Ethiopia Child Sponsorship Program FAQs
Who are the children?
Most of the children are considered orphans in that they have lost one or both parents to HIV, TB, malaria or other communicable diseases. They live with relatives or friends of the family who have been selected by local government officials to receive sponsorship services. The children range in age from 1-17 years.
I adopted from Ethiopia and would like to sponsor my child's birth siblings. Is this possible?
As of November 16, 2007, we discontinued the coordination of new birth relative sponsorships. However, we continue to coordinate general sponsorships and birth relative sponsorships for families who were matched to birth relatives prior to November 16, 2007.
We recognize that adoptive parents care deeply about their children’s birth families. However, we know from working in other countries that even the appearance of a birth family benefiting from the relinquishment of their birth child can be enough to cause serious harm, or, in some cases, closure of an adoption program. The decision to discontinue any new birth sibling sponsorships was made to ensure that we avoid any appearance of impropriety in the conduct of our adoption work.
We remain deeply committed to providing humanitarian aid to the vulnerable children of Ethiopia. In addition to the work we are currently doing (renovations to hospitals and schools, etc.), we will be selecting smaller, community-based projects to help keep our humanitarian aid efforts as close as possible to the families of children we are placing through adoption. We also strongly encourage families interested in sponsoring a child in desperate need to participate in our ongoing child sponsorship program in Ethiopia. This program has more than 150 children currently waiting to be matched with a sponsor! Our families have found this to be a rewarding way to keep in touch with their child's country of birth.
How do I know my sponsored child is receiving the support?
Social workers hired by our staff in Ethiopia visit each sponsored child to ensure that progress is being made both at school and at home. You will also receive letters from your child. In addition, our staff in the US visits the regions, social workers and children at least once a year.
Can I send money to my sponsored child in addition to the sponsorship support I already provide?
While we recognize your desire to send additional funding to your child, we are unable to accept and distribute added money to individual families. If you would like to provide further assistance to these children, please contact Julie Wilder Long to ask about our community development projects in the regions where they live.
Can I correspond with my sponsored child?
Yes! We encourage you to send flat letters and photos to us at:
Wide Horizons For Children
c/o Ethiopia Sponsorship Program
38 Edge Hill Road
Waltham, MA 02451
We will forward the communication in the monthly packages we send to Ethiopia. Please be sure to clearly label the letter with your child's full name, ID number and the region where your child lives (i.e. Sidama, Addis Ababa, Axum Adua, Mekelle or Kembatta). Please note: sending care packages through WHFC is no longer an option.
Are there guidelines for corresponding with my sponsored child?
The best letters are those that are full of encouragement and support. You can share stories or information about your life and / or have your children send drawings. Through regular, personal correspondence you will build a relationship with your sponsored children and let them know that they are not alone in this world.
Can I ever meet my sponsored child?
Yes, if you travel to Ethiopia. That is not as crazy as it might sound! Ethiopia is a remarkable country that welcomes visitors. Members of our staff have had wonderful visits there.
What if I cannot continue my sponsorship?
We understand that this is a significant financial commitment, so if you are unable to renew your sponsorship, please notify us so we may find another sponsor for that child.
