I’ve been with World Vision for a year now.
I didn’t even realise it until World Vision sent me an email last week, celebrating “our” one year of togetherness.
When I started to sponsor kids last year, I didn’t broadcast it. I didn’t share it on Facebook. I didn’t write about it in my blog. Not that there’s anything wrong about doing it; that was just my personal choice.
Even my closest friends didn’t (and still don’t) know about it. And I loved the secrecy – still kinda do – because I wasn’t tempted to accept comments about me being a good person… because I’m not. I’m really not.
So please spare me those comments. It is the hardworking people from World Vision, especially those who immerse themselves in the remote communities of our country, who deserve them.
But the disadvantage of keeping this “affair” a secret is that I wasn’t able to share the loveliness that is World Vision. I wasn’t able to “tell the world” about their good work and how each one of us, ordinary persons, can help even beginning with just one child. Because when you commit to help a child step in school and finish it, you are already helping uplift the life of one family. When you commit to help a handful of kids, you are helping uplift the lives of a community.
It doesn’t sound like much, but for me, imagining myself in the shoes of a sponsored child, it helps so much that someone out there, though a stranger, is invested in my education and well-being. It matters that someone out there cares for me.
And you know what? I want to believe that, in a way, through World Vision, I was able to become part of those kids’ lives. I hope I could visit them one day!
(I am not a good sponsor. My kids have sent me letters and pictures but I wasn’t able to send even a single letter because it keeps slipping my mind. Must write them a letter tonight.)
Why World Vision
Alright, World Vision is not the first organisation I have supported. However, it is only World Vision that I’ve been able to support consistently because they’re not just an organisation. Being a sponsor feels like being part of this huge, lovely family.
I have always had a soft spot for children, so when I discovered the Christian organisation that is World Vision and its, well, vision to bring children back to school, I was sold. But child sponsorship is not the sole work of the group. If you take a look at their website, you’ll see that they are doing quite a lot of things and are involved in several communities’ livelihood programs, health and nutrition, values formation, and disaster preparedness, among others. They are even involved in disaster response in different countries.
Also, I remember that last year, I had a tiny contribution to their promotion of breastfeeding where we sponsored breastfeeding kits for Filipinas in poor communities.
But what I especially love about World Vision is how we, sponsors, also receive personal care — as if we are actually humans and not robots! Hehehe. They really read my emails and always respond quickly whenever I have concerns. Sometimes, when I happened to earn more and, thus, give more, they call me to confirm that I haven’t accidentally entered a wrong amount hehe. They also call me to ask where I would like to donate the “extra.” It’s the small things, really, but I just appreciate the openness of communication as well as the transparency. (And I like being treated like a human being! :P)
They also have a Sponsorship Portal that makes it easy for a sponsor to get updates about our kids. I could show you a screenshot, but then I’d be exposing the identity of the kids I’m sponsoring.
If you are someone who likes to keep track of donations, it can also be seen in the portal. However, they also diligently send you receipts of your donations (I didn’t ask for this but it doesn’t bother me either!).
You can also choose where you want to sponsor. Because I am from Mindanao, I chose to sponsor kids from Mindanao — from Misamis Occidental and from North Cotabato in particular. I have always wanted to sponsor more kids, but because I shifted from freelance work to full-time work this year, my reduced salary doesn’t allow it yet. But I’m faithful that God will increase my means of giving.
So…
There are a lot more reasons why you should sign up as a World Vision sponsor. First, sponsoring a child doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. You can sponsor a child’s education for just ₱750/month. (NOVEMBER 2017 EDIT: It used to be ₱600 when I wrote this post but as of May this year, it was changed to ₱750. Very reasonable if you ask me!) An ordinary lunch with the family even costs more than that. Giving is convenient – and you can even make it automatic to not miss deadlines. As I have mentioned above, the finances of the organisation is very transparent. There are events World Vision hosts for sponsors; I know sometimes there are perks, too.
Sponsors who have been with World Vision a whole lot longer than I’ve been may be able to tell you more wonderful reasons to be a sponsor. But I know they will all agree with me when I say this: to make a difference in a child’s life is priceless.
Visit http://www.worldvision.org.ph/ to get involved.
Disclaimer:
This is not a sponsored post. World Vision has not asked me to write about them. This post has been written entirely voluntarily, out of the joy and satisfaction that I have felt during my first year as a World Vision sponsor, with the hopes of involving more people in their good work.

37 Comments
This is an excellent way to contribute to those who need it. I once wanted to do this but got sidetracked. Will look into this and hopefully be able to help a child as well.
I hope so too! You won’t regret it. 🙂
I believe in the idea of paying it forward, I may not be able to be a sponsor at this moment, but will be sharing this with colleagues who I know will be very interested. Thanks for sharing the good deed!
And thanks for sharing it with your colleagues!
