Long-time sponsors
Vikki and Chris have been sponsoring children through ChildFund since 2006. Currently they sponsor three children – who they regular write letters to – and they also support ChildFund’s Global Community program in Laos.
In 2009 they visited one of their sponsored children in Uganda. “It was the best,” Vikki says. “You really do form a special bond after meeting them. The family is so grateful for your support, it brings you to happy tears.
“After meeting them, your letters to each other become more meaningful, because you really do understand their situation.”
Their decision to sponsor children through ChildFund was easy, and came about after reflecting on their own childhoods.
“We both had a pretty good childhood and just want all children to be able to be kids without having to take on adult responsibilities before they should,” Vikki says.
“We did research ChildFund before starting with the organisation. We believed ChildFund’s values aligned with ours, so we didn’t have to look into other similar organisations – we knew ChildFund was the right one for us.”
How the Toias will fundraise
Fourteen years on and Vikki and Chris are now calling on friends and family to get involved and help them raise funds for ChildFund Pass It Back.
“When we saw the opportunity to travel to Vietnam and fundraise for the ChildFund Pass It Back trek we had no hesitation in signing up,” Vikki says. “Regular donations and sponsorship are great, but to actually go and see how the money is helping these young ones develop is priceless.
“The trek will be a challenge, but meeting these kids face to face at the end of it will be a truly amazing experience, not just for them but us as well!”
Vikki and Chris will run sausage sizzles, movie nights and organise a fundraising page to collect donations.
“We will also ask people to forgo a coffee a day for a week and donate the money they saved to our cause,” Vikki says.
For anyone who is considering the trek through Vietnam, Vikki says do not hold back. “Don’t be a ‘someday’ person, as that day may never come,” she says. “Register, then start training for it. The kids are counting on you.”
