It gives you such a great connection with your sponsored child

It was a dream come true when long-time ChildFund team member and child sponsor, Marie Chan, visited Zambia in late October, where she met her 11-year-old sponsored child, Gift.

Despite the 40-degree temperatures, mosquitoes and very bumpy roads, Marie says it’s a day she will never forget.

“He’s such a sweet boy,” says Marie, following her first visit to a ChildFund New Zealand dedicated community. “I loved every minute of it.”

What stood out to her most about the visit was hearing how much her letters and cards meant to Gift and his mum.

“I realized how much of a big difference it makes to sponsored children, as they know that someone, somewhere out there, cares for them,” Marie says.

She urges other sponsors to take up the opportunity to communicate with their sponsored children. Not only does it give the sponsor a wonderful pen-pal-like experience but, most importantly, it means the world to their sponsored child.

Marie adds, “it gives you such a great connection with your sponsored child.”

And, when it comes to writing letters, all the hard work is taken care of for sponsors, who just need to either fill in the birthday or Christmas cards that ChildFund New Zealand sends, or even just pick up a pen and write a letter.

When it comes to child protection, all correspondence between sponsors and children is reviewed for safety. Either volunteers in the community, or local staff, are involved in the review and delivery of the letters.

For those sponsors who would like to visit their sponsored child, please get in touch with our Donor Care team’s Lee McDonnell at lee@childfund.org.nz or by phone on 0800 808 822.