Welcome, Chepstow House pupils and parents!

We’re incredibly thankful for your school’s support of our kids around the world which is making an amazing difference in their lives. Child sponsorship is another wonderful way you can get more involved. When a child is told they have a sponsor, they literally jump for joy. Your letters and drawings mean the world to them as you love and encourage them to be the very best they can be.

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Meet some of the children at our project in Kenya who need a sponsor

Kelvin is 6 years old. He lives with his mother, step-father and siblings in a one-bedroom mud house with an earth floor. Kelvin is a calm, quiet boy. He loves school and playing with his friends.

Kelvin lives with his mother, step father and siblings in a one bedroom rented mud house with an earth floor. On one side of the house they have put large sacks that has all their clothes in and which they use to cover a hole in the mud wall. They have one bed where Kelvin's mother and the youngest child sleep. All the other children sleep on the floor. There is a shared community well just outside their house from where they fetch their water and they use a pit latrine about 100 metres from their home. 

Kelvin's mother is their sole provider and she does casual jobs to try and provide for their household needs, their rent and the school fees for her children, but this is a struggle. Learning of their situation, Kelvin has now been accepted onto the sponsorship programme where with support, he has access to a quality education.

Kelvin is a calm shy boy who speaks very little. He says that he loves school and enjoys playing with his friends whenever he can.

Sponsor Kelvin I can’t choose, please select a child for me

Abel is 8 years old. He is an only child and lives with his mother and grandparents. His parents are young and are High School students. Abel is a happy and outgoing child.

Abel is an only child. He lives with his mother and grandparents. His mother is young and is still at High School and is not able to provide for his daily needs. His father is also a High School student. So, Abel's grandparents take care of him while his parents continue with their education.  

 Abel's grandparents provide him with his basic needs and the family live in their own home, which is in a good condition although basic. They have access to clean water.  

By joining the sponsorship programme, Abel has the opportunity of a quality education in a loving environment. Abel is such a happy and outgoing child, and we hope that he will be encouraged in our care to be able to work hard and improve in his studies and thrive.

Sponsor Abel I can’t choose, please select a child for me
Now Sponsored

Baraka is 5 years old. Abandoned at a young age, Baraka has had a difficult start to his life. He loves school and is eager to learn and he enjoys playing with his friends.

Baraka came to the Open Arms Village through the Children's Office after his mother abandoned him. She left him with a lady requesting that she hold Baraka for a few minutes while she went to buy milk from a nearby shop. The lady waited for Baraka's mother to return but she did not. She then reported the incident to the rescue centre and the matter was referred to the Children's Office. The Open Arms Village was the alternative placement for baby Baraka where he could find care and protection. Follow up work has been done on trying to trace Baraka’s mother, but this has not been successful since there were no contact details left, not even the name of his mother is known. 

Baraka is a young happy boy who enjoys school very much and is eager to learn. He loves playing with his friends. He has now found a new home here at the village where he lives with other children all of whom have different stories. His home is filled with love, laughter and care and you can see his radiant smile.

Baraka has been sponsored

Sponsor another child like Baraka
or read more about child sponsorship
Now Sponsored

Moris is 7 years old. He lives in a small rented house with an iron roof and cement floor. The living conditions are very cramped with his parents, 5 siblings and 2 nieces all living there. Moris aspires to be a footballer.

Moris lives in a small rented house with an iron roof and cement floor. The living conditions are very cramped with his parents, five siblings and two nieces all living there. Together with their neighbours, they share a well that has been dug by the roadside outside their premises, from which they get their water.

Moris' father does casual jobs to earn an income but after buying his meal during the day, he comes back home empty handed. This makes Moris' mother the sole provider and although she is not in the best of health, she does casual jobs so that she can support her children and grandchildren with her main form of earning an income collecting and selling firewood. 

Moris' mother requested help so that all her children and grandchildren could go to school to receive an education. 

We are glad to be supporting Moris who is a confident, well behaved boy who aspires to be a footballer when he grows up.

Moris has been sponsored

Sponsor another child like Moris
or read more about child sponsorship

Child Sponsorship

Child Sponsorship is a fantastic way to impact a child’s life.
It’s so much more than a monthly donation; it means a child feels loved, cared for and part of a family.

Our kids thrive knowing that their sponsor loves and cares for them and that they are part of a wider family across the world.
As you write and receive communication from your child you build a personal relationship with them. You get to know their interests, hopes and dreams.
Your sponsorship donation will provide food, clothes, an education, medical care and in some cases, a loving home.
Our kids love to receive letters, photos and small gifts from their sponsor. These things quickly become treasured possessions and let your child know you care for them.
If you don’t think you’d write to your child at least once per year, we’d love you to consider supporting Chepstow House's fundraising
Donate to the Open Arms Academy

What’s it like to be a child sponsor?

