We don't use children's photos because we are very serious about protecting their safety and privacy. Once you have sponsored a child, you will receive a picture of them via email.
Is a 1 year old girl
from Kenya
Abigail lives in a highly populated informal settlement with no proper sanitation. Her father supports the family through casual labor in the slum and generates $360 annually. The family finds it very challenging to support her daily needs and provide her with proper healthcare.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Abigail lives in a highly populated informal settlement with no proper sanitation. Her father supports the family through casual labor in the slum and generates $360 annually. The family finds it very challenging to support her daily needs and provide her with proper healthcare.
About Abigael's Life in Kenya
Despite Kenya being considered the economic and transportation hub of East Africa, poverty is still widespread across the country’s regional areas. Many of Kenya’s poorest people live in isolated communities, which are prone to climate change-driven droughts. Children, who make up more than half of the population, face serious risks that stem from a lack of food, clean water, and education.
Lack of access to healthcare in rural areas and poor sanitation in urban zones accelerates the spread of preventable diseases. Malaria is one of the nation’s biggest issues, and is a leading cause of death of children under five years old. While HIV infection rates have slowed recently, HIV and AIDS still impact millions of families.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide immunisations, deworming, vitamin supplementations, growth monitoring, antenatal care, and hygiene education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, which are some of the leading causes of death in early childhood.
Education: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Is a 5 year old boy
from Philippines
Alimar lives in a small house made from light materials while his father works as a fisherman and provides a monthly income of $92. His family suffers from financial crisis and is unable to provide basic facilties such as gas for cooking and other essential requirements.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Alimar lives in a small house made from light materials while his father works as a fisherman and provides a monthly income of $92. His family suffers from financial crisis and is unable to provide basic facilties such as gas for cooking and other essential requirements.
About Alimar's Life in Philippines
Rich in natural resources and home to world-renowned tourist destinations, the Philippines is hamstrung by corruption and highly vulnerable to life-threatening natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, landslides and volcanoes.
Many children live in poverty, especially in remote villages where there is limited access to quality school and health clinics.
According to the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines, boys are more vulnerable to all forms of abuses than girls.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Ensure all children have access to a healthy, nutritious diet and clean water.
Early Childhood Development: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Help communities keep children safe during emergencies by running disaster risk reduction projects in vulnerable areas.
Is a 7 year old girl
from Zambia
Shamukubi lives with her parents who mainly grow maize and vegetables for consumption and sell. The family's annual income is around $200 which is not enough to support their basic needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Shamukubi lives with her parents who mainly grow maize and vegetables for consumption and sell. The family's annual income is around $200 which is not enough to support their basic needs.
About Shamukubi's Life in Zambia
Three decades of oppressive rule following independence in 1964 contributed to Zambia becoming one of Africa’s poorest countries. In rural areas, four out of five people live in poverty. Zambia’s fortunes have improved recently, but decades of underinvestment mean the country is lagging behind in key areas and there is a lack of jobs and opportunities for people.
Girl, in particular, have limited opportunities in Zambia. Girls are less likely to finish school and are at risk of harmful practices such as forced marriage and early marriage.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Education: Provide learning resources, and renovate or build classrooms and other school facilities to ensure children can receive a quality education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water and hygiene lessons to communities in remote communities to help children avoid childhood illnesses.
Livelihoods: Take the pressure off disadvantaged families by providing the skills and resources they need to earn more income, which can help them pay for their children's education and wellbeing.
Is a 6 year old boy
from Zambia
Chamanya resides in a small community district with his parents who grow maize and cassava for a living. Their annual income is $240 and they cannot afford to provide Chamanya with his basic requirements.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Chamanya resides in a small community district with his parents who grow maize and cassava for a living. Their annual income is $240 and they cannot afford to provide Chamanya with his basic requirements.
About Chamanya's Life in Zambia
Three decades of oppressive rule following independence in 1964 contributed to Zambia becoming one of Africa’s poorest countries. In rural areas, four out of five people live in poverty. Zambia’s fortunes have improved recently, but decades of underinvestment mean the country is lagging behind in key areas and there is a lack of jobs and opportunities for people.
Many schools and homes do not have access to clean drinking water, meaning children must walk long distances each day to get water, or drink unsafe water, which can lead to potentially fatal childhood illnesses.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Education: Provide learning resources, and renovate or build classrooms and other school facilities to ensure children can receive a quality education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water and hygiene lessons to communities in remote communities to help children avoid childhood illnesses.
Livelihoods: Take the pressure off disadvantaged families by providing the skills and resources they need to earn more income, which can help them pay for their children's education and wellbeing.
Is a 5 year old girl
from Kenya
Katumbi is a young girl who lives with her parents in a small farm. Her parents grow crops as a source of living and have an annual income of below $340. Their income is still insufficient to provide for katumbi's daily needs making her daily life challenging.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Katumbi is a young girl who lives with her parents in a small farm. Her parents grow crops as a source of living and have an annual income of below $340. Their income is still insufficient to provide for katumbi's daily needs making her daily life challenging.
About Katumbi's Life in Kenya
Despite Kenya being considered the economic and transportation hub of East Africa, poverty is still widespread across the country’s regional areas. Many of Kenya’s poorest people live in isolated communities, which are prone to climate change-driven droughts. Children, who make up more than half of the population, face serious risks that stem from a lack of food, clean water, and education.
Lack of access to healthcare in rural areas and poor sanitation in urban zones accelerates the spread of preventable diseases. Malaria is one of the nation’s biggest issues, and is a leading cause of death of children under five years old. While HIV infection rates have slowed recently, HIV and AIDS still impact millions of families.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide immunisations, deworming, vitamin supplementations, growth monitoring, antenatal care, and hygiene education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, which are some of the leading causes of death in early childhood.
Education: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Is a 4 year old boy
from Kenya
Benjamin's parents work as small scale farmers who make an annual income below $420. They cannot afford to provide Benjamin with his basic needs such as healthcare, nutritious food and education.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Benjamin's parents work as small scale farmers who make an annual income below $420. They cannot afford to provide Benjamin with his basic needs such as healthcare, nutritious food and education.
