Children International

My late mother and I have had a wonderful experience with Children International. My mother continued the sponsorships my grandmother had started and built upon those for many years until she passed away, at which point I took over her sponsorships. Children International has been a wonderful organization to work with, and the assistance they provide to its recipients is truly inspiring. Every step of the way is easy, from picking children to sponsor, to communicating with them (even during the pandemic) and to ensuring their needs are provided for, both through monthly contributions and special events (such as birthdays and Christmas), as well as special needs gifts to provide additional assistance. I love hearing directly from the children I am sponsoring and receiving pictures of the food and goods bought with special needs gifts. I think it's very fulfilling for all parties involved. Children International performs very important work and provides much-needed assistance to those less fortunate. I highly recommend them as a very reputable and wonderful nonprofit.

I've been with Children International for many years. They go above and beyond when it comes to helping the kids. One of my kids wanted to send me a short video thanking me. It was an unusual request, and it wasn't easy to do. But they got it done. This will forever be etched in my heart seeing him and hearing him. I sent a video back and we are forever friends. Please consider Children International. They are top rated and do the most for the kids. I love these people especially the staff; a big shout out to Jan, who are top notch and committed to helping the children.

They do a magnificent job helping children who desperately need help

Como padrino de Children International por 39 anos, es un orgullo y un privilegio pertenecer a una organizacion altamente confiable y responsable con su vision y mision. Soy testigo de la maravillosa transformacion de los ninos apadrinados a traves de mis visitas e intercambio de cartas con el pasar del tiempo. Es la mejor organizacion de apadrinamiento; ya que representa un libro abierto para los padrinos y los apadrinados y su personal siempre esta dispuesto a ayudar en todo momento. No tengo reparos en recomendarla y ser portavoz de la misma.

I have been a proud sponsor with Children International for the past 8 years, supporting four amazing children (three currently, one graduate). My experience has been nothing short of exceptional. The organization is incredibly transparent, and I always feel well-informed about how my contributions are making a real difference in the lives of the children and their communities.

The communication from Children International is consistent and heartfelt. I receive regular updates, letters, and photos from the children, which truly warms my heart and strengthens our bond. It’s evident that the organization is dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families, providing them with education, healthcare, and opportunities for a brighter future.

I highly recommend Children International to anyone looking to make a meaningful impact. Their commitment to their mission and the well-being of the children they serve is truly inspiring. Being a sponsor is incredibly rewarding, and I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful organization.

My wife and I were sponsors for over ten years and we know that the money was used to help our sponsored child. Making a difference in someone's life was paramount in our desire to be part of this great organization and seeing the difference make it more joyous. When you see a smile due to the difference that you provide from the all the children that you sponsor just brings joy to your heart.

Sponsoring "my" two girls has been a most rewarding and enlightening experience. It is amazing what $39 a month can accomplish when combined with other sponsorships for the children who need us so. It is always a more beautiful day when I receive a letter from one of the girls...sometimes with pictures of items that were purchased with extra gift donations.
It is super easy to communicate with CI staff regarding questions I have---and they are always very helpful!

I had a positive experience with this children's charity supporting underprivileged youth. They maintained great communication, allowing for meaningful feedback from the children. It was heartwarming to see my contributions make a difference. I believe this charity is a worthy cause and recommend donating to support their efforts.

Children International is a great organization committed to helping kids break the cycle of poverty. I feel like I'm making a difference in the lives of the two children I sponsor by giving to this organization. They give my sponsored children access to healthcare, education, and staff support. As a sponsor, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact I'm making. The organization’s focus on life skills, mental health, and being prepared to find stable employment is huge. I feel confident they are using my money to make the greatest impact in the lives of children who deserve a chance.

Children International is a great organization, they help in vulnerable zones around the world and they are really responsive to requests. I was honored to be a sponsor of 4 beautiful children back at my home country. The mail and letters were amaizing and you really get to connect with these children. I am only giving 4 stars because requests and conversations with children@children.org is not followed. I requested a reciept each month to double my contribution with the company I work for but they usually forget to provide that, so you need to keep telling them. Conversations are also not followed correctly, sometimes feels like you are talking to an AI and not to a person via email.

Sponsored several children for more than 10 yrs on Children International. My experience was very good and the contact to the sponsored children made it very familiar. The organization is very professional and the support great.

I sponsored a child for at least 10 years, until she graduated. All of those years, Children International kept me informed of my child's progress. I received letters and photos from her. Also, they reached out to me and gave me options to help a little more, for example at Christmas and the child's birthday. I think this is a very reliable and transparent charity. It feels good to see exactly where your money is going.

Children International does great work to support kids in need! I've ben a madrina for about ten years now and I am very pleased with their work.

Great organization. Been sponsoring for 20 years. Initially one child and now two. What a difference Children International makes in the communities it services!!!

This is a very special organization that focuses on the future. They believe poverty will endure from generation to generation without the intervention of education, self confidence, job training and more.

Children International is an awesome nonprofit firm that provided long term assitance for kids and even computer training in thier schools. Great organization.

This organization really strives to make meaningful long-term differences in the lives of children. And by doing so, can change the future for the whole family as well as generations to come

Incredible organization! I've been with the program for almost two decades. They are on a life-changing mission for so many children.

I have been a Sponsor with Childrens International for over 20+ Years & I Can Honestly Say that They are the Most Caring, Organized Super Professional Genuine Charities I have ever been a Part of. I am Always Requesting Information & Always Asking for Assistance in Regards to My Sponsored Children & The Staff Never Hesitates in Assisting Me. This is Truly The Very Best Organization that I have Been a Part of. Every Time I call & Speak to the Staff I Feel Like I am Communicating with a Family Loved Member & that is Extremely Special to Me. I am also Very Happy Knowing that with So Many Charitable Organizations in Existence that are Scammers, This Super Awesome Organization is Very Humbled & Are as genuine as You will Ever Find. I Would Gladly say to One & All That if You Have a Kind Heart & Would Like to Make a Huge Impact on a Childs Life & Family Then You Have Found the Right One Here. They Truly Will not Disappoint You & if Anything You Will Enjoy Sharing Your Experience about Them such as I && So Many Other Donors Have. I am Looking Forward to Making an Impact on So Many More Ahead! May God Bless Each & Everyone of You for the Amazing Experiences you have Given Me. I Love You All. Take care & Be Safe Healthy & Well! Always!
DAT!

This is a wonderful organization. I have been a sponsor for over 30 years. I Started as a young woman with one child (Julius from the Philippines) and now sponsor 9 children. The people who work at children international are warm and caring.they definitely deserve a five star review.

I have been involved as a donor with this charity for the past six years. Every aspect of the experience has been extraordinary. All the people that I have interacted with that work with this organization are extremely kind, caring and passionate about children and make the world a better place. My involvement has led to much internal joy for myself, and I would highly recommend it for anyone that wants to enrich the lives of children, and receive the most beautiful inner joy and satisfaction.

I've never had a better experience helping my little children than through Children International. They are kind people who take the time to listen. One of the things I love are giving my extra gifts to help my families. No matter how big or small, it means so much to the family you are helping. For example, one of my families was living on dirt floors. I was able to provide them new concrete flooring and a bathroom! These are the kinds of things that makes working with this organization so special. Give to this organization. Your money will not go to waste!

I had a wonderful experience serving as a sponsor for a young girl in Ecuador. The process was simple and easy thanks to Children International, and I will always cherish the connection I made with this now-grown young woman.

I have been sponsoring children with Children International for 37 years. It is an excellent and a very reliable sponsorship organization. I do not have regrets and I have not had any bad experience at all.

I have been a Children International sponsor for over 25 years running! It’s a great experience receiving letters from my sponsor child and knowing that I’m helping to make a positive difference. The customer service is absolute top notch too, although everting runs so smoothly with my sponsorship that I’ve only very rarely needed to converse with anyone. I hope to get to visit one of my sponsor children one day, but for now it’s fun to get the photos!

I've been sponsoring with CI since 1999, with a brief pause during a couple financially strapped college years following a bad car accident. The program has only improved in that time! They use evidence-based programs to lift children out of poverty by encouraging education, job skills, learning financial skills, etc. While the young kids benefit primarily from basic educational supplies, health care & nutritional support (hard to learn when sick or super hungry), the programs for teens have expanded dramatically. They also allow you to do more - if you really want your kids to get a top education, you can fund that! If you want to visit, you have to pay for it, but that's an option as well. I've met most of my kids - they exist, the Centers exist and they've shown me house projects that I funded.

The base sponsorship will do so much to help make a child's life better, they have an American program (if that's what really calls to your heart) & you have the opportunity to do more, if you desire! If you choose to write, the children love getting letters & pictures too! After a period of time sponsoring a child, it's easy to feel like part of the family with CI.

As a sponsor, I always felt confident that my money was going towards a good cause. I got regular correspondence from Arnol, the child i sponsored and Children International also sent me updates with little bits about his life. It felt great to know I was making an impact on an individual's life. All the people involved in the organization are motivated, kind-hearted folks. I unfortunately had to cancel my sponsorship due to financial hardship, and my customer service representative, Leo, was incredibly kind and understanding. Become a sponsor!!

Sponsoring with Children International has been one of the most satisfying things we have ever done! We sponsor multiple children in multiple countries and feel that we have been able to make an impact that we can see and feel with the families we sponsor. We love the one-on-one connection that we have with each of our children. We love getting to know our kids through letters and annual photo updates.

We also love that CI allows us to send extra monetary gifts directly to our sponsored families so they can purchase what they need most. With these gifts, we have also been able to help our children improve their homes, buy needed food and clothing and stay in school. We have also been able to visit many of our children and seen firsthand the poverty and struggles they endure. We love seeing how our connection gives our children hope, improved self-esteem, and a chance to improve their lives for the better. It is definitely inspiring to know that we had a hand in that!

We feel that Children International is a wonderful organization that is very focused on helping poor children. Their Community Centers provide a "safe place" to play, learn and grow. They provide local services to the children, including nutritional, medical, dental, and educational programs. And as the children get older, they offer special programs for youth/teens to help them prepare for jobs, stay away from drugs and gangs, and become leaders in their communities. The Children International staff, both in the U.S. and in the countries they serve, are friendly, dedicated, and qualified to answer your questions and facilitate projects that will benefit the children.

Overall, we are very impressed with this organization and would not hesitate to recommend sponsoring a child/children with them. We feel we get back as much as we give...as our children appreciate and utilize the opportunities they are given. We love the "heart connections" we have made with our children. Children International is dedicated to providing a "hand up" to a child in need. They are dedicated to eradicating poverty and changing lives - one child at a time! So, if you are looking to make a positive difference in the life of a child, we highly recommend you look into Children International. Give them a try, and you'll be glad you did!

GREAT PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW UP ON MY NEEDS AND GIFTS I SEND ELLEN IS THE BESt

I "inherited" a child from my father on his death. Jay was 6 years old, small and sad. We continued his sponsorship as he grew into a handsome, confident young man. Today he is a teacher in the Philippines. I learned to trust the organization, and the people I spoke with by phone were exceptionally knowledgeable and helpful. Today we sponsor three children in one family. The oldest is looking forward to high school graduation and nursing school. This organization has always been available and helpful. I cannot recommend them more highly.

I began as a Sponsor in 1986 supporting the Crippled Children's Hospital in Israel. Over the years I have supported many children in Colombia and Chile and it has been a great experience.
This is a great intelligent organization that makes an impact where it makes sense.

I love this nonprofit I enjoy calling and speaking to the lovely girl Wendy she is so professional and kind. You can feel her passion thru the phone

Mi nombre es Francisco Angstrom López Torres. tengo 22 años.

cuando yo era niño y vivía con mi madre. recuerdo que tenia una madrina, sin embargo no recuerdo los detalles. semanalmente recibía cartas y me pedían escribir cartas, y sin embargo no sabia ni que estaba sucediendo en realidad (pues era un niño).

en children, conocí amigos muchos amigos, tuve apoyo medico. me enseñaron a utilizar la computadora y a utilizar adecuadamente el internet (que apenas y estaba surgiendo). y cuando tenia 12 años (ya no recibía cartas de mi madrina. pero ahi mismo en children, llegó un voluntario a enseñar el arte musical. aprendí a tocar guitarra y a cantar, algo que desde el preescolar anhelaba.

y doy gracias a la institución children y a mi madrina, que el gran desarrollo que tuve en la instalación, dio surgimiento en gran escala a la persona que hoy en día soy. children no solo es apoyar a niños y niñas, es apoyar a un desarrollo de grandes personas que harán la diferencia.

pues mi madre llegó a quererme sacar de estudiar, y gracias a todo el apoyo de children, mi impulso por querer mejorar gracias a todo lo que aprendí y viví en esa época, me ha impulsado a querer terminar mis estudios y desarrollarme de mejores maneras que como un simple trabajador.

muchas gracias. (un niño apadrinado que ahora a sus 22 años, busca apoyar a niños como lo apoyaron a él)
-hagamos que miles de niños nunca pierdan la esperanza.
-impidamos que miles de futuras personas sean contaminados por las sociedades en las que vivimos.