When you decide to be a child sponsor, it changes a child’s life. The less obvious bit is that it often changes the sponsor’s life a little too.

Miss Walshe, a teacher at Chepstow House School, sponsored Wamale after visiting Ethiopia. 

"Seeing first-hand the work of Stand by Me made me realise the huge impact that sponsorship has on a child. Seeing their faces light up when they receive a package from their sponsor, knowing that someone in a different country is thinking of them and cares is so powerful! Since sponsoring Wamale, I feel like she is part of my family; I am forever speaking about her and know how much influence my letters and gifts are having on her life. I look forward to playing a part in her life as she grows."

Hannah, Matt, Abi and Toby sponsor William Sak Kee in Burma and even though he lives far away, each member of the family has built a special bond with him.

“It’s a delight to receive his letters and emails and to write back to him. In every letter and photo we see him develop and it’s great to be part of his life. William calls us 'Mum' and 'Dad' and he is our unofficially adopted son! He is a brother to Abi and Toby and the correspondence between them is very special. In one of William's letters, he writes, 'you are all in my heart'; well, William is and always will be in our hearts too.”

St Luke’s Nursery and Primary School sponsor 6 children through fundraising activities like film nights, penny spirals and selling smoothies, gingerbread people and cakes.

“We sponsor children in Burma and Ethiopia because we have so much more than they do and it’s good to share.” “Sponsoring means a lot to me because our friends are the same age as us and are not as fortunate as we are.”  “It’s important that we show our friends that they are loved.” “We can make a big difference to the lives of others and I like it when I see pictures of our friends smiling.”

Christy started sponsoring Ashenafi in Ethiopia when he left high school

“I decided to become a sponsor because I realised that while £20 a month may seem like a very small amount to me, it can be used to transform a child’s life. Rather than donating to an unknown source each month with little or no idea of how my money is being used, Stand by Me have helped me build a relationship with my sponsor child, which makes it much less like donating money and more like simply helping a friend.”

Gary sponsors Dame and Ifa in Dembi Dollo. He even got to meet them both on a team trip.

“Receiving letters from the two boys I sponsor is my favourite mail! My boys update me on how they are getting on at school and how their family life is, which makes everything considerably more personal. Through sponsoring, I know that whatever I give financially gets to those that need it most and all is spent wisely, but more importantly I actually get to know my kids, who they are, and what their hopes and dreams are!”

Child Sponsorship Questions & Answers

What is child sponsorship?

Sponsoring a child is a great way for you to directly impact a child’s life. You encourage and support your sponsored child, not only financially, but by sending letters and building a personal relationship with them. Your support enables them to feel loved and part of a family. Your monthly donation will be used to provide for your child’s individual needs.

How much does child sponsorship cost?

For as little as £30 per month, you can become a child sponsor and help us rescue a child in need.  The costs of providing children with high quality care can vary greatly depending on the country and the needs of the children. Since our desire is to provide the best care possible, it may be necessary to allocate some of our children with more than one sponsor. £30 per month goes a long way, however, anything extra you feel able to give will be much appreciated. 

What does my sponsorship money go towards?

It goes towards providing the best care possible for the child you sponsor. This could be to provide 24hr care in a loving family home for a child who is orphaned or without a stable family environment. For children who have a family but have no access to an education, your sponsorship money will enable them to go to our school or care centre and provide them with a quality education, committed teachers, books, pens, nutritious food and vital medical care.

Can Stand by Me guarantee that my money will be allocated to my child?

Yes, we will use your money to provide the best care possible for the child you sponsor. Your money will provide their food, clothes, education, medical care and if necessary, loving parents and a family home. A minimum of 92% of your donation is spent on caring for your child. The remaining 8% is used for managing the sponsorship programme and helping us raise more sponsors.  

What information will I receive about my sponsored child?

When you sponsor, we’ll allocate you a child according to your preferences and send you their photo and background story. This helps you get to know your child and begin building a relationship from the start by sending a letter or email. We will then send you regular updates, photos and correspondence from your child.

Can I sponsor a child as part of a group?

Yes. We welcome group sponsorships. You may want to sponsor a child through your school, social club, church group, brownies, scout group or business.

Will I be the only sponsor for my child?