About Benjamin's Life in Kenya
Despite Kenya being considered the economic and transportation hub of East Africa, poverty is still widespread across the country’s regional areas. Many of Kenya’s poorest people live in isolated communities, which are prone to climate change-driven droughts. Children, who make up more than half of the population, face serious risks that stem from a lack of food, clean water, and education.
Lack of access to healthcare in rural areas and poor sanitation in urban zones accelerates the spread of preventable diseases. Malaria is one of the nation’s biggest issues, and is a leading cause of death of children under five years old. While HIV infection rates have slowed recently, HIV and AIDS still impact millions of families.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide immunisations, deworming, vitamin supplementations, growth monitoring, antenatal care, and hygiene education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, which are some of the leading causes of death in early childhood.
Education: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Is a 6 year old boy
from Zambia
Chiyala resides in a small community district with his parents who are small scale farmers. They earn around $180 annually which makes it hard to support Chiyala's daily requirements and other essential needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Chiyala resides in a small community district with his parents who are small scale farmers. They earn around $180 annually which makes it hard to support Chiyala's daily requirements and other essential needs.
About Chiyala's Life in Zambia
Three decades of oppressive rule following independence in 1964 contributed to Zambia becoming one of Africa’s poorest countries. In rural areas, four out of five people live in poverty. Zambia’s fortunes have improved recently, but decades of underinvestment mean the country is lagging behind in key areas and there is a lack of jobs and opportunities for people.
Many schools and homes do not have access to clean drinking water, meaning children must walk long distances each day to get water, or drink unsafe water, which can lead to potentially fatal childhood illnesses.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Education: Provide learning resources, and renovate or build classrooms and other school facilities to ensure children can receive a quality education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water and hygiene lessons to communities in remote communities to help children avoid childhood illnesses.
Livelihoods: Take the pressure off disadvantaged families by providing the skills and resources they need to earn more income, which can help them pay for their children's education and wellbeing.
Is a 7 year old girl
from Ethiopia
Firdews and her family lives off the income they earn from agriculture and petty trade. Their yearly income is not more than $400 and does not meet basic needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Firdews and her family lives off the income they earn from agriculture and petty trade. Their yearly income is not more than $400 and does not meet basic needs.
About Firdews's Life in Ethiopia
As Africa’s oldest independent country, Ethiopia has a long and proud history. In recent years, rural parts of Ethiopia have suffered from periodic droughts, which have put immense pressure on the country’s people. Ethiopia still ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world, and inadequate food and water supplies continue to contribute to high levels of child malnutrition and disease.
Education in Ethiopia has been severely stunted by three decades of food insecurity and civil war. Class sizes are too large, and teachers are underpaid. Impoverished families are unable to pay for textbooks, school clothes and other necessities. Girls face even more of a challenge than boys in Ethiopia when it comes to getting a proper education. Girls are expected to perform housekeeping duties on top of school, and marry young.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Women and Girls: Educate communities on the rights of women and girls, and improve child protection to provide safe, encouraging environments where girls can thrive.
Education: Help students improve their reading, writing and maths skills, while also keeping them interested in staying in school.
Livelihoods: Provide income-generating activities to reduce the burden on families and help girls stay in school.
Is a 4 year old boy
from Ethiopia
Ashebir lives in a poorly built hut with no access to safe drinking water.His village lacks proper transport facilties, school equipment and medical equipemtn. His father works as a farmer who makes an annual income less than $350 and is unable to support Ashebir's daily needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Ashebir lives in a poorly built hut with no access to safe drinking water.His village lacks proper transport facilties, school equipment and medical equipemtn. His father works as a farmer who makes an annual income less than $350 and is unable to support Ashebir's daily needs.
About Ashebir's Life in Ethiopia
As Africa’s oldest independent country, Ethiopia has a long and proud history. In recent years, rural parts of Ethiopia have suffered from periodic droughts, which have put immense pressure on the country’s people. Ethiopia still ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world, and inadequate food and water supplies continue to contribute to high levels of child malnutrition and disease.
The health of mothers and newborns in Ethiopia is often at risk, since many women do not deliver in hospitals or receive adequate pre- and postnatal care. ChildFund’s programs encourage mothers to deliver at hospitals, and provide nutrition, sanitation and hygiene solutions to keep children healthy.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Maternal Support: Help mothers deliver at health facilities with skilled staff, reducing the high rates of infant mortality.
Health: Increase awareness about diseases that lead to child deaths, and provide solutions that can save lives.
Water and Sanitation: Provide safe water and education to help prevent the spread of diseases that are responsible for child deaths.
Is a 5 year old girl
from Sri Lanka
Anbalakan is a five year old girl who lives in a house made from tin sheets without access to clean drinking water. She walks 2km to school everday as her village lacks proper transport facilities. Her father is a casual worker who makes $600 annually and is unable to provide Anbalakan with her daily needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Anbalakan is a five year old girl who lives in a house made from tin sheets without access to clean drinking water. She walks 2km to school everday as her village lacks proper transport facilities. Her father is a casual worker who makes $600 annually and is unable to provide Anbalakan with her daily needs.
About Anbalakan's Life in Sri Lanka
Many communities in Sri Lanka are still overcoming the effects of the country’s 25-year civil conflict, which ended in 2009. In 2004, the India Ocean tsunami left 40,000 Sri Lankans dead and many more displaced.
Many families in remote communities survive on informal work, which is usually low-paid and has little security. There are high rates of child malnutrition, which can affect a child’s physical and cognitive development and impact them for the rest of their lives.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Early Childhood Development: Support child-friendly early childhood development centres, which offer play equipment, learning and teaching materials, access to water and sanitation, training for teachers, and robust parent-teacher associations.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, to protect children from the threat of waterborne diseases, which can be deadly if left untreated.
Health: Support and educate mothers on child nutrition, growth and development to ensure their children grow up healthy and strong.
Is a 3 year old boy
from Kenya
Abdianun lives with his two siblings and parents in a one room house made from iron sheets. Their house has no access to running water and they buy contaminated water. The father does casual jobs and earns less than $300 annually which is insufficient to support Abdianun's daily needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Abdianun lives with his two siblings and parents in a one room house made from iron sheets. Their house has no access to running water and they buy contaminated water. The father does casual jobs and earns less than $300 annually which is insufficient to support Abdianun's daily needs.