I've been a sponsor with Children International since 2004. In that time, I've sponsored over 40 kids, and I've had the opportunity to visit many of my sponsored children in 5 different countries. My experiences with CI have been amazing. I love getting to know my kids through letters and their annual photo updates. When I can, I send extra monetary gifts to specific sponsored families so they can purchase what they need most, and the extra reports (and usually photos) from those gifts are also fun bonuses throughout the year. I love that CI allows me to make an impact that I can see and feel with the families I sponsor, and that under normal (non-pandemic) conditions I'm even able to visit and meet "my" kids in person. The organization also does a great job of operating efficiently, so the large majority of funds go straight into program support. And as an added bonus, pretty much every member of their Kansas City office who I've spoken to (and I've talked to a lot of people there over the years!) has been knowledgeable, kind, and very patient with my endless questions. I absolutely love CI and the sponsorship experience they provide, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the organization to anyone looking to sponsor a child.

Angelyica is the fourth child I have sponsored since I began my relationship with Children International several years ago. This has been an extremely satisfying experience. I communicate with my child, starting with her very young age, and receive marvelous communications from each child as she learns to write in English. I celebrate holidays and birthdays, and eventually graduations with a monthly donation made with my credit card. One day I will be placing Children International in my legacy.

I sponsored a boy in Guayaquil, Ecuador from the time he was 9 until 19 through Children International (CI). I made a visit to “my boy” in Guayaquil when he was 13.

I was a little concerned, when I started sending a monthly check to an organization that I had no personal knowledge about. On my boy’s birthday and Christmas, I bought a present and sent it to him. My concern was mostly alleviated when I received pictures of my boy with the presents. The concern was totally eliminated when I visited my boy in Guayaquil.

Antonio, in the Kansas City office, was very helpful in getting the visit started and in answering lots of questions over the years. Franklin, in the Guayaquil office, was very helpful in organizing and facilitating the visit. My initial intent was to have a more active visit. Franklin said the input for the itinerary would come from me, the parents, the child, and CI. Franklin very tactfully steered the itinerary from my more active to a more appropriate one. The itinerary that he came up with was perfect.

We met at the CI center, then went to an arcade, bowled, had lunch, went to a museum/zoo, and then went to my boy’s home. I got to meet his mother, brother, sister, nephew, and niece. Franklin chose actives which allowed us to interact in meaningful ways. He let me talk to my boy where my limited Spanish would allow and interpreted where it was needed.

At the end of the visit, my boy and his mother each gave a little speech expressing their appreciation of my sponsorship. They were very nice people and showed their gratitude for my help. I enjoyed the visit very much because I got to get much better acquainted with my boy and his environment, and because I received a better awareness of what CI was all about. CI did everything possible to make the visit a success.

After sending presents for several years that I had bought myself, CI informed me that they would rather I sent money so they could purchase the present because there were sometimes an issue with customs. It also seemed like the parents wanted a say in what the money should be spent on. I understand when you are short on money, you would rather have more needed items, but I wanted my boy to get a present he could actually have some fun with, rather just meet food and clothing necessities.

Another thing I wish could have been somehow different was the ending arrangement for continued communication after my boy was out of the program. In the last letter I got from him, he stated he would like to continue our connection. He left an email address and phone # for me. I have emailed him, but not received a reply. Maybe it will still happen.

Anyway, it was a very satisfying experience. We exchanged many letters over the years. I enjoyed the letters and relationship very much.

I regard CI as a very legitimate, compassionate, helpful, organization that is run by smart people, whose goal is to help kids.

I've been a Children International sponsor for 14 years. During that time I've had the privilege of sponsoring three children, two all the way to graduation. For me it has been a very rewarding experience. Communication through the organization has always been good. I've never had any doubts that my donations were being well managed and I've recommended Children Internation to others who've expressed interest in child sponsorship!

I was walking home from a Christmas market in union square nyc (5th/14th) today when I met a woman named Crystall. I had my headphones in live streaming a funeral for my uncle Tim that I couldn’t afford to fly to. She didn’t know this but she was the brightest smile and kindest listener I’ve met in 5 months of living among millions in NYC. She spoke of your mission, told me of her path from Africa and asked questions about myself/my story. I couldn’t donate any money but assured her I would go to the site and participate when I could because she made me feel like a person that mattered. I needed that today and I want to say “thank you.”

I have been a sponsor with Children International for 20 years. I have appreciated their dedication to improving communities to support children in breaking the cycle of poverty.

I chose Children International many years ago because my research showed that more of my donation dollar went to the child than any other organization I found. Over the years that has remained the same but I have discovered many more positive reasons to feel proud to be a part of the program.
I have seen two children thrive from early childhood to young adulthood with the care and guidance of Children International. I am grateful for the many pictures, letters and reports that reassure me my donation is being well administered.
I have always had wonderful friendly response from staff with every call I have made over the years.
It is my hope that my family will continue my sponsorship long after I leave this earth. Children International, you shine!
Thank you, vicki Erickson

I have been a sponsor with Children International since 2017. I currently sponsor seven children through CI. Over the years, I have also sponsored several children through other organizations. Children International has been the most enjoyable experience of all the organizations I have been with. They have the most interactive web site to keep sponsors connected with their children and with other sponsors, and they have very accessible staff available to answer any questions or help with sponsorship issues in a timely manner. Sponsorship through CI is simply a fun and rewarding experience in every way.

Children International is an exceptional, global non-profit which has a masterly understanding of how poverty moves from generation to generation.
CI offers job, skill, computer and leadership training in addition to providing libraries, safe playgrounds, medical support, nutrition and hygiene classes. I have been particularly impressed with how they are wisely fluid in pandemic times and how they are operating with calm good sense, care and dedication.

I am so honored to be a sponsor for a child through Children International. Although one could say that I am a giver for being a sponsor, in reality I am the receiver for all the blessings that come my way as a result of my sponsorship. I’ve had the good fortune of interacting with many of the people that work at the organization. Every single one of them that I have spoke with is a kind, loving, passionate person that commits so much time and energy towards making the lives of children all over the world better. It’s a wonderful organization and I recommend it to anyone who wants to not only pass forward their good fortune but also receive so many blessings in return for their generosity.

I have been a sponsor with Children International for over 15 years. During that time I have sponsored 7 children from The Philippines and several countries in South America (Note: I always sponsor two at a time). Some from an early age, and some older. I continue to be impressed by Children International. I like the fact that you have a reasonable monthly fee for basic necessities, but can add extra gifts during the year for their birthday, the holidays, etc; Every time you do so Children International will send you pictures and a brief recap letting you know what the money was spent on; Typically the family is very poor and the money goes partially to the child and partially to help the rest of the family. You also exchange letters and pictures with your child either by mail or online, so there is that personal connection. When your child turns 19 they graduate from the program, and at that point I always give a final (large) donation to help them on their way. Then right after I approach Children International for another child to be sponsored. One suggestion for people who may be interested in sponsoring a child is to consider "hard to place" kids. These are children who are already a little older and for whatever reason have never been sponsored and unfortunately may soon be too old. Bottomline by sponsoring a child with Children International you will be impacting not only a child but also their family in a meaningful way.

Regards.
Erik Kramer

Honored being a part of the children international sponsorship family

I have mixed feelings about the organisation. The kids seem genuinely in need, but the organisation itself is not transparent enough and it is hard to get information about the child outside of the generated info on the child's profile (which often contains outdated data - how many teenagers play with dolls or jump rope in their free time?). Some members of CI are genuinely kind and respond to your questions on message board with more details, but the official customer service is mostly disinterested and they do not care about yout questions even if you inquire about extra donations. They are also reluctant to give you more information about your child except from the generic information that you can already see on the website profile.

I would like to help my child more but it is very hard to do this since I do not have any communication with the family nor CI customer service can provide me with any substanstial information. I do not wish to give my money just hoping that it will be used smartly, I want to know what the family needs and how exactly I can help them (not only by sending generic extra gifts).

Letters are nice to get, but they are very slow so it is hard to keep interest in writing since you already know that the child will not receive your messge for at least a month or even two.
In 21st century this is simply inefficient and I lost the will to write, because even if I ask my child something I will not get an answer for months and CI Customer Service offers generic replies. Therefore I resort now only to sending monthly donation.

We all know that everyone has smartphones and internet these days so I do not understand why communication through social media is forbidden - if someone is annoying or seems dangerous you can always report it back to CI and block the person completely. Letter system is terribly inefficient and only gives false hopes of creating a bond between sponsor and a child which is completely unrealistic to expect considering inability to communicate more transparently and more often.
Too bad because the idea is very nice. I really wish I could help my child more, but I simply cannot take food from my mouth in order to give extra funds in such untransparent manner.

Christian International is my favorite non-sectarian children's charity. They have an excellent educational programs as well as nutrition assistance, Girls empowerment, and basic needs funds for the children they serve. I have contributed with them for 10+ years and I have been very happy with the help they provide my sponsored children, and all the children in their system.
Please do not misunderstand the money spent on marketing. While Expensive, marketing is how these charities increase the size of the pie that they can utilize. Every single business uses marketing to capture market share. These charities are competing with gigantic businesses that spend billions on marketing to capture the dollars of the consumer. Without marketing the charity may have an excellent low overhead rating but will also have a significantly smaller amount of money to utilize for the good of the recipients. If you Raise $50,000 for your charity by going door to door with volunteers, your overhead may only be 1% of the money you raise but you will have raised $49,500 dollars for your cause. If you spend 10% of the money on marketing/advertising your audience can be significantly bigger and you may have 200x the amount of money to work with. So you may raise $10million dollars instead of 50,000 but your overhead will be $1 million, however your total for the charity will be $9 million. Which would you rather have for your charity, $9 million or $49,500? Here is an excellent video explaining the difference: https://youtu.be/bfAzi6D5FpM

We have been sponsoring Christian who lives with his family in the Philippines. He is 13 years old and he writes to us monthly and sends pictures often. The money helps him receive a good education and medical care. Its so heart warming to know who you are helping. They have so little and are so grateful for the little bit of money we send. My hope is that he will grow up and have the skills and education he needs to get out of poverty. We sometimes do not realize how good we have it in the United States. This is a great organization. Please sponsor a child, you will make a big difference in a boy or girls life for $20.00 dollars a month.

My boyfriend and I went shopping today at our local Walmart, and there were a few Children's International representatives outside the entrance asking for donations. After one of the representatives spoke to us for a few minutes, my boyfriend offered to give a one-time donation of ten dollars, but because we didn't want to commit to a month-to-month payment plan, our donation was rejected. I thought that was just completely awful, and wanted to make sure that our experience was made known, even if it's just by posting this review. If this organization truly wanted to help children, they would graciously take whatever they could get.

Sponsoring with Children International has been one of the best things I've ever done! It makes me feel as though I really am helping, even though I'm doing it from home by simply sending monthly contributions to my sponsored children. The letters and photos I receive from my children through Children International gives me the confidence that Children International is a company that is truly committed to helping these children, and not using the money for other purposes. I love that Children International connects the sponsor and the children in a personal way. I believe that keeps sponsors donating, as we have a real bond with our children, and we aren't just a name on a piece of paper to each other. I'm learning more about their family, their hobbies, their dreams, from their own words in their letters to me. It's inspiring.

I’ve been sponsoring with children international for 9 years and I’ve had nothing but great experiences with it. My child is now a teenager and is growing up so fast.
Recently I found out his mother passed away and I missed this information. She frequently wrote to me as well so this cake as quite a shock. I called Ci to try and get some information and Antonio helped me find out as much as possible. He took an emotional interest in my case and made extra effort to try and get me the information as quickly as possible. I really appreciate the care and attention they give to me as the sponsor and I can imagine the same care and consideration goes to my child as well. Someday I hope to go and visit him and see for myself what it looks like from his side of things. I’m so thankful I found CI all those years ago!