We provide the best care possible for each of our kids and endeavour to meet their individual needs. However, the costs of providing for a child vary greatly depending on the country and the type of care they need. Since our desire is to provide the best care possible for every child, it may be necessary to allocate some of our children with more than one sponsor. By our kids having a few sponsors each, we are able to provide them with care to transform their lives while ensuring they can benefit from having a genuine, personal relationship with their sponsors who act as aunts, uncles and grandparents to them. 

How do I communicate with my child?

We want every sponsor to have a great relationship with their child and we will do our best to facilitate and encourage you to write as often as you can. Our kids love to receive letters, photos and donations to buy small gifts from their sponsor. These things quickly become treasured possessions and let your child know you care for them. There are two ways to do this:

  1. By post (which can include cards, letters, postcards and photos). You can download our reply template. 
  2. By email. Just send your message to mychild@standby.me

For both types of communication, please include the following information:-

  1. Your Name
  2. Child’s Name
  3. Child’s ID number
  4. Programme Name

Please be aware that due to delays in international post and poor internet connection, you should allow at least 6 weeks for a postal response and 3 weeks for an email response.  

Where do I send any postal correspondence for my child?

You can send all correspondence to our England office:

Your postal correspondence will be forwarded to the child on a monthly basis.

Can I contact my child directly?

All communication must travel via the Stand by Me UK office to ensure communications are appropriate. Direct contact with your sponsored child over social media, text, post or email is never acceptable as it undermines our safeguarding protocols.
If direct communication does occur, please let us know by contacting hi@standby.me so we can talk to your child and ensure they can stay safe.
It is our policy not to disclose your contact details to your child or the programme.

What shall I write to my child?

The first time you write you can introduce your family and possibly include a photo. Pets, hobbies and sports are always good topics to include.

  • Ask your child what name they like to be known by. In some countries, the names are quite different to British names.  You could also tell them what you like to be called.
  • Share about a national custom or holiday. Postcards of where you live or places you have visited are educational and interesting.
  • Encourage your child to do their best at school.
  • Include a question or two to give your child something to write about, and answer your child’s letter and any questions they have for you.
  • Please avoid writing about personal problems where possible.
  • Please do not include your contact details on any correspondence with your child.
  • For more ideas, check out our sample letter. 

Can I send a postal gift to my child?

Your child would love to receive emails, letters and photos to find out more about you. Due to the security issues and the cost of postal services in the countries where we work, we are unable to post any parcels to our children. Instead we recommend a monetary gift which will enable your child or our staff to choose a present that is culturally appropriate and supports the local economy, you can give between £10 - £25 to buy a gift for your child here.

Can I send a monetary gift to my child?

That’s a great question! You can do that here. Or you can call us on 01708 442271 to make a card payment or you can send a cheque to our England office (made payable to Stand by Me) making it clear on the covering note what the cheque is for. Our overseas staff will then purchase a present on your behalf or your child will be able to choose a gift themselves. You can give an amount between £10 and £25 which goes far in buying something special while ensuring the children are treated fairly. You'll receive a letter from your sponsored child to let you know what was purchased with your donation. If you want to give more than £25 we will use the extra to provide gifts for unsponsored children.

Can I visit my child?

In accordance with our child protection policy, we can sometimes facilitate the opportunity for a sponsor to meet their child. However, due to the security risks in certain countries a visit is not always possible.
Please get in contact with us on 01708 442271 or email hi@standby.me to find out more. 

Can I email my child?

We would love you to. We want to make it as simple as possible for you to communicate with your child. Please send any emails to mychild@standby.me. Please remember the internet connection can cause delays in some of our programmes, therefore we ask you allow at least 3 weeks for a response.

I don’t have time to write to a sponsored child, but I’d love to contribute. How can I help?

If you would like to impact the lives of children but don’t feel that sponsoring a child is for you, then please consider making a regular donation, which enables you to sponsor a home or school. You will have the same impact without sponsoring an individual child. There are also many other ways you can get involved.

If I stop my sponsorship, what happens to the child?

Every effort will be made to find the child a new sponsor.

Can I sponsor a Home or School?

Sponsoring a home or school is a great way of impacting the lives of many children. You can do this by signing up to give a regular donation and selecting an amount and country of your choice. If you want to discuss this further, please contact Nicola on 01708 442271 or Nicola@standby.me.

How much does sponsoring a Home or School cost?

You can choose the amount you wish to donate (per month) and any contribution will make an impact on many of our children’s lives.

How does sponsoring a Home or School help?

This is a great way of supporting many children, especially children who do not have a sponsor and without the commitment of writing to them. Your regular donation will go towards meeting the monthly needs of the children at the programme (home or school), including food, clothes, medical care and the salary of the teachers or carers. We’ll make sure you receive regular updates on how your donation is having an impact.  

 

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