Olivia lives in Wisconsin, USA, and has sponsored Mbalu through Develop Africa's child sponsorship program since 2021.  

In November 2023, Olivia got the chance to meet Mbalu in Kamawornie village in person for the first time. This meeting was an exciting and life-changing experience for both of them.

The adventure began with a bumpy ride along the dusty roads of Kamawornie village. When Olivia arrived, she was greeted by a swarm of children eager to meet her, touch her hair, and hold her hand. Among them, she finally spotted Mbalu, a shy but smiling girl with whom she had exchanged letters. Their first meeting was emotional, with a heartfelt hug shared between them.

Beyond their personal connection, Olivia’s presence motivated all the children, showing them that someone cared deeply about their future. 

Exploring Kamawornie village was a delight; its beauty matched the warmth of its villagers. Olivia visited the primary and secondary schools and the nursery school that Develop Africa recently built. She even took a boat ride along the picturesque Little Scarcies River.

Click here for more photos of the visit in this album 

At the nursery school, Olivia interacted with the children, taking pictures and helping decorate classrooms with Christmas and playtime decorations. While some kids initially were nervous around her, many were thrilled to meet her.

 

The Power of Sponsorship: Olivia’s visit was more than just a trip—it was a testament to the power of sponsorship. Her presence provided a morale boost for the children and reinforced the importance of education in their lives. For M’balu, seeing her sponsor in person was a life-changing experience, strengthening her motivation to succeed in school.

In Freetown, Olivia extended her visit to two community schools, FAWE School for Girls and Hope Academy for Girls. There, she distributed hundreds of crayons, pencils, and handbags, bringing smiles to the faces of nursery and secondary school pupils alike.

Click here to see more photos from the FAWE & Hope Academy visits.

Join the Movement: Make a Difference Today

Olivia’s journey reminds us that one act of kindness can change lives. By sponsoring a child through Develop Africa, you can provide the support and encouragement needed to help a young student reach their full potential.

Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and succeed. Will you be the reason for their smile? 

Learn more about child sponsorship and choose a child today. 

Impact of The Visit: 

• Olivia's visit to Mbalu was a huge moral booster and made Mbalu feel valued. The other children Olivia interacted with were similarly encouraged and honored by the visit. It helped them see the world in a different light and motivated them. 
   
• The sponsor's nurturing care and support engendered a feeling of significance and value, cultivating a sense of self-worth and community. Engaging with a visitor from a different cultural background helped promote empathy, tolerance, and open-mindedness. The visit offered an insightful and different perspective on human experiences.  
   
• The sponsor's visit increased Mbalu's motivation, encouraging her to overcome obstacles and follow her aspirations. This renewed motivation will drive her pursuit of knowledge, self-improvement, and community service, enabling her to help build a better future for her community. 
   

Olivia's Engagement With The Family and Community:  

Having meetings with community stakeholders, educators, and pupils was very helpful in understanding the potential and problems that the community faces. These leaders frequently have an invaluable understanding of the local environment, particularly matters about infrastructure, socioeconomic growth, healthcare, and education. By talking with them, Olivia better understood the community's needs and priorities, enabling her to customize her actions and support for the years ahead.  

In addition, talking with the parents gave her a firsthand understanding of how the sponsorship program affects families. These discussions provided a chance to hear parents' goals straight from the source. She met with Mbalu and her family and committed to supporting her development.

Olivia visited the nursery school to meet the children and interact with them. She took some pictures, and the children were thrilled to meet her; some were hesitant to interact with her as it was their first time seeing and meeting a white person (Caucasian). She also helped set up the classrooms with Christmas and playing toy decorations.

In Freetown, Olivia visited two community schools (FAWE School for Girls and Hope Academy for Girls). During her visit, she helped distribute hundreds of crayons and pencils to FAWE's Nursery kids and handbags to pupils at Hope Academy for Girls Secondary School.   
 

General Benefits of Child-Sponsor Visits:  
 

1. Visiting your sponsored child is a perfect opportunity for the child to understand who you are and how much you care for them. It will enable you to see your impact on the child's life. This broadens and strengthens the relationship further. 
    
2. Visiting your sponsored child gives the sponsor a better understanding of the child's culture and community. You will meet and might have the opportunity to visit his/her school and where they live.  You will get to know your sponsored child better. This will also be an opportunity to see how kids in this part of the world live and how your donation is making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable kids. 
    
3. This visit creates a sense of moral boost for family members receiving a guest on behalf of their children. Such a moral boost increases parental guidance and dedication to the child's education and future aspirations. 
   As an organization, we hope Olivia's visit will inspire other sponsors to visit and interact with their respective sponsored children.

General Challenges and Opportunities

• Communication Gaps: Sponsors must make significant adjustments to comprehend their sponsored kids. The knowledge gap is vast and sometimes poses challenges in the bonding exercise. 
   
• Travel Costs: International and Local: The overall trip cost, which includes international/local travel and accommodation expenses, could pose a significant challenge to the sponsor. 
   
• Health and Food: Visitors' diet preferences should be shared before the trip so that adequate arrangements can be made to meet their needs. Food choices and options at the guest houses should be discussed in advance. General practices to eliminate the incidence of sickness should be followed.  
   
• Accommodation: This could be a significant issue for rural communities. The sponsor/visitor must be aware of the challenges of electricity availability, time management issues, etc. Proper reservations should be made for lodging.