My Nonprofit Reviews

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.