ABOUT CHILD SPONSORSHIP
What is child sponsorship?
WIND seeks to transform communities in the Ixil region of Guatemala by focusing on the education of children. Child sponsorship is a way for you to join WIND in walking with a specific child, along with the child’s family and community, as they transition out of poverty. Your donations help to provide programs that encourage the education of your child while providing hope for their family and neighbors.
What is expected of me?
Your monthly child sponsorship is vital to making sure that the programs which benefit your sponsored child continue. WIND encourages you to set up your sponsorship as an automatic donation which saves processing time and expenses, so that we can more efficiently utilize our resources. Besides your generous financial commitment, we hope you will also choose to pray for your student and write letters to encourage your student.
How long does a child sponsorship commitment last?
There is no minimum or maximum time commitment for child sponsorship. When you sponsor a child, we hope that you will develop a meaningful long-term relationship that will continue until the child is no longer in the program, graduates, or moves from the community. In this case, you will be provided the opportunity to transfer your sponsorship to another deserving child in the community. If it is ever necessary for you to end your sponsorship, we appreciate a communication so we can immediately locate a new sponsor for your child. Your sponsorship will continue until we hear otherwise from you.
I JUST SPONSORED A CHILD, WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
What’s next?
Keep an eye on your mailbox. We will be mailing you a photo with more information about your sponsored child, the community where they live, and ways to connect with your sponsored child.
Write your sponsored child! You can submit a short letter electronically by emailing it to 21Girls.WIND@gmail.com. Make it personal by including a photo of you, your family, or pets. Photos are a wonderful way to begin a relationship.
Pray! Now that you have made the decision to sponsor a child in the program, we hope that you will begin to faithfully pray for them and their family.
How do I set up my monthly payment?
WIND provides a couple of options for you to set up your $35 monthly payment.
You can go to our sponsorship website and set up a recurring donation for 21 Girls.
You can contact us, and we will automatically deduct the amount you designate from your bank account. We will ask you to send us a voided check and indicate the amount, the preferred start date, and how often you would like it deducted.
How do I update my payment information?
Payment information can be updated online, or you can contact Maurina, WIND’s Director of Administration. If you would like assistance in updating your records, please email or call Maurina.
Maurina Rice
(206) 949-6590
I am no longer able to continue my sponsorship. Is there any other way I can get involved with WIND’s work?
Maybe you would consider giving a one-time gift which still allows you to make a difference in the lives of the children but is less of a financial commitment than child sponsorship. Also, donations can be made to our emergency fund which is used during times of disaster or medical emergencies when children are often the most vulnerable. In situations where immediate needs must be met, the emergency fund extends a helping hand to those who need it most.
Whether or not you are able to continue financial support, we encourage you to keep these children in your prayers. It’s a simple and compassionate way to join in our work.
ABOUT YOUR SPONSORSHIP
Does my sponsorship fee go directly to my sponsored child or family?
Your donations are never given directly to your sponsored child or family. By helping to meet the students’ educational needs, such as teacher salaries, learning materials, classrooms, and more, your sponsored child will thrive. Your monthly gift equips WIND to help your student’s school address their biggest needs.
How does my child directly benefit from my support?
Your monthly gift will help WIND deliver access to a quality education provided by dedicated teachers. Depending on the economic status of the child’s family, your child may or may not receive a scholarship from the school. School administrators, who know the families well, will make these financial decisions. Through your support, your child will be blessed with improved nutrition, educational opportunities, life changing training for families, emergency medical and dental care, safer environments, and more. Not only that, your sponsored child will be encouraged to know that someone loves them and wants them to succeed.
How will my sponsored child learn about Jesus and strengthen their faith?
WIND works with Colegio Horeb, a private non-denominational Christian school, to bring the knowledge and love of Jesus in a culturally appropriate way by walking with families and children in relationship. Children will take part in trainings and Bible teaching which will help shape their biblical worldview, this also helps to reduce violence against children and connect people to God’s love in profound ways.
COMMUNICATING WITH MY SPONSORED CHILD
How do I write my sponsored child?
