Child Sponsorship

It is every sponsor’s dream to meet their sponsored child in person, to connect face to face and see the impact of their support. For one sponsor, Tina from Sweden, this dream became a reality when she traveled to Uganda to meet 9-year-old Yasin, the child she had been writing letters to for five years. She was joined by her partner, daughter, and grandson Zander, who also turned 9 during the trip. The visit was a special way to celebrate her 60th birthday and to share the experience with her family.

The trip gave the family a chance to see ChildFund’s work up close. From home visits to meeting young people learning new skills, they were able to understand how sponsorship changes lives. Read on as Tina reflects on the moments that made this trip so meaningful.

Tina and her family share a light moment with Yasin and his family as well as staff from ChildFund and Community Efforts for Child Empowerment.

“The idea of going to visit our sponsored child Yasin, 9, who lives in Uganda, started in the fall of 2023, and the trip took place in April 2024. My grandson, Zander turned 9 while I turned 60 in April. I thought about how I would like to celebrate my birthday. I couldn’t think of a better way than traveling to Uganda. I was also mindful of the fact that Zander would soon be older and might not be as interested in a trip like this with his grandma. So we booked our trip; me, my partner Lennart, my daughter Gabriella and my grandson Zander, and started planning.

We got some tips from friends and acquaintances who had been to Uganda before. We then laid out a route and made plans for the 11 days we would be in Uganda. We managed to go on some safaris and other sights, but the highlight was meeting Yasin and his family.

Zander and Yasin play football.

ChildFund had planned our meeting with Yasin and his family so well, they wanted us to have a nice meeting with them and an insight to their other work. It was such an emotional day since our mode of communication for the past five years was through letters. We were happy to finally meet Yasin, his dad and aunts, in person.

In the afternoon we were at the ChildFund’s day center, where the children and young people sang and played theater for us and showed us how they can strengthen the children and their families. We had previously read about the work ChildFund does, but it was completely different to see it with our own eyes. We got to meet girls who learned sewing and hairdressing as a profession to fend for themselves. One of the staff at the day center had herself been a child who had received help when she was little, she could tell me what help she had received, and it felt so positive, she was such a nice and empathetic person.

Yasin gives Tina and family oranges.

Even though there are so many sad things happening in the world, we came home with a lot of positive thoughts and feelings, and the knowledge that there are so many people who do such nice things for others. We came home with a feeling that it can become a better world.

Thank you ChildFund for everything you do and that we got to witness it with our own eyes.”