Ethiopia Child Sponsorship Program FAQs
Who are the children?
The children in the program are all orphans in that they have lost both parents to HIV, TB, malaria or other communicable diseases. They all live with a family member or foster parent who has registered them for sponsorship support. They range in age from 1 - 15 years old.
I adopted from Ethiopia and would like to sponsor my child's birth siblings. Is this possible?
As of November 16, 2007, we are no longer coordinating new birth relative sponsorships. We continue to coordinate general sponsorships and existing birth relative sponsorships. Families who have already been matched to sponsor a birth relative have been grandfathered into the program and we will continue to coordinate their sponsorship.
We recognize that our adoptive parents care deeply about the birth families of their adoptive children. 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, to 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 assistance to the children left behind. In addition to the projects currently identified (renovations to hospitals and schools, etc), we will be selecting smaller, community-based projects in order to keep our humanitarian aid efforts as close as possible to the families of the children we are placing. We also strongly encourage families who are interested in sponsoring a child in desperate need to participate in our ongoing Child Sponsorship Program in Ethiopia. This program has several hundred children currently waiting to be matched with a sponsor, and families, in the past, have found this a rewarding way to keep in touch with their child's country of birth.
How do I know the children are receiving the money?
In each region where we have sponsored children we have social workers from the community whose job it is to visit each child and ensure that progress is being made. You will also know your child has received your contribution from the letters you will receive. In addition, WHFC staff visit the regions, the social workers, and the children at least once a year.
Can I send extra money to my sponsored child in addition to the sponsorship fees?
While we recognize the desire of many of our Ethiopia families to send funds in addition to the sponsorship fees, the agency is unable to accept and distribute additional monetary gifts to individual families. If you would like to provide further assistance to our sponsored children and the communities in which they live, please inquire about our community development projects within these regions.
Can I correspond with my sponsored child?
Yes! We encourage you to send flat letters and photos to us at:
WHFC, c/o Ethiopia Sponsorship Program
38 Edge Hill Road
Waltham, MA 02451
We will forward the communication in a monthly package to Ethiopia. Please make sure to clearly label the letter with your child's full name, ID number, and the region where the child lives (i.e. Sidama, Addis Ababa, Axum Adua, Mekelle, or Kembatta). Please note: sending care packages is no longer an option through WHFC.
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 them drawings. By building a personal correspondence you will let a child in Ethiopia know that they are not alone in this world.
Can I ever meet my sponsored child?
Yes, if you travel to Ethiopia. But it's not as crazy as that might sound. Ethiopia is a remarkable country that welcomes travelers. Members of our staff have had wonderful visits.
What if I can not continue my sponsorship?
We understand that this is a big financial commitment, so if you are unable to renew your sponsorship one year, please notify us so we may find another sponsor for that child.