Writing To Your Sponsored Child | ChildFund International

Learn.

The more you understand about your sponsored child’s life, the more fulfilling the relationship will be!

We encourage you to learn as much as you can about the place where your new friend lives. To help you get started, we provide you with a description of your sponsored child’s:

Community
Culture
Climate & Geography
Language

Connect.

Ask open-ended questions about your sponsored child’s thoughts, ideas, hopes and dreams. Usually, two or three questions is enough to keep up the great conversation and not feel overwhelming.

Keep it short.

In many of the places where ChildFund works, people don’t speak English. Short sentences and simple words are easier for the staff members in your sponsored child’s community to translate.

Check out this short video about writing tips!

Keep it positive.

Your tone should be warm and friendly. Be sensitive to your sponsored child’s living conditions, and try to avoid writing about material possessions. Instead, write about your family, your neighborhood or your hobbies!

Give encouragement.

To encourage your sponsored child, be generous and give genuine compliments. Praise them for their skills and talents, and congratulate them when you learn they’ve made progress in school or in life.

Make it fun.

Share funny stories or send fun educational materials, like flash cards that translate their language to yours. Write a story together, or share something you’re currently learning about. Use your imagination and get creative to appeal to your sponsored child’s sense of fun!

Want to send something special?

Children cherish little gifts that you add to your letters, but bulky objects are difficult to send and can cause problems with customs officials. So make sure anything you include is flat, lightweight and durable — we suggest sending things like stickers, paper dolls or photographs! Never include money or items that could break or melt.

Keep in mind:

Be careful with your salutations. “My dear” and “Love” may be too intimate for some cultures.
Try to avoid asking about issues that may be embarrassing or sensitive for children, such as failing a subject in school, body image, absent family members or death.
It’s OK to express any faith or beliefs you may have, but try not to influence your sponsored child’s faith. ChildFund respects the culture and beliefs of every child.
Many cultures don’t share or understand our practice of having pets. This doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t mention your pet, but it’s something to consider.
ChildFund will translate your letters to your sponsored child. Generally, the content of the letters is not changed, unless a change is necessary for cultural reasons.
The most important thing is that you care enough to keep in touch! You’re building a one-on-one bond that can be incredibly meaningful for both of you.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call our sponsor care team at 1-800-776-6767 anytime between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET on Monday through Thursday, and anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday.