Writing to your sponsored child

Exchanging letters with your sponsored child means building a special connection and learning about each other's lives. Your letter can bring so much joy to your sponsored child and lets them know you’re thinking of them.

Writing to your sponsored child

Exchanging letters with your sponsored child means building a special connection and learning about each other's lives. Your letter can bring so much joy to your sponsored child and lets them know you’re thinking of them.

Your words can mean so much

Receiving letters from her sponsor Georgie inspired Nancy to become one of the first girls in her Kenyan community to finish high school. Watch their powerful story.

Sending your first letter is easy

Choose an e-letter or traditional post


Step 1

Choose an eLetter or regular letter

You can send an eLetter by logging into your My World Vision account and choosing one of our easy-to-use templates. Or you can put pen to paper and send a letter by post.

3-start-writingStart writing your letter


Step 2

Start writing

Your letter doesn’t have to be long. Just introduce yourself and ask your sponsored child a few questions about their life. Follow our tips below on what to include.

Make your letter personal


Step 3

Make it personal

Sending photos of you and your family or drawings from your children or grandkids can make your letter extra special and help your sponsored child get to know you.

Please note

When choosing personal photos or drawings to include, please be mindful of the way people are dressed and what’s in the background to avoid causing offence to people from different cultures.

When sending a letter by post, you’re also welcome to include small, paper-based gifts such as stickers or postcards, but please don’t send money, or expensive gifts that don’t fit into a business-size envelope.

Read our FAQs below for more information.

Send your letter electronically or through the post


Step 4

Send your letter

Simply press “send” when you’ve finished writing your eLetter. If you’ve hand-written your letter, follow our instructions in our FAQs below to send it by post.

1. Choose an eLetter or regular letter

You can send an eLetter by logging into your My World Vision account and choosing one of our easy-to-use templates. Or you can put pen to paper and send a letter by post.

2. Start writing

Your letter doesn’t have to be long. Just introduce yourself and ask your sponsored child a few questions about their life. Follow our tips below on what to include.

3. Make it personal

Sending photos of you and your family or drawings from your children or grandkids can make your letter extra special and help your sponsored child get to know you.

4. Send your letter

Simply press “send” when you’ve finished writing your eLetter. If you’ve hand-written your letter, follow our instructions in our FAQs below to send it by post.

Register or log in to your My World Vision account and start writing an eLetter to your sponsored child. 

Log in

Letter writing tips

What to write about

· Your family and everyday life
· What you do at work or school
· Australian animals
· Your pets, friends and hobbies

Suggested questions

· Can you tell me about your family?
· What are your favourite things to do?
· What animals do you like?                                                                

Topics to avoid

· Religion
· Politics
· Money or costly possessions
· Personal or contact details 

Frequently asked questions

How do I send a letter by post?

  1. Keep it short and simple
    In most cases your letter will be translated by someone who doesn’t speak English as a first language.
  2. Where to send it
    Address your envelope to the World Vision office in your sponsored child’s country. You'll find the right postal address in this list of our offices around the world.
  3. Include your sponsored child’s details
    At the top of each letter page, write your sponsored child’s full name and ID number. You’ll find these details under your sponsored child’s photo in your My World Vision account or in the Welcome Pack we sent you.
  4. Write your details on the envelope
    Only write your return address on the back of the envelope. Don’t include this anywhere on the letter to keep your personal information private.

Can I send my sponsored child a gift?

Sending a gift is a great way to do something extra and personal. However, before you pop something in the post, please be aware that gifts can sometimes have unintended results. For example, they can:

  • incur high customs duties that World Vision must pay
  • create expectations of future gifts

What kind of gifts can I send?

You can send your sponsored child small inexpensive items that fit into a business (DL) envelope. The best part for children isn’t the monetary value of these items, it’s knowing that you’re thinking of them. Paper-based gifts are ideal. Some suggestions include stickers, bookmarks, picture postcards, photos and drawings by your children or grandchildren (or you!)

Can I send money to my sponsored child?

Please don’t send money, cheques or postal orders to your sponsored child. Our World Vision offices are not equipped to handle funds sent directly from sponsors. By sponsoring a child, you are already doing the best thing for a community; giving them a hand-up. A hand-out is not needed.

What steps should I take to help protect my sponsored child?

As a sponsor, you can help protect your sponsored child's privacy and safety. When you’re writing to your sponsored child, or telling others about them, please follow these simple steps: 

  1. We encourage you to tell family and friends about your sponsored child. But please don’t share their identifying information including last name, village name and ID number. You’re welcome to share general information such as the child’s first name, the country where they live, hobbies and school level.

  1. Always send your letters to your sponsored child via World Vision. To protect your privacy, please don’t include your contact details on the letter. If you’re sending a letter in the post, please write your return address on the back flap of the envelope instead.

  1. We discourage sponsored children from contacting their sponsors directly. Your privacy is important to us. If your sponsored child, or a member of their family or community, contacts you through social media, please don’t respond. Instead, contact us so we can make them aware of the risks involved. We’ll also explain to them why it’s safer to use World Vision’s communication channels.

For more information about how you can help protect your sponsored child, you can read our Safeguarding Policy.

Get started

Register now or log in to your My World Vision account to send your sponsored child an eLetter, track their progress and see how you’re helping to transform their world.
Go to My World Vision