How long will it take for me to be matched with a child?
The answer depends on what time of year you sign up! The Lesotho school year runs from late January to November. Sponsors are matched to children from January – March each year. This ensures that the children needing sponsorship are matched to a sponsor in time to start their school year on schedule. On rare occasions, sponsors will be matched to students during the school year under special circumstances.

What happens if I sign up to sponsor outside the January – March window?
Your donation will be temporarily allocated to Help Lesotho’s Education Support Fund, which provides one-time support to vulnerable students in Lesotho. Once your sponsorship begins, your donation will be used exclusively to support the designated child.

Does it matter if I pay monthly or annually?
Please consider paying for your sponsorship monthly (either direct deposit from your bank account or credit card)! Monthly payments reduce the administrative cost of the Child Sponsorship Programme and ensure uninterrupted support for your sponsored child.

Can I send my sponsored child gifts?
In the best interests of the child, Help Lesotho insists that sponsors limit any gifts to small, light, non-monetary items such as stickers, book marks, motivational cards, family photos, black tights for girls, and most importantly, letters. Other gifts can cause a child to stand out and foster jealousy in their families and communities. Sawabona Africa does not facilitate the distribution of gifts. If you do wish to send any of the above items (except letters), please send them directly to Help Lesotho (address details below).

How often will I hear from my sponsored child?
Sponsored children are expected to write at least two letters a year to their sponsors – one in the spring and one in the fall. These letters will be scanned by the Help Lesotho’s Ottawa office and sent to Sawabona Africa for distribution. Each fall, you will receive an annual update that includes a copy of your sponsored child’s questionnaire, a photo, and a letter. Sponsors who pay to send their child to Leadership Camp will also receive an update from Camp.

May I sponsor a child directly through Help Lesotho in Canada?

For sure, especially if you live in North America, we recommend you work directly with Help Lesotho. Please visit the Help Lesotho website.  If you are based in Germany, all sponsorship costs on request will receive a tax certificate. 

What is Leadership Camp?
All child sponsors are encouraged to send their sponsored child to Help Lesotho’s annual 5-day Leadership Camp. For most children, attending Camp is the highlight of their year. Each December, over 150 children are invited to attend Camp, where they spend their days participating in exciting workshops, making crafts, playing sports and learning about important topics such as HIV/AIDS, and spend their evenings making new friends and showcasing their talents at the nightly talent shows. Campers receive healthy meals and snacks, a safe place to sleep, and a chance to take a break from the constant challenges of their lives. Sponsors can pay for Leadership Camp as part of their monthly payments, or on an annual basis.

How can I communicate with my sponsored child?
Sponsors are encouraged to write letters to their sponsored children. Letters can be sent to Sawabona Africa, Help Lesotho’s Canadian Office to be transported to Lesotho with staff/volunteers, or directly to Help Lesotho’s Lesotho Office. Please indicate the name and school of your sponsored child on the envelope.  If you would like Sawabona Africa to facilitate the distribution of your letter, we will scan the letter and forward it to Help Lesotho.