World Vision flips the script on Child Sponsorship
World Vision is changing the invitation to child sponsorship, putting the power to choose in the hands of some of the most vulnerable children around the world.
Millions of children benefit from having a World Vision sponsor, getting life-saving support for their communities. But in the past, the sponsors have chosen the children. That is about to change.
“We wanted to know what it would look like if we put the power into the hands of the children,” says World Vision New Zealand’s national director Grant Bayldon. “Children living in poverty often don’t get to make many choices about their lives – getting the opportunity to make a decision like this empowers them.”
When sponsors sign up, they will have their photo taken. That photo will be sent to a community where World Vision NZ works, to be displayed with the pictures of other potential sponsors. The community gathers for a celebration and the children choose their sponsors. The sponsors then receive a picture of the child holding their photo and a letter from the child introducing themselves and why they choose them as their sponsor.
“We already know child sponsorship transforms the lives of both sponsored children and sponsors,” says Grant Bayldon. “Everyone loves to be Chosen, and this is a reminder that the child sponsorship relationship has benefits on both sides.”
“We are all made in the image of a loving God, who chooses to love each one of us, and empowers us with the ability to choose too. What we do with that ability to choose can change the world.”
Contact:
Gabriel Thomas, News Media Advisor, World Vision New Zealand
Gabriel.Thomas@worldvision.org.nz | +64 21 360 098
Millions of children benefit from having a World Vision sponsor, getting life-saving support for their communities. But in the past, the sponsors have chosen the children. That is about to change.
“We wanted to know what it would look like if we put the power into the hands of the children,” says World Vision New Zealand’s national director Grant Bayldon. “Children living in poverty often don’t get to make many choices about their lives – getting the opportunity to make a decision like this empowers them.”
When sponsors sign up, they will have their photo taken. That photo will be sent to a community where World Vision NZ works, to be displayed with the pictures of other potential sponsors. The community gathers for a celebration and the children choose their sponsors. The sponsors then receive a picture of the child holding their photo and a letter from the child introducing themselves and why they choose them as their sponsor.
“We already know child sponsorship transforms the lives of both sponsored children and sponsors,” says Grant Bayldon. “Everyone loves to be Chosen, and this is a reminder that the child sponsorship relationship has benefits on both sides.”
“We are all made in the image of a loving God, who chooses to love each one of us, and empowers us with the ability to choose too. What we do with that ability to choose can change the world.”
Contact:
Gabriel Thomas, News Media Advisor, World Vision New Zealand
Gabriel.Thomas@worldvision.org.nz | +64 21 360 098