The following is a list of the most commonly asked questions about child sponsorship.
Why do the children sometimes look healthy and happy?
Why do I need parental permission to sponsor a child if I'm under 18?
How long do I sponsor a child?
Do I get a progress report on my sponsored child?
Am I the only sponsor for my sponsored child?
Can I sponsor more than one child?
What if I cannot make sponsorship payments?
How do I update my payment details or change payment method?
How do I update my contact details?
How do I correspond with a sponsored child?
What should I write about?
How do I address and send letters & cards to a sponsored child?
What if I haven’t received a reply from my sponsored child?
What if I haven’t received a photo of my sponsored child?
Can I send gifts to my sponsored child?
Can I visit my sponsored child?
Can I adopt or bring a sponsored child to Australia?
About World Vision
Visit the 'about us, Frequently Asked Questions' section to learn more about World Vision, including:
What is World Vision and what does it do?
Does aid really get through?
Can I make a difference?
How much gets to the cause?
Why do the children sometimes look healthy and happy in their photos?
Photo-taking is not a common activity in many of the communities that sponsorship reaches. So it’s natural for the children’s families to want their children to look their best for the World Vision photo – even if it meant they had to borrow good clothes from someone else.
These photos do not always show their needs. It is not always apparent in a photo when a child is small for their age or under-developed in some way and children don’t have to look like they are starving to be suffering the effects of malnourishment. To understand your child’s community needs in more detail you can read your annual progress reports or find more information about your sponsored child's country on our site
Why do I need parental permission to sponsor a child if I'm under 18?
Sponsoring a child is an ongoing commitment of $43 a month. Some young people are unable to afford this amount without parental assistance. World Vision does not wish to place a financial burden on young people or their families. If you are under 18 and would like to sponsor a child, please confirm the decision with your parent or guardian first.
How long do I sponsor a child?
Ideally, sponsoring a child goes on for several years, through the duration of the community development project. Sometimes, it may take 10 to 15 years to achieve the community’s goals.
When you sponsor a child, you are not locked into a contract of any kind. We understand that your financial circumstances may change over time and if you are unable to make your regular contributions, we can assist you with a range of options.
Sometimes, changes in a child’s circumstances may bring an end to the sponsorship, such as when the child’s family moves away from the project area. In such instances, we will find out why and explain the situation to you. We will also help find another child for you to sponsor.
Do I get a progress report on my sponsored child?
Yes. World Vision will send you an annual progress report on your sponsored child plus an updated photo, direct from the child’s community.
To keep you informed of World Vision’s work around the world, we will also send you a regular supporter magazine (or an online version if you prefer). If there’s a disaster or emergency where your sponsored child lives, World Vision will notify you of the situation.
You also have the opportunity to write letters or emails to your sponsored child, and you may receive letters from your sponsored child, telling you about the changes you are helping to make in their life.
Am I the only sponsor for my sponsored child?
Yes, each sponsored child can only have one sponsor.
Can I sponsor more than one child?
You can sponsor as many children as you wish. Many of our sponsors choose to sponsor more than one child.
Many sponsors select a child the same age as their own child. This gives their child an opportunity to learn about the life of a child growing up in a developing country.
World Vision often receives letters from sponsors telling us about the positive impact of child sponsorship on their own children, such as the development of compassion and selflessness.
What if I cannot make sponsorship payments?
If your financial circumstances change and you are unable to make your sponsorship payments temporarily or permanently, please contact us as soon as possible.
How do I update my payment details or change payment method?
You can update both your payment details or change your payment method quickly and easily online in the my world vision section of the website:
- Update your direct debit arrangements or change your payment method to direct debit by using the direct debit form
- Update your credit card details or change your payment method to credit card by using the secure online form
How do I update my contact details?
Update your personal details such as postal address, email address and contact number at the supporter section of the website: my world vision
If you have any questions regarding sponsorship payment, please refer to Payment Information
How do I correspond with my sponsored child?
You can correspond with your sponsored child by exchanging letters. It’s a great way to get to know your sponsored child and they love to hear from you. They'll treasure the letters and photos they receive.
The letters you send usually take a few weeks to reach your sponsored child. However, sometimes it may take longer, up to six months. This is because the postal system may not reach remote villages or slum areas. World Vision staff deliver all letters personally, which can sometimes mean a long walk or a journey using poor transport. Roads are rough, and when rain comes, many are impassable.
