How Do I Sponsor a Child at the Montero School?

Sponsorship FAQs

Sponsor

You can sponsor a child at the Montero School in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child in Bolivia that is available for sponsorship.

What should I know about Children Incorporated’s work at the montero school?

The small, landlocked nation of Bolivia comprises rugged Andes Mountains and vast, high-altitude plateaus to the west (including a portion of Lake Titicaca, the largest high-altitude lake in the world) and lush, lowland plains of the Amazon jungle to the east. Despite its wealth of natural beauty and resources, Bolivia bears the scars of centuries of conflict, beginning with the Spanish conquistadors and followed by almost 200 years of wars and internal military coups. Political and economic instability has brought about considerable poverty, resulting in widespread malnutrition, crime, and disease. The remote town of Okinawa – settled in the 1950s by Japanese immigrant farmers – is no exception to these maladies.

In 1976, the Montero School was founded as a girls’ home by local religious leaders to assist children of the Japanese settlers and native Bolivians. Today, the school has expanded its mission, providing a safe refuge and learning center for impoverished girls and boys in the area. Some children who come to Montero Home/School have never experienced the comfort of a bed, a bath, or a nutritious meal – let alone an education. Here, children receive these basic needs and the opportunity to rise above the difficult socioeconomic circumstances from which they have come.

What is the sponsorship experience like with Children Incorporated?

The sponsorship relationship enables a sponsor to help support a child in need using monthly contributions, and through the exchange of correspondence with a sponsored child, if the sponsor so desires. A sponsor’s friendship and encouragement are priceless to a child in such circumstances. Indeed, many children value the relationships they establish with their sponsors as much as they value the financial support they receive from them. There is an opportunity to build a relationship between sponsor and child that can be quite profound.

Our current monthly sponsorship rate is $35, and it goes toward providing basic necessities such as school supplies and fees, food, clothing, and access to healthcare, among other services.

How much does it cost to sponsor a child?

With Children Incorporated, it costs $35 a month to sponsor a child living in poverty. Our sponsorship amount is lower than that of other organizations because we work with volunteer coordinators around the world. This helps us keep our costs low while also maximizing the amount of money we are able to send to the children in our sponsorship program.

Will my sponsorship help a child go to school or help with their education?

Yes! Absolutely — your sponsorship will help a child go to school or help with their education. Children Incorporated provides basic necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, and educational support to impoverished children in the U.S. and abroad. These essentials, so often taken for granted, are vital to a child’s growth and success in school. Each year, we give thousands of children in need all over the world a chance at a better life by supporting their education.

Are there non-religious sponsorship organizations?

Yes. Children Incorporated is a non-religious sponsorship organization. Children Incorporated is an independent charity. We have no religious or political affiliation. Our goal is to assist as many children living in poverty as possible, and we respect each child’s religious and cultural heritage.

How long can I sponsor a child at the montero school?

We hope that you will assist your sponsored child until he or she leaves our program. This may occur when a child graduates from high school, moves out of our service area, or for a variety of other reasons. Due to the transient state of many families and the difficult circumstances of the regions where they reside, we cannot predict or guarantee how long a child will remain enrolled in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program, although we make every effort to provide services to children for as long as possible.

When a child leaves our program, it is our policy to select another child for you to sponsor in the hope that you will accept sponsorship of the new child and continue to partner with us in changing lives. Unfortunately, we usually lose contact with children once they leave the sponsorship program (as we do not maintain personal addresses or contact information for any of the children). Even so, the positive impact of your generosity – both upon the individual child and his or her community – endures!

Will I receive updated information from my sponsored child at the montero school?

Yes. We will send you updated information and an updated photo about once a year, although the frequency may vary depending on the child’s location. The typical progress report includes information about the child’s grade level in school, hobbies, and interests.

How do I pay for monthly sponsorship?

Sponsorship contributions may be made by check, money order, credit/debit card, or ACH transfer (debit from a checking or savings account). Checks or money orders may be mailed to Children Incorporated at PO Box 72848, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. Contributions via credit/debit card are accepted online or over the phone, and we can mail you an application to authorize an ACH transfer. The current sponsorship rate is $35 a month.

You may also set up automatically recurring contributions (as charges to your American Express, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card or as debits from your checking or savings account). Please call our office or email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org for more information.

Are there deadlines for sending additional monetary gifts for the child I sponsor?

Yes. It takes time to process a gift and send it to your sponsored child’s affiliated site. To send additional monetary gifts to your sponsored child, please ensure that the gift arrives at our North Chesterfield, Virginia office at least sixty days prior to the date you would like it to be received by the child. We will accept donations after this deadline, but please be aware that they may arrive late to your sponsored child.

May I send packages to my sponsored child at the montero school?

Due to high customs duties and the likelihood of loss, we do not recommend sending packages to programs outside of the United States. Children Incorporated cannot guarantee that the child you sponsor will receive such packages.

May I write to the child I sponsor?

Yes! Corresponding with your sponsored child can be a delightful experience, and you will find your sponsored child’s site address enclosed in the child’s informational brochure. Our site volunteers will translate your letter, if necessary, and deliver it to the child you sponsor.

What should I write about?

The children enjoy learning about the lives of their sponsors. Writing about your own family (children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, etc.) is always a good place to start. The children also like to learn about the part of the world in which you live, what you do for a living, your hobbies and interests, and about any pets you may have.

What if I have specific questions regarding the child I sponsor?

If you have questions or concerns about your sponsored child, please call or email our office. Depending on the nature of a child-specific question, we may need to contact our volunteer coordinator at the site your child attends for the requested information, but we will get that information to you just as soon as possible, provided it does not violate the child protection and privacy laws to which we adhere.

Is it possible to visit my sponsored child at the montero school?

It is possible to visit sponsored children; however, since we work with a network of volunteers and sites, we simply cannot guarantee that all sites are open to sponsor visits. Circumstances vary from area to area. If you are interested in visiting your sponsored child, please contact us for specifics relating to the child and site.

If your child’s site does allow visits, we ask that you contact us at least 45 days prior to your planned visit. The Sponsorship Manager who oversees your child’s site will assist you by making arrangements with the site, the child’s parents, and our volunteer coordinator. You will need to fill out our visit request forms, as well as familiarize yourself with our child protection policy to which we ask that you adhere; this includes a background check at your expense.

SPONSOR A CHILD