About Abdianun's Life in Kenya
Despite Kenya being considered the economic and transportation hub of East Africa, poverty is still widespread across the country’s regional areas. Many of Kenya’s poorest people live in isolated communities, which are prone to climate change-driven droughts. Children, who make up more than half of the population, face serious risks that stem from a lack of food, clean water, and education.
Lack of access to healthcare in rural areas and poor sanitation in urban zones accelerates the spread of preventable diseases. Malaria is one of the nation’s biggest issues, and is a leading cause of death of children under five years old. While HIV infection rates have slowed recently, HIV and AIDS still impact millions of families.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide immunisations, deworming, vitamin supplementations, growth monitoring, antenatal care, and hygiene education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, which are some of the leading causes of death in early childhood.
Education: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Is a 4 year old girl
from Kenya
Cynthia's parents helps generate an annual income below $340 through casual jobs and subsistence farming. They are unable to provide Cynthia access to education, healthcare and other daily requirements.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Cynthia's parents helps generate an annual income below $340 through casual jobs and subsistence farming. They are unable to provide Cynthia access to education, healthcare and other daily requirements.
About Cynthia's Life in Kenya
Despite Kenya being considered the economic and transportation hub of East Africa, poverty is still widespread across the country’s regional areas. Many of Kenya’s poorest people live in isolated communities, which are prone to climate change-driven droughts. Children, who make up more than half of the population, face serious risks that stem from a lack of food, clean water, and education.
Lack of access to healthcare in rural areas and poor sanitation in urban zones accelerates the spread of preventable diseases. Malaria is one of the nation’s biggest issues, and is a leading cause of death of children under five years old. While HIV infection rates have slowed recently, HIV and AIDS still impact millions of families.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide immunisations, deworming, vitamin supplementations, growth monitoring, antenatal care, and hygiene education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, which are some of the leading causes of death in early childhood.
Education: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Is a 5 year old girl
from Indonesia
Kesya's father works as a seasonal laborer while her mother does other small work to generate a combined annual income of around $400. Kesya's health condition is in an average condition and her parents are unable to provide her with daily basic needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Kesya's father works as a seasonal laborer while her mother does other small work to generate a combined annual income of around $400. Kesya's health condition is in an average condition and her parents are unable to provide her with daily basic needs.
About Kesya's Life in Indonesia
Indonesia has become one of the world’s major emerging economies, but it is still home to widespread poverty and inequality. There is a major gap between the experience of children in the regional and remote areas, where ChildFund works, and children in the main cities.
Children in remote areas are far less likely to access adequate school and health facilities, which exposes them to childhood illnesses and diminishes their ability to reach their potential.
More than 20 million people live below the world poverty line and Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, which have a disproportionately negative impact on poor and marginalised communities.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Help children thrive and avoid childhood illnesses by teaching families about healthy hygience practices and how to make nutritious meals from locally-sourced foods.
Education: Put children on the best path for the future by improving early childhood education in remote communities.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Help communities keep children safe during emergencies by running disaster risk reduction projects in vulnerable areas
Is a 2 year old boy
from Philippines
Aljay lives with his parents in a house built from iron sheets, bamboo slabs and wood. His house has no access to clean water, proper sanitation and electricity. His father makes $16 monthly as a farmer and finds it difficult to support his family's basic needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Aljay lives with his parents in a house built from iron sheets, bamboo slabs and wood. His house has no access to clean water, proper sanitation and electricity. His father makes $16 monthly as a farmer and finds it difficult to support his family's basic needs.
About Aljay's Life in Philippines
Rich in natural resources and home to world-renowned tourist destinations, the Philippines is hamstrung by corruption and highly vulnerable to life-threatening natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, landslides and volcanoes.
Many children live in poverty, especially in remote villages where there is limited access to quality school and health clinics.
According to the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines, boys are more vulnerable to all forms of abuses than girls.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Ensure all children have access to a healthy, nutritious diet and clean water.
Early Childhood Development: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Help communities keep children safe during emergencies by running disaster risk reduction projects in vulnerable areas.
Is a 2 year old girl
from Philippines
Myra lives in a house with eight members. Her parents make around $50 monthly and find it extremely difficult to support Myra as she is still a toddler, along with her other daily needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Myra lives in a house with eight members. Her parents make around $50 monthly and find it extremely difficult to support Myra as she is still a toddler, along with her other daily needs.
About Myra's Life in Philippines
Rich in natural resources and home to world-renowned tourist destinations, the Philippines is hamstrung by corruption and highly vulnerable to life-threatening natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, landslides and volcanoes. Many children live in poverty, especially in remote villages where there is limited acces to quality school and health clinics.
The Philippines has high rates of child labour. Most children working are employed working on farms, where they face terrible conditions on a daily basis.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Ensure all children have access to a healthy, nutritious diet and clean water.
Early Childhood Development: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Help communities keep children safe during emergencies by running disaster risk reduction projects in vulnerable areas.
Is a 5 year old girl
from Sri Lanka
Ayansa lives in a house built from mud and asbestos with no access to running water. Ayansa's father derives a meagre income which is insufficient to support her with nutritious food, proper clothing and healthcare.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Ayansa lives in a house built from mud and asbestos with no access to running water. Ayansa's father derives a meagre income which is insufficient to support her with nutritious food, proper clothing and healthcare.
About Ayansa's Life in Sri Lanka
Many communities in Sri Lanka are still overcoming the effects of the country’s 25-year civil conflict, which ended in 2009. In 2004, the India Ocean tsunami left 40,000 Sri Lankans dead and many more displaced.
Many families in remote communities survive on informal work, which is usually low-paid and has little security. There are high rates of child malnutrition, which can affect a child’s physical and cognitive development and impact them for the rest of their lives.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Early Childhood Development: Support child-friendly early childhood development centres, which offer play equipment, learning and teaching materials, access to water and sanitation, training for teachers, and robust parent-teacher associations.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, to protect children from the threat of waterborne diseases, which can be deadly if left untreated.
Health: Support and educate mothers on child nutrition, growth and development to ensure their children grow up healthy and strong.
