Working in the contact center, I often hear from sponsors eager to send packages to their sponsored children. It’s heartwarming to witness such generosity and the desire to connect personally. However, direct package delivery isn’t feasible with Compassion International due to logistical complexities. But don’t worry, there’s a wonderful alternative that can be even more impactful: sending monetary gifts. Many sponsors are unaware of this option, and it’s a fantastic way to bless your sponsored child and their family in a tangible way. These gifts can address crucial needs and empower families in their local communities.
We understand the desire to send a personal package filled with carefully chosen items. However, the reality is that shipping packages directly is fraught with challenges. Customs and duty costs are the primary hurdle. In numerous instances, the expenses associated with shipping and import duties would surpass the actual value of the gift itself. Imagine the disappointment if a thoughtfully prepared package is held up due to fees, or worse, lost in transit. Moreover, the risk of theft or loss during international shipping is unfortunately quite significant. Sending monetary gifts bypasses these logistical nightmares and ensures your intended support reaches your sponsored child’s family efficiently and securely.
Our standard mail, consisting of letters and correspondence, is processed through customs as “documents,” which thankfully incurs no shipping fees. This system allows for smooth and cost-effective communication. However, even a small, seemingly innocuous item included in these document shipments can cause major disruptions. If customs officials were to open a box of letters and discover an undeclared item, like a piece of jewelry, the entire shipment of letters would be detained until the customs fee for that single item is paid. This could result in significant and unnecessary delays in delivering crucial correspondence to children and their families. To avoid these complications and ensure timely delivery of important communications, we must adhere to the “documents only” policy for our standard mail. Monetary gifts, sent through the designated channels, avoid these customs-related delays and directly benefit the family without logistical hurdles.
Each day, our correspondence team receives items sent by well-meaning sponsors that unfortunately cannot be shipped internationally. Managing these undeliverable items becomes a considerable task. Our dedicated team then has the responsibility of contacting each sender to inquire whether they would like the item returned at their expense or if they would prefer to donate it to a local charity. This process consumes valuable resources and time that could be better spent directly supporting children and families in need. Opting for monetary family gifts eliminates this administrative burden and ensures that your generosity is channeled directly and efficiently to its intended recipients.
I recognize that the inability to personally select and send a physical gift can be disappointing. The act of choosing a present, investing time and effort in packaging it, is a tangible expression of love and care. Simply sending money might feel impersonal in comparison. However, consider this: the funds you would spend purchasing items domestically and shipping them internationally can have a far greater impact when directed as a monetary gift. This money is then used to purchase goods and services within your sponsored child’s local community. This approach not only meets the immediate needs of the child and family but also contributes to stimulating the local economy, providing sustainable support rather than just a one-time gift.
Give a Gift
Why are Family Gifts so Meaningful?
The most straightforward answer to why you should consider sending a family gift is that it profoundly blesses the child and their family unit as a whole. These gifts serve as a vital means to address the real and pressing needs within their lives. Monetary gifts empower families to make choices that best suit their circumstances. For a child, it might mean a brand-new set of clothes, their very first pair of sturdy shoes, or essential school supplies. For the family, it could represent the seed capital to launch a small, income-generating business, providing long-term stability and empowerment. The impact of these gifts extends far beyond the monetary value; they convey love, support, and recognition of the family’s inherent worth.
Last fall, I personally sent a family gift to Angela, my sponsored child in Bolivia. I was truly amazed by how much she and her family were able to accomplish with the funds I sent. With just $75 USD, they were able to purchase a remarkable array of necessities: a durable blue jean jacket, essential undergarments, a warm wool poncho to ward off the Andean chill, another jacket for colder weather, a practical skirt, much-needed school materials to aid in Angela’s education, shoes for several members of her family, a supply of staple food items to nourish them, and even a backpack for Angela’s brother, Jose, ensuring he too had the tools for his schooling. The breadth and impact of their purchases from a relatively modest gift were truly humbling.
The staff at the child development center were kind enough to send a photograph of Angela and her family proudly displaying all the items they purchased with the gift. While letters acknowledging receipt of every gift are consistently sent to sponsors, receiving photographs is not always guaranteed. However, as a special token of gratitude, if you send a gift exceeding $60, you will typically receive a photograph of your sponsored child with the items purchased, creating a cherished memento of your generosity and the direct impact of your family gift. This visual connection further reinforces the meaningfulness of your contribution to the family’s well-being.
How Does Sending a Family Gift Actually Work?
The process of sending a family gift is designed to be efficient and ensure that your contribution reaches your sponsored child’s family effectively. After the monthly accounting books are closed, our finance department compiles a comprehensive list of all gifts received during that month. For the majority of countries where Compassion operates, the gift amount is converted into the local currency to maximize its purchasing power within the local economy. These converted funds are then transferred to the Compassion country office’s bank account. In some country offices, the bank handles the currency exchange from US dollars to the local currency, while others utilize US dollars directly depending on local circumstances and economic stability.
