World Help pixel

Child Sponsorship4 min read

4

A Sponsor’s Journey in Rwanda

Blog Team
Apr 14, 2014

 

Caline is an 11-year-old girl residing in Rwanda, specifically staying at the Star School during the school year. She is full of life and is described by her teacher as playful and silly.

Caline was orphaned at a young age, but she still has family members who live relatively close and whom she visits on school breaks.

Living in Rwanda, her family knew firsthand the tragedy of the genocide 20 years ago. They knew all too well the pain, suffering, and sorrow, yet are seeing hope restored in communities throughout their country.

Sponsorship helps children like Celine achieve their dreams

Star School has provided a better life for Caline than she thought she could ever have.

She is receiving a quality education, empowering her to dream big and pursue a bright future. With great ambition, she dreams of one day becoming the president so she can make a difference in her country.

Taylor LaBarbera sponsors Caline and first chose to sponsor in Rwanda because she planned on visiting there and hoped to meet her one day. Because of Caline’s tragic experiences, Taylor hoped to develop a friendship and become a source of encouragement to this young girl. Taylor shared:

“Working as a volunteer biography writer for World Help exposed me to hundreds of children in need of support. I had known about child sponsorship my whole life, but I never believed that it actually made a difference for the children. After reading biography after biography, I was convinced there was a real need in the world, and I could make a difference for at least one of these children.”

Since beginning her sponsorship journey, Taylor has had the incredible opportunity to build a relationship with Caline through regular correspondence, participating in World Help’s birthday campaign, as well as visiting Rwanda on a mission trip.

You can build a relationship with your sponsored child by writing letters or visiting their program

Taylor mentioned that it was a life-altering trip and made her even more aware of the importance of sponsorship.

“I realized that it wasn’t just $40 going to an organization, but it was $40 going toward a life. This little girl who I had known on a poster card became real to me. I realized she was not a distant, foreign, and unreachable child . . . she was very much alive and needed my sponsorship.” – Taylor LaBarbera

While in Rwanda, Taylor was able to see the reality of this country today and the incredible hope that is so evident in a place that went through so much unthinkable violence and tragedy. She described Rwanda as very confusing at first, yet so beautiful.

Each person carries the weight of the genocide in some way. Still, the remarkable reality is that they are modeling Christ’s forgiveness in ways that are only imaginary to most people.

They are working together, whether victim or perpetrator, to rebuild their country and restore Rwanda.

By becoming a sponsor today, you can be an example of God’s love and compassion!

Taylor’s sponsorship story and unique experience of visiting her sponsored child’s home country is such a true example of what sponsorship is and what sponsorship looks like. It is investing in a life and impacting a future.

 It goes far beyond $40 per month and impacts both the sponsored child and the sponsor. Building relationships with these children gives us the unique opportunity to build futures and invest in lives.

We can encourage and let them know how much we value and love them even though we may have never met. Each life holds such incredible value, and we, as sponsors, have the opportunity to make a difference.

4
Thank you. Please do not refresh the page while we process your transaction.