Last year every child in our care experienced the excitement of receiving a brand new pair of shoes for their Christmas gift but their shoes are now too small. This year we want to purchase every child in our care a new pair of shoes. 

Stand by Me exists to change the lives of the children in our care, then to reach out and rescue more. This year we’ve been able to rescue 80 children in Ethiopia and welcome them into our Stand by Me schools in Dembi Dollo and Bekoji.

Meet 9 year old Mersayit. She lives in Ethiopia with her mum and sister. She's playful, helpful and always smiling. Mersayit's life is similar to that of many kids in Ethiopia, no bed, no toilet and no toys to play with. 

Sunita lives in the Khairang, Nepal. She came to the Khairang with her mother and they have made their home near the Stand by Me Bethany School to allow Sunita the chance of an education.

Bethany shares her experience of visiting Guacamayal, Colombia and meeting the children at our Emmanuel Care Centre. 

Galane has dreams and hopes just like all kids, but Galane carries the burden of living with HIV. We aim to remove all of the obstacles preventing children from reaching their dreams. Galane is now part of our HIV Food Programme and her health worries are relieved. 

Families in Ethiopia are trapped in poverty by the crippling burdens of malnutrition, lack of healthcare, early death, HIV and child labour. Despite the insurmountable challenges, Stand by Me is lifting families out of poverty and helping over 900 children achieve their dreams.

We can’t emphasise enough just how much having a sponsor means to our kids. But Cami, our Romania Director, has seen firsthand the joy of sponsorship and the lasting difference it makes in a child’s life.