Is a 3 year old boy
from Sri Lanka
Bhumi lives with his parents in an undeveloped village with poor sanitation facilities. The father earns $21 a month as a farmer and cannot support Bhumi's needs. This has caused Bhumi to be deprived from nutritious food, healthcare and proper clothes.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Bhumi lives with his parents in an undeveloped village with poor sanitation facilities. The father earns $21 a month as a farmer and cannot support Bhumi's needs. This has caused Bhumi to be deprived from nutritious food, healthcare and proper clothes.
About Bhumi's Life in Sri Lanka
Many communities in Sri Lanka are still overcoming the effects of the country’s 25-year civil conflict, which ended in 2009. In 2004, the India Ocean tsunami left 40,000 Sri Lankans dead and many more displaced.
Many families in remote communities survive on informal work, which is usually low-paid and has little security. There are high rates of child malnutrition, which can affect a child’s physical and cognitive development and impact them for the rest of their lives.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Early Childhood Development: Support child-friendly early childhood development centres, which offer play equipment, learning and teaching materials, access to water and sanitation, training for teachers, and robust parent-teacher associations.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, to protect children from the threat of waterborne diseases, which can be deadly if left untreated.
Health: Support and educate mothers on child nutrition, growth and development to ensure their children grow up healthy and strong.
Is a 3 year old boy
from Philippines
Alden lives with his two other siblings and his parents in a small house. His father works as a laborer ina afarm and earns $80 monthly. The family's income is too low to support everyone's daily needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Alden lives with his two other siblings and his parents in a small house. His father works as a laborer ina afarm and earns $80 monthly. The family's income is too low to support everyone's daily needs.
About Alden's Life in Philippines
Rich in natural resources and home to world-renowned tourist destinations, the Philippines is hamstrung by corruption and highly vulnerable to life-threatening natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, landslides and volcanoes.
Many children live in poverty, especially in remote villages where there is limited access to quality school and health clinics.
According to the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines, boys are more vulnerable to all forms of abuses than girls.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Ensure all children have access to a healthy, nutritious diet and clean water.
Early Childhood Development: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Help communities keep children safe during emergencies by running disaster risk reduction projects in vulnerable areas.
Is a 3 year old boy
from Uganda
Ashiraf lives with his mother and 3 sisters in a house made of mud walls and iron sheets on the roof. The family does small scale farming that earns them $15 per month. The family struggle to meet basic family needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Ashiraf lives with his mother and 3 sisters in a house made of mud walls and iron sheets on the roof. The family does small scale farming that earns them $15 per month. The family struggle to meet basic family needs.
About Ashirafu's Life in Uganda
Since its independence from Britain in 1962, Uganda has endured a military coup, followed by years of dictatorship, ongoing civil conflict and internal displacement. This has had a lasting effect on millions of Ugandans, who have been trapped in poverty for generations.
Poor nutrition, a lack of health facilities and a shortage of trained health staff in remote areas contribute to Uganda having high rates of childhood deaths.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Early Childhood Development: Ensure children get the best start in education and smoothly enter primary school, by renovating and building classrooms, and providing learning and play materials at early childhood development centres.
Water and Sanitation: Provide safe, clean drinking water to prevent children from waterborne diseases, which are some of the leading causes of deaths in children aged under five years old.
Health: Provide immunisations to children and provide families with HIV counselling & testing, antenatal care and education on how to identify and manage childhood illnesses.
Is a 3 year old girl
from Indonesia
Dinda lives wth her parents who work as seasonal laborers. The family's annual income is around $400 and insufficient to support Dinda with her healthcare and education needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Dinda lives wth her parents who work as seasonal laborers. The family's annual income is around $400 and insufficient to support Dinda with her healthcare and education needs.
About Dinda's Life in Indonesia
Indonesia has become one of the world’s major emerging economies, but it is still home to widespread poverty and inequality. There is a major gap between the experience of children in the regional and remote areas, where ChildFund works, and children in the main cities.
Children in remote areas are far less likely to access adequate school and health facilities, which exposes them to childhood illnesses and diminishes their ability to reach their potential.
More than 20 million people live below the world poverty line and Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, which have a disproportionately negative impact on poor and marginalised communities.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Help children thrive and avoid childhood illnesses by teaching families about healthy hygience practices and how to make nutritious meals from locally-sourced foods.
Education: Put children on the best path for the future by improving early childhood education in remote communities.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Help communities keep children safe during emergencies by running disaster risk reduction projects in vulnerable areas
Is a 4 year old girl
from Zambia
Kabwita lives with her parents with no reliable source of income. Her parents are farmers and sell surplus crops but are unable to generate any income to provide Kabwita with her daily essentials such as education, healthcare and other.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Kabwita lives with her parents with no reliable source of income. Her parents are farmers and sell surplus crops but are unable to generate any income to provide Kabwita with her daily essentials such as education, healthcare and other.
About Kabwita's Life in Zambia
Three decades of oppressive rule following independence in 1964 contributed to Zambia becoming one of Africa’s poorest countries. In rural areas, four out of five people live in poverty. Zambia’s fortunes have improved recently, but decades of underinvestment mean the country is lagging behind in key areas and there is a lack of jobs and opportunities for people.
Many children in Zambia live in poverty and do not have access to adequate schools or health centres. Access to clean water is also a major problem in many communities. Zambia has an extremely high rates of childhood deaths, most of which are preventable.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide growth monitoring services to prevent child malnutrition, vitamin supplements, deworming and vaccinations. Families also receive mosquito nets to ward off malaria.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water and hygiene lessons to communities to prevent childhood illnesses and child deaths.
Early Childhood Development: Ensure children get the best start in education and smoothly enter primary school, by providing learning and play materials at early childhood development centres.
Is a 7 year old girl
from Sri Lanka
Arushi lives with her family in a small village. Her father makes an annual income of $600 and finds it insufficient to provide a proper living standard and safe drinking water.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Arushi lives with her family in a small village. Her father makes an annual income of $600 and finds it insufficient to provide a proper living standard and safe drinking water.
About Arushi's Life in Sri Lanka
Many communities in Sri Lanka are still overcoming the effects of the country’s 25-year civil conflict, which ended in 2009. In 2004, the India Ocean tsunami left 40,000 Sri Lankans dead and many more displaced.
Many families in remote communities survivie on informal work, which is usually low-paid and has little security. Teachers in the communities where ChildFund works often have limited training, and classrooms are under-resourced.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Education: Provide training to teachers and implement activity-based lessons in classrooms, ensuring children have access to a quality education.
