Sponsor a child in a poor country

[squirrel]

I was thinking of sponsoring a child in a third world country - since I don't have any children (yet?) myself and would like to contribute to raising the younger generation.
Just googling, there are a lot of organizations out there - does anybody have any experience with this and any idea which organization is a good one (that is, where most of the money really goes to the kid)?

[Weena]

That's the problem, lots of so called charities take most of your money for themselves, not for the work they claim to do... just be careful to choose a worthy one. I know some people sponsoring children overseas via a charity called "World Vision".

World Vision International - Who We Are

Can't vouch for them personally but it's the first one that came to mind. I think it's cool you are contributing to a cause dear to your heart.

[freddy]

I did world vision myself. But if I where to do this again. I would look into a church in my area that had groups from the church making trips to help people. That way most of the money, would go to support the cause of helping the folks that really need it, instead of the cost of the organizations.
My church would help lessen some cost to go, by getting group rates and ask for volenteers to go to Russia, or other places in some really poor areas. And then when the church members would come back they could share real life stories to what was really needed.

[spirit4711]

@Squirrel, an alternative to sponsoring one child is to donate to an orphanage. Money is always in short supply there.

A special case are HIV orphanages in Thailand. HIV is quite taboo there so the kids are often left on their own.

[squirrel]

Thanks for your replies so far! Actually, I'd prefer something that's not too much linked with a church, as I am rather non-religious. But it is true that the churches do some good work in this area, and if the best organization I can find is through a church, I'd go for it.
I share your concern, Weena, that through a charity a portion of the money will not arrive at the child. Nonetheless, I'd rather go through some kind of an organization. You might find that odd, since I have been working in Africa a quite a bit and could probably find lots of kids in need their myself or through friends. However, the it starts to get really difficult to draw a line, once you start helping out, especially with friendships involved... and how to choose among the many who are in need.
Donating to an orphanage is also a good idea - it looks like you are in Southeast Asia yourself, Spirit4711?

[spirit4711]

Originally Posted by squirrel

Donating to an orphanage is also a good idea - it looks like you are in Southeast Asia yourself, Spirit4711?

Not permanently alas - working on it. I'd love to live in Thailand! It's a great country with very friendly people. And the weather is awesome!

[ProjectX]

That sounds like a very good idea. I might sponsor a child. But I'm wondering if I need to pay the full 40 dollars? What if I just want to give 20 dollars?

[Weena]

Originally Posted by ProjectX

That sounds like a very good idea. I might sponsor a child. But I'm wondering if I need to pay the full 40 dollars? What if I just want to give 20 dollars?

You should give what feels okay for you to give. I stopped sponsoring an organisation i believed in because they started nagging me on the phone for me to raise my monthly donation, right there and then when they decided i should. Stupid way to go about it as they lost me as a supporter. I took that amount and added it to the donations i already gave monthly to an other one.

Also had a bad experience with a charity that pretended to help people in Senegal.

Squirrel, I'm sure you will find something that resonate with your soul!

Spirit: do you sponsor those orphanages? If so can you PM me with the name of the organisation taking care of that?

[gigij]

Originally Posted by squirrel

I was thinking of sponsoring a child in a third world country - since I don't have any children (yet?) myself and would like to contribute to raising the younger generation.
Just googling, there are a lot of organizations out there - does anybody have any experience with this and any idea which organization is a good one (that is, where most of the money really goes to the kid)?

The money doesn't really go directly to the kid you are sponsoring. It is used to support development projects in the community - to help build self sufficiency. The kid is basically the 'face' of the community for you - your connection to it.
I support through World Vision. If you are worried about the church part of it they do not seem to discriminate. It is a Christian organization - I'm not a Christian - and the kids I sponsor are Muslim.