I have supported needy children in Honduras through Children International for over a decade. It has been a highly rewarding experience knowing that my assistance is making a positive difference in the lives of my sponsored children. The services provided by Children International are essential to the health, safety and development of these children, and can only be provided by an organization with boots on the ground in the countries where these children reside. While my regular contributions technically help all the children under Children International's care, sponsors are able to provide special gifts for the individual children they sponsor. That provides a special opportunity to assist children and their families in unique ways. The bonds formed with my sponsored children through written correspondence, photographs and regular status updates make this form of sponsorship uniquely fulfilling. Children International staff with whom I have interacted are highly motivated and strongly dedicated to the agency's mission of helping children around the world.

Where to start. I think most important is twice I was given the opportunity to visit kids I sponsor, For the safety and well being of the sponsored child the process of setting up a visit is very detailed. A background check is required. I saw first hand the services children are provided in both Manila and Lusaka. Actually visiting with my children was one of the most humbling and exhilarating experiences I have ever had. I get consistent updates, along with photos, on my children. When I have questions about sponsorship I get a phone call and/or email response very quickly.

I've been a sponsor of multiple children since 2015 - I currently sponsor five - and I've had nothing but good experiences so far with Children International. Their "Care Team" is always ready to help with questions and if you want to do more for the children you sponsor they will help you make it happen. I love that it's a secular organization, they do not proselytize and their focus is on education. Especially during this COVID-19 pandemic, I'm very impressed with their collective efforts to provide all the children and their families with whatever assistance they can to help them get through these tough times.

WE HAVE BEEN SPONCERS WITH CHILDRENS INTERNATIONAL FOR MANY YEARS......
TO SEE THE SMILING FACES OF THE CHILDREN,,, AND THE GRATEFULLNESS,, OF THE PARENTS,,,,HAS FULL FILLED OUR LIVES HERE A THOUSAND TIMES....
MATHEW 25,,VERSE 36,,, COMES TO MIND,,,,HOW EASY TO FILL THE MOST PRECIOUS CUP
OF MERCY.....,,,WHILE FILLING THEIR CUP,,,,,, MINE ALWAYS REMAINS FULL......
GOD'S BLESSINGS BE ALWAYS UPON CHILDRENS INTERNATIONAL,,,,AND THOES WHO STAND IN THE GAP........
SINCERELY
ROB AND NORMA CAETTA

I've been sponsoring two kids for the past 5 years and it has been a wonderful experience. Due to the regular letters, updates and pictues of the sponsored children, and the possibility to even visit them, it's pretty fascinating to see how exactly the donations are used and how the kids benefit from them. I was able to visit one of my children in Colombia, and was pretty impressed about all the programs they offer there to sustainably improve the lives of those who really need it. The staff on location as well as online has been outstanding as well and always found a way to help me out if I had an issue or question. I more than recommend CI.

Super nice people, someone (Jan) even checked in with me today to see how I was doing during COVID!

It has been a great experience. Besides helping, Children International has always been there when I have any question. I trust this organization and I feel it's well managed and I trust Children INternational 100%

He tenido la experiencia de dos apadrinados: un chico de Colombia y otro de México. Ambas han sido de lo mejor porque verlos crecer a través de las fotografías y de saber que están aprendiendo a empoderarse, me hace sentir más humano y más solidario. En verdad, es una experiencia extraordinaria.

Soy madrina de 2 niños guatemaltecos. He podido ver su crecimiento a través de fotos y cartas. Aunque no los conozco personalmente, ambos tienen un lugar especial en el corazón de nuestra familia en Puerto Rico y es nuestra meta viajar para poder abrazarlos. Es una gran bendición saber que aporto a su bienestar.

Absolutely the WORST experience in trying to support a child in Dominican Republic! We are teaching our 6 year old grandson the value of money & how to tithe/support a child in need, and we received a picture/letter from the child right away. Then we sent an $80 box of Christmas gifts at the end of November so it would have plenty of time to get there...but it never did. BTW: do NOT buy the extra insurance from a shipper - even the post office, b/c they will tell you that as soon as it leaves the states, NO MORE INSURANCE. Worse, every time I called Children's International to ask about the package, they told me to wait another month, so now IN MARCH, they finally conceded that they can put in a request to find out more, but it would be 3 more months until we "may" get an answer!! Then I asked why we received only one picture/letter from the child when we have sent several, and they told me we will only receive 2 per year!! CANCEL! I did research before selecting this group, but I wish I would have seen a review like this so I could have kept looking. We will find one that we trust...because we do NOT trust this organization!

I feel good contributing to such a well run organization with 100% volunteer management serving many students in our community.

I have been informed that at least 88% of my donation reaches my child. I think that is phenomenal when considering other charities. Operating expenses are expensive and I see this as a good sign.
I am supporting two children and receive letters periodically,so I know 5hey are real.
Get on board and save a life.

It’s too big and “corporate” nowadays. There’s so much convulsion about finding information about your sponsored child’s family, school and what not. The staff are hit and miss. Sometimes they actually pretend to care and other times you can just tell that your an inconvenience to them. I suggest doing a lot of research into executive salaries. At one point they were paying a former president’s salary for doing nothing. What kind of person would be okay with taking over half a million dollars from a children’s fund while doing nothing? What kind of board of directors would allow this? Imagine the lives that could be changed by paying field staff with that money. It would be interesting to see what else this company does with the money not used to aid the children...

They do some good things but overall your money can go further with a smaller, local charity. I get that fundraising goals need to be met but instead of sending flyers to my house asking me for more money, just spend that money on the kids. This organization used to spend like 90% of its proceeds to the kiddos but now it’s dipping. The only reason I support this place is because I think I owe it to my sponsored child. The staff give you this idea that you’ve basically adopted the kid and when you ask about cancelling the sponsor deal you are guilted into staying. It’s a good form of emotional blackmail for sure. They keep these kids dependent on us, why not use them for their marketing tactics? That seems to be the line of thinking with all of their mailings. Just stop marketing and spend that money on the kids. If I hear about that girl and her swimming journey one more time, I’m gonna lose it. It’s great that she’s supporting a good cause but my donation shouldn’t be used to promote her ambitions. One more thing, when a kid becomes pregnant do a better job of informing the sponsor. I shouldn’t hear about it after the child’s child is 3 months old. Please refocus your (the donor’s) money on the kids - not on marketing swimmers or British royalty.

I wish I could say I love this charity because their cause is a noble one. However, after dealing with continued marketing pleas for more money it’s clear what they are about. Somehow they can set up all these “wonderful” pie in-the-sky programs but they can’t tell me what my child is doing in school. They only send you pictures a few times a year and won’t let you request more. I’ve donated thousands of dollars to this place and can’t get an extra picture for my office? Really? I wonder how many of these “community schools” that they always ask money for even exist. It would be nice if donor money wasn’t spent on employee salaries or severance. Do yourself a favor instead of adopting a kid here, sponsor one at a local hospital or orphanage. That way you can visit with your kid without being accused of being a bad person. The level of paranoia around child contact is astounding. Newsflash - not everyone has bad intentions. We just want to know that our kids are doing well and receiving the money we send. This may sound crazy to CI managers but sponsors are entitled to that!

I have sponsored four different children in the Philippines in the past decade or so. Two are now adults, and I'm currently sponsoring two more. I love this nonprofit because it's clear that the money donated goes largely to help these children in many ways. In addition, I truly admire this nonprofit for addressing child poverty in different parts of the world, not just one or two. Children International is definitely a nonprofit worth investing in.

This is a charity that I am very proud to support every month. I get stories about, and directly from, the child that I am helping. It has been very rewarding to get occasional notes and pictures from the child that I have been supporting. I am proud of the growth she has made over the years, and glad that I was able to assist her in doing so.

I had an incredible experience with Children International. From the time I was originally recruited on the streets of NY, through the end. CI did everything to make me feel connected with the child I sponsored, Isai. I cannot recommend this program any higher.

I have sponsored 5 children over 11 years of being a donor. Children International is a fantastic organization! They have excellent customer service! I am so happy that I have been able to bless so many children!

I have sponsored 2 children, from start to aging out of the program. I have found they use funds appropriately. When I did special donations, they sent a list and photos of items my child choose. This made me feel secure about doing extra donations. They never pressure you for more. Great Charity!

I really like the idea behind Children International, "Break the Cycle". It is not enough to just give food and other daily necessities to those who are not able to support themselves due to a lack of resources. I like the idea of helping the families and also giving them an education and training so that the next generation is better off than the current generation. The staff at CI is very helpful and are very concerned for their clients, the children that CI supports. The CI staff with whom we work always go a step further, making you feel more comfortable that your donations and efforts will be used efficiently. In the current climate, nonprofit organizations such as Children International are essential.

CI has been a great way for me to feel connected to my sponsored kids. Sometimes I feel closer to them than I do my niece and nephews! Every time I call the care team or my representative Alex the help I receive is always delivered with kindness and compassion. Sometimes information takes a little while to be relayed to me but I suppose that comes with the territory of dealing with a global organization. I don't have a lot to give, but what I do I feel completely confident giving it to this organization. Keep up doing the great things you do!

Children International is a an excellent and well run nonprofit organization. They work hard to keep me updated about my sponsored child and I really my money is put to good use with them. I recommend Children International to anyone looking to donate to a worthy cause.

We started to sponsor a beautiful child from Columbia, she was just 2-3 years old when we
she was assigned to us, her name is Damaris and it is now 15 years later and she just graduated the CI program.
I cannot begin to explain the fantastic journey that we were able to experience with her as she grew older. From to 2 to 17 what a blessing it was to know and help her along the way.

El proceso de apadrinamiento de un niño mediante la ONG Children International resulta muy sencillo a través de su página web. Tras unos minutos, el registro queda completado y comienza una experiencia que cambia la vida de cualquiera: es muy gratificante recibir frecuentemente información acerca del estado de salud del apadrinado, sobre la evolución de su educación y su formación y de otros aspectos relacionados con su vida diaria: programas sociales, vivienda, campañas de salud e higiene bucodental y un largo etéctera. Los niños se esmeran en enviar cartas y dibujos a su apadrinado, en las que se puede apreciar cómo su letra va cambiando y sus trazos se hacen cada vez más firmes. Children Internacional se pone rápidamente en contacto con usted ante eventuales problemas y ofrece otra serie de servicios, tales como programas de visita a los niños, información acerca del país del apadrinado... Children Internacional ha cambiado mi vida.

It has been a joy to watch my Godchild grow over the years! :)

I've always felt confident with Children International and watching how they performed their charity, moved me for more than 10 years sponsoring our children. Please, when changing, always let the love in your heart move you. Thanks a lot!

I cannot recommend sponsoring a child highly enough! Children International regularly sends updates handwritten by your sponsored child. My husband and I were able to watch our child grow from a little girl of 6 years to a healthy responsible young woman of 18! We are so happy for her and are glad we were able to be a small part of her young life.....

Children International provided us a with great opportunity to impact the life of a child from Honduras and his family over the span of many years. Through letters we watched a small child grow into a fine young man at the same time we watched our own children grow up. While we were glad to help, we actually received tremendous blessings through the experience. I highly recommend Children International as a first class organization that makes a positive difference around the world.

My name is Monika and I am sponsoring a little girl. This is very new for me and I feel the responsibility. I am still trying to figure out how this really works but I am really happy that I made this choice and with gods help I will continue to do so.

Soy César Araujo, de México, y participo con Children International desde hace al rededor de dos años. La experiencia ha sido maravillosa, saber que es posible afectar positivamente la vida de un niño y su familia es inigualable. Sin duda conocer aspectos de su vida y desarrollo es lo más gratificante al ver cómo lo que hago, que en principio pareciera poco, tiene un efecto tangible y prácticamente inmediato.
Gracias a CI por la oportunidad de ayudar, y felicitaciones por su gran labor!

