|
HOW IS THE MONEY FOR THE CHILD SPENT? |
| The $25 sponsorship fee goes towards the child's school
uniforms, school fees, school supplies, clothing, food,
medical expenses and misc. expenses such as transporting a
child to Harare to see a doctor |
|
DOES THE MONEY I DONATE ONLY GO TO THE CHILD I SPONSOR? |
| It would be absolutely impossible to separate every dollar
that is spent in bulk on school uniforms, supplies and food
for each child. (Because of shortages, I (Denise Hayes) often have to go to
about 4 towns and 20 different stores just to buy all the
school uniforms inventory I need from
time to time...and with only one person overseeing the entire
program and trying to keep the books balanced...that would be
me! However I hope to have a computer program that will one
day make it possible to keep better records) We divide the
funds into four categories (school, clothing, food and health)
of which each child gets their rightful share of the benefits. |
|
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY CHILD IF I STOP SPONSORING HIM/HER? |
| Once a child is signed up to the sponsorship program, the
child is not removed from the program because of halted
sponsorship. AGC continues to care for the child until a new
sponsor can be found for the child. (We've had two cases thus
far and have been successful in finding new sponsors for the
particular child...that child becomes a priority) |
|
HOW CAN YOU SAY 100% OF THE SPONSORSHIP DONATION GOES TO THE
CHILDREN? |
| We only use the funding for direct care of the children.
AGC pays all of the overhead associated with the sponsorship
program such as salaries for caregivers, all utilities, diesel
to transport purchases for the child, purchase of appliances
such as a stove to cook for the children, any capital expenses
such as home units and all publicity for the sponsorship
program is paid by AGC or through the goodwill of donors. |
|
HOW WILL I FIND OUT ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF MY CHILD? |
| Any sponsor is free to e-mail directly to AGC in Zimbabwe
for an update on the child. In addition to this, all gifts and
letters are delivered to the child and the child encouraged to
respond to all correspondence. In addition to the original
photograph, a card enclosing a letter and photograph of your
child will be received every Christmas. (We are now attempting
to set up a program that the children will write their
sponsors a letter once a quarter...we send the original letter
to you but for many of the children we have to translate it
into English on the back of the letter). Any sponsor is free
at anytime to come and visit their child in Zimbabwe! |
|
CAN I SEND LETTERS/E-MAIL TO MY CHILD? |
| We welcome letters to the children at anytime. At present
it is impossible for the children to receive e-mails because
of the lack of private telephone lines in Chinyudze area.
However, we do project having this service one day in the
future as we have been donated 10 computers and we understand
that TelOne (telecommunications in Zimbabwe) is attempting to
install private lines to the Chinyudze area and we have
requested this when it is completed (probably at least 2
years) |
|
CAN I SEND CLOTHING/TOYS SPECIFICALLY TO MY CHILD? |
| We have rec'd a few packages designated for a particular
child, but it is very difficult for us to give this to the
child in the presence of the other children. It always has to
be done secretly. In addition to this, many of these children
live with caretakers who become 'jealous' of their stepchild
receiving such nice gifts from USA...thus they have often
'taken away' the items and given them to their own children.
On several occasions we have had this happen. The last
obstacle is that often (if the gift is expensive and the
postage expensive) the duty will be so high it is not worthy
receiving the gift...in otherwords, it cost more in duty than
the original gift was worth (we have to pay 65% on the postage
too!). What we would encourage is those sponsors who are
willing to send maybe once a year a box filled with
inexpensive lightweight toys (ie jacks, paddle balls, color
books and crayons, etc) that we can distribute to ALL the
children at Christmas time. This package can be sent SURFACE
MAIL (as postage is much cheaper) and the value of the BOX AND
THE POSTAGE should be under $50. |
