Plan has child sponsorship programs in nearly 50 developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. The selection of children for sponsorship is determined at group meetings in communities which have made the decision to work with Plan. Families and their children voluntarily enroll in the program, there is only sponsor per child, and siblings may be sponsored by the same or a different sponsor.
Child sponsorship costs $30 per month. Contribution dollars are combined with those of other sponsors from around the world to strengthen the fabric of the world in myriad ways, depending on the specific needs of the communities with which we partner.
In addition to building schools, health clinics, latrines, and clean-water wells for millions of children and their families, Plan offers many ways to support meaningful and lasting change, including:
- Reading and literacy development programs
- Initiatives to end violence against children in school
- Health services training, especially in rural, under-served areas
- Assistance for children living with HIV/AIDS, including peer support and counseling
- Life-saving campaigns to stop child trafficking
- Women and infant survival programs
- Nutrition campaigns
- Enhanced livelihood training programs
Sponsorship comes to a closure when a sponsored child becomes an adult, although there are other circumstances that may cause a sponsorship to stop earlier.
Child sponsors receive regular information from Plan including: a Sponsorship Guide, Sponsored Child Introduction, and photo of their child upon enrollment; annual communications which explain key projects being implemented in the child’s country, as well as an updated child photo; and opportunities to communicate with and visit their child.
Plan does not promote any religious or political agenda in communities in which they work.