Child Protection: Educating children and their communities about children's rights nd how to identify and report child violence, to ensure children are safe and protected.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Help children prepare for emergencies and learn life-saving skills that will help their families if a disaster strikes.
Is a 7 year old boy
from Ethiopia
Abate lives in a neighbourhood that lacks access to proper school equipments, health centers, hygiene and sanitation. His mother works as a laborer to provide an annual income of less than $300, which is too low to provide even for their most basic needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Abate lives in a neighbourhood that lacks access to proper school equipments, health centers, hygiene and sanitation. His mother works as a laborer to provide an annual income of less than $300, which is too low to provide even for their most basic needs.
About Abate's Life in Ethiopia
As Africa’s oldest independent country, Ethiopia has a long and proud history. In recent years, rural parts of Ethiopia have suffered from periodic droughts, which have put immense pressure on the country’s people. Ethiopia still ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world, and inadequate food and water supplies continue to contribute to high levels of child malnutrition and disease.
Education in Ethiopia has been severely stunted by three decades of food insecurity and civil war. The education system has improved since the regime changed in 1991, but it largely remains inadequate or simply inaccessible for most children. Class sizes are too large, and teachers are underpaid. Impoverished families are unable to pay for textbooks, school clothes and other necessities. Primary school attendance rates are low, about 80%.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Education: Improve their reading, writing and maths skills, while also keeping students interested in staying in school.
Livelihoods: Provide income-generating activities to reduce the burden on families and help children stay in school.
Child rights: Increase awareness of children's rights and help children become leaders in their communities.
Is a 5 year old boy
from Uganda
Brandon lives with his parents and siblings. His father works on servicing bicycles and makes around $15 monthly. As Brandon and his siblings grow up, being able to provide for his family's basic requirements will become a serious challenge.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Brandon lives with his parents and siblings. His father works on servicing bicycles and makes around $15 monthly. As Brandon and his siblings grow up, being able to provide for his family's basic requirements will become a serious challenge.
About Brandon's Life in Uganda
Since its independence from Britain in 1962, Uganda has endured a military coup, followed by years of dictatorship, ongoing civil conflict and internal displacement. This has had a lasting effect on millions of Ugandans, who have been trapped in poverty for generations.
Poor nutrition, a lack of health facilities and a shortage of trained health staff in remote areas contribute to Uganda having high rates of childhood deaths.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Early Childhood Development: Ensure children get the best start in education and smoothly enter primary school, by renovating and building classrooms, and providing learning and play materials at early childhood development centres.
Water and Sanitation: Provide safe, clean drinking water to prevent children from waterborne diseases, which are some of the leading causes of deaths in children aged under five years old.
Health: Provide immunisations to children and provide families with HIV counselling & testing, antenatal care and education on how to identify and manage childhood illnesses.
Is a 1 year old boy
from Sri Lanka
Binuka's parents make $27 a month through cultivation and other means. Binuka's family lives in his aunt's house which have no source of running water. The family finds it very difficult to provide for Binuka's daily needs such as whole meals, healthcare and educational support.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Binuka's parents make $27 a month through cultivation and other means. Binuka's family lives in his aunt's house which have no source of running water. The family finds it very difficult to provide for Binuka's daily needs such as whole meals, healthcare and educational support.
About Binuka's Life in Sri Lanka
Many communities in Sri Lanka are still overcoming the effects of the country’s 25-year civil conflict, which ended in 2009. In 2004, the India Ocean tsunami left 40,000 Sri Lankans dead and many more displaced.
Many families in remote communities survive on informal work, which is usually low-paid and has little security. There are high rates of child malnutrition, which can affect a child’s physical and cognitive development and impact them for the rest of their lives.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Early Childhood Development: Support child-friendly early childhood development centres, which offer play equipment, learning and teaching materials, access to water and sanitation, training for teachers, and robust parent-teacher associations.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, to protect children from the threat of waterborne diseases, which can be deadly if left untreated.
Health: Support and educate mothers on child nutrition, growth and development to ensure their children grow up healthy and strong.
Is a 5 year old girl
from Zambia
Anabel is a young child who lives with her parents. Her parents work as subsistence farmers with an annual income of not more than $320. It's not enough to provide for daily needs and makes daily life for her family very challenging.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Anabel is a young child who lives with her parents. Her parents work as subsistence farmers with an annual income of not more than $320. It's not enough to provide for daily needs and makes daily life for her family very challenging.
About Anabel's Life in Zambia
Three decades of oppressive rule following independence in 1964 contributed to Zambia becoming one of Africa’s poorest countries. In rural areas, four out of five people live in poverty. Zambia’s fortunes have improved recently, but decades of underinvestment mean the country is lagging behind in key areas and there is a lack of jobs and opportunities for people.
Many children in Zambia live in poverty and do not have access to adequate schools or health centres. Access to clean water is also a major problem in many communities. Zambia has an extremely high rates of childhood deaths, most of which are preventable.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide growth monitoring services to prevent child malnutrition, vitamin supplements, deworming and vaccinations. Families also receive mosquito nets to ward off malaria.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water and hygiene lessons to communities to prevent childhood illnesses and child deaths.
Early Childhood Development: Ensure children get the best start in education and smoothly enter primary school, by providing learning and play materials at early childhood development centres.
Is a 4 year old boy
from Indonesia
Dimas lives with his parents who generate around $600 annually through retailing and other small jobs. Dimas is at a school going age but unfortunately, the family's income is too low to support their daily needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Dimas lives with his parents who generate around $600 annually through retailing and other small jobs. Dimas is at a school going age but unfortunately, the family's income is too low to support their daily needs.
About Dimas's Life in Indonesia
Indonesia has become one of the world’s major emerging economies, but it is still home to widespread poverty and inequality. There is a major gap between the experience of children in the regional and remote areas, where ChildFund works, and children in the main cities.
Children in remote areas are far less likely to access adequate school and health facilities, which exposes them to childhood illnesses and diminishes their ability to reach their potential.
More than 20 million people live below the world poverty line and Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, which have a disproportionately negative impact on poor and marginalised communities.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Help children thrive and avoid childhood illnesses by teaching families about healthy hygiene practices and how to make nutritious meals from locally-sourced foods.
