F.A.Q. on Communications
Will my child write to me?
Our goal is for you to receive correspondence from your child at least twice a year. Your letters may be a few months or more in coming because letters must be translated before sending on to you and they are typically sent to our US office in a packet to help keep administrative costs to a minimum. If your child has not yet learned how to write, the letters will be written by a family member or a friend telling you about the child. In addition, you should receive an updated photo of your child every two years.
May I write to my child?
Certainly. Your child will know your name and treasure the thought that you really care. You may write to your child using the following address:
Give2GiveHope
(Child's name and ID#)
PO Box 611
West Branch, MI 48661
Please do not include any part of your address in your letter or on the envelope going to your child.
All correspondence between you and your child should be forwarded through our office. This is for your protection and the protection of the children, since your address could be used by someone else for other purposes. Additionally, we require this for the protection of the children. Our team translates the letters and gives your letter and its translation to your child.
Please write in clear, simple English so the team will not have difficulty in translating your letter into the local language.
Am I required to write to my child?
No, however, corresponding with your sponsored child will help deepen the relationship between you. The children like to hear about what is going on in your life.
How long will it take my letter to reach my child?
Probably about two months or more because your letter must be translated before it can be given to your child and because letters are gathered into packets to be sent together. This also helps reduce our administrative expenses.
Can I send an email to my child?
Yes, absolutely. Our sponsor area on our website includes an area for you to send emails to your sponsored child. Please note that your child will not be able to reply back to your emails as computer access is very limited.
Emails will be received by your child much more quickly than regular postal mail, but still need to be translated so delays in delivery will still occur.
What shall I write about?
Encourage your child with a Bible verse or words of encouragement. Share with them things about your life. Please avoid discussing material possessions and be sensitive to the differences between your economic status and theirs.
Describe your family (e.g., where they live, what they look like, their interests or hobbies, the type of work they do, your pets, etc.).
Send a photo of yourself and family. Tell about each one. Your child would really like to have your picture. (Avoid photos which show your material possessions).
Include small paper gifts that can fit into an envelope: items such as photos, stickers, postcards, bookmarks, etc.
Talk about your participation in church activities and the various ways you serve Christ.
School activities of your children or things you may be involved in.
Talk about special family events - weddings, graduation, trips, new jobs, holidays, etc.
Description of the weather, the geography of where you live, what it's like outdoors, the changes of the season, etc.
A Bible verse or your favorite Bible story. Affirm to your child how he is special to God and that He has a plan for his life.
Send birthday or holiday wishes to your child. (Keep in mind that letters may be delayed up to two months.)
Talk about some holiday customs you have with your family.
Share your daily routine. It may not sound that exciting to you, but your child will be interested to hear how your day is different from her own.
Discuss a person who made an impact on your life or some of the challenges you've faced, how you overcame those challenges, and what God taught you through that experience.
Talk about an important life lesson you learned or things that made a difference to you as you grew up.
Remind your child that you pray for him or her regularly.
Encourage your child to write back and/or draw pictures for you. Ask them questions so they have something to answer when they can write back.
What should I avoid writing to my child?
Please do not mention (or send photos of) anything that accentuates the economic differences between our societies or cultures. (The size of your home, how many vehicles you have. Pay attention to what is in the background of your photos you send.).
Do not suggest or imply that your child may come to visit you or that you will be sending a gift for them. ( Please see our FAQ on gifts).
Do not include your home address - all correspondence should be routed through our offices to ensure your security and that of the children.
Please do not send letters or materials that we may deem inappropriate for the children. These items may include, but are not limited to:
materials that condone lifestyle choices inconsistent with our ministry values and beliefs.
might be considered inappropriate in the child's culture
threaten the safety of the child in any way
depict or describe the use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, unlawful drugs or materials or activities that we regard as dangerous
depict persons dressed in immodest clothing
Please contact us if you have more questions. |
