At Christ’s Hope International our child sponsorship program plays a significant role in our ministry. One aspect that makes us different is that the majority of our interactions with the children happen at one of our Ministry CarePoints.
At our Ministry, CarePoints children receive the educational, physical, spiritual and emotional support they need to ensure growth. Your sponsorship is vital to meet these necessities. Your support provides:
Nutritious Meals
Your support helps provide a child with regular, nutritious meals – often the only meals of this type they will receive.
Tutoring and Mentoring
With your support, we provide tutoring and emotional and social mentoring to children who attend our CarePoints. These areas are central to the Ministry CarePoint experience that sponsored children receive.
Discipleship
Bringing the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to children is at the forefront of what we do. Genesis Design and Creative Bible Stories, help children learn about God, marriage, and sexual purity all from a biblical worldview
Home Monitoring
Wherever possible, we support and encourage children to remain with an extended family member. Your willingness to sponsor a child makes this an option. When you sponsor a child, you start building a unique relationship with that child. In turn, our local staff can connect with the child’s guardian and monitor the child’s home on a regular basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Child Sponsorship?
Your support as a Child Sponsor allows your child to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ and helps equip them with the tools they need to break the cycle of AIDS, poverty, and spiritual brokenness through physical, educational, emotional, social, and spiritual care
What is a Ministry CarePoint?
A Ministry CarePoint is a strategically located center in a community with a high population or orphaned and vulnerable children. At our Ministry CarePoints, children are equipped with the tools they need to break the cycle of AIDS, poverty and spiritual brokenness. Through physical, educational, emotional, social and spiritual care, we strengthen families and build relationships to reduce the likelihood of children being institutionalized, abandoned or trafficked.
What does my child sponsorship cover?
Your support provides health education, medical care, educational support, and the opportunity to learn about God’s love for your sponsored child.
Where does Christ's Hope work?
We currently work in 7 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. These include: Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, and Uganda.
How long will my child sponsorship last?
A long-term relationship with your sponsor child is the best way to bring lasting transformational change to their life. Our prayer is that as a sponsor, you will stay with your child as long as they remain in Christ’s Hope program. Most children remain in our program until graduation, usually around the age of 18.
What happens if I am unable to continue sponsoring my child?
If at any time you are unable to continue your sponsorship, contact us at 1-877-544-0914 or sponsorship@christshope.org.
What happens if my child moves away or leaves the Christ's Hope program?
Due to the fact that the children in Christ’s Hope live in impoverished areas, many lead unstable lives, and some end up having to move away so that their families can get more work. When an issue arises which makes it a challenge for a child to be cared for by our staff, we reach out and do the best we can to help them succeed. If it becomes certain that the child can no longer attend the program, we will let you know and work to connect you with another child for sponsorship. We do our best to connect you with a child in the same community, so you can sponsor one of your previous child’s peers. As a sponsor, not only are you investing in a child, but also the child’s family and community!
Does each child only have only one sponsor?
We promote a one sponsor to one child relationship.
Does a child have to be a believer to be in the program?
Absolutely not! Christ’s Hope receives children in-need into our programs, regardless of their faith background. In communities where Christ’s Hope serves, children may come from families that are not religious or practice another religion. By participating in a Christ’s Hope program, a child is taught about the love of Christ through engaging in Bible study, worship, prayer, and other spiritual development activities. Children are never forced or coerced to profess faith in Jesus. If they do so, it is by God’s grace, and at an age where such a choice is culturally appropriate.
How do I communicate with my sponsored child?
To write to your sponsor child, you can either download a letter template and send in your letter here, or you can email your letters directly or request a template by emailing sponsorship@christshope.org. Sponsors need to include their sponsor child’s name and registration number in the subject line of the email and may also attach a photo if they wish. Our sponsorship team receives the correspondence and sends it digitally to the Christ’s Hope in-country staff for delivery to your sponsor child. For Canadian sponsors, please email your letters to sponsorshipcanada@christshope.org.
Can I write to my child?
Yes, your child will LOVE hearing from you and being reminded that you care. In fact, we encourage you to write! One of the greatest needs your child has is the need to overcome feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. Your messages of love through your letters will bring hope, and many of the children keep your letters in special places in their homes.
May I send gifts to my child?
Individual, personal gifts to your child are not permitted. Although we understand the special relationship you have with your sponsored child, a gift to one individual child can cause problems of jealousy among the other children. In light of COVID and the inability to travel, we are currently only sending letters over via email. If you would like to send an extra monetary gift, it will be used to purchase for all of the children at the Ministry CarePoint a gift of equal value. (i.e. : A monetary gift could help fund a Christmas dinner for all the children at that CarePoint.)
Do I need to translate my child's letter before sending it to Christ's Hope?
No, you do not need to, we will translate it for you. However, if you want to do your own translation work, feel free!
Will my sponsor child write letters to me?