Education: Put children on the best path for the future by improving early childhood education in remote communities.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Help communities keep children safe during emergencies by running disaster risk reduction projects in vulnerable areas.
Is a 3 year old boy
from Sri Lanka
Bihansha lives in a partly built house, with the roof covered with asbestos. They have no running water and collects water from unsafe sources for drinking and cooking purposes. The family's monthly income is $11 and is insufficient to support their daily needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Bihansha lives in a partly built house, with the roof covered with asbestos. They have no running water and collects water from unsafe sources for drinking and cooking purposes. The family's monthly income is $11 and is insufficient to support their daily needs.
About Bihansha's Life in Sri Lanka
Many communities in Sri Lanka are still overcoming the effects of the country’s 25-year civil conflict, which ended in 2009. In 2004, the India Ocean tsunami left 40,000 Sri Lankans dead and many more displaced.
Many families in remote communities survive on informal work, which is usually low-paid and has little security. There are high rates of child malnutrition, which can affect a child’s physical and cognitive development and impact them for the rest of their lives.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Early Childhood Development: Support child-friendly early childhood development centres, which offer play equipment, learning and teaching materials, access to water and sanitation, training for teachers, and robust parent-teacher associations.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, to protect children from the threat of waterborne diseases, which can be deadly if left untreated.
Health: Support and educate mothers on child nutrition, growth and development to ensure their children grow up healthy and strong.
Is a 2 year old boy
from Kenya
Boniface's parents work as small scale farmers and do other casual jobs to generate an income of around $420. Their insufficient income is depriving Boniface from his basic needs such as food, healthcare and basic education.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Boniface's parents work as small scale farmers and do other casual jobs to generate an income of around $420. Their insufficient income is depriving Boniface from his basic needs such as food, healthcare and basic education.
About Boniface's Life in Kenya
Despite Kenya being considered the economic and transportation hub of East Africa, poverty is still widespread across the country’s regional areas. Many of Kenya’s poorest people live in isolated communities, which are prone to climate change-driven droughts. Children, who make up more than half of the population, face serious risks that stem from a lack of food, clean water, and education.
Lack of access to healthcare in rural areas and poor sanitation in urban zones accelerates the spread of preventable diseases. Malaria is one of the nation’s biggest issues, and is a leading cause of death of children under five years old. While HIV infection rates have slowed recently, HIV and AIDS still impact millions of families.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide immunisations, deworming, vitamin supplementations, growth monitoring, antenatal care, and hygiene education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, which are some of the leading causes of death in early childhood.
Education: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Is a 5 year old boy
from Sri Lanka
Aanathakumar lives a house that does not have access to running water. His village lacks proper transport services and goes to school by cycling 2km everyday. Aanathakumar's father is a casual worker and his income is insufficient to meet the daily requirements of the family.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Aanathakumar lives a house that does not have access to running water. His village lacks proper transport services and goes to school by cycling 2km everyday. Aanathakumar's father is a casual worker and his income is insufficient to meet the daily requirements of the family.
About Aanathakumar's Life in Sri Lanka
Many communities in Sri Lanka are still overcoming the effects of the country’s 25-year civil conflict, which ended in 2009. In 2004, the India Ocean tsunami left 40,000 Sri Lankans dead and many more displaced.
Many families in remote communities survive on informal work, which is usually low-paid and has little security. There are high rates of child malnutrition, which can affect a child’s physical and cognitive development and impact them for the rest of their lives.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Early Childhood Development: Support child-friendly early childhood development centres, which offer play equipment, learning and teaching materials, access to water and sanitation, training for teachers, and robust parent-teacher associations.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, to protect children from the threat of waterborne diseases, which can be deadly if left untreated.
Health: Support and educate mothers on child nutrition, growth and development to ensure their children grow up healthy and strong.
Is a 2 year old girl
from Kenya
Emily lives with her three siblings and parents. Her house has no access to clean water and the nearest health center is 3km away. Her father works as a farmer and brick maker to generate an income of around $340 annually. Her parents find it extremely difficult to support Emily's and her siblings daily needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Emily lives with her three siblings and parents. Her house has no access to clean water and the nearest health center is 3km away. Her father works as a farmer and brick maker to generate an income of around $340 annually. Her parents find it extremely difficult to support Emily's and her siblings daily needs.
About Emily's Life in Kenya
Despite Kenya being considered the economic and transportation hub of East Africa, poverty is still widespread across the country’s regional areas. Many of Kenya’s poorest people live in isolated communities, which are prone to climate change-driven droughts. Children, who make up more than half of the population, face serious risks that stem from a lack of food, clean water, and education.
Lack of access to healthcare in rural areas and poor sanitation in urban zones accelerates the spread of preventable diseases. Malaria is one of the nation’s biggest issues, and is a leading cause of death of children under five years old. While HIV infection rates have slowed recently, HIV and AIDS still impact millions of families.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide immunisations, deworming, vitamin supplementations, growth monitoring, antenatal care, and hygiene education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, which are some of the leading causes of death in early childhood.
Education: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Is a 2 year old boy
from Sri Lanka
Anistan lives with his parents in a remote village with no access to running water. His father earns around $51 a month and cannot provide Anistan with nutritious meals, proper healthcare and clean clothing.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Anistan lives with his parents in a remote village with no access to running water. His father earns around $51 a month and cannot provide Anistan with nutritious meals, proper healthcare and clean clothing.
About Anistan's Life in Sri Lanka
Many communities in Sri Lanka are still overcoming the effects of the country’s 25-year civil conflict, which ended in 2009. In 2004, the India Ocean tsunami left 40,000 Sri Lankans dead and many more displaced.
Many families in remote communities survive on informal work, which is usually low-paid and has little security. There are high rates of child malnutrition, which can affect a child’s physical and cognitive development and impact them for the rest of their lives.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Early Childhood Development: Support child-friendly early childhood development centres, which offer play equipment, learning and teaching materials, access to water and sanitation, training for teachers, and robust parent-teacher associations.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, to protect children from the threat of waterborne diseases, which can be deadly if left untreated.
Health: Support and educate mothers on child nutrition, growth and development to ensure their children grow up healthy and strong.
