to school for much longer. But thanks to Child Sponsorship, life in her community started to change. She excelled at school and went much further in life.

Hear Nancy share how her sponsor, Georgie, encouraged her to reach her dreams.

The benefits of Child Sponsorship

You're helping specific people, not just a ‘cause’

Sometimes, we can feel disconnected from the causes we support. When you sponsor a child, you can put a face and story to your donation. This can help you personally connect with the challenges your sponsored child's community faces and learn about how your money helps.

See where your money goes

Our Child Sponsorship programme not only allows you to help children around the world, but can also show you where your donation is going as you receive regular updates. Whether it’s educational opportunities, offering health and medical care or providing clean water solutions, you’ll know the difference your money has made in your child’s life and their community.

For every child sponsored, four more benefit too

Maintaining a connection with one child when so many others are in need can be overwhelming. However, at World Vision, we work with whole communities to tackle the cycle of poverty. So, when you sponsor one child, four more benefit. Just like in Le Anh's community.

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Child Sponsorship FAQs

How do you choose children to be sponsored?

All of World Vision's work begins with listening to communities in need. Community leaders work with us to identify the most vulnerable children and families who will benefit from Child Sponsorship.

How can I be sure my money gets to those in need?

World Vision only works within countries where we have our own offices so we can be sure that we can account for all the money that we receive and how it is used.

We have audited accounts that are publicly available at any time. As a charity, we're regulated by the Irish Charity Regulators – a legal body, which oversees all Irish charities and their activities.

We are a not-for-profit organisation, and we know that the continued support we receive is dependent on our efficient use of supporters’ money. Our Annual Report is available here.

Does my money go straight to the child?

Your sponsored child or family does not directly receive your donation. From our decades of experience on the ground, we know that your contribution creates more impact on your sponsored child when used to benefit their community as a whole.

What difference would be made in the life of my sponsored child?

Your sponsorship has a direct impact on your child's mind and body. Your child will have priority access to World Vision programs and provisions, including school supplies, compulsory routine health checks, and so much more. Meanwhile, your child’s overall well-being will be closely monitored by our staff. Sponsored children can receive mail from their sponsor. Your letters and gifts tell them that someone cares about them while also expanding their horizons —you will help them learn about people, places, and events beyond their home area.