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As a sponsor you will receive an annual report about your sponsored child. It will include a short letter or a drawing from your sponsored child. Writing to your sponsored child To a sponsored child, it means so much to know that a sponsor, often thousands of miles away, cares for them. And for many sponsors, knowing that they are contributing to the quality of life and the future of a child is enough. Others choose to write to the child they sponsor, send small gifts or even visit. This is a matter of personal choice – you are free to decide how involved you want to be. If you wish to write to the child you sponsor, here are some helpful guidelines: How often should I write?
It’s not what you say or how often you write that’s important to the child. What counts is that you have written. Two or three post cards or short letters a year – each with a simple message would be ideal. Children love to receive post cards from far away countries, which they will treasure and show to their friends. What shall I write about?
Of course, what you write is a matter of personal judgement, but we ask that you always take into account the child’s own situation and age. Your sponsored child will want to learn about you, so tell them some basic facts about yourself. You can also ask relevant questions – about the name and age of the child’s sisters or brothers or friends, the games they like to play, and about their country. We encourage you to be sensitive to any religious or cultural differences there may be. Please feel free to contact us if you would like some advice. Should I write in English?
If you are not a Farsi speaker, the answer is yes - as your letter will be translated if the child cannot read English. This is usually done by the staff of Action For Orphans here in the UK. The child you sponsor will get two letters – both your original and the translation.
With this in mind, please keep your letters quite short in length. Where should you I send my letters?
Always send your letters to Action For Orphans registered address here in the UK. The address is noted below:
Action For Orphans, 117 Wimbledon Park Road, London, SW18 5TU. How do my letters get to my sponsored child?
After your letter has been translated at Action For Orphans' office in the UK, it will then be forwarded to the child together with other mail en route to AFO homes in Kerman at the end of each month.
So sometimes it can take several weeks for your letter to be delivered to the child. Will my sponsored child write back?
Apart from messages at Christmas and the New Year and an annual report, your sponsored child will only write to you in response to your letters.
You should expect to get your sponsored child’s response within 2 months. However, if you haven’t had any communication from the child over a three-month period, please contact us. If the child is very young and cannot write, he or she will probably have someone else write on their behalf – perhaps a carer or one of other children in the same house, this will be made clear in the letter.
Sending cards and gifts
Birthdays
Like any youngster, your sponsored child will enjoy receiving a birthday greeting from a friend. Several weeks before the child’s birthday we’ll send you a reminder so that you can write a birthday card for your sponsored child and send it to Action For Orphans address in the UK, we’ll then forward it together with other cards and letters enroute to the homes. Nourooz (Iranian new year)
Nourooz, Iranian New Year, is a cherished and highly celebrated festival in Iran, especially amongst children. Nourooz always falls on 20 or 21st March, We will send you a reminder in early February so that you can send your sponsored child a card. Birthday and New Year donations
Many of our sponsors generously send an extra donation with their cards. This money will go to a general fund, which helps buy toys and learning materials to be shared amongst children living in the same home. Can I send gifts to my sponsored child?
Yes, some of the most useful gifts are pencils, coloured pens, soft pencil cases, stickers, ribbons, picture postcards and small items of clothing. Please remember if you do send token gifts they must be small, flat and light, and preferably fit inside an A4 envelope.
Thank you.
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