Is a 6 year old girl
from Zambia
Chipo lives with her parents who work as farmers but have no reliable income. Selling surplus crops is also insufficient making it very challenging to provide basic necessities for the family.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Chipo lives with her parents who work as farmers but have no reliable income. Selling surplus crops is also insufficient making it very challenging to provide basic necessities for the family.
About Chipo's Life in Zambia
Three decades of oppressive rule following independence in 1964 contributed to Zambia becoming one of Africa’s poorest countries. In rural areas, four out of five people live in poverty. Zambia’s fortunes have improved recently, but decades of underinvestment mean the country is lagging behind in key areas and there is a lack of jobs and opportunities for people.
Girl, in particular, have limited opportunities in Zambia. Girls are less likely to finish school and are at risk of harmful practices such as forced marriage and early marriage.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Education: Provide learning resources, and renovate or build classrooms and other school facilities to ensure children can receive a quality education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water and hygiene lessons to communities in remote communities to help children avoid childhood illnesses.
Livelihoods: Take the pressure off disadvantaged families by providing the skills and resources they need to earn more income, which can help them pay for their children's education and wellbeing.
Is a 5 year old boy
from Indonesia
Adrian lives with his parents and his bother in a very simple house. His father works as a laborer to provide for the family earning an annual income of $600. Adrian will soon be of school going age and his parents are struggling to provide him with his basic needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Adrian lives with his parents and his bother in a very simple house. His father works as a laborer to provide for the family earning an annual income of $600. Adrian will soon be of school going age and his parents are struggling to provide him with his basic needs.
About Adrian's Life in Indonesia
Indonesia has become one of the world’s major emerging economies, but it is still home to widespread poverty and inequality. There is a major gap between the experience of children in the regional and remote areas, where ChildFund works, and children in the main cities.
Children in remote areas are far less likely to access adequate school and health facilities, which exposes them to childhood illnesses and diminishes their ability to reach their potential.
More than 20 million people live below the world poverty line and Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, which have a disproportionately negative impact on poor and marginalised communities.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Help children thrive and avoid childhood illnesses by teaching families about healthy hygiene practices and how to make nutritious meals from locally-sourced foods.
Education: Put children on the best path for the future by improving early childhood education in remote communities.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Help communities keep children safe during emergencies by running disaster risk reduction projects in vulnerable areas.
Is a 3 year old boy
from Kenya
Amos is a young boy who lives with his four siblings and parents. His parents are small scale farmers and do other jobs in the village to generate an income of below $420 annually. The family finds it difficult to meet their daily needs with such an insufficient income.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Amos is a young boy who lives with his four siblings and parents. His parents are small scale farmers and do other jobs in the village to generate an income of below $420 annually. The family finds it difficult to meet their daily needs with such an insufficient income.
About Amos's Life in Kenya
Despite Kenya being considered the economic and transportation hub of East Africa, poverty is still widespread across the country’s regional areas. Many of Kenya’s poorest people live in isolated communities, which are prone to climate change-driven droughts. Children, who make up more than half of the population, face serious risks that stem from a lack of food, clean water, and education.
Lack of access to healthcare in rural areas and poor sanitation in urban zones accelerates the spread of preventable diseases. Malaria is one of the nation’s biggest issues, and is a leading cause of death of children under five years old. While HIV infection rates have slowed recently, HIV and AIDS still impact millions of families.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide immunisations, deworming, vitamin supplementations, growth monitoring, antenatal care, and hygiene education.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, which are some of the leading causes of death in early childhood.
Education: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Is a 5 year old girl
from Zambia
Cleopatra lives with her grandparents who make a living as small scale farmers. The income generated from selling surplus crops is $250 annually, which is insufficient to support Cleopatra's healthcare and other daily needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Cleopatra lives with her grandparents who make a living as small scale farmers. The income generated from selling surplus crops is $250 annually, which is insufficient to support Cleopatra's healthcare and other daily needs.
About Cleopatra's Life in Zambia
Three decades of oppressive rule following independence in 1964 contributed to Zambia becoming one of Africa’s poorest countries. In rural areas, four out of five people live in poverty. Zambia’s fortunes have improved recently, but decades of underinvestment mean the country is lagging behind in key areas and there is a lack of jobs and opportunities for people.
Many children in Zambia live in poverty and do not have access to adequate schools or health centres. Access to clean water is also a major problem in many communities. Zambia has an extremely high rates of childhood deaths, most of which are preventable.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Provide growth monitoring services to prevent child malnutrition, vitamin supplements, deworming and vaccinations. Families also receive mosquito nets to ward off malaria.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water and hygiene lessons to communities to prevent childhood illnesses and child deaths.
Early Childhood Development: Ensure children get the best start in education and smoothly enter primary school, by providing learning and play materials at early childhood development centres.
Is a 6 year old girl
from Ethiopia
Endalish is four years old and lives in a small mud hut with her parents. The income generated by the family is barely sufficient for basic needs. The local community lacks access to basic school equipment and potable water.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Endalish is four years old and lives in a small mud hut with her parents. The income generated by the family is barely sufficient for basic needs. The local community lacks access to basic school equipment and potable water.
About Endalish's Life in Ethiopia
As Africa’s oldest independent country, Ethiopia has a long and proud history. In recent years, rural parts of Ethiopia have suffered from periodic droughts, which have put immense pressure on the country’s people. Ethiopia still ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world, and inadequate food and water supplies continue to contribute to high levels of child malnutrition and disease.
Education in Ethiopia has been severely stunted by three decades of food insecurity and civil war. Class sizes are too large, and teachers are underpaid. Impoverished families are unable to pay for textbooks, school clothes and other necessities. Girls face even more of a challenge than boys in Ethiopia when it comes to getting a proper education. Girls are expected to perform housekeeping duties on top of school, and marry young.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Women and Girls: Educate communities on the rights of women and girls, and improve child protection to provide safe, encouraging environments where girls can thrive.
Education: Help students improve their reading, writing and maths skills, while also keeping them interested in staying in school.
Livelihoods: Provide income-generating activities to reduce the burden on families and help girls stay in school.