Once the country office receives the transferred funds, a designated staff member is responsible for distributing the funds to the individual child development centers. The method of fund transfer to the centers can vary; some centers receive funds via check, while others benefit from direct transfers into their center bank accounts, ensuring secure and traceable transactions. This entire process, from the initial gift being sent to the funds reaching the development center, typically takes approximately two to three months due to international banking procedures and administrative processes.
Upon receiving the funds at the child development center, the staff prioritizes setting up a meeting with your sponsored child. During this meeting, a staff member informs the child about your thoughtful gift and engages in a discussion to assess the most pressing needs of the child and their family. This participatory approach empowers the child and family to identify their priorities and ensures that the gift is used in a way that is most beneficial to them.
Following this consultation, the child signs a receipt acknowledging that the gift has been received, ensuring accountability and transparency in the distribution process. Subsequently, the child, often accompanied by a staff member, visits the local market to purchase the identified items. This experience provides valuable life skills in budgeting and making informed purchasing decisions.
Finally, as a gesture of gratitude and to provide feedback on the impact of your family gift, the child will write you a letter. This letter typically details what was purchased with the gift and may also include a photograph, depending on the gift amount and the specific practices of the child development center they attend. This personal communication loop allows you to witness firsthand the tangible difference your generosity makes in the lives of your sponsored child and their family. If, for any reason, you do not receive a letter within six months of sending your gift, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will promptly reach out to our country office to gather information and provide you with an update.
Christmas Gifts
What Types of Family Gifts Can I Choose From?
Compassion International offers several options for sending monetary family gifts, allowing you to choose the type that best suits your intentions and the needs of your sponsored child and their family. You have the flexibility to send a birthday gift or a general gift, in amounts ranging from $10 to $100, up to two times per year. For larger needs or specific family projects, you can send a family gift ranging from $25 to $1,000.
A birthday gift is specifically designated to celebrate your sponsored child’s special day. While primarily for the child, these gifts often indirectly benefit the family as well, contributing to celebratory meals or birthday-related necessities. When you send a family gift, the decision-making process becomes a collaborative effort. The child and their family work together to determine the most pressing needs and how best to utilize the funds, promoting family unity and shared responsibility. A general gift provides the most flexibility. It can be sent for any occasion or simply as an expression of your ongoing support and care. The child or family can then use these funds to purchase whatever is most needed at that particular time, whether it’s food, clothing, household items, or educational resources.
You also have the meaningful option to contribute to the Christmas Gift Program on behalf of your sponsored child. A donation of any amount, with a suggested amount of $20, can make a significant difference during the Christmas season for children and families in need. While other gifts can be sent throughout the year, we kindly request that contributions to the Christmas Gift Program be made by October 31st. This ensures that the gifts are processed and distributed in time for Christmas celebrations, bringing joy and festive cheer to families during the holiday season.
Is Sending a Gift Every Month a Good Idea?
While your generosity is deeply appreciated, sending a gift every month is generally not recommended. It’s important to consider the context of your sponsored child’s family’s economic situation. Many of these families live on less than $2 a day, making even a modest monetary gift a significant sum in their local context. To help avoid fostering a sense of dependence on external gifts, we advise against sending monthly gifts. Consistent monthly gifts can inadvertently create an unhealthy reliance and may not be conducive to long-term sustainable development within the family and community. Furthermore, frequent gifts to one child could, unfortunately, lead to feelings of jealousy or inequity within the wider community, potentially making your sponsored child and their family vulnerable to social challenges. Occasional family gifts, sent thoughtfully and strategically, are far more impactful in promoting sustainable well-being.
What if I Can Only Send a Small Gift?
We understand that sponsors have varying financial capacities, and every contribution, no matter the size, is valued. However, due to the administrative costs associated with processing monetary gifts, we are unable to accept gifts for amounts less than $10. If you are able to contribute a smaller amount, such as $5, we encourage you to set it aside. Perhaps combine it with another $5 contribution the following month, and then send a combined gift of $10 or more. This collective approach ensures that your generosity can be processed efficiently and effectively to benefit your sponsored child’s family.
Can I Suggest What My Sponsored Child Purchases with the Gift?
While you are certainly welcome to share suggestions about what you would like your sponsored child to purchase with the gift, it’s important to remember that the final decision rests with the child and their family. Empowering them to make these choices is a crucial aspect of our holistic development approach. If the child is too young to make informed decisions independently, their family will provide guidance and support in determining the most appropriate and beneficial use of the gift. This collaborative process ensures that the gift truly meets the most pressing needs and priorities of the family, fostering self-determination and responsible decision-making.
Am I Obligated to Send Gifts to My Sponsored Child?
Absolutely not. There is no obligation whatsoever to send gifts to your sponsored child. Sponsorship itself is a tremendous blessing and provides ongoing support through Compassion’s programs. However, do family gifts profoundly bless the child and their family? Yes, emphatically yes. They are an extraordinary way to tangibly demonstrate your love, care, and support, directly impacting their lives in meaningful ways and strengthening the bond between you and your sponsored child’s family.
This post was originally published on Aug. 9, 2010. The italicized text reflects updated correspondence guidelines.
