Help the World to be a Better Place – Sponsor a Child in Need
I sat down last weekend and had a nice chat with my almost 7 year old grand daughter. While she might only be 7 years old…she’s pretty mature and advanced for age. I was really surprised at how our “adult-like” conversation went.
The Princess was asking me about poor kids who live around the world who don’t have enough food to eat, kids who can’t get medical care, have no toys to play with and have no access to education. She had seen a show on TV recently where they were talking about poor children all around the world and how citizens can help to improve their lives.
I’m very blessed that we are a middle-income family and have access to medical care, education, food, clothing and proper housing…You know, the basics of what a person needs to live. However, there are millions of children all around the world (sadly, this does include the United States) who don’t have enough to eat and are suffering in ways that I can’t even imagine.
World Vision is helping children all around the world and they want to raise awareness this Spring on how you can help by sponsoring a child. In addition, they want to encourage families to discuss these issues, so that people become more aware and can help to solve these problems. Here are some ideas that you can use when it comes to talking to children:
* Turn story time into a teachable moment: Learning about other countries and cultures can happen during daily activities. Choose children’s books that accurately portray other cultures or focus on historical events for afternoon or bedtime reading. After finishing the book, parents can talk to children about what they learned and how the lives of the characters in the book differ from their own.
* Experiment at home: Ask children to put themselves in another person’s shoes by conducting experiments at home. For example, create a family menu budgeting $1.25 a day per family member. Give children $1.25 during the next grocery store trip – the amount of money that 1.3 billion people worldwide live on each day, according to World Vision – and let them shop and price compare themselves. Afterwards, talk about the types of foods they couldn’t purchase and what kinds of foods the menu is limited to: Were you able to purchase fresh fruits or vegetables? Is the meal limited to rice or pasta? What kind of protein could you afford to buy?
* Sponsor a child: Get children involved directly in providing a “hand up” to communities in need around the world by sponsoring a child as a family through World Vision. Involve children in the process of choosing a boy or girl to sponsor; ask them to write cards and draw pictures for the sponsored child, and talk to them regularly about how the sponsorship donation is helping provide equal opportunities for boys and girls, clean water, bed nets, job training for parents, and much more – including the freedom to simply be a child.
Why sponsor through World Vision?
Though children and families face hardships like poverty and conflict, we can bring hope to a hurting world. Child sponsorship through World Vision allows for a one-on-one relationship with a sponsored child, while pooling gifts from sponsors who support children within the same community to provide long-term resources for lasting change. World Vision believes that effective development that lifts communities and individuals out of long-term poverty lies in helping them discover their potential as human beings and mobilizing communities to take ownership of long-term projects that support clean water, healthcare, agriculture, education and income generation. Join us in partnering with those in need to build lasting solutions that address their challenges. Together, we can be greater than adversity.
To learn more about how World Vision child sponsorship works you can visit their website, connect with them on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.
Disclosure: Shelly was given a free gift to thank her for participating in this informational campaign. No monetary compensation was received. Shelly’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts & opinions may differ.