Child Sponsorship, A girl from the Philippines smiles while she sits holding her school book.

A young girl in the Philippines receives an education through Child Sponsorship.

A child has no power over where they are born. They don’t choose the circumstances of their childhood. In a dire situation of poverty, having a chance to enjoy childhood is rare. Wellbeing and health is replaced with hunger and lack of resource. Hope and opportunities are limited by the reality of hardship. There are millions of children around the world who are lacking basics such as food, water and shelter. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

We believe childhood is a basic human right and that every child on our planet should be known, loved, protected and released from poverty in Jesus’ name.

When you sponsor a child, you give them the opportunity to enjoy their childhood, to thrive in reaching their full potential, and to experience a hope more powerful than poverty.
 

What we’re doing

We partner with Compassion International's child sponsorship programme, which connects children to their local church family, giving them an education, access to a doctor and safe places to play.  When you sponsor a child you not only provide them with this immediate support, but also build a relationship more powerful than poverty by writing them letters of hope and encouragement. 

Does Sponsorship work? Absolutely.

And we’ve got independent research to back it up. In 2008, a team of researchers from universities across America, lead by Dr Bruce Wydick conducted independent research* into our Compassion child sponsorship programme.

The findings were published in The Journal of Political Economy in 2013 and, in short, found it to be extremely effective. Children were:

  • 27 to 40 percent more likely to finish secondary school.
  • 50 to 80 percent more likely to complete a university education.
  • 18 percent of sponsored children are more likely to have salaried employment in their adult years.

*The research was conducted in 2008 by a team of researchers led by Dr Bruce Wydick, a professor of economics and international studies at the University of San Francisco. The findings were published in The Journal of Political Economy in 2013.

  • 18%

    of workers in forced labour exploitation are children.

  • 14,794

    is the average number of children under 5 who die every day.

  • 35,000

    is the number of children around the world who have been sponsored by New Zealanders.

Sponsor a child and change a life for $52 a month

Sponsor a Child   or call 0800 800 777

  • 27–40%

    Sponsored children are 27-40% more likely to finish secondary school

  • 50–80%

    Sponsored children are 50-80% more likely to complete a university degree

  • 18%

    Sponsored children are 18% more likely to have salaried employment in their adult life

Benissan's story

Benissan, a sponsored child from Togo, holds his glasses on a string around his neck while standing outside his home. Smiling to camera, close-up.

We partner with Compassion International and the local church to support kids born into a life of poverty, like Benissan from Togo.

"Before I had surgery, my eyes hurt. Everything was blurry. I couldn’t see the board at school. It was scary."

"But the first time I put on my glasses, it all went away. Now I can see just fine. One day, I’d like a red pair. Red’s my favourite colour! One day I want to be a doctor. And if you come see me, I’ll fix you right up.”

When asked, “What will you do for fun when you grow up?” Benissan replied, “Nothing. Grown-ups don’t have fun!”

Through his local child sponsorship programme, Benissan was able to access a doctor and receive surgery to restore his eyesight. Not only this, but Benissan also attends school, eats regular nutritious meals, has safe places to play and has opportunities to hear about the Gospel. All thanks to his sponsor and the support of Compassion.

Visiting your sponsor child

Thank you so much for your interest in Child Sponsorship. If you'd like to visit a child you already sponsor, we can help! Get in touch with us, and we will let you know what you need to do.