I have been a sponsor for 6 years now and have had a great experience with Children International. I receive letters and photo's from my child on a regular basis and I am able to write back. It has been a great experience seeing your child grow and getting updates on how they are doing with their life since you have been helping them. I recommend Children International to anyone that is looking to sponsor a child or wanting to make a donation.
Donna Arndt, from Pennsylvania

It was a wonderful experience to sponsor a child through children international.
Through out the years that I have sponsored (3 to 4 years) they provided quarterly updates without fail. I also did not feel any pressure to continue sponsoring which makes me feel more inclined to return in the future.

It is hard to tell you were to start. My first child was way back in 1991. We grew very close to each other. I had him till he was 18 years old. I really did not want to give him up, but I had to. I was then given a new child and am quite happy with him. I must tell you my first child Jaun and it now 10 years later and he has located me. What a wonderful surprise. He sent me the most wonderful letter any one could receive. With Children International he has grown into a fantastic person. The letters that he sends me are amazing He has achieved so much. I am very thankful for being able to help Juan. Sincerely, Nadine Gockel

Have sponsored a couple of CI kids for about 10 years. Their programs are great at not just meeting immediate needs of the children but really preparing them for a successful future in terms of skill building and personal development. This really changes the trajectory for these kids lives. We support several other charities but CI is our top nonprofit to support.

Children International always does a great job of communicating with donors and doing it in a caring, classy way. You get details about the children you are serving without feeling that you are invading the family's private life. This organization is top notch in every way. They are passionate about helping children and it shows. So glad to be able to serve through them!

I have been a sponsor for Children International for the last 10 years. It is a wonderful feeling to know you are making a difference by giving just a little bit each month. Receiving the pictures and letters from your sponsored child and watching them grow is amazing.

Sponsorship is one small way we can make a difference in the world without putting in too much effort and Children International is a great non-profit to work with.

Great organization, great program. Enjoy the ability to see how my gift is used thru that one-to-one sponsorship connection.

It is such a wonderful feeling knowing that I am helping to provide a few necessities for 2 children with needs. I have so much in life and I want these children to have just a small portion of the same.

GRACIAS CHILDREN INTERNACIONAL, MI NOMBRE ES LILIANA SOY DE ECUADOR DE LA CIUDAD DE QUITO DONDE GRACIAS A SU MAGNIFICA OBRA PUEDE SER UNA PROFESIONAL. NUNCA PUDE CONOCER A MIS PADRINOS O PATROCINADORES COMO LOS LLAMABAMOS EN ESE TIEMPO PERO DE LO QUE SI ESTOY MUY AGRADECIDA ES DE TODA SU MARAVILLOSA AYUDA QUE ME DIERON. FUERON MI APOYO DESDE QUE TENIA 8 AÑOS HASTA CUANDO TUVE 21 AÑOS DE EDAD.
AHORA TENGO 35 AÑOS SOY UNA PROFESIONAL, TENGO UNA FAMILIA Y UN TRABAJO Y LE AGRADEZCO MUCHISIMO A DIOS POR LA GRAN AYUDA DE MIS PADRINOS.
AL ESCRIBIR ESTAS LINEAS RECUERDO CUANDO ESCRIBI LAS CARTITAS Y HACIA UN LINDO DIBUJO PARA QUE SE LOS ENVIEN CON TODO MI CARIÑO.
"LINDOS RECUERDOS" GRACIAS A USTEDES MI INFANCIA FUE DIFERENTE Y HERMOSA

My sponsorship with Children Inernational has been a truly amazing experience. I'm crying as I write this because I've been a sponsor for almost 3 years and have to cancel as I am in graduate school now and can no longer afford to sponsor. As soon as I graduate my program, I will immediately volunteer to sponsor again. My partner and I were approached by someone from CI on our first day visiting Denver, CO from another state. I listened to his pitch, and gave him a bit of a hard time as I'm a school teacher and initially felt that I was already doing enough for children. He was very professional and understanding, and eventually won me over. We signed up right then and there. CI makes it so easy and fun to stay connected with your child. I look forward to the photos and updates about her life, but most especially to the letters. We loved learning from our child about her life, her family, and her community. My partner and I would read her letters together, then sit down and talk about what we wanted to write back to her. I would highly recommend sponsorship to anyone who is considering it. It makes such a difference, in your life and theirs.

I love how they connect you to the child you are sponsoring. I will come back as a donor again once i am settled in my new life. I recommend this agency for all the good it does.

Great experience helping someone suffering from poverty - get hand written letters from sponsored child & the ability to visit your child if one wants to.

Children's International is a great organization for connecting Sponsors with children from all over the World ,who need love, support, and encouragement. This organization is filling a niche that is unique and cannot be met by the governments where it operates. I am happy to be the proud sponsor of two lovely children. My dream is for them to live their dreams.
Thank You Children International for helping my dream enable future dreams to become true.

They care about their children but also about their Sponsors.

I have been a donor for many children for 20+ years through Children International. I think that speaks for itself. I have continued like this due to my trust in their operations, as verified with outside auditors and the communication I get personally.

I sponsored a young boy with Children international for 9 years, he seemed always to be moving in a positive direction and it was easy to work with Children Int. they provided options for me to communicate via online with my sponsor kid and write letters and even visit if I had had the capability to

My husband and I have long been supporting children through your network. Back in Germany we supported 3 children for 5 years but then had personal issues to deal with and had to stop the support. We're very happy that our support helps children in need, especially since we were unable to have children of our own. We look forward to hearing from our sponsored child and how he's making progress. Children International is a wonderful organization and does great work. Thank you for all you do!

I have been with Children International for over 15 years, starting with 2 sisters (now graduated as the youngest turned 18 in January), and now with 3 children together with my husband. They have been an honorable organization, and I have felt that the donations went to the children and their needs. The need in the world is so great, and it is has been such a positive experience to try to help. This is a wonderful organization, helping so much in the world. There is excellent accountability, and I have always felt that the organization is up front on all issues.

Children International is an A-rated non-profit. My experience with them was positive. I got a lot of snail mail from them, but it was always a pleasure to receive! I got handwritten letters, drawings, and photos of my sponsor child. I also had the opportunity to write back to her and Children International made it easy to either send a written letter and include photos or to simply compose it over email.

I love Children International. I started back in 2011 with my fist Sponsor Child. Each Child is unique. The Staff is great every where. Many of my Sponsor children have graduated out of the System, but I keep taking new once. It is very sad for me when they Graduate out of the System. It is so rewarding to be able to help each Child. I love getting their Letters. I sent my sponsor Children letters and pictures, so they get to know my family .We have visited my Children in Little Rock and the Philippines multiple times. We love helping them in any way we can. My favorite time is when we go out for lunch with them and then shopping for their School clothes and anything else they might need. I love spoiling them a little with things that they normally can not buy. I also love doing some fun things with them, like going to a zoo, seeing a waterfall, Playing in an arcade and doing Karaoke. The smiles and hugs are the best reward. My Best experience was watching 3 of my Sponsor Kids Graduate from High school in Little Rock. It was so awesome to watch each of them walk across that stage to except their Diplomas and take pictures with them after wards. That is something I will always remember. I have their Graduating Pictures on my wall . I also keep a picture of each of the Children that Graduated out of the System and all the once I still sponsor in my office ,where I can always look at them. I'm keeping each letter and all the pictures from each child, so I can go back and read them again. Thank you Children International for your kindness all your help.

We were with Children International as donors for almost 10 years until our child graduated. Our experience with this organisation has been positive. We had regular communication with our sponsored child, annual pictures, and the updated website was wonderful for writing letters and reviewing information about our child. My only slight criticism is that they do send a number of letters throughout the year asking for funds for other things with a hint of a manipulative begging tone which I didn't love, but that didn't affect our sponsorship so it wasn't really a big deal. All in all, I would recommend this organisation as they are easy to work with and are making a difference in this broken world.

I sponsor 2 children through CI. One in South America, the other in Africa. I was recently going through the financial reports that are available online, especially the Tax Returns from 2016. I was shocked to find out that the former president /CEO of CI is still collecting compensation of over $770,000 dollars, just for being retired from CI. There is something very wrong with how a retired person from CI gets paid more than the President of the United States for doing nothing. I am a public school teacher, and when I retire I will not be compensated twice of what I currently earn. After finding these details from the Federal Tax Returns of Children International, once the 2 children that I have been sponsoring since they were very young, turn 18, and CI tries to entice me with 2 more children, I will simply let them know that I am changing to another charity that is more honestly transparent in how they spend the donors' earned money. The more I read about Children International, the more I am finding that this organization does not seem very transparent to their donors with regard to all the high paid "officers" from all the donations. I also give extra money for their birthdays, Easter, and December holiday. From what they "receive", what CI charges me, it does not truly add up. I end up giving more, than what the children receive.

Children International consistently communicates with donors including letters from sponsored children, regular updates on impact of contributions, and general context and work being done within a country or region by Children International. Always responsive to voice or email queries. Very professional staff and home page for access to prior letters, donation history, and other useful content.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to change a child's life through this wonderful organization!!!

This is the best way to help a child's education anywhere in the world, the results are very good, it's nice to see the child grow and see the results of your contribution

Been a sponsor since 2009. I was skeptical about these orgs but liked giving to a charity where I was able to connect more with who I am helping. I was charmed by the photos and simple letters I've received over the years. I've realized how lucky I've been to be part of this. My first child had to drop out of the program, but the next child I sponsored until her graduation. My current child is 13 and I love getting her letters and seeing her progress. I trust this org and there's just something about the one-to-one connection that is magical.

I've sponsored a child with Children International since 2014, and it's been a heart-warming experience. I sponsored an older child (now 14), because my father was raised in poverty and always appreciated getting Christmas gifts from a charity when he was a teen. As I've written my child, I've learned about several interests that we share. I always feel like she's blessing me when I'm meant to be a blessing to her, as she's so positive, joyful and grateful. I'm glad she's getting all the support she needs with education (she wants to be a cop when she grows up to help people!) and medical needs so she can stay healthy. Her family gets by on very little money, so every bit helps. I was able to buy her a bicycle through Children International. I LOVE my bicycle and it was a treat to give her that same opportunity. It made my day when I received a photo of her with her new bicycle! Great organization, great experience.

I once bragged about how wonderful CI is and I absolutely stand by that! I have since started sponsoring my original child's sister as well as continuing my sponsorship of the 8 year old girl on Colombia. The staff is always so polite and helpful! I feel so much better about life knowing that I am doing something to help someone else, something positive and beautiful. I wish the girls the very best and will do all that I can while I am sponsoring them!

I became a sponsor to a young girl named Katherine when my aunt became ill and passed away. It was one of my aunt's final wishes that I continue her sponsorship of Katherine because she believed so strongly in the work of Children International. I was honored to continue the sponsorship for 10 years and see Katherine grow from a young girl into a young woman. Children International does an outstanding job of making a true connection between sponsors and the children they serve.

Me siento muy feliz de poder ayudar a los niños que tengo apadrinados para que puedan estudiar y seguir adelante con sus metas. Es un verdadero honor poder compartir con ellos! Margherita C. de Romero

Me siento muy feliz contribuyendo para la educacion y preparacion para el futuro de los ninos.
Dios ilumino mi mente para utilizar mi generosidad con ellos.Invito a todas las personas
que se unan a nosotros para luchar a sacar adelante a estos ninos que son el futuro de nuestra
sociedad.
Gracias Children International por la magnifica labor que estan llevando a cabo.
Que Dios siempre los bendiga.

We have been sponsoring children thru Children International for 17 years. We have had the pleasure of watching a number of kids grow and graduate from the program. Children International does a wonderful job of keeping you informed about your sponsored child, as well as keeping you connected with them thru letters to and from them. They are also very easy to contact with any questions or concerns and prompt in replying. It's very rewarding to know that you are able to help disadvantaged children in the world, and their families, have the necessities that they wouldn't have had otherwise. It's also wonderful that you can provide a better future for them. We highly recommend Children International as a stellar charitable organization to consider if you are thinking of sponsoring a child in need.
Vecchi and Peter Talarico

Estoy muy orgullosa de ser una sponsored por mas de 14 anios con el mismo ninio y ver el progreso de el por las fotos que children international me ha proporcionado pienso que esta organizacion es lo maximo! una experiencia maravillosa por medio de esta organizacion podemos hacer la diferencia para cambiar vidas Loved it.

I have been sponsoring with Children International since 1989. I currently sponsor two girls, one in Zambia and one in the Dominican Republic. I can't say enough good things about how this organization has enriched my life by providing some basic necessities to these children. The CI staff is absolutely amazing. In my 27 years as sponsorship, I've received two personal visits from the staff when they were working in the area I live in, just to thank me for my support.

