International Women’s Day has a long and significant history.
It has been celebrated around the globe for over 100 years.
Its earliest incarnation was in 1911, when more than one million women in
Europe took to the streets to call for women’s suffrage and equal labour rights.
As women’s demands for gender equality gained momentum, the
world eventually stopped and took notice.
In 1977, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Often referred to as the ‘Women’s Bill of Rights’, this is
the second most ratified human rights treaty after the Convention on the Rights
of the Child, and binds 189 countries to doing all in their power to ensure
girls and women are treated equally.
This treaty demands that women’s rights are respected,
upheld and enforced.
In 2020, International Women’s Day gives everyone a chance
to reflect on the progress the world has made toward gender justice, but also
how far we still have to go.
This year’s theme is ‘I am Generation Equality: Realizing
Women’s Rights’. It reminds us that the fight for gender equality is a multi-generational
one. As a woman who has been a member of the women’s movement for some decades
now, I am proud to walk alongside a new generation of girls and young women
whose energy and determination will continue to drive improvements in the lives
of women around the globe.
However we must acknowledge that thousands of girls and
women continue to face significant discrimination, inequality and injustice,
particularly those living in disadvantaged communities.
In Zambia, too many girls are still forced into early marriage.
In Papua New Guinea, too many women and children face violence in their homes.
In Timor-Leste, a lack of basic healthcare means too many young women lose their lives, or lose their babies, during pregnancy and childbirth.
Among our staff, we must also recognise that women continue
to carry a disproportionate burden of responsibility for children’s care and household
work, despite the fact that they spend the same number of hours in the
workplace as their male peers.
Change is necessary and ChildFund needs to continue to drive
that change
In Kenya, access to training and opportunity is giving girls economic independence.
In Vietnam, sport is giving young women the chance to be leaders in their communities.
In PNG girls are learning about their right to decide on fertility and relationship choices.
I am privileged to lead an organisation that champions realising women’s rights. I am a daily witness to stories of inspirational girls and women.
This not only includes our female employees, but women in our partner organisations, and of course the many girls, women, mothers and grandmothers within the communities with whom we partner. Their strength is an inspiration, and the adversities they and their families face remind us of our core purpose.
At ChildFund, we believe that gender equality is not only a
fundamental human right, but critical if we are to reduce poverty and advance
the rights of girls and boys.
So today I acknowledge, with great appreciation and respect,
the girls, the young and older women, across all generations of ChildFund
around the globe, who enrich our lives, strengthen their communities, and
continue to call for gender equality.
Every child sponsor’s journey is unique. Sponsors build meaningful and personal relationships through visiting and writing letters to their sponsored child. They’ve witnessed the growth and change in the life of the child over the years, and learned life-changing lessons themselves.
Here’s what seven child sponsors had to say about their journey, and the time they spent in our child sponsorship program.
Sponsors who have built meaningful relationships with their child through letters and visits
For some supporters, the most meaningful part of the journey is corresponding with their sponsored child and their family. Supporters who write letters to their sponsored child learn more about them and find the sponsorship experience to be much more fulfilling.
“The friendship I’ve developed with my sponsored child is completely unique…”
ChildFund Ambassador and actress Danielle Cormack had been a child sponsor for 13 years before she made the journey to Uganda to meet Akullu, who she started sponsoring in 2003. For Danielle the visit was a culmination of “anxiety, excitement and anticipation” that had built up over 13 years through letters.
“I’ve seen her grow up through her letters,” she said of her sponsorship experience. “The friendship I’ve developed with my sponsored child is completely unique. She’s been part of my life for many years now and over that time has shared with me the positive impact of sponsorship, not only on her life but for everyone around her.”
The visit to Uganda allowed Danielle to see first-hand the impact of her sponsorship, and cemented the friendship she and Akullu had built.
“Being a long-term sponsor and being able to build that relationship with the children has allowed me to follow Simon and Aber’s personal journeys…”
Geoffrey Fuller has sponsored children in Uganda for over 25 years. “You get back a lot more than you give,” he says of his years as a child sponsor.
In 2016, Geoffrey travelled to Uganda to meet 15 year old Aber, who he had sponsored since 2006. It wasn’t his first time as a child sponsor. He had sponsored Simon in 1994, and began sponsoring Aber when Simon left the program at age 24.
“Being a long-term sponsor and being able to build that relationship with the children has allowed me to follow Simon and Aber’s personal journeys…”
Like Danielle, Geoffrey followed Simon and Aber’s progress through letters and built a personal relationship with his sponsored children and their families.
