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When are extra funds most valued by the child / families?

Most families value and appreciate extra funds / gifts at the beginning of the academic school year (August / September). 

Some families have asked us to accumulate child sponsorship funds till this season when they are most in need for bulk funds to take care of school-related expenses. 

If you would like to make an additional donation towards this at anytime, you are welcome to do so.

Are there any additional ways I can help the child or the child's family - or even the community?

Yes.  See responses below for the child, the family or the community.

 

Child:

You might consider providing a range of materials that will be beneficial to the child.  This could range from assorted clothes to school supplies to even a laptop computer. The cheapest way to do this would be to ship the items by surface mail in a drum.  We could purchase the items for the child and ship them out to the child for you.  Cost will include the cost of shipping the items.  Recommended minimum budget for this is $300. 

Family:

How does my donated amount benefit the sponsored child? What do funds go towards?

 

Your monthly donation helps take care of your sponsored child's health, education, and overall well-being.  The families focus on ensuring the children receive regular meals and all school-related costs (miscellaneous school charges, special fees, events and activities, books, school supplies, uniforms, etc.).

Additionally, in some communities, we provide other grouped services focused on improving the community—for instance, after-school lessons/tutoring, counseling, computer / vocational training, etc.  

Will I learn more about my sponsored child?

By sponsoring a child, you will have the opportunity to relate with and connect with a child.  This also extends to the family and the community as you will have an opportunity to learn more about the family and community.  As a child sponsor, you will relate and correspond with one unique child.

You can expect to receive hand-written notes from this child, and we encourage you to write back and continue this relationship.  Periodic correspondence will allow both of you to learn more about each other. 

Am I allowed to send gifts – for instance on the child’s birthday or at Christmas etc?

Care Package: yes, you are allowed and very welcome to to send gifts. We can include your small gifts in our periodic surface mail shipment to Sierra Leone. The gifts will take at least 3-4 months to arrive depending on when our next shipment leaves etc.  

We recommend that you carefully select an age-appropriate gift. We discourage any gifts that relate to war, violence etc. Below are some suggested items: 

Suggested Items That You Can Include in Your Care Package for Your Sponsored Child:

If for some reason I need to pause, change or discontinue my payment plan, can I do so at any time?

Yes, you are free to do so at anytime.  We understand your circumstances may change in one way or the other.

If at all possible, we recommend that you temporarily reduce the amount rather than cancel.  In the event that you need to cancel, we would be grateful if you could renew as soon as you can as this allows us to together continue to impact the child's life.  As you realize, continuity and consistency plays a big part in the care, growth, and development of children and we welcome your on-going support as we bring permanent and lasting change. 

I would like to mail a letter/package to my sponsored child? Could you provide me with a mailing address?

 

Yes, we can provide this - send a message to amy@developafrica.org for shipping details.

Recommended: Send your package to our shipper in Maryland or our office in Tennessee. You will be responsible for all costs associated with shipping, which will be around $50 per box from the shipper or our office to Africa 

Also suggested would be a note with your package indicating who should be receiving the package and who it is from so that we can share photos and responses with you from your sponsored child once the package arrives in Africa.  
 

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Families in Sierra Leone face unprecedented challenges due to rising costs. Inflation makes it difficult for them to afford basic food staples such as rice, cooking oil, and onions.

Extending a helping hand can alleviate a significant burden and provide essential relief to the less fortunate.

Help provide relief by donating today!

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