Impacting a Child Through Sponsorship
February 27, 2015
If you took a stroll down one of the dirt pathways in the village of Sous Savanne Haiti, chances are you?d be greeted by the laughter and squeals of children? smiling, running to walk alongside you, grabbing your hand with affection. You see, they know a new face is likely from Hope Force. That means you?re there to help? or at least join them for a game of soccer or tag in a nearby field.
Since the devastating earthquake of 2010, the commitment of Hope Force in Sous Savanne has moved from the rebuilding phase to recovery. That journey has included establishing our Child Sponsorship Program (CSP), knowing that an investment into the lives of children is an investment into the future of the whole community. Since the program began in 2010, 105 children now have personal sponsors.
Sponsored children receive funds to cover their education at a local school, monthly food packets and access to medical clinics staffed by Hope Force volunteers. Sponsors correspond with their child and are able to meet them by joining a Haiti volunteer team in Sous Savanne.
Between teams, Hope Force maintains an ongoing community presence. Staff members Rene and Marianne Lako live just a short walk to the village and make daily visits to meet with local leaders, help ladies with jewelry micro-enterprise, check on sick babies and sit down for chats.
One study of a large international sponsorship program revealed some encouraging news: ??we find that sponsorship results in 2.4 additional years of formal education, and large and statistically significant impacts on employment, occupational choice, age at marriage, age at child-bearing, dwelling quality, and community leadership. We also find evidence of positive spillover effects for many of these outcomes onto younger siblings and other village residents of the same age.? -Does International Child Sponsorship Work? A Six-Country Study of Impacts on Adult Life Outcomes, Compassion International, Bruce Wydick, Paul Glewwe, Laine Rutledge, August 12, 2011
We are grateful for the privilege of serving the children of Sous Savanne. We believe that some of them will be the next generation of leaders in Sous Savanne and beyond!
Please join us in prayer on behalf of the Haitian people. Pray for our team, and the projects of hope and healing that are underway and planned for 2015. When we as human beings see suffering, something within us rises up ? we want to respond. Sometimes we don?t know what to do, or how to get started. Come join us in putting the love of God into compassionate action. A meaningful investment to consider would be a monthly donation of $29.00 to sponsor a child through Hope Force...and is a wonderful place to begin!? Francine O?Connor ? Child Sponsorship Program Manager
Please contact: children@hopeforce.org
