As you correspond with your sponsored child, you probably ask a lot of questions. You want to know all about them . . . about their life, their family, their hobbies, and interests.
But did you know that your sponsored child also wants to know about you?
Although every sponsor-child relationship is different, sharing your life opens the door for deeper friendship and cross-cultural understanding.
Not sure where to start? Here are some tips and ideas to get your creative juices flowing!
Share About Your Life
Talking about yourself in a letter can feel awkward and unnatural, but it doesn’t have to be. Just be clear and conversational—don’t feel like you need to write an essay!
Pick a topic and get to writing!
- Share about your family. Talk about their hobbies, interests, where they work, or a funny story you can share.
- Write about your daily life. Describe your routine, the people you interact with, or your job.
- Describe your hometown. Does your city have an interesting history?
- What is your favorite holiday? Write about your family traditions, favorite holiday foods, or a special memory.
- Who was the most influential person in your life?
- Talk about your favorite sport.
- Share about your church, your pastor, or what God is teaching you in your personal spiritual walk.
- What are your goals and dreams?
- Share your favorite Bible verse or quote and what it means to you.
Share Photographs
Pictures are a great way for you to share your world with your child. Not only do they help your child get to know you better, but pictures also help them start engaging with a different culture. Many times, sponsored children keep photos of their sponsors with them or hang them on the wall near their bed so they can see them often.
Send your child a picture of . . .
- Your family
- Your pet
- You participating in a hobby/sport you enjoy
- Your hometown
- A place you’ve visited
- A significant moment in your life
While you gather pictures for your child, be mindful of what’s going on in the background of your pictures (see “Things Not to Share” section below).
Share Your Prayer Requests
For your child, knowing that someone cares about them and is praying for them is one of the most important parts of their sponsorship experience—and they want to know your prayer requests too!
Things Not to Share
Children need positive voices in their lives that affirm, encourage, and inspire. This means that certain topics should be avoided, and all letters must fall within our guidelines.
Here are some tips for what not to share:
- Avoid elaborating on material possessions (the size of your home or kind of car you drive). This includes the photos you send.
- Don’t ask your sponsored child what they would like as a gift from you.
- Avoid critiquing a child’s home or lack thereof.
- Refrain from discussing topics such as sexuality, guns, alcohol, violence, or illegal activity.
Read more about our correspondence guidelines here.
Sharing Your World—Why it Matters
When everything else is stripped away, child sponsorship is ultimately about relationships.
Your prayers, financial commitment, and correspondence show a child you care about them on a personal level. It shows you have taken an interest in their life, and you care about their well-being, growth, and future.
Sharing about yourself to your child gives them the chance to do the same. Authenticity opens the door for you to build a relationship with your sponsored child. Keep writing, praying, and investing—God is using you in more ways than you know!
Ready to send your letter now? Address your envelope to:
[Sponsored Child’s name and ID #]
c/o World Help Child Sponsorship Program
P.O. Box 501
Forest, VA 24551