Yes! Each year, you should expect to receive two letters from your sponsor child and one update on your child. These communications will help you develop a deeper understanding about the support provided to your child in the areas of health, education, and spiritual development. Typically, the children write their letters together at the Child Sponsorship program with the assistance and guidance of the program staff. For children who are still learning to read and write, the child dictates what they would like to share with their sponsor, and the program staff records the response.
Why does my sponsored child's letter seem rudimentary or like they don't know me?
For most of the children in Christ’s Hope programs, writing letters is a skill that develops as the child grows and matures. Just as sponsors sometimes struggle in knowing what to say or share, it can be as great or an even greater challenge for a child to express themselves. We encourage sponsors to be patient with their sponsored child, knowing that their will share what they feel most comfortable sharing. Typically, the children write their letters together at our Ministry CarePoint with the guidance of a template and the program staff. For children who are still learning to read and write, the child dictates what they would like to share with their sponsor, and the program staff records the response. As a sponsor, we encourage you to see these letters in a much broader context. Often a child’s life is limited to their own village and community, and these letters give your sponsor child a glimpse into a whole new world and broaden their horizons.
What portion of my donation will support my child?
At least 85% of your monthly sponsorship amount will go towards the support of your child.
How do I update my payment information?
You can click here , call us at 1-877-544-0914, or email us at sponsorship@christshope.org.
What makes Christ's Hope sponsorship unique?
There are three main features which makes the Christ’s Hope program unique. 1.We strive to keep children with their families (aunts, uncles, or grandparents) and out of orphanages. 2. We focus on the child/sponsor relationship via communications and the opportunity to visit your sponsor child! 3. Due to the more intimate child to caregiver ratio, your sponsor child is given much more personalized care. 4.We don’t only partner with individuals, but churches to open up and fill up sponsorships for individual CarePoints! Like the special relationship you can have with your sponsor child, entire churches can have that same link with a group of children being sponsored by congregants in their church body. We are very thankful for our church partners!
Is Christ's Hope responsible and trustworthy with the donations I send?
How much does it cost to sponsor a child?
The sponsorship fee for a child is $48 per month. However, you may notice some children with a sponsorship fee of $65. This higher fee is associated with sponsoring a child from the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) because the expenses in that region are higher, leading to an increased sponsorship rate.
What is the most important thing I can do for my sponsored child?
The single most important things that you can do for your sponsor child is to pray for them and let them know in their letter that you do so. The children who participate in Christ’s Hope programs are vulnerable and face many hardships due to overwhelming poverty and unstable family situations. Prayer is a God-given, powerful, and effective way to serve your sponsor child. Knowing that someone outside of their family or community knows who they are, and cares about them enough to pray for them, is an incredibly powerful element in their development. You are encouraged to exchange prayer requests with your sponsored child through your letters, many of the children faithfully pray for their sponsors.
Can I choose a child from a specific country and/or CarePoint?
Yes, you may choose a child from a specific CarePoint and/or country. If you would like to sponsor a child in a country with the most need for sponsorship, we are happy to provide a recommendation based on our current needs. Often, a church has already pre-selected a CarePoint that they would like the congregation to be involved with in a strategic partnership. In this case, our staff can help you connect with a sponsor child from the CarePoint your church supports. Additionally, many people serve on short-term mission teams and choose a child from where they served.
Are there other ways I can help?
Absolutely! Click here to see other ways that you can be involved! congregation to be involved with in a strategic partnership. In this case, our staff can help you connect with a sponsor child from the CarePoint your church supports. Additionally, many people serve on short-term mission teams and choose a child from where they served.
What are my options for submitting my donations?
To set up or update your monthly child sponsorship payment, click here. To make an additional gift to the ministry click here.
Do I have to have certain Christian beliefs to be a Christ's Hope partner?
No, Christ’s Hope serves with individuals and families that are at different points in their walk with Christ. Because Christ’s Hope as a ministry is unashamedly Christian and uncompromisingly Biblical we ask that you respect this by not perpetuating contrary beliefs and values in your letters to your child. Anyone is welcome to partner with us in the ministry with the understanding that they will be supportive of Christ’s Hope’s values and ministry approach, which can be viewed here. Christ’s Hope programs are staffed by Christian leaders who meet the health, education, and spiritual development needs of the children they serve in their communities. Christ’s Hope has programs in multiple countries around the world and works with a variety of local church partners and denominations. Our hope and prayer is that everyone involved with Christ’s Hope (staff, children, donors, and etc.) would come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
How and when will I receive a giving statement from Christ's Hope?
Any one who donates to Christ’s Hope receive an annual End Of Year giving statement in January for the prior year. It comes via email if we have your address or via US mail if we don’t.
Is Christ's Hope an orphanage?
No, we are not an orphanage. At Christ’s Hope we strive to keep the children within their own families and village. When you sponsor a child, you are actually helping spread the light of Jesus throughout an entire community!
How has COVID-19 affected Christ's Hope?
With the impact of the recent COVID -19 outbreak, international travel has stopped, and in some of our countries, our in-country staff’s access to the children is limited. For more information on how COVID has affected the children, click here.