“This is very special,” he says of his sponsorship experience.
It doesn’t take long to write a letter. Sponsors who take the time out of their busy week to sit down, put pen to paper and write a few things about themselves and their life to their sponsored child receive the most value out of their sponsorship. Over time sponsors develop a personal relationship with their sponsored child, as would be the case with any friendship nurtured through regular correspondence.
Sponsors who have witnessed the impact of child sponsorship
Many supporters come away from their sponsorship experience with a very real understanding of the difference their contribution has made. These sponsors witnessed the positive and measurable change sponsorship had on a child and their community.
“I am totally overwhelmed with humility and yet so happy that he has become such a good-hearted man.”
Bronwyn Barter sponsored Parashuram in 1993. At the time he was nine years of age.
“Through letters I was able to follow his journey,” Bronwyn says. The pair corresponded for 12 years until Parashuram left the program in 2005 at the age of 21.
“I was heartbroken to lose him after he left the program, but I understood that’s how it was.”
A decade later, Parashuram had become a senior government official in India, and dedicated a leadership program to his former sponsor.
“I am totally overwhelmed with humility and yet so happy that he has become such a good-hearted man,” Bronwyn says.
“It is programs such as these that provide children with the opportunity to realise their true potential in life.”
When Tay visited his sponsored child Yumna in 2019, he’d already been a part of ChildFund’s child sponsorship program for 15 years.
“If it wasn’t for me personally visiting Yumna, I would have never had an appreciation of the great program that has been introduced to develop and support children such as Yumna,” he says.
While Tay was visiting Yumna in Indonesia, he learned how his sponsorship had been supporting her growth and development. The program had ensured she received an education, and Tay was excited to continue following Yumna’s journey.
“It is programs such as these that provide children with the opportunity to realise their true potential in life,” Tay says.
You never know who your sponsored child will become. It only takes one person, and one decision, to change the life of a child. These sponsors provided a child with the opportunity to become who they wanted to be, and the results left them feeling proud to have contributed to changing a young person’s life.
Sponsors who have learned life-changing lessons from child sponsorship
Sponsors develop a greater understanding of poverty through writing letters to and visiting their sponsored child. These sponsors have learned life-changing lessons about gratitude, and live more meaningfully as a result of their sponsorship experience.
“I’m going home with a much better understanding of the world, of the people of the world. I’m very affirmed in the similarities between us all.”
ChildFund Ambassador and chef Julie Goodwin was excited, but nervous to meet Hamad, the boy she and her husband sponsored through ChildFund Australia.
Julie spent a day in Hamad’s village, and was invited to cook and eat a traditional meal with his family. She observed that women in Uganda prepare food and cook kneeling on the ground, out of respect for the food that’s about to be eaten.
Despite all the differences between life in Uganda and Australia, the visit taught Julie that people all around the world want the same things out of life and for their children.
“I’m going home with a much better understanding of the world, of the people of the world. I’m very affirmed in the similarities between us all,” she says.
“It was an amazing and enriching experience, we came away thinking our lives were so materialistic.”
Dave Meney and his wife started sponsoring Francis, a three-year-old boy from Kenya, in 1993. In 2004, the family visited Francis’ village, on what they called a “life-defining trip”.
“Things changed completely in terms of our commitment to the sponsorship after the trip,” Dave says. “While it was an amazing and enriching experience, we came away thinking our lives were so materialistic.”
The Meneys lost contact with Francis after he left the program, but reconnected with him later in 2009. Now Francis works for Dave remotely, as a virtual assistant, and the Meneys have learned to live more meaningfully and and with gratitude.
“It was so eye-opening, while also exciting and emotional.”
Sue Mandelik sponsored Thom in 1999, on behalf of her daughter Jacinta. She wanted to sponsor a child the same age as her daughter, so the pair could grow up together. Sue also wanted Jacinta to appreciate life in Australia and learn about the experiences of children in developing countries.
After Sue and Jacinta visited Thom in Vietnam, Sue says Jacinta learned valuable lessons. “It was so eye-opening, while also exciting and emotional,” Sue says “Jacinta wanted to send all of her belongings, such as clothes and toys, over to Thom. It was really sweet.”
Over the years the family saw Thom mature into an educated and happy young woman, as well as the transformation of her entire village. The lessons learned from the sponsorship experience left Sue and Jacinta feeling more grateful for the simple things in their life.
What will you learn on your journey?
Child sponsorship not only benefits a sponsored child and their community, it can also be a life-changing experience for a sponsor.
Start your child sponsorship journey here.