"En el dar esta la recompensa " gracias a la organización por llevar bendiciones

I have been with them for over 5 years and the experience has been great. I am in contact with the children I help. The organization makes sure you receive updates about your sponsored child. I highly recommend it

is a wonderful experience and a wonderful feeling that you're helping a child to break the poverty barrier and be a powerful positive influence in the world

My husband and I sponsored a child for a year. We have thoroughly enjoyed the consistent and meaningful contact with V. We can no longer continue, however we will resume as soon as we are able to. The Children International team has been extremely supportive. We therefore look forward to the day when we can resume! In the meantime, we encourage everyone that can and cares about our children to become a sponsor! Best.

I have been a sponsor for almost a year, and this is the BEST thing I have ever done. I absolutely love getting letters, drawings, and pictures from my little one. Volunteers and staff are so friendly and helpful. Excellent organization.

Always informative and helpful. Have been working with them for 30 years. I believe this organization provides the most per dollar donated compared to others.

This is one of the finest organizations for sponsoring children. There is so much you can do to bless the unfortunate children and their families.

Fantastic, reliable and trustworthy organization that has made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many impoverished children. I have been a sponsor for nearly 10 years, and I currently have 3 sponsored children, with aims to get more. In the meantime, I inform all my friends and relatives of this great movement. Hope everyone joins in to change the world!

One of the greatest experiences in my life and very rewarding, the association always keeps me informed on the growth of my sponsored child and the evolution of community of my sponsored child. THANK YOU

A great way to help children in poverty all over the world, so they can have the education and health they have rights. I received many times a letter from her mother (since she's a little girl that still dont learn how to write.), but also a drawing she made for me =), so touching!

Have been supporting this organization for years, they always keep us informed of our sponsored girls progress.

I've been sponsoring a beautiful girl for four years now, and time just flies. It's been the easiest process, they are always reaching out to you as a company for you to get the best service, and this is only the backgorund of the company.
I think that creating and providing such an easy way to help someone from my country and my community it's just the best thing in the world. I fully recommend Children International as an incredibly easy way to help a child out. Sometimes I think it is even too good to be true but I'm thankfull everyday to be able to sponsor someone with this organization and to be able to help in such an easy way.

I've been sponsoring a child since February 2011 and I've had nothing but absolutely POSITIVE experiences with "Children International". Such organization is always extremely prompt and professional, when it comes to assisting me, responding any inquiry and keeping me informed about my sponsored child. I highly recommend "Children International" for anyone who wishes to support the development of a child in need.

Soy padrino de una niña guatemalteca desde que ella tenía 5 años, es muy satisfactorio el poder ver cómo ha ido creciendo (ahora ella tiene 12) y saber que a pesar de tantas limitantes que la rodean, ella es una niña de bien y positiva ante la vida.
Considero que la ayuda que se proporciona a través que Children International transforma la vida de estos niños

Tengo más de 1 año siendo padrino de Jesús, un niño que en marzo cumplirá 7 años. Hace apenas unas semanas nos conocimos y desde el principio nos llevamos muy bien. Platicamos mucho, jugamos y pude convivir con él y su mamá. Nos acompañó una trabajadora social muy amable que nos ayudó mucho. La visita se pudo hacer hasta ahora porque el Equipo de Children International es muy cuidadoso para que ambas partes, tanto el niño como el padrino estén seguros en todos los sentidos, detalle que me parece valioso e importante. El poder ayudar a un niño que lo necesita me hace sentir contento y espero más personas que puedan hacerlo, lo hagan.

My experience with this organization has been very grateful. They have very clear what I need to know what happen with my contribution and who my child enjoy it. Early, I will help other child. Happy new year.

Does anyone know if as a sponsored parent you can search for the parents of your sponsored child on social media?

Por ser una persona algo desconfiada decidí apadrinar a una niña que viviera en mi país (México), la cuál he tenido la oportunidad de visitar en dos ocasiones y convivir tanto con ella, como con su mamá, han sido muy buenas experiencias, he comprobado por ellas mismas que mis aportaciones en realidad le ayudan y me siento feliz con ello

I have been with Children International for over ten years now and couldn't be happier! I began sponsoring Cindy when I was 22 years old and living in Chicago. I decided that I spent the amount that they would need from me to help provide basic needs to a child on coffee every week! So, I gave up going out and buying coffee and instead donated that money to Children International. I receive regular updates that give information on where she lives & housing, her parents and other members of her family, her schooling and health status. I get new pictures and get to send and receive letters too!! Cindy has grown so much since I first began writing to her... She is now a senior in high school and has plans to attend college!! I am proud of her and the beautiful young woman she has become and would have never known her without Children International. I would definitely recommend this charity as a way not only to help provide basic necessities for a young child living in poverty but to get to know them and be a part of their family!

This Charity harasses women in the street in order to "fund raise", including physically stepping in front of your way to block your path, screaming at you "you look nice" followed by "I guess you're not", as well as following you up the block while you are trying to go about your business talking about how "pretty your dress is" and other physical attributes. As far as I can tell, they are paying people to harass women. And I mean women, because this sort of hyper aggressive "sales" never seems to be happening to the men that walk by. Supporting them is supporting a culture of inappropriate behavior and harassment.

I love it my experience as a sponsor. I hace 2 children

I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING A CHILD FOR MORE THAN 5 YEAR, AND IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE KNOWING THAT I CAN HELP OTHERS IN THEIR NEED.
HELPING IS THE BEST WE CAN DO!!!!

this was a great experience and i hope to anyone who does it has a great time like i did with the letters and photo updates knowing you are helping someone in need

Like most people on this one particular day in downtown Seattle, i was in a rush. For me it was a rush to get to work on time. At first i was hesitant to talk to the guy on the street with the clipboard asking if i wanted to sponsor a child overseas. But being a guy who's interested in foreign cultures, i stopped for a few minutes. Then chatted with the guy and decided to sponsor a child in The Philippines. So here i am nearly 5 years later and i can tell you it's worth it and not just monetarily but spiritually. Even if you can only sponsor a child for 2 years it's worth it. Just in the time that i sponsored my child, i saw him go from a young boy to nearly a young man starting his first year of college. It's nice to know i could help him in some way for a while even though i have a small income myself.

The best experience I have ever had.
The best experience I have ever had.

Estoy agradecido con Dios por haber puesto en mi camino esta maravillosa institucion, Children International. Me da mucho gusto ver los logros que tienen constantemente a nivel mundial y la creciente cantidad de niños a quienes ayudan

Over a period of 25 years, we've sponsored children through Children International. We always looked forward to receiving personal letters from our child along with an updated picture. We always received them on a regular basis, plus a letter explaining what our gift monies were spent on (birthdays, holidays etc.) Having a sponsored child helped us to be more aware of happenings around the world and it also helped the world to seem like a smaller place. We are all connected to each other. Very positive experience the entire time.

my experience has been excellentI AM VERY HAPPY WITH CHILDRENS INTERNATIONAL

I have to say that my experience with this org has been frustrating and uninformative. I was sponsoring a child in the us and to date I have no idea how my money is been used or how the child is doing. I am unclear how much of my money is going to fund the large apparatus and complex website that the org seems to have, and I have never received an answer as to how specifically my money is being used to help the child engage in various programs, or what those programs even are.

I was sponsoring my child for 11 years, from aged 8 until she left the program just last month aged 19. It was a very emotional journey and even more so for meeting my child, a few months into my sponsorship. That experience totally changed my life and made me a better person, and all of the money through those 11 years of sponsorship were worth every penny for that experience alone. Nothing can prepare you for the joy and emotion of sponsoring a child, and I implore anyone who can afford that little extra to do so. It also changes the life of that little girl or boy in ways you cannot begin to imagine, and the happiness it brings to them and their family is irreplaceable. There are so many things I could say but there are no words to truly express the feelings involved in such an experience. It is a magical journey from start to finish... but there is no real ending because those memories stay in your heart forever!

Helpful staff and love my relationship with my kids!

I have been sponsoring Dorisel for 7 years, and wanted to learn more about her family, their true living conditions, and her. The local representative sent photos of their home. I then asked what would be the most important improvement she and her family would like to have made. A more private and sanitary bathroom and shower enclosure was the answer. Children International proceeded to develop a plan and cost. As a General Contractor, the number came back as reasonable, not very detailed, but I trusted them. At the end of the project, a full report was sent to me with a detailed cost breakdown, and a complete set of photos of the finished product with the family guiding a tour. A wash basin and water storage was included that I didn't realize was in the plan. It was terrific to see such a great addition to their lives. They even brought the project under budget, and were able to purchase cleaning products for the family with the extra $68. Who could ask for a better, more caring, and trusted partner as Children International. They far exceeded my expectations. I look forward to further projects in the future.

Great nonprofit with friendly volunteers. Hopefully I can sponsor more children in the future.

Via Children International, I've heard a lot of stories of the children who really need help. By donating just a little money every month, I became a sponsor to provide my sponsored child with some financial support. I am very excited to read his letters, and so happy to know that my donations change his life! I feel very so special to have such great impact on someone's life!

A couple of months ago, I sponsored a brother and sister. The demographic information listed on the computer reflected they were the only children of a family living in the Dominican Republic. This lead me to believe I was the only sponsor for this family. The computerized demographics also reflected the father was a daily worker earning $100 dollars per month and that they lived in a 2 berm house with only 2 beds which lead me to believe the siblings slept together. Based upon this information, I believed the family needed some immediate relief and could probably use some extra money for food and essentials such as another bed. Subsequently, I gifted several hundreds of dollars allowing Children's International to supervise the needed items to the family thinking the monies would be used for basic necessities for the family. Now, I am receiving pictures, correspondence, and information from Children's International that their are 7 children total with 4 other sponsors for the family. Additionally, I have received documentation and pictures advising me that my hard earned money went to buy bicycles for both children, multiple toys for not only my sponsored children but for other children in the household that I did not sponsor nor was I made aware of their existence at the time of sponsorship. Very few groceries, to include a pack of diapers, were purchased and given the size of the household, such groceries would last only a day or two. I consider them token groceries intended to justify the allocation of the monies. I have contacted Children's International to basically ask them what the heck is going on here. They did did acknowledge there are more children and more sponsors for the family. They are checking into the reported 2 bed situation and hopefully the reported income. I seriously doubt either is accurate and if they are, why were my monies used primarily for toys. I want to know who is responsible for this bait and switch. Is it the family providing false information or the Children's International office who input the data into the computer. I am glad the children liked their toys; however, I do not appreciate the bait and switch or the abuse in the spending of the funds I provided for what I was lead to believe would go primarily for basic necessities and not toys. I wish I had not paid in advance for a years sponsorship for both children. I am seriously at a loss as to what to do as I have already established a relationship with the children and they are not responsible for the bait and switch scheme being perpetrated here. I wish I had donated my monies to the local food bank where my funds would have been used better.

I have been a sponsor with Children International for years. They truly connect you with your children, one to one, by providing you with extensive information on your child's progress. The impact it affords the sponsors is as rewarding as that it is for the children. I've experienced other charities in the past. Children International exceeds all. I'm blessed to be a part of this organization.

We have been sponsoring two children from the Philippines for the past 5-6 years, and just agreed to sponsor a third child. We love the letters the children send us. They are so thankful for the assistance needed to stay in school and for the very basic amenities that $32 a month provides. It's a great teaching tool for my own 4 children to see first hand what a little charity at home can do for other children who are not so blessed as we are. I absolutely love the program, and hope to be able to continue supporting my kids after the age out at 18 so that they can go to college. Please check out this wonderful organization. You will not be disappointed .
Al Nover Bedford NH

I have sponsored a little girl for six years - who is not so little anymore. I love the letters & pictures of the progress, growth, & resources that my sponsorship furnishes for her. It is wonderful to be able to communicate directly through letters & pictures. I just had the blessing of sponsoring another child. This time I choose an older child, in a different country, that had been waiting a while. It is exciting to know that one person CAN make a significant difference in the world. One child at a time.