Is a 4 year old boy
from Philippines
Bejay lives with his parents in a house built from light materials. His father works as farmer and earns $22 monthly which is insufficient to provide for bejay and his family's daily needs.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Bejay lives with his parents in a house built from light materials. His father works as farmer and earns $22 monthly which is insufficient to provide for bejay and his family's daily needs.
About Bejay's Life in Philippines
Rich in natural resources and home to world-renowned tourist destinations, the Philippines is hamstrung by corruption and highly vulnerable to life-threatening natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, landslides and volcanoes.
Many children live in poverty, especially in remote villages where there is limited access to quality school and health clinics.
According to the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines, boys are more vulnerable to all forms of abuses than girls.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Health: Ensure all children have access to a healthy, nutritious diet and clean water.
Early Childhood Development: Provide children with the best start in education by improving learning materials, and renovating and building new classrooms in early childhood development centres.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Help communities keep children safe during emergencies by running disaster risk reduction projects in vulnerable areas.
Is a 3 year old girl
from Sri Lanka
Adeesha lives with her parents in a house with no access to running water. Their only source of water is from a common well which is unsafe. Her father works as a farmer and generates $11 per month which is insufficient to provide Adeesha access to proper healthcare, nutritious food and more.
Catherine's family main source of energy is gaderning and they source their water from a borehole which is about 500 metres from their home. The money earned through gaderning is not enough to sustain them through out the year.
Adeesha lives with her parents in a house with no access to running water. Their only source of water is from a common well which is unsafe. Her father works as a farmer and generates $11 per month which is insufficient to provide Adeesha access to proper healthcare, nutritious food and more.
About Adeesha's Life in Sri Lanka
Many communities in Sri Lanka are still overcoming the effects of the country’s 25-year civil conflict, which ended in 2009. In 2004, the India Ocean tsunami left 40,000 Sri Lankans dead and many more displaced.
Many families in remote communities survive on informal work, which is usually low-paid and has little security. There are high rates of child malnutrition, which can affect a child’s physical and cognitive development and impact them for the rest of their lives.
Your Sponsorship helps:
Early Childhood Development: Support child-friendly early childhood development centres, which offer play equipment, learning and teaching materials, access to water and sanitation, training for teachers, and robust parent-teacher associations.
Water and Sanitation: Provide clean water to communities, to protect children from the threat of waterborne diseases, which can be deadly if left untreated.
Health: Support and educate mothers on child nutrition, growth and development to ensure their children grow up healthy and strong.
How child sponsorship works
The survival, development and future of any child depends on their community. That’s why your sponsorship improves life for both your child and their whole community.
Be part of your sponsored child's life
Raphael’s story of incredible change
“Sponsorship pulled me from nowhere to being able to have a good life in Uganda. It was like a bridge – if that bridge had not been there I would not have been able to get to the other side”
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! As long as you sponsor a child or community and make your first donation before June 30th, your charitable contribution will be tax deductible on your next refund.
While social messaging sites can be a great way to keep in touch with your friends and family, they are not always safe environments in which to communicate. For children in particular, the dangers are heightened, as ChildFund is unable to monitor online communications. Social media can leave children vulnerable to the following scenarios:
- Contact from an individual who claims to be the child’s sponsor, but who is unknown to the organisation and with whom the child has no relationship.
- Communications, content and images which are inappropriate for a child to read or view, and which may also offend their cultural, religious or ethnic sensibilities.
Ultimately, there are few Australian parents who would allow their own child to have online communication with an adult whose identity they are unable to verify. Ensuring the safety and protection of all children living in the communities where we work is of paramount importance to ChildFund, and unfortunately social media sites pose too many risks to children, which we feel negate the benefit of using them for child-sponsor communications.
Risk for sponsors – Using social networking sites can also leave our supporters vulnerable to criminal or unlawful activities by people acting under an alias. For example, an individual who knows your sponsored child may create a false name using that child’s identity, and attempt to defraud or threaten you as the sponsor of that child.
How to contact your child – To ensure the continued safety of communications between sponsored children and ChildFund supporters, we ask everyone to ensure that their correspondence is sent via the relevant ChildFund country office without exception. This ensures that ChildFund can monitor any communications to ensure that both the sponsor and sponsored child are protected from inappropriate content, abuse and any fraudulent activities.
ChildFund Australia policy – As an organisation, it is impossible for us to guarantee the safety of both parties on social networking sites. As such, ChildFund will take any unauthorised contact very seriously. Where a sponsor initiates any contact with their sponsored child within an online environment, they will be asked to cease this form of communication, and reminded that correspondence must go via our country offices. In cases where the unauthorised communication continues, ChildFund may have to resort to cancelling the sponsorship. In instances where a child or their family initiates contact, we will also remind them of correct communication arrangements, and potentially remove the child/family from enrolment if they ignore this request. We hope that you understand our concerns, and support our efforts to keep communications for both parties safe, secure and unexposed to the dangers of outside interference by unknown persons. We are sure you will understand that ChildFund has to act on any matters that might put either sponsors or sponsored children in danger.
ChildFund Australia takes its obligations to keep children safe from harm very seriously, and our sponsors play an important role in this. You can help us safeguard both your sponsored child and yourself in several ways:
- Please do not reveal the full name or personal details of your sponsored child. If you wish to share their photograph with your friends, please only share the front cover of their profile.
- Only communicate with your sponsored child through our mediated channels. As you would expect, we monitor all correspondence, photos and visits to ensure safety for all concerned. Please hold back from any non-mediated contact via social media, phone calls or other means as this can pose risks.
- Please be sensitive to the feelings and different cultural background of your sponsored child when you communicate, and avoid delicate subjects like religion or politics. If you are sending a photograph, please ensure it doesn’t highlight material possessions or show people in beach wear.
You can read our full Safeguarding Children policy here.
You will meet your sponsored child and their family at a local meeting spot, such as a school, local eatery or community hall. For child protection reasons, supporters are not able to visit the homes of their sponsored children.
Yes, ChildFund staff will pick you up from your hotel (and drop you home at the end of the day) on the day of your visit and will accompany you for the whole day. Our local staff will act as your interpreter for the visit and are a wonderful source of information, so don’t forget to ask them lots of questions!
If you have any questions about child sponsorship, our Supporter Relations Team is more than happy to help! Please call us on 1800 023 600 or email webenquiries@childfund.org.au.