World Vision flips traditional child sponsorship model with Chosen initiative
Melanie May | 15 July 2021 | News
World Vision UK has launched an initiative that lets children in need of support choose their own sponsor.
With its new child sponsorship initiative, Chosen, potential sponsors are asked to submit a photograph, which is sent to a community in need and displayed at a choosing party. Children can then choose the person, couple or family they would like as a sponsor.
World Vision has revealed some of the requirements children involved in the programme in Pajule, Uganda were looking for in a sponsor. When asked, the children shared a variety of reasons, including having nice smiles and beautiful, colourful clothes, while seeing fellow children in their potential sponsors photographs also proved popular. In addition, a key factor in making the choice for many children was seeing people that appeared friendly, kind and caring, who the children could share stories about their own families and communities with.
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Jeremiah Nyagah, Programmes Director at World Vision Uganda, said:
“In my 16 years working for World Vision I have never experienced something as transformational as Chosen. From the moment you give a child the chance to choose their sponsor, their future opens up to more choices and chances — as they’re empowered to change their lives, their community, and their futures for good.
“In addition, I have experienced how emotional it is for a sponsor to be chosen. It is special and this experience develops an incredible bond between the child and the sponsor as they engage in a journey of transformation where both the child and the sponsor experience the change.”
Ben Nolan, Director of Public Engagement at World Vision UK added:
“We are very excited to bring Chosen to the UK. Together UK sponsors can stand with whole communities, as they bring real transformation, hope and opportunities to the lives of those living in some of the world’s toughest places. Chosen is a small change that is making a big difference.”
World Vision has been running a child sponsorship programme for over 70 years. Donations through child sponsorship have helped fund community-focused solutions in almost 100 countries across the world.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.