I started sponsoring 3 children in the Philippines in March, 2013, after researching several similar programs. I have been so impressed by the work that Children International does, and the responsiveness they have demonstrated after terrible typhoons hit the Philippines in 2013 and 2014.
When I saw the incredible benefits my 3 sponsored children received for the modest monthly payment, I added 4 more children this year. And I can honestly say that sponsoring these kids has been one of the most gratifying things I've ever done in my life. From their letters, I learn about how their lives have been changed by these benefits. The kids have great hope for the future, and are working hard in school to achieve the dreams they'd never dared to dream before Children International.

My husband and I have been sponsoring a child through Children International (CI) for 5 months now, and it has been such a positive experience for us that we decided to sponsor a second child.

I chose this organization because it had one of the lower sponsorship fees ($28/month) and we felt we could afford this amount. I also liked the fact that CI is a secular, not a religious organization – I believe that a person's spiritual beliefs are very personal, and would not want our sponsored children to have an organization's religion forced upon them in order to receive benefits.

Children International encourages letters between the child and the sponsor, and makes it very easy for the Sponsor to write a letter "online" and attach photos if desired. CI then prints out my letter and photos and delivers them to our child! It is such a thrill to receive a letter from Paola or Luis, and feel our "heart connection" across the miles! CI also encourages visits between the child and Sponsor, and we hope to visit our sponsored kids in Mexico in the next year or two.

It's important to me that an organization provide not just a "handout" but a "hand up" to a child in poverty. Children International has Community Centers in each of the areas it serves, which allow it to provide many services to the kids, including nutritional, medical, dental and educational programs. As the children grow up, CI offers an array of programs for youth/teens to help them break the cycle of poverty, and to become leaders in their community: https://www.children.org/youth-development

A program CI offers that benefits me personally is a social networking site for sponsors called “My Social Center”, which allows us (the Sponsors) to communicate with each other, sharing letters and photos from our sponsored kids, asking questions of each other, encouraging each other, and meeting new friends, who share our values, care and concern for children and their families over the world.

Choosing to sponsor a child through Children International is one of the best decisions we have ever made - we am happy and proud to be part of their wonderful work!

My husband and I sponsor three wonderful children through Children International. We have found the organization to be nothing but helpful and courteous in every way, shape, and form. Watching "our" kids grow and knowing the difference we are making in their lives is so rewarding! And it's not just "knowing" the difference, but it's "SEEING" the difference! Our kids write to us, send us drawings and pictures, we have been able to help out with several projects for them to make their lives easier (by our own request, not by CI's), and someday, we plan to visit all three of them. This has been just a remarkable experience and is one that I wouldn't trade for the world. I highly recommend!

Barely a month before my trip to visit family in New Delhi, I learned about the Children International's Teresa Tilden center during a CI SF Bay area luncheon meeting. Being a part of CI for the last 2 years, I have always wondered how CI worked at the ground level and this was a perfect opportunity to find that out!

I met up with the CI staff in New Delhi and was immediately struck by their warm personalities. As we walked around on a tour of the community center, I was pleasantly surprised by how well planned and organized everything was: the nutrition center, the health clinic with the orderly health checkups, the well stocked library and an up to date computer center. The thing that struck me the most was the genuine passion and caring nature of every one who worked there. The center acts like an oasis of hope to the community (which we visited later) where children run bare foot in a neighborhood overwhelmed by poverty, chaos and garbage.

I also took part in some of the activities that the center hosts for the children. The first was the computer literacy class; I was highly impressed by the smart kids, who haven't touched a computer before in their lives, showing me how they use MS paint! In the library session that followed, 7-8 year olds read out loud from books, some with confidence, some with sheepishness; but all of them incredibly adorable! Then I had a career counseling session with the youth of the community; discussing their ambitions as they looked for jobs, hoping to break out of poverty. It was heartbreaking to see the teenagers coming to terms with the reality of the outside world, but also heartening to see how CI has provided them hope where they now feel they can achieve their dreams.

The true enormity of the task on CI's plate hit me then: helping children break out of the circle of poverty can't be done with education alone. I was very encouraged to see CI taking steps to address the fact that the children need support and help in all aspects of their lives: physical and mental health, a stress free social environment and support from surrounding communities. The whole staff is passionate, dedicated and employ ingenious ideas to solve problems; tie ups with local medical centers and job agencies provide the much needed support. All in all, I came back with optimism, a sense of pride to be associated with CI and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to all the people involved in this effort. I am signing up to sponsor another child soon.

I sponsor two children with Children International. This experince has been everything that I could hope for. The difference that one can make with auch a small effort is amazing. I know that people can spare 30 dollars a month to make sure that kids can just eat food and drink clean water. It blows my mind that the issues Children International has to deal with are still even issues. The fact that I'm writing this review from my Ipda while some kid is currently fighting to find clean water is upsetting. It really boils don to selfishness, people can justify why these issues are happening all day long but when it comes down to it if more people gave leas people would die and that's the simple truth.

I have been sponsoring children for over 15 years and have found the experience to be rewarding and enjoyable. Service from Children International has been consistently superb. David K

I have been sponsoring two children in India for more than a year. It has been a wonderful and touching experience. It is astonishing that for such a tiny amount of money I can make such a big difference in couple of lives.
I am impressed at the scale at which they operate and how comprehensive their help is. The children are definitely given a great chance at having a normal life that we take for granted.
CI has opened a new chapter in the Silicon Valley and I am extremely impressed with the energy, commitment and excitement shown by the CI folks, particularly Maria Elena Franco and Lianne Heller.
I wish them luck and will do my best to help them succeed.

I have sponsored a child through Children International for over 20 years. I have currently started sponsoring my third child. The organization is run efficiently & I receive letters & pictures of my sponsored child on a regular basis. It makes me feel good to know I am helping a child & family in need. There is so much sadness & need in the world, people that have the resources to help others should do it. This is a way you can help others & yourself to feel better & send love into the world. We could all use a little more of that, right?

We have been sponsoring "our child" for a number of years and though we will likely never meet face to face know we are doing our part to make her life better.
We know Children's International to be honorable in their efforts and a great resource in improving the lives of many children through their efforts. Members of our church family have visited the facilities in Haiti and met with their children. They've seen first hand where the funds go, and how they are used. Give generously and know, it is money well spent.

The connection with children in another country is both interesting and rewarding. We have so many blessings and it is another blessing to be able to help these young folks to thrive and succeed. Children International is a trusted and valued organization that allows us to do this important work.

I like receiving letters from family members of my sponsored child and the coloring or number pictures. I have been pleased that I get an updated picture of my child.

It is a wonderful experience sponsoring a child. I know that everything I can give will give him and other children a better and more joyful life. It brings me joy to hear how happy he is when he hears from me or when I am able to provide more help in times of need. He is so grateful. It is the second child I have sponsored and I will sponsor children as long as I am able.

We sponsored a child from the Dominican Republic from the time she was 5 until she graduated from high school this year. She is now headed off to become the first person in her family to attend college. Her tuition is remarkably small -- about the cost of one class at a US community college. It's uplifting to be able to change a person's life so dramatically just by making sure she had enough money to pay school fees and for supplies.

We hope to repeat the cycle with a new child this year. If you're thinking of sponsoring a child, please go for it!

I sponsored a child, and I sponsored another child in my sons name and he is so excited to see the letters arrive in the mail. I have my child's picture on my wall and every one asks if she is related to me and I say yes and no because even though I don't write letters to her as I would like I still consider her family.

my wife and i each support a different family.... the cost is very little..... but we help in more ways than just the monthly cost.....
we have grown along with our adopted familys,,,,,
we love them as our own family and kids.....
there is nothing we would not do to help them live better lives,,, healther lives.....
they have blessed us in so many ways....
we send enough money each christmas for all the family members to receive gifts......
to see them smile and receive things they need and wish..... is a great blessing to us here....
a big thank you to childrens int..... they do so much and go out of their way to bring
the connection together......

I've sponsored a child since 2011. I've recently been notified that her family (and many others in Chile) have been lifted out of poverty and my sponsor child has graduated the program...early! I was thrilled to be her sponsor and loved getting letters from her. I appreciate what Children International has done to bring Chilean children out of poverty.

I have been a sponsor for children.org for over 7 years. It has been so rewarding seeing my sponsored child grow and flourish. My own children look forward to getting the new pictures and letters from our sponsored children and it teaches them about other cultures and teaches them what a great thing helping others can be. Its also so easy to do. You can just set up a monthly payment and never have to be bothered with sending a check etc. every month. And when you consider how quickly in our every day lives we can spend $25 on things we don't probably need, this is the best $25 per month spent.

I've been a sponsor for my child for 9.5 years. I wanted to help and I knew that as one person I was limited to how much I could do, but joining forces with Children International I was able to do so much more. I am a working mother and between those two jobs, I don't have any spare time to volunteer. But for a very minimal amount every month, I can make someone's life better. And it's not just better, in some cases it could mean the difference of surviving. I love knowing that I've made a difference in my child's life and also his family's life too. Now his parents don't have to worry about how to make ends meet. If every person who was financially able would donate to just one child, it could mean the end of world hunger.

I have sponsored children through CI since 1987, 27 years! I can personally attest that the money I donate goes directly to the children. Once, when a hurricane hit Honduras, I didn't know right away how my chiild was impacted. Just in case, I donated extra money to pay for any possible damages they may have endured. CI sent me pictures of all the materials, cookware, etc, that my donation bought. They had it itemized down to the penny. A few years later I visited my child. I can truly say it was one of the most emotional experiences of my life. And, yes, I saw first hand all the items that I had bought. By the end of the visit, I don't know who was crying harder, me or the mother of Jessica.

CI is doing some incredible work, nurturing the child physically, mentally and emotionally. Education is stressed throughout their sponsorship. Leadership is encouraged and taught so their work can grow exponentially. If you want your donation to be used wisely and efficiently, I strongly suggest donating to CI.

Children international is an open book with where your money goes. In addition if you have struggles at all they can set up breaks in payment etc.

I sponsor three girls now. I started just with one three years ago but I saw that Childrens International is a great charity and trust them. The management, the organization, the employees make CI a charity that you can trust and be sure that your money is getting to the right place. If you can, please do not hesitate and sponsor a kid. You will make a difference in their lives and in this world.

I currently sponsor 15 children through Children International. Throughout the years I've been a sponsor, I've enjoyed receiving letters and photos from the children. I feel that Children International is a trustworthy organization to contribute to. Their partnering with companies like TOMS has made special gift giving affordable to the donor and allows children to receive what they need.

I have been donating to this organization for over 5 years and through their communication and photographs I have been able to see the impact of my funds towards my sponsored child. It's very gratifying to know that such a small amount can make such a huge difference!

I am very satisfied with the organization and recommend them to any person willing to donate.

This is by the best organizaion i been sponsoring from children international for 6 years now i love sporing children from Children International

I have always dreamed of helping kids. I have tried and done voluntary work in my country, which has been really rewarding.
However, I feel I have done things in a especially gratifying way since I started sponsoring a child with CI.
For one thing, you can sponsor a child through CI, irrespective of the country you live in.
Also, CI helps lots of kids all over the world and shows you who these children are in a myriad of ways, even in the stage when you are deciding whether to sponsor or not. Then, while thinking about sponsorship, you can browse through this long list of kids that need help. You're presented with a picture and a short profile of each child's situation and general needs.
Having the opportunity to let a child's face or story transmit something to you in a very personal way --in such a way you tell yourself, I want to sponsor *this* child-- is something I truly appreciated of CI, and which is not possible in my country, wherein --for one thing-- you cannot sponsor individual children.
Sponsoring a child is such a special experience, and CI helps you make the best of it: you are allowed to write to your child as much as you want, and you'll be sure getting a letter from him/her once a year, as well as a picture (to see how he/she is growing). And you'll probably get more letters too, if you write often or send them special gifts (which you can pick yourself and send, or donate money to CI so that they buy what your child needs).
I emphasize on letters and pictures as they are the highlight of the sponsoring "benefits" for me. I get to see how my sponsored child grows, how he bonds with me, and knows about me. And I can see, from the stuff he gets from CI (and from seeing, for example, he has braces in a picture), that my money is indeed allowing him to go to school, receive medical care, have a (better) chance in life...
CI also offers a great customer service. Every person you talk to on the phone or chat to (you can do that, and it's great if you are not within the US) is extremely nice and helpful. They try to make your sponsorship experience the best for you. That is something else I truly appreciate.
Another perk of sponsoring with CI is the chance to visit your child. I have to live that experience to comment on how CI handles it, but I've read marvelous accounts from fellow donors, and the fact that they offer you the chance to go to the community your child lives in, discover further needs and advantages of the program and give a big hug to that kid that holds a special place in your heart is just wonderful.
All in all, even though sponsoring in dollars from Argentina is hard, and sometimes I wonder whether my child would be better off with a wealthier sponsor, I cherish my experience, try to do my best and, of course, thank CI deeply for letting me enter the life of my sponsored child and make a difference.

