Child Sponsorship
The children who are part of the sponsorship program at Light of Hope all come from backgrounds of poverty, struggle and vulnerability.
These children have often been abused and neglected, or are suffering from serious malnutrition or other treatable health problems. For some this is because they have no family at all. Others are from families who are incapable of caring for children because of the effects of extreme poverty, destructive family break-ups, parents who have been trafficked or imprisoned or suffer from a mental illness. Some children have suffered physical or sexual abuse from family or community members.
Many of the children have not been able to attend school regularly or even at all, because they are required to work to support their family. Others, usually young girls, are at risk of being trafficked or sold to become indentured slaves.
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The Need
We use your sponsorship contributions to address these issues. Our programs empower at-risk children and their communities by providing:
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Care for the growth and well being of the whole child - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
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Basic housing in a safe and loving environment*
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Food security and sustainable living through agriculture projects
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Appropriate nutrition and healthcare
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Quality education at Light of Hope School, from K-12
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Vocational training of trades and university qualifications
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Child protection and advocacy, including a dedicated LOH Children's Services Coordinator
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Vulnerable families identified and strengthened to increase their ability to care for their children
*Every endeavour is made in the child sponsorship program to keep children within their natural family unit. Residential care is the final option for these children, where they live in a group home family with house parents and other children.
Development activities at Light of Hope provide changes in individual lives, strengthen families and empower communities to reach for brighter futures and pathways out of poverty.
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Our Response
HOW SPONSORSHIP WORKS
Child sponsorship contributions provide vital support for children’s villages programs that directly benefit children. The average cost per child across the children’s village projects is around $2000 per year - very low compared to the cost of feeding, clothing, medical care and educating a child in Australia, but clearly more than the proceeds of an annual sponsorship contribution of $600. For this reason children will generally have more than one sponsor. Having more than one sponsor doesn’t mean that a child receives favoured treatment. Nor does it diminish the significance of the gift you give or detract from the specialness of the sponsor and sponsor child relationship. In fact many sponsors are relieved to know this because the child will still have access to essential services if for some reason they are no longer able to make payments. Cash is never handed directly to sponsor children or their families. Support is always in the form of services and facilities.
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Just $50 a month makes a big difference in a little life!