WRITING YOUR FRIEND

One of the most important benefits of an Alliance for African Assistance sponsorship is the relationship that develops between sponsor and child.  This relationship is nurtured through fidelity to sponsorship commitments, correspondence and photographs. Some sponsors travel abroad to meet their sponsored children. For most, however, letters are the main vehicle for deepening friendship. You may send any letters to the Alliance for African Assistance, and we will happily forward them to our office in Uganda where they will be distributed to your sponsored child.

You are an important person to your sponsored child.  So naturally, your friend will be interested in knowing something about you.  We suggest writing about activities and special events in your life involving family, holidays, hobbies, pets, favorite food, places you visit, and other interests.  A short, simple letter using basic English is best.  We encourage you to find out about the things you may have in common with your sponsored child.  Ask about your child’s family, school, community, the climate or a favorite pastime. 

Your sponsored friend will cherish photographs of you and your family.  Remember to avoid pictures of houses, cars, and other things that may call attention to material differences.  Photos or postcards set in places you have visited or in natural surroundings are ideal.  Please be aware of how you are dressed in the pictures, as cultural standards of modesty vary. 

                                          Where should you send your correspondence?

Please send your letter to the San Diego office of Alliance for African Assistance and we will send them via international airmail directly to the Alliance for African Assistance office in Kampala, Uganda. Our staff there will personally distribute the letters to your child.  

As often as possible!  Children look forward to getting letters from their sponsors.  It gives them a sense of hope to know that someone cares, and helps raise their self-esteem. It is also a fantastic opportunity for them to practice their English. Thank you for taking the time to write, to pray and to appreciate your sponsored child. 

Postal services in the countries where we work can be extremely slow.  Once the Alliance for African Assistance Uganda office receives your letter, it must be hand delivered to your sponsored child.  Many sponsored children live in remote villages, some of which are accessible only by foot.  This whole process can sometimes take two months or longer.

Your sponsored child will write to you at least twice each year.  If your child is not yet able to read or write in English, a staff member will read your letter to your friend and write to you on your friend’s behalf.  The quality of letters our sponsors receive varies widely depending on the age, educational level and culture of their sponsored child. Also the children are taught to write letters in a specific style of English, which sometimes may come across stiff or formal. Despite these and other challenges, the letters manage to convey the love and gratitude of our sponsored friends.

Communication in areas where we work is often slow.  Please be patient.  AAA notifies our Uganda office of new sponsorships at the end of each month. Once that office receives notification of your sponsorship, the arrangements are then made for your sponsored child to write you.  Once the letter is written, it must be translated (if necessary) along with other letters and sent to our San Diego headquarters for processing.  The letter is then mailed to you.  It generally takes two to three months for the first letter to arrive. 

We recommend that one person from the group consistently correspond with your sponsored child.  However, it is helpful to include the name of the group at the close of each letter.

As packages are often lost, damaged, or stolen we ask that you not send gifts. Also, the cost to our Uganda office for accepting parcels is very high (custom fees, post office charges, etc.). Instead, we recommend that you add an extra “gift” donation along with your monthly donation, perhaps during your child’s birthday month or for Christmas. We will send your gift donation in its entirety to Uganda and the full amount will be given to your child. And of course, you are always welcome to send cards, letters, and pictures.

A sponsorship lasts as long as your friend is in the program and you choose to continue sponsoring.  Many sponsors see their sponsored children through high school and college or technical training. 

Sponsored children sometimes leave the AAA program for a variety of reasons, some joyous and some sad.  Graduation, improved economic situation of the family, marriage, death, moving outside the program’s service area, and failure of the family to meet responsibilities of the sponsorship program are among the reasons a sponsorship may end. While we try by all means to keep children in the program as long as they are eligible, if a child must leave the program, AAA notifies sponsors as soon as we are alerted by our Uganda office.  At that time, you will be given the opportunity to sponsor another child in need.  We hope that in this situation, you will consider continuing as a sponsor.  However, there is no obligation on your part.  We will always respect your decision.

At the end of each month, we send to our Uganda office the sponsorship funds we have received for that month along with a spreadsheet that lists which children have received a donation and should have money distributed to them. If we do not receive your donation before the end of the month, we will not be able to wire funds to your child for that month.  For this reason, we urge sponsors to send in their donations in a timely matter. Of course, we understand that problems sometimes arise. If this occurs, please contact the child sponsorship program coordinator at 619-286-9052 x237. If you would prefer to make quarterly or yearly payments, this can also be arranged.

Ask at your work about designating AAA for employer matching gifts and other employer related charitable programs.  Such donations will go to AAA scholarship programs to help needy youth studying through secondary school and collage or technical training.  Please check with your human resources or payroll department for forms and requirements.  One of the simplest things you can do to help is tell others about AAA and your sponsorship experience.  Our web site is a great resource for family and friends who wish to learn more about our work with refugees and our sponsorship program overseas. 

NEVER!  AAA assures you that your name, address and other personal information are never sold or rented to other organizations.