I have been sponsoring a child from the Philippines for about 3 years now and it is truly remarkable what CI is doing for children across the world. I started donating when I was a college student (yes, a very poor college student and it was still affordable), and I will be increasing my donations soon. CI makes it easy to donate, is thoroughly supportive with the process, and allows me to have a great relationship with my sponsored child. This is truly a great non-profit.

This is a great non-profit organization. It awesome because you can write to your sponsored child and get to know them personally. Children International mission is to provide youth educational, nutritional & medical support and skill building to successfully join the workforce.

I began sponsoring with CI when I was in college and then once my sponsor child, Nilton, moved away from the CI community I felt disconnected and supported other organizations. I proceeded to earn an MA in International Conflict Resolution and worked abroad in poverty alleviation for the next 3+ years. When returning to the US, I met an incredible woman and major donor of CI. She and her husband were extremely passionate about the work being done in developing countries and invest very generously to ignite youth empowerment. I began volunteering and developing the local San Francisco Chapter of Children International. Then after visiting the field/ 8 community centers in Dominican Republic, selecting a child from the community, and sponsoring a young man named Juan Pablo, I now work full time for CI. I have never had such an amazing opportunity to see my daily work translate into a meaningful impact on tackling poverty.

I've been involved with Children International since the late 80s. I started off with a single child for many years, then began sponsoring multiple kids about 9 years ago. With a total of 27 kids, I can say that my experience has been very positive and life-changing.

The one-on-one relationship is what I find attractive. It's not simply cutting a check to a faceless agency that may or may not do something meaningful with the funds.

Better yet, I have had the pleasure of traveling to seven countries (they have a presence in 11) and meeting each child and her family in person, most of them several times now. I view them as part of my extended family and they feel the same way about me.

If you're looking to make a positive difference in the life of a child, I highly recommend you take a look at Children International's program. You'll be glad you did.

My wife and I are currently supporting a young girl in Central America. In light of the current flow of people from Central America to the southern border of the U.S. I'm very heartened by our direct support for this one child. We need to grow this one-to-one support exponentially as it seems formal governmental systems are stuck in stuck. I'm confident Children's International is building the infrastructure for this exponential growth.

I´m a three years donor in Children International.

I never even figurate how much impact are going to be in my life the moment when I meet my sponsored children.

Definitely I recommend to be a sponsor with CI and contribute to have a better world helping a child.

I'm 21 and I am the proud sponsor of 2 CI kids. My father has been sponsoring children with CI for over a decade and this year, I sponsored my own two children (a little boy in India and a little girl in the Philippines). I've grown up being skeptical of this and that nonprofit my father decided to sign up for because they never really addressed the basic issue of poverty that the children lived in. Children International is the only one I've found that really does lift children out of poverty using education as their instrument. It's an instrument that took my mother out of poverty and now, she's the idol for my cousins on the maternal side of my family. This year, I interned for the CI Bay Area Chapter - a huge success! I saw the inner workings of how CI really works and what they achieve all over the world. I'm proud to say that I will support this organization no matter what hardships they face; they will persevere and continue to uphold a long-standing tradition of educating youth and empowering them to become facilitators for real change.

I have personally been a donor for a number of years with this org. and have visited a number of the field offices where my sponsored children are and saw first hand all they do for these families. I am proud to be a part and helping to make a difference

This organization helps end the cycle of poverty through their community development programs.

I love Children International! I sponsor two girls here in the USA and have for several years. Everything from the new website layout, which provides a lot of great information about the children you sponsor, to being able to send gifts through the year, they make sponsorship easy and fun. I love receiving letters from the girls I sponsor and I love getting messages from Children International letting me know what exactly me donations provided, such as new shoes for school, new books, school supplies, etc. I sponsor a girl in the USA for each of my grandsons. I am happy that I am able to support children in our country, to help them know that they are valued and an important part of our society. I hope that my sponsorship makes them as happy as it does me. I love this organization and all of their hard work. And I've never regretted a penny. Thank you!

This is the sponsorship organization of choice for me, for the last 8 or 9 years I have sponsored a number of kids in various countries and I love their pictures and the ability to communicate with them. CI does a great job keeping me inform, they impact the child live, family and the community and they are very accountable with the use of funds. The greatest thing that I get is how big is the impact of my contribution, a great ROI.

I've been sponsoring children since my college days, but it wasn't until I visited my child and volunteered for CI in India for a month that I truly understood the depth of their impact. It's not just about food, clothing and shoes, it's about a holistic system that empowers youth and their community not only to get out of poverty, but to become the ones who then gift back to others. I've spent my career managing non-profits, and this is the most effective organization I've seen for true child and community development.

Children International is one of the few non profit organizations that I have talked to my family and friends about because they have actually stood by their mission as far back as I remember. I am a proud sponsor of an eight year old in the Philippine Islands and I am looking forward to continuing to support Children International in their future endeavors!

I have been sponsoring kids with Children International since 2008. My family currently sponsors 17 children through this organization. We have sponsored (and still sponsor) with other programs, but we prefer Children International because of how this organization encourages sponsors to be truly involved with their children. We visit our kids frequently, and Children International has always gone above and beyond to make the time spent with our kids an extra special experience. The organization is willing to work with sponsors to facilitate special fundraising projects that will benefit our individual children - such as paying for medical procedures, home improvements, income generation, etc. The Children International staff are friendly and qualified, both at their U.S. headquarters and in the countries they service.

By visiting my children at their homes, I have been able to see first hand all the benefits that they receive through their sponsorship and how much these benefits are appreciated by the families. Even if a sponsor is not able to visit, we are kept informed about our child's progress through regular reports, letters, and photographs.

One of the great features of Children International is their Youth Programs - which help teens make the transition into adulthood and provide them with opportunities that can assist them in breaking the cycle of poverty.

I am very impressed by this organization, and I will continue to sponsor kids through Children International until the day I die (and beyond, thanks to life insurance).

I have 4 children with this charity and am able to stay in touch with all 4. When one young man aged out I sponsored his youngest sister. I have also sent extra money to help the family during crises such as typhons The $100 dollars was well spent on repairing thier humble home and getting food and garden supply. I recieved pictures of the donation with my sponsored child His letter later confirmed he had recieved my gift thank you for doing a great job Sue W

I have been sponsoring a child now for 18 mos. and recently started sponsoring his two sisters as well. I can't say how impressed I am with the amount of good this non profit does with so little. I now donate $30/mo per child, and the children receive health and dental care, help with education, clothing, school supplies, etc. And the whole community benefits as well.
In addition, I am able to send "special needs gifts" which are monetary and used for that child. The field worker takes photos of the children and of the gifts and the kids write wonderful letters. In addition, I have been able to donate what's called an "income generating" gift to help the family start a small business.

The reports I receive are detailed and business like. Whenever I phone the organization with questions, staff members are so helpful!

There's also a website where I can connect with other sponsors and learn about them and their children--we can share experiences and ideas. If I were able, I'd even be allowed to visit my sponsored kids in person.

I always wanted grandchildren but never had any--now I feel as if I have three!

I worked for 30 years as a non profit fund developer and know first hand the challenges in supporting such a program. I'm amazed at how little of the donation goes to overhead and how much to helping the children and the communities.

Years ago I donated to another child sponsorship organization and it was good, but can't compare with Children International.

I have been a donor/sponsor for over 2 decades with Children International. They have always been very good and I have not had any complains. I have sponsored kids that have graduated out of the program. Currently I have a 10 year old girl from Kolkata, India. This year on my visit to Kolkata I requested to meat my sponsored child. It was a wonderful visit. The staff in Kolkata were really wonderful. They knew the family, they were very mindful of Priyanka, my sponsored child and knew her family. We went to lunch and took Priyanka shopping. The staff were very helpful and took us to places where the family and Priyanka were comfortable at. There was no pressure to give anything more. My daughter who is also 10 became friends with Priyanka and they drew pictures and talked. I asked a lot of questions and got direct responses. On the whole it was a wonderful experience. I was really pleased about the services that were being provided to the kids and to the community. Next time I visit, we will go to Priyanka's village. The family invited us and the staff assured us that it could be easily arranged.
The staff was so dedicated to the work and it was such a pleasure and honor to meet the people that do this great work!!
Congratulations to Children International and best wishes for all your future projects.

Pushpa

I have been sponsoring children for 17 years. I am currently sponsoring 2 children, a little boy in Honduras and a young man, who recently graduated high school, in the Philippines. I will be sponsoring one of the siblings of my young man in the Philippines when he graduates from the program. I adore my sponsored children, and the letters and pictures they send me give me a lot of joy.

I have been a sponsor of Maria for about 8 years. She is now 13 years old, and I have enjoyed watching her progress, through annual pictures and letters that she now writes herself. When she was very young, her mother wrote the letters.

Children International is a very worthwhile non-profit, where your contributions make a big difference in the lives of children.

We have sponsored children through Children International for over a decade and have been very pleased with the way it is run. We get detailed letters telling specifically what our donations have purchased for our sponsored child as well as updates on our child, his family, his country, etc. Best of all, we receive hand-written notes from our child and are able to write back. It is a truly rewarding experience!

I started sponsoring one young woman in India when she was 17 years old. When she graduated from the program at age 19 I took on a younger girl in Mexico. I also joined LiftOne - a social website for CI sponsors to share information. I discovered that I had been missing out on a lot of the sponsor experience. I now sponsor 2 young girls in Mexico, and 2 girls in Guatemala.
The things I like about Children International :
- They are not religious based - the children are not required to belong to a, or any religion in order to receive help - they get enrolled into the program based on need.
- the sponsorship experience is GREAT! You get back more then you put in. I receive letters from all my girls on a routine basis. Also I have mailed packages of gifts to the girls and gotten back thank you letters with pictures of the things I sent. I have also sent extra money for the children and their family to improve their lives - such as purchasing materials to repair a leaking roof. I received back heartfelt thank you letters along with pictures of what the money had been spent on.
- when I have contacted the service reps at the Kansas City office the staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful.
- you are allowed and encouraged to visit your sponsored children if you are able to. I am going to be doing just that in November of this year
- CI follows all the regulations of world organizations to ensure the children are protected and kept safe. Every time I interact with CI staff I have no doubt the staff believe that the children are their first priority.
- I know that I am able to impact a child's life in a positive manner - not only do they learn that someone they don't even know cares about them, but in many more tangible ways too.

I don't have any kids but wanted to help children with few opportunities. I've traveled a lot and know that some situations are so heart breaking and hopeless.

I am so happy and gratified that Childrens International is there to help and provides a way for people like me to help.

Thank you so much.

i have been a sponsor with Children International for many years. I do not have any complaints with my dealings with them. I always get a quick response to my questions. The website is very easy to use and I am able to write my sponsor children very easily.

I love being a sponsor at Children International. I sponsor with several child sponsorship organizations and Children International is my favorite. I have sponsored with CI since I was in high school and there are so many good things about this organization that I don't know where to start! Here are some special things that I love about it:

1. Sponsors are able to build relationships with their children through letters, photos, visits, donations and this relationship will last a lifetime for the child and for the sponsor. CI encourages this and as a result, the children blossom under the care of a caring sponsor.

2. There are many ways to interact with other sponsors and communicate with the staff. Most of my interactions with the staff have been very pleasant and helpful. One Senior Staff member is charge of my account because I have so much go on with various sponsorships and she does her best to answer my questions and give me requested information. Sponsors are able to communicate with other sponsors on LiftOne, a wonderful community where we can share photos, letters, thoughts on blogs, message boards that are there to answer questions.

3. CI provides many opportunities for sponsors to help their sponsored children through many kinds of donations like basic things that a child gets from sponsorship like clothing, shoes, birthday gifts, Easter and Christmas gifts. Sponsors are able to send funds for special needs to help families and sponsors are also able to send packages to their children and receive thank you letters and photos.
Sponsors are also able to work together to help each other with special fundraisers for our children.

