You can sponsor a child in Peru in one of three ways – call our office and speak with one of our sponsorship specialists at 1-800-538-5381, email us at sponsorship@childrenincorporated.org, or go online to our donation portal, create an account and search for a child in Peru that is available for sponsorship.
What should I know about Children Incorporated’s work in Peru?
Located along South America’s central-western coast, Peru comprises arid Pacific coastlands, spectacular mountain ranges, and vast Amazon rainforest. This land has been home to indigenous peoples for thousands of years, including the illustrious Inca Empire, the culture that constructed Peru’s most iconic landmark: Machu Picchu. However, Peru’s rich culture, breathtaking beauty, and wealth of natural resources belie the abject poverty in which many of its residents live. Many rural areas are still recovering from the Sendero Luminoso terrorist attacks of the 1990s, which claimed countless lives and caused thousands of families who had relied upon agriculture for generations to seek shelter in large cities – only to encounter an even deeper level of poverty there. While Peru suffers from high unemployment, hyperinflation, and all the difficulties that poverty entails (such as disease, malnutrition, and crime), these maladies are most pronounced in its overcrowded urban areas – and perhaps most of all in the nation’s capital, Lima.
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 long can I sponsor a child in Peru?
We hope you will assist your sponsored child until they leave 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. However, 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 who is equally in need of your sponsorship, in the hope 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 need to 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 in Peru?
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 my 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. Processing a gift and sending it to your sponsored child’s project takes time. 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 before 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 in Peru?
Due to high customs duties and the likelihood of loss, we do not recommend sending packages to programs outside 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. The project address is enclosed in the child’s informational brochure. If necessary, our project volunteers will translate your letter 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 your part of the world, 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 project 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 in Peru?
It is possible to visit sponsored children; however, since we work with a network of volunteers and projects, we cannot guarantee that all projects 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 project.
If your child’s project 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 project will assist you by making arrangements with the project, 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.