Wow giving and helping is really a great opportunity. Yes, its an opportunity for me because we are able to help those fortunate children today. I salute this organization. More blessings to you mommy, you a have a good heart 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am merely a vessel here. I hope more people sign up to become sponsors!
Yay! We have been sponsoring a child for more than 10 years now. She just graduated this year and we are thinking of sponsoring another one.
Wow 10 years!!! Amazing! So excited for my kids to graduate, too!
Wow! I’m glad to know you’re helping kids reach their dreams, Maan. 🙂
I have been doing social work too and like you, I kept it a secret. I recently shared it to my love and found out he’s been helping kids too! I still believe this world is a kind place. We just need to inspire kind people to do more and talk more about their kind deeds so we could help more people.
I’ll check their page out and see how I can help.. I do community immersion in the Philippines and I’ve participated several times in overseas outreach.. Sana mas madami pang tao na kagaya mo na tumulong. God bless you and your beautiful heart, Maan.
I would have preferred to still keep it a secret! I don’t know; there’s something satisfying about doing something without the world having to know about it – especially in the age of Facebook. Diba? But yes, exactly. It’s important to share and spread the word, too! May God pour blessings onto you and your family, Lainey! 🙂
I love this organization. Years ago, we were sent to conduct a retreat program for them. It’s such a great thing to extend help to their students. Keep it up!
Wow what a lovely experience it must have been!
Never knew there’s this kind of organization. God bless souls like you!! Thank you for sharing and bringing light to the world. 🙂
Thank you for your kind words!
My brother is also sponsoring a child via World Vision. It’s good to know more about this organization through your post. 🙂
I have a soft spot for kids too and would choose to support them if I could as well. World Vision has been around for years and is a trusted organization already. I love how transparent they are about the donations. It makes sponsors even more motivated to help out.
Sponsoring a child thru World Vision is a nice way of sharing one’s blessings. 🙂
hi i used to sponsor a kid din under world vision… it went on for 2 years after that, hindi ko na na renew for whatever reason, can’t remember. hmm.. i don’t mind doing it again, when time comes.
I’ve been supporting a different organization for years now. While I do get newsletters regularly and greeting cards on birthdays, there’s no specific news about where exactly my donations go to.
It’s wonderful how you get that from World Vision. You really see how you are touching other people’s lives. I’ll check out their site and find out how I can be a sponsor too. Thank you for sharing this story to us!
Will definitely check this out, I want to become a sponsor too. Thank you for sharing mommy! 🙂
Helping kids get an education really goes a long way. Praying that every child will have the opportunity to get an education.
Wow, thank you for sharing this, this is actually a great gesture to help kids get a good education. Will check them out, it’s a nice feeling also to know that you’ve helped a child reach their dreams 🙂 God bless you
I did something like this when I was single. I’m planning of doing it again soon, you post is a great reminder. 🙂
Aww you have such a big heart! I helped organize an event for World Vision before and I think it’s such a great organization.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38.
What a privilege to give!
Great job Momma on paying it forward. 🙂
Aww! May God continue to bless the works of your hand! Good job Mommy!
I can totally relate to you. My youngest daughter recently celebrated her birthday in an orphanage. Sure, I posted a photo in Instagram, not to prove I have a huge heart, but to share a memory of my daughter’s 1st birthday.
I’m nothing special. Heck, I don’t even go to church. But I genuinely have a soft spot for children that’s why I do what I do.
This is a great advocacy. What a simple but great way to help other people 🙂
You will be blessed with so much more. Thank you for sharing this post. There are so many ways to help those in need. 🙂
[…] the way, I am so kilig because two people from World Vision personally got in touch with me after my post about them. I haven’t gotten around to replying yet (bad!) but I’m so touched with their messages. […]
I will spare you the good person comments but thank you for inspiring me to sponsor a kid in World Vision : )
i sponsored a child thru World Vision when I was still part of the work force. I would really love to do it again as soon as my purse permits it. It sure was a wonderful experience to know that you are helping someone in need + playing a vital role in someone’s brighter future!
Kudos for being a World Vision sponsor!
[…] though money is kinda tight (I forgot to include my World Vision kids’ noche buena in my budget plan! Sorry guys that I sent it literally at the last […]
[…] proud to say that I have been with World Vision for 4 years now. I began in 2014 by sponsoring one child, and then soon after that, I added another child. God-willing, I pray to […]
Hi Maan! Long time no hear! Ate Marie here of Mommy Unwired. Good to see that like me, you are sponsoring a child through World Vision 😊 I just received a card from my kid today! Ang saya saya pala even if ! I intended (but forgot!) to send her a letter in reply to her earlier letter
I’m also a World Vision sponsor and I do love how we are treated not simply as money donors but as human beings with a heart. I love how they ask about us too. I’m so glad to find someone in the same journey as I.