The link is what turns a payment into a relationship, and it is what allows the support to be adjusted when the child's situation changes. Without the link, sponsorship would be a transaction that produces an uncertain result. With the link, it becomes an arrangement in which the sponsor, the child, the family, and the school are all part of the same effort, and all have a reason to keep the child in school.

We manage the link on behalf of both the sponsor and the child. Sponsors do not communicate with children directly, and children do not receive the sponsor's contact details. This is deliberate. The protection of the child is not negotiable, and the relationship between a sponsor and a child must never place the child at risk. All communication passes through our staff, who ensure that what is shared is appropriate, that the child's privacy is respected, and that no sponsor has access to information about a child that could be misused. The link is real. It is also safeguarded.

How We Manage the Link

The sponsor sees whether their support is translating into attendance and learning. The child and the family see that someone outside the household is paying attention. The school sees that the child is supported by someone who is monitoring whether the support is producing what it was meant to produce. The monitoring creates an accountability that works in more than one direction. Each party knows that their part is being observed, and each party has a reason to do their part well. This is what the sponsor-child link is for. It is not a formality that accompanies the support. It is what makes the support effective.

The sponsor-child link gives the sponsor a way of participating in the child's education, and gives the child the knowledge that a specific adult is paying attention to how she is doing.