FAQs
Here you can find answers to some of the questions asked about child sponsorship.
General
- Can I visit my sponsored child?
- Can I write and send presents to the child I sponsor?
- Does my sponsored child have a sibling I can sponsor?
- How long will my sponsorship last?
- How often will I hear back from my sponsored child?
- What happens to the child if I cannot continue sponsoring?
Further Questions
Can I visit my sponsored child?
Yes, you can and we have many sponsors who simply can't stop raving about the amazing experience of visiting their sponsored child. Making this happen does require a lot of preparation by everyone involved. We request a minimum of three months notice if you wish to visit your sponsored child. This is to allow our staff here in the UK sufficient time to set up the official procedures with the World Vision office in the country of the visit.
For more information about visiting the child you sponsor, click here.
Can I write and send presents to the child I sponsor?
Absolutely! This is one of the best things about sponsoring with World Vision. We've got lots of top tips and guidelines on things to write and where to send them. Click here for all the information you need.
Does my sponsored child have a sibling I can sponsor?
Usually one child per family is enrolled in the sponsorship programme. This is because sponsored children are representatives of their community and we want as many families to be able to participate as possible. Nonetheless this can vary from project to project and ultimately we let the community members themselves decide.
Further questions
We hope you managed to find what your looking for on our website but if not please feel free to phone our Supporter Care helpline on 01908 84 10 10, or email us at supporter@worldvision.org.uk with your questions. We make every effort to respond to email enquiries as quickly as possible.
You can also check out our Sponsor a Child FAQs page, which answers some other questions around how sponsorship works.
How long will my sponsorship last?
Children can generally be sponsored up to the age of 18. However, this depends on the project and circumstances of a child’s life and development. Depending on the age of the child, many people sponsor the same child for over ten years, until they leave school or reach adulthood. This can be at different ages depending on the country they are in or the age they started education. If our work in your sponsored child's community comes to an end, or the child leaves the area, we will let you know and you will have the opportunity to build a relationship with another child. This does mean that you will no longer be able to exchange letters or visit your old sponsored child.
How often will I hear back from my sponsored child?
If you write to your sponsored child they will write back to you! This way we hope you will be able to build up a wonderful relationship over time. It may take a little while for letters from your child to arrive – they have a long way to travel, so please bear this in mind when writing. Even if you don’t write, once a year you will receive an update on your sponsored child’s personal progress and on how your donations are transforming their community. Click here for more information about this.
What happens to the child if I cannot continue sponsoring?
At any time, if you need to stop sponsoring, perhaps because your circumstances have changed, you can do so. If you are thinking about cancelling your sponsorship, please get in touch with us, as there may be other ways in which you can continue your support. The child you sponsor will continue to benefit from the changes in their community and we will do our best to find a new sponsor for them. You can contact our Supporter Care Team on: 01908 84 10 10 or email us at info@worldvision.org.uk