Sponsorship helps free children from the cycle of poverty. But not just children; through our approach to community development, it changes their families and communities too!
Children in developing countries all over the world, like their parents before them, are trapped in a cycle of poverty. They lack access to an education that would break the cycle and change things for themselves and future generations. The majority of these families live on less than $1.60-2.40 per day for everything — food, medical care, housing, clothing and education.
Inspired by Jesus’ love for the poor, GFA World launched its child sponsorship program in 2004 to provide hope and help to free children from the cycle of poverty. Together with you, our sponsors, we fulfill Christ’s command to care for and love children in poverty.
Millions throughout the developing world are trapped in a cycle of poverty, living in rural villages and urban slums. For the majority of these children, poverty is all that their parents have known — same with their parents before them. It is their family’s reality, not just in their household, but surrounding them in their communities. To them, poverty is a fact of life, the definition of how things will be until they die. They have little to no hope for the future.
Children trapped in the cycle of poverty are at risk of becoming victims of crime and violence, being exploited as slaves and sex trafficked. 1.2 million children are trafficked each year. Without financial resources, children are made more vulnerable in these communities because they grow up feeling unloved, unwanted and hopeless about their future.
It takes a village to raise a child. To expand your reach and impact as a sponsor, we embrace a community development model where sponsored children and their families, along with others in their community, receive the help and benefits of the program.
Through community development initiatives, children are taken care of and have the chance to grow. The child is the priority, and the child is provided for through their community.
Transforming a community happens when, together, we meet real needs. As we meet real needs, the people in the community see the love of God — they experience Christ through the work and they come to know that God loves them.
Our field staff work with community leaders to identify the most pressing needs in the community. Your monthly support then helps provide solutions like:
So many boys and girls are currently awaiting sponsorship! Now is the time to change a life forever. When you sponsor, you will:
Ward off starvation. May include nutritious meals as well as essential vitamins for children.
Grant access to community wells or filtration systems so clean, life-giving water becomes easily accessible.
Share the basics about hand washing and dental care. Includes providing toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Fight disease and sickness. May include immunizations, checkups, diagnoses and treatments.
See children who lack self-confidence and social skills begin to thrive.
Clear the way for basic health by making sure human waste is safely disposed of.
Defeat illiteracy and equip children with key life-skills training to succeed in the future.
Make opportunities available for children so they may experience the value of investing in others.
Provide vocational training and other awareness activities for community members.
Enjoy connecting with one specific child (unless you choose more!).
Through an online portal, you may send your child letters and pictures.
Your prayers to our God of the impossible can forever change things for your child!
You will be able to write letters to your child, and your child will respond from time to time.
Discover broader GFA World programs and their impact.
As a Christian nonprofit organization seeking to love, care for and welcome God’s children as Jesus would (Matthew 18:4-5) through GFA World's child sponsorship program, we handle each and every gift with prayer and integrity. For 40 years, we as a ministry have been committed to honoring Christ in how we share His message of grace and mercy, and how we steward the finances entrusted to us by our friends and donors.
GFA World is committed to honoring the Lord and your generosity by investing the maximum amount possible into programs that benefit children, their families and communities in spiritual and physical need throughout the world in Christ’s name. Currently, an assessed portion of each donation is used to help cover administrative expenses.
Because of our commitment to financial integrity, we have an ongoing process of internal review. We actively work to update our internal systems and procedures to meet best practices for Christian charities.
Some of our best practices include the following:
We strive to ensure that all our work is accomplished according to standards that are above reproach.
Sponsorship helps free children from the cycle of poverty. But not just children, it changes their families and communities too!
Help free children, their families and their communities from the cycle of poverty by sponsoring a child for $35/month.
Sponsorship connects you with one special child, but unlike in some other programs, sponsored children don’t receive direct cash benefits. Instead, your monthly donation is pooled for maximum effectiveness — you join with other like-minded sponsors to enable long-term community development programs that empower your sponsored child and their community, as well as other children in need, to improve their own lives in lasting, transformational ways.
Our years of experience have shown that the most effective way to help a child is to strengthen the child’s entire community. Each community that we work with faces different challenges and has different needs, so the work we do is unique to each community.
Your gift will help provide your sponsored child and other children in desperate need with the basic necessities that can help them reach their God-given potential. This may mean improving access to resources like clean water, better nutrition, basic healthcare, education and economic opportunities for his or her family, the community, and other children in need.
A small percentage of your monthly support may also be used to help with office administration and staff training.
Yes. Each child has only one sponsor, which is why it means so much to them when you take the time to write letters and pray for them. They're real children with real stories. You can even visit your sponsored child and see how you are a part of helping transform their community.
Yes, you can. As soon as you’ve sponsored a child, you can either click here to begin your letter right away or log in to your account at www.gfa.org/accounts/login. Your letters and notes make such a difference in the lives of those who are constantly derided and told they are worthless by their culture.
Please visit this page to sponsor a child through GFA World. You may also call our office at 1-800-946-2742 for more information.
Child sponsorship donations are tax-deductible, and can be made monthly or annually by check, credit/debit card, or electronic transfers from your bank account.
We will send you an annual receipt stating your tax-deductible donation for the year for child sponsorship.
You will receive a picture of the child you are sponsoring.
Vulnerable children are nominated by the community to participate in child sponsorship, and their parents or guardians then enroll them in the program. Then children wait for a sponsor. Kids in the community who aren’t sponsored yet or aren't in the program still benefit from sponsorship-funded community improvements in areas like clean water, healthcare, education, job opportunities, and more.