In many cases, children remain in their sponsorship programs until they complete their high school education. Depending on the pace of their education, most children graduate school sometime between the ages of 17 and 21. Some will seek further education or vocational training, others invest in family businesses or look for other employment, and some get married and start a family.
While sponsorship allows for a close-knit bond between sponsor and sponsored child, we do not want to create a culture of dependence rather than development. For this reason, your sponsorship will end upon your child’s graduation, but you can be assured that you have equipped your child with the tools they need to thrive in adulthood. Our international partners also stay in contact with sponsorship alumni as much as possible, offering advice and assistance as they make this transition.
Some children may leave their program before they graduate if their family moves out of the area and they are no longer close enough for their child to remain in the program. Also, some families may become financially independent and no longer need the help of sponsorship.
Whether your child leaves the program because they have graduated or for another reason, we will notify you by mail with more information.
While you may no longer be able to continue sponsoring that child, you can still make an impact in the life of another boy or girl in need! We will provide you with the biography of another child waiting for a sponsor so you can continue investing in children’s lives around the world. If you should choose not to sponsor the new child we send you, simply let us know, and we can discontinue your sponsorship or help you select another available child.