Orphan Child Sponsorship FAQ
Below, are some of the most frequently asked questions. If we have missed something you would like to know more about, please contact us on 020 8258 4483 or email sponsorship@orfact.org.uk for a direct response.
How will my sponsorship contribution be spent?
In order of priority, your sponsorship contributions will be spent on all of the following:
- Healthcare – to improve and maintain the overall physical and mental wellbeing of the sponsored child. This is sometimes the main focus during the first months of sponsorship.
- A home – to provide a safe and secure environment to all sponsored orphans, and wherever possible, this will be in the care of a family home.
- Education – to provide all sponsored orphans with access to either traditional school education or vocational skills training according to their age-group.
- Social wellbeing – to provide supplementary activities for children designed to help them develop vital social skills.
As your sponsored child comes of age, your sponsorship will encourage and support them to build their own future; ultimately a future where they would no longer be dependent upon charity to survive.
What are the child sponsorship admin costs?
No deductions from your sponsorship payments are made for administration. We are run mainly by part-time staff and by the many volunteers to whom we are very grateful. As a result, our administration costs have always been considerably low and are more than covered by donors wishing to cover our core costs and by using part of the tax reclaimed by donors who are Can I visit the sponsored child?
We would love for you to visit the project and child you are sponsoring. This allows you to see first-hand the huge changes you are helping to make for the children and families involved. We of course have a policy in place to make sure these visits are safe and rewarding for both you and the child. How long will my sponsorship last?
For as long as you are willing and able to afford it. If you decide to end your sponsorship, we ask for a minimum of 6 weeks notice for us to try any find another child sponsor.
However, as a general rule, your sponsorship may last until they have finished their education or training. Coming of age does not and should not automatically cut a child off from your support. If the child has not yet finished his or her education or training, he or she is sometimes able to continue living at our orphan centres with our support until they do.
- Children usually leave ORFACT between the ages of 16 and 25.
- In many countries, it is not acceptable for women to live alone. In these countries, women continue to reside at the home provided by ORFACT even after they have finished their education or training. In this case, a woman will leave only after she is married.
When the time comes that the child you are sponsoring is no longer in need of our support, we will write to you and offer you the chance to continue your sponsorship with a new child, so that you can carry on giving opportunities to even more children and families.
Can I write to the child that I sponsor?
Sending letters and cards forges a precious link between the child and sponsor, boosting the childs self-esteem.
You can exchange letters or send gifts to your sponsored orphan by sending them to our main office:
ORFACT House, Jubilee Close, London , UK
Once you agree to sponsor a child, we give you all the available details and references you would need to use for correspondence. Sponsorship information and new sponsor details are exchanged and updated every six weeks to and from our offices overseas. Therefore, we recommend that you allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.
In return, you will receive two messages a year, either from the child you sponsor or from someone writing on their behalf, such as a family worker or member of their family.
Can I sponsor more than one child?
Yes, we would be delighted to extend the opportunity of sponsorship as far as we can, to even more children and families desperately in need of your help and support. If you would like, we can also inform you of any siblings connected to your sponsored child that are still awaiting sponsorship.
Can I choose the country?
Yes, subject to availability, you can select the country and region of the child you wish to sponsor. We can also alert you to priority regions that are in the greatest need of your help.
Can I help without joining the scheme?
If you cannot afford to sponsor, we urge you to consider making a regular donation to ORFACT for a smaller amount of however much you can afford.