4. Communication with the sponsored child is very good as sponsors and children exchange letters. Sponsors can write letters or communicate through emails on their personal accounts and there is some cool stationery that can be used. The children love to receive letters from their sponsors and often keep them in special locations in their homes.

5. CI provides opportunities for sponsors to sponsor more than one child in a family and there are opportunities to do group sponsorships. This is where a group of sponsors may work together to sponsor a particular child and raise funds to provide for special needs.

6. CI provides opportunities for sponsors to visit their children and this is one thing that I really love about the organization. It is easy to set up a visit and the staff at the field agencies in each country are competent, caring, and work very hard to make sure that visits are a success!

7. Sponsors have the opportunity to provide for a child's further schooling when they graduate from the program if the child wants to pursue an education, and the sponsor and child can continue to maintain contact once a child graduates from CI, if the child wants to. CI offers scholarships for children and provides programs which help them develop leadership skills, personal and civit responsibility, and other skills.

8. Sponsors can receive news and updates on the CI website, Journey's magazine, newsletters from their child's field agency.

If you are looking for an organization that really makes a difference in the life of a needy child, provides good communication and accountability, is flexible and efficient, provides opportunities for sponsors to interact and share ideas, really cares about helping children, then CI is one that you will definitely want to be a part of!!

Nothing gives me more satisfaction, than knowing I can at least help one child through school. He also gets birthday and holiday gifts and acknowledgements from me and I get to write to him and it warms my heart to receive letters back. I also get to help his family with gifts once in a while too, and if it helps, then I am happy to do it because I know it is something they can use like dishes or blankets. I love and care for this child as if he were my own grandson. I have sponsored him for almost 3 years now, and as long as I am able to do so, I will continue. Thank you

My experience with Children International from the start has been extremely satisfying. The staff are consistently helpful and good at addressing concerns and questions. For the past two years since signing up as a donor I've sent a packet of clothes as a gift for Daniela in December and have been rewarded with delightful snapshots of my Daniela in her new duds both times. I plan on visiting her there in Honduras some year in the future.

simple :we are talking about children in desperate need of help ..food ,clothing ,housing, education and a few toys ..Children International is a great organization ..I trust children International and as prove of what the organization is doing I get frequent updates (lovely letter from your sponsored child with pictures )... bottom line, it makes me and my family feel good and makes us appreciate that we had a little impacted changing someone's life way we live ..

I have sponsored with Children International since 2005. I've sponsored 8 children, mostly from Central America. The experience has been fantastic. Most charities take your money and your next contact is the junk mail. With Children International, the size of the relationship is in your control. The small monthly expense is a minor part of the potential experience.

Immediately, you begin a letter and photo exchange. You begin to know your child and her family. You can ask that CI do an assessment of the family's needs. If you wish, you can give the family additional help, such as beds, building materials, plumbing, or just a trip to the grocery store. You can also work with CI to ensure that your child receives a proper education. You fill in the missing pieces that kids in the developed world take for granted, such as food and school. You can provide them with their best opportunity in life. And my experience is that they drink it up. They know the value of what you are offering and they appreciate it so much..

I have a continuing relationship with two of my CI graduates. One is in a University Business Administration program, and the other is finishing her second year in a four year Registered Nursing program. I'm very proud of each of my kids.

Starting sponsoring through CI was honestly the best decision I've ever made. It's enriched my life as much as my kid's lives. Directly giving back to one person is what I needed. And it's probably the only shot this kid will have. And the staff at CI is top notch. They make it easy and guide you through everything. I can't recommend this charity more highly.

I have been sponsoring children through this organization for almost ten years. I did my due diligence by checking out Children International (CI) through several rating agencies and found them to be very reputable. More than 80% of the revenues received by them are used to help impoverished children and their families. The one on one sponsorship with each child has been very rewarding and watching them grow-up is truly an amazing experience and you can see the impact sponsorship has given the children as well as their families who are very grateful. You get letters, yearly pictures and you are encouraged to visit if you want too. I did visit my first child I sponsored and I am planning to visit the five I sponsor now in the near future. CI also has a social network called Lift One where other sponsors share their experiences and updates on their children. Jim Cook the CEO is very smart and all the staff at CI are very caring and helpful when the need is there to contact them.

I found this organization at a time in my life when I really needed support. I found happiness through giving back in a positive way. Sponsoring a child has been very personally rewarding, and my experience with Children International has been terrific.

Being a scientist myself, I did a lot of research when I decided to sponsor a child. The biggest issue for me was to be sure that the help reaches the child I choose to sponsor and that I get the regularly updated information about him/her.
Currently I am sponsoring two girls with CI and the experience is so much more than I could ever dream about. The staff in the main office in Kansas and in the regional offices go beyond their duties to ensure that all your questions and concerns are answered. They are always available and answer emails right away. One of the girls I sponsor has a difficult situation at home and the staff did everything to help her improve the situation meanwhile communicating with me about what is going on.
CI also gives a possibility to help a child beyond your regular monthly payments and the donation goes directly to the family (the staff buys the things the family want, the money itself are never given to the family to ensure its proper spending, which I really like). If a sponsor makes such an extra donation he/she gets photos, letter and the report of the things bought and why they were chosen. It's really incredible to see how the child (and the whole family) life in gradually improving.
But the most rewarding part is that CI makes you fell like you are right there with a child and his/her family talking, helping, asking questions, but without spending much time doing it yourself.
The website CI uses is incredible having all the information you want and choices you need. The website LiftOne where all the discussions happen is helping me a lot to learn more about the organization and to share the lives of the children I sponsor.

When I decided to sponsor a child I spent so much time talking to people to get thoughts on agencies. I went to the internet and researched. CI had the most information. I called CI and spoke with them. They explained so much. I ask them to mail me info and I must sponsor a young boy on the USA. So, last February 14, 2013 I started sponsoring my first child. Just what I ask for. A young boy in the USA. I started sponsoring my second 3 year old in Guatemala last July. Sponsoring is a life changing, rewarding experience. When I get my letters sometimes they leave me crying or laughing! I can call CI and they are always there for us. They are great. We have LiftOne. A site for sponsors to share pictures, artwork, anything about our kids. I have many friends on LiftOne. We discuss things about everything. We help each other with advice. There are discussion boards and. We can blog. My 2 boys have a chance for a better future because of CI.

When I decided to sponsor a child,,[ about 3 years ago] I studied almost 20 0r 30 of them.Yoi must read their history and all about what the do. The percent of you money that goes directly to the family and how it is controlled .I spent days on this. I decided on CI for all those reasons. I picked my own child and country, also age and a few other things. CI has a sponsors site called "Lift one " which you can talk to hundreds of other sponsors, exchange child pictures and letters. At this time I have five children I sponsor, I am not a bit sorry for this, the letters,pictures and info I get is outstanding. I have actually cried when I read a couple of letters from my children. I cant say enough how CI has made my life a more beautiful thing, I will forever be grateful to them,
You will not find a better organization than CI. go for it right now.

I had a young gentleman knock on my front door telling me about Children International and asked me if I would like to sponsor a child. He told me all about the program but I was very hesitant at first because the way the economy is and being a single mother and wanted to know if the program was reputable. I was leery with giving him a check for the first month but very uneasy of having an automatic with drawl from my checking account and having access to my account information. As promised by the representative the monies were taken out on the 26th of the month (1) time only for the month.
Once I received a picture and letter from my child Kevin my heart swelled. Kevin is adorable and I am glad that I can help him and his family.

I have found this agency just great! (I have found it to be more communicative in general than any other agencies I dealt with in the past.) Accounts have always been accurate - no problems in the financial area of things. They do send out (from time to time), brochures or cards with a request for additional donations for things like the Scholarship Fund, Parasite Fund, etc., BUT these requests for additional donations ARE OPTIONAL. I called the 1-800 # and asked that I not receive these extra requests for donations as I can only do the basic monthly amount (and I like to contribute to the "4 gifts a year" program - which is completely OPTIONAL as all of these funds are combined to provide practical holiday gifts for ALL sponsored children). CI was just great and they discontinued sending me the extra requests for $$ immediately. Now I just receive yearly photo, yearly report on child, CI annual report, yearly report on my child's area and, of course, a thank you letter and pictures if I happen to very occasionally send an extra amount of $$ for a Special Needs Gift. Really enjoy sponsorship with this agency - and I believe they are the best! in terms of making a change in these children's lives. I plan to sponsor more children in the future as I go along in life.

I have been sponsoring two children in Ecuador since April 2011. When i signed up as a sponsor, I indicated that I would be contributing twice the monthly sponsorship fee per child, plus I signed up to contribute extra funds for each child's birthday, Christmas, Easter, and "Special Days" when the children are given extra gifts "just because". I set up the "automatic withdrawal" so that the funds would come out of my bank account each month to cover the monthly sponsorship fees plus administrative fees and withdrawals for birthdays, holidays, etc.

Shortly after I began sponsorship, I received notice from Children International (CI) that, because of an increase in administrative costs, I would be charged more per month for sponsorship. I agreed to pay the extra rather than having to deduct the administrative fees from the monthly sponsorship fees.

Since I signed up for the automatic withdrawal, the correct amount has always been automatically paid to CI from my checking account.

Recently I retired, which means that I will henceforth be on a fixed income. However, I decided to continue sponsoring the two children, Milena and Angel, for as long as I possibly can. I also received notice from CI that they needed additional contributions from me to pay for protection of my sponsored children and their families from parasites. They recommended $50.00 per child, but did not indicate if that was an annual fee, a quarterly fee, or a monthly fee. Seeking more information, I visited CI's Web site and signed in on my account. What I found was perplexing, to say the least.

Under my account, CI was showing that I was only paying the basic monthly sponsorship fee for each child, yet under "Contribution History" it was showing that I had been contributing from 2 to 3 times the amount that i had actually been contributing. In other words, for every $100 that I contributed, my contribution history was showing that I contributed anywhere from $200 to $300. I was also credited for having paid only the basic sponsorship fee for each child, but $168 per month for "All Children". That raised questions in my mind, so I logged into my account at my bank to check the withdrawal history.

My bank account showed that the correct monthly amount plus special contributions had been paid to CI, not the huge amounts that CI was showing that I had contributed. That brought to mind the fact that I had been paying twice the monthly sponsorship fees for each child and raised the question, "What is being done with the extra sponsorship fees that I'm paying each month for each child if they are not receiving it, and why am I being sent a solicitation for more money to cover the cost of 'parasite protection and education?'"

With that in mind, I contacted CI through their "Contact Us" form page and asked them where the extra money that I'm paying each month is going and why I am being credited with having made contributions that I have not, in fact, made. I am currently awaiting a response from CI.

I rarely post on these sites as they tend to be too overwhelming for me with mixed opinions. I recently googled children international as I was looking for the site and this site came up. I have been sponsoring for several years, even after my wife passed away in 2009. The experience has been good and seeing the letters and photos makes it all real for me. I feel like I am making a real difference in this child's life.

The organization has been great and all of the volunteer workers make it a good experience. I highly recommend them.

I do not have any children and sponsorship has given me a sense of hope that one person can make a difference. Children International has made this all possible and I'm quite satisfied with the quality of service. I am a health care worker and my profession is about giving back and helping others. I get the same feeling with sponsorship. Thank you.

Children International opened my eyes to sponsorship and how I'm making a difference in our child's life. My partner and I have been sponsoring since 2008, and we enjoy getting letters from our child and seeing her progress. I would like to get more involved and hope to see her some day. Highly recommend it.

Both my husband and I are sponsoring a girl from Ecuador and the experience has been wonderful. We get letters from her and we can see the progress she has made over the past few years. Children's International has been great and I hope to visit her in the future.

I will continue to sponsor my two children until they age out; however, I will not automatically accept "replacement" children (as I have in the past) when that occurs. My reluctance is primarily a reaction to the excessive salary drawn by the CEO. There are similar child sponsorship programs with higher ratings than CI. I will likely consider one of them.

I have been sponsoring a child in Columbia since 2001. I am appalled at the salaries made by the personnel of Children International. I intend to see my child through to age 18, but I plan to write a letter to this organization as to why I won't sponsor another child. A half million dollar salary for the CEO? Do you know how many children could be served by cutting that salary in half? How many Americans make $250,000/yr let alone a half million? I find this unconscionable.