Well I always though not, I had all the usual excuses, too expensive, look after your own backyard, does the money really help them etc etc.
But over the last year I have been drawn more and more to the idea. Programs on TV have caught my eye, articles I've read got me thinking, thinking 'maybe I can!'
Number one excuse was I couldn't afford it. Being a single mum and on a basic wage I never thought I could commit to the $39 a month some of the bigger organizations are asking for sponsorship, so I never sponsored. Now my daughter has grown up and has a little girl of her own, I thought I would like to sponsor a little girl.
I have since found a lot of different smaller more personal organizations that sponsor for as little as $20 USA (approx $26 AU) per year, how could I not afford that? After all it's only 50cents a week, not even one cup of coffee or a chocolate bar. I stopped and looked around my house at all I have and though of the little they have and realised " how can I NOT afford it!"
Cut out buying so many magazines, cut out one night of junk food, cut out my DVD subscription and what do you know I can afford it!
I can afford to help a child get an education, I can give them a hot meal in their tummy each day, maybe the only one they will get, I can help a child who has nothing!
Well I looked at my own backyard, and couldn't see any kids living off rubbish tips.
I pay taxes so I already help my own backyard, we have welfare for our poor, we have refuges for those in need, we have food for our hungry.
There are a lot of people that look after my backyard already, donating to all our wonderful causes, being it breast cancer, children's hospital or helping the homeless and that is wonderful.
We all have our different causes we like to support and mine is now helping the destitute children in foreign countries and maybe this will become one of yours too. The fact you are reading this shows that you are maybe interested.
Children that don't get government support, that don't get welfare, that don't have refuges or a hot meal in their tummy every day. Children that don't have new clothes to wear or money to pay school fees or someone to love them and care about them. Childen that have no chance unless we get in and sponsor them.
YES it does.
Yes I have been and visited some of my sponsored children and plan on returning in 2009
I have seen photos of my children holding their gifts.
I have had letters from children thanking me for their gifts.
I know children are at school and have at least one hot meal a day because of my gift.
I have seen the smiles on their faces radiating the joy they get from my gifts.
I have heard from people that have visited and read of the joy and love these children feel knowing someone cares.
Most of these agencies are above board and government approved and of the ones I belong too 100% of the money I donate goes to the project and in some cases 100% of the donation goes direct to the child.
So YES it does really help them, not only financially, giving them schooling, a hot meal in their little tummies, clothes to wear, but also it warms their little hearts to know someone cares, someone takes the time to write to them and encourage them and love them.