In no particular order, the current lineup of my foster sponsor kids from Compassion International. These children’s financial sponsors have chosen to enroll them in the volunteer letter writing program, so the children are assigned to a random caretaker— like me 🙂
Kenya, 8 years old
This kid is a live wire! Total art chick. So great. I get the impression that when she goes to the Center she pesters the workers to help her write a letter. It’s pretty damned cute and speaks to a stubbornness that can help her climb out of poverty. A little grit goes a long way.
Nicaragua, 10 years old
Under my care for just over a year, in her last letter she informed me with great confidence that she is curios about me and wants to know more. The feeling is mutual, little one— let’s go!!
Rwanda, 5 years old
My newest placement, I’ve only had her since the beginning of March, ‘26. She stepped into Wendwosen’s spot when he left the program.
Ethiopia, 13 years old
This child carries a heavy load, with a very sick mother and grueling poverty. His financial sponsor & I seem to be playing tag, trying to help him stay in school. I like Aschalew and fret a bit over him, he doesn’t seem to have a lot of hope. It makes me sad. I _have_ seen things get a tiny bit better over the years- he’s not ragged anymore, looks like he eats more often, and he is still in school, an accomplishment. But, ya know… =sigh= I guess we’ll see what happens. Fingers crossed.
Ethiopia, 19 years old
This young woman has been bounced around a lot between sponsors. I do not know if I’m going to win her trust, it’s been a while, but so far no dice. It’s not looking good, peeps. Also, after a little thought I decided not to share her photo, because I’m uncertain that she’d be comfortable with that. Consent is important.
Uganda, 13 years old
A smart child, reserved, but she seems to like getting mail, and I’ve seen her life improve over the last few years. With one birthday gift she bought a goat, which is life changing for a family like this. Last year she got chickens! I love getting the pics of the kids with the farm animals- they represent real hope and change for that child.
Tanzania, 12 years old
Shares a sponsor with Catherine and wishes to become a pilot. He looks quite formal, doesn’t he, with his very best clothes on for his portrait, standing tall. This is how Africa rolls, mostly. Don’t take it as unfriendly, if there is no smile- it’s cultural, it’s an occasion to take a portrait for the sponsor, a serious thing, they want to show “respect” and often this is how it manifests.
Ethiopia, 17 years old
This is a sweet person you are looking at. Sponsored for about 9 months now, I think we are on a really good track so far. It’s a good fit.
Tanzania, 12 years old
She’s very studious and wants to become a nurse, a common choice, but worthy. I can’t believe how big she’s getting. Wah!!
Ethiopia, 3 years old
Although I barely know this little one I’m fond of her. There’s something rather marvelous about her. Secretly I have high hopes.
Mexico, 14 years old
She’s had a rough year— her mum needed emergency surgery which cleaned out the savings account for her upcoming quinceañera. I sent a small sum of money, I wish it was more, but my business has been so slow, it’s all I can do. Hopefully it will be enough to help create a good memory anyways.
Ghana, 11 years old
I don’t know what this kid has been through, but whatever it is, it wasn’t good. A recent change of location and caretaker give me some hope for a happier future for her.
Sri Lanka, 4 years old
One of a crop of kids Compassion assigned to me from the region, all at once. A mega-church took on thousands of them last year. Most of Sri Lanka is Buddhist, with the Hindu and Muslim faiths coming in behind that, and then Christianity. Unlike India, who put their foot down, Sri Lanka offers lots of opportunity to share faith based aid. This is not my jam, but plenty of sponsors get involved because of the opportunity to share deeply held religious beliefs, their faith gives them hope, so this is a way they can relate to, to help the child.
Sri Lanka, 3 years old
Another of the mega-church crop. Given the opportunity many families in Sri Lanka will choose to have their sons over their daughters in the sponsorship program, because: Patriarchy. There are girls, plenty of them, in the programs, but some sponsorship orgs try to even it out and encourage the families to overcome their inherent cultural bias, and some do not. I’m uncertain with Compassion how that rolls, exactly, but they tend to be pretty hands off with this kind of inequality, as a generalization.
I have a friend who says that someday I’m going to go to Sri Lanka and have all these kids following me around like ducklings! lol What a wonderful image— I hope it happens!
Sri Lanka, 4 years old
I don’t know him well yet, or his mum. Sri Lanka has been hit with typhoons, slowing things down considerably, actual survival taking precedence over letter writing, and wisely so. His home was badly damaged in Cyclone Ditwa, leaving this family with almost nothing. I really wish Sri Lanka would have a rest from life shattering weather events, already. The storms keep coming and these people can’t seem to catch a break.
Sri Lanka, 4 years old
Part of the mega-church crop, I don’t know the family well, yet. Sponsorship of children this small is a slow, slow process. It takes time, and everything depends on the families level of engagement. If you decide to sponsor a little, know that for the first years you’ll be building a relationship with a parent, not the child. Something I like about some sponsor orgs is that on the “sponsor me” pages, many of the babies are shown with their caretakers, so you can get a feel for them, too, and find someone you resonate with.
Hugabugga 