You can write a letter to your sponsored child via traditional mail or electronically.
You can begin writing your sponsored child as soon as you become a sponsor. As a child sponsor, you are not only helping to meet the educational needs of your child, you also have a unique opportunity to inspire them. We hope that you will send love and encouragement to your sponsored child. Sending letters, cards or photos is the best way to do that. We encourage you to send letters electronically to expedite the delivery.
Mail letters to:
WIND
Attn: 21 Girls Program
PO Box 544
Lopez Island, WA 98261
Email: 21Girls.WIND@gmail.com
How does the communication process work?
After we receive your letter, it will be translated and sent electronically to your sponsored child within two weeks of receipt. Your letter is received by our program coordinator in Guatemala, printed, and then delivered to your student. We encourage your student to write back.
This video will help explain the process by following a letter from a sponsor to a child in Guatemala.
How often can I expect to hear from WIND and my child?
We want you to feel informed and connected to your child, so we will do our best to facilitate that relationship by providing reminders throughout the year. Communications might include things like letters, updated photos, or suggestions on ways you can encourage your sponsored child.
WIND will also send periodic updates about the school your child attends and community events that impact your child’s life.
WIND will facilitate the communications to and from your child. When you write your child, you can expect a response letter. But please note that the community is very remote and the process of forwarding, translating, and mailing back and forth can take time.
Are there any recommended guidelines for writing my sponsored child?
Yes! Please remind the child they are special, loved, smart and full of potential. Tell them that you care about them and think of them often. We want you to encourage them to work hard and stay in school.
Tell the child about your family and the place you live. Ask them about their family and the place they live. Ask about food, pets, holidays, culture, weather and so on.
Ask the child what they like to do and share some of the things you like to do. Share stories about having good character by serving others and being honest. If you pray for them and their family, tell them so.
Sponsor letters are very powerful for the students. It is amazing how even a brief note can be a great encouragement!
Can I send my sponsored child photos?
YES! The children love to receive photos of their sponsors, and we definitely encourage you to send them with your letters. Send photos of yourself, your family, and your pets. Please make sure your clothing is modest and be sensitive to your photo’s background.
Can I send my child a gift?
As a sponsor, encouragement and inspiration are the most valuable things you can send to your sponsored child. WIND has a NO GIFT Policy which maintains equity for all the students. Past experience has shown that if individual children receive gifts, it can cause jealousy and division within the community which is counterproductive to WIND’s work.
WIND does have a birthday program which assures that each child will receive a wrapped gift from their sponsor on their special day. These gifts are equal in value and purchased locally in the child’s community. We invite you to help pay for this gift with a donation to WIND prior to the student’s birthday. The recommended donation is $20. Approximately one month before your child’s birthday, you will be reminded and encouraged to send a special birthday note.
Can I visit my child?
A sponsor/child visit is a wonderful experience for both the sponsor and the child, and we definitely encourage it. We ask that you plan your visit in conjunction with a WIND team. If you decide to go on your own, please allow us the opportunity to make advanced plans to assure you have proper support for your visit. We wish for your visit to be meaningful to both you and your child. We also must protect the child, family, and school from unexpected and potentially harmful interruptions.
Can I contact my child directly?
Sponsored children have been known to contact their sponsor directly via email, Facebook, WhatsApp, or other social media platforms asking for money or special assistance. Sponsored children are specifically informed that this is not allowed, as such communication may create an unsafe environment for the sponsor, the child, and the child’s community. While WIND encourages the building of relationships, we would like to serve as a buffer for our sponsors and the child.
What if my sponsored child contacts me?
In the world of social media, expanded connectivity, and the growing use of technology in the developing world, preventing direct contact becomes extremely difficult. WIND requests our sponsors to avoid any attempts by a child to contact you directly. If you are contacted by your sponsor child (or other family member) via email, Facebook, Twitter, or other social media, please do not respond. Please take the following steps:
Contact WIND at 21Girls.WIND@gmail.com, or call Rich at 425-495-7687