Your letters are normally delivered to the sponsored child's school. Sometimes there can be delays when the school is on holidays. At other times, the child's family may have moved out of the area for a time for the harvest season, looking for work in nearby communities.
Our local staff will translate your letters from English, if necessary. Your sponsored child will receive your original card or letter and the translation; and you'll receive both your child's original card and the translation.
Postcards are a great option, because they are shorter, so translation costs less; or you could send an e-letter to your sponsored child. All the information you need to help correspond with your child is available in the my world vision section of the website.
What should I write about?
If you're not sure of what to write about, here is a sample to help get you started:
All the information you need on corresponding with your sponsored child, and more letter samples, can be found in the supporters section of the website: my world vision:
This includes:
- Sending letters and cards
- Advice on correspondence
- Addressing your mail
- Sending gifts
- Reply from your sponsored child
- E letters
How do I address and send letters & cards to a sponsored child?
Within very poor communities your address could become a source of unsolicited approaches to you for money, or other requests. Please follow these steps to help safeguard your privacy.
- Always use an envelope whether you are sending a letter or a postcard.
- Address the envelope to the World Vision office for the country (see inside your sponsor child picture folder for the address).
- On the back of the envelope:
- On the flap write your name and address.
- Below the flap write your sponsor child’s name and identification number (see inside your sponsor child picture folder).
- At the top of the letter or card write:
- Sponsored child’s name and identification number
- Your name and supporter number (but not your address)
What if I haven't received a reply from my sponsored child?
Children who are very young or began developing writing skills later will need more help writing letters. The helper may be a World Vision staff member, an older child or perhaps a family member. When a helper actually writes a letter, we encourage our overseas office to note this on the letter so that you will know.
The children's letters are then sent to be translated in the field office, which may be located a long distance away.
Please be patient about replies. In remote areas, where poverty and lack of developed postal systems often go hand in hand, it may take three to four months to deliver and translate your letter, then get a reply, translate and return to you. Your sponsored child may never have written a letter before!
If you haven't received a reply more than six months after mailing your letter and you would like us to follow up, please contact us.
What if I haven’t received a photo of my sponsored child?
If you haven't received an introduction kit which includes a photo of your sponsored child within two weeks of commencing a new sponsorship, please contact us.
Can I send gifts to my sponsored child?
Please do not send parcels to your child. Although it is a great feeling to send gifts of things they could never afford, you can imagine the sadness when one child receives a parcel and others don't.
Also, these parcels can incur customs and delivery costs, which must be paid by World Vision. These administrative costs can end up being higher than the value of the gift.
You are welcome to send inexpensive items such as stickers and cards which you can fit in an envelope. No cash, please.
Can I visit my sponsored child?
Yes. Many sponsors have added this to a planned overseas trip. A visit to your sponsored child and their community is a rewarding way to see the benefits of your contributions.
You must contact us at least three months before your intended departure date and before you make any travel bookings. It can take a long period of time to communicate information back and forth with our field offices and the remote communities. There is a lot of organisation required to help ensure your visit is as safe and enjoyable as possible.
World Vision can arrange and provide a World Vision guide to accompany you and act as interpreter on the day of your visit. We ask that you cover certain basic expenses associated with the guide and will advise a cost estimate in advance. We will also provide other important information you will need to plan and enjoy your visit.
It is important to be aware of Australian government official travel warnings relating to specific regions. In addition, we can obtain other travel advice and current security status from the local World Vision field office regarding the locality (often a remote area) of your sponsored child.
World Vision has a very strong child protection policy which specifies a commitment to being a child-safe organisation and supports the safety of children in their communities. All World Vision employees and supporters who visit sponsored children require police clearance to protect children from potential abuse.
You can learn about other sponsors' experiences and find out how to make the most of your trip by visiting my world vision.
Can I adopt or bring a sponsored child to Australia?
No. World Vision does not organise adoption or bring children to Australia for visits. Most sponsored children live with their families. We believe your help to improve their prospects for survival, quality of life and self-reliance in their own countries and cultures has deeper value than moving them to a foreign country.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you were not able to find the answers to your questions.
