Will I be able to choose which child I sponsor?
No. After much consideration we have decided not to allow participants in the child sponsorship program to choose a specific child. Sponsored children will be assigned to participants by priority of current needs. Our goal is to alleviate any temptations during the process to sponsor a child based on appearance.
If I cannot choose a specific child, may I request a specific gender?
Yes. Participants do have the ability to request a specific gender of the child they wish to sponsor. If a specific gender desired is not available, you will be placed on a waiting list for the next available child of that gender.
May I correspond with my sponsored child?
Yes. The Haiti Orphan Project welcomes communication between you and your sponsored child. We will deliver cards and/or letters a maximum of two time per calendar year for each participant, as long as the correspondence is appropriate. Please see our trip calendar to see when trips are planned. You should arrange to get any correspondence and/or gifts for the children (see below) to us at 135 West Adams Ave., Kirkwood, Missouri 63122 at least one week before the trip dates. We will happily deliver them for you.
** Please note that not every sponsor will communicate with their sponsored child. Therefore, the frequency and what you send can cause some other children to feel less loved.
What do you mean by appropriate correspondence?
Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Even though the orphans we help live a little above the average standard of living in Haiti, they are still very poor by US standards. Our goal is that you communicate love for them without causing unnecessary longings for material items and feelings of jealousy.
If in your correspondence you talk about what you own and all the things you do (e.g. vacations), you may unintentionally cause such feelings as described above. Even family photos should be rather nondescript and avoid the appearance of our comparatively lavish lifestyles. Our staff here at the Haiti Orphan Project retains the right to review all correspondence for appropriateness and recommend modifications if we feel that would be in the best interest of the child. We will also do all we can to encourage and facilitate a sponsored child to communicate with you and deliver the correspondence as we can.
What about gifts?
$50 per month provides all that the child needs. The staff in Haiti is very cautious about giving “stuff” to the children. They do on occasion, but very carefully and in the appropriate amount
If your sponsored child receives gifts, while other children do not, you could imagine the problems it may cause. Therefore, we do not allow gifting to specific sponsored children at this time.
Additional contributions may be made which will benefit all the children at an orphanage. If you desire to send some gifts (e.g. toys, clothing, etc), to ALL the children in the orphanage, we will happily deliver those gifts on a future trip. Please contact us to arrange such donations.
May I visit the child I sponsor?
Absolutely! HOPE encourages child sponsorship participants to visit Haiti on one of our trips. You will be able to meet and interact with your sponsored child, as well as with the other children. To learn more about our trips, visit our trips to Haiti page for more information. Other types of visits to the orphanage must be scheduled through HOPE.
What happens if the child I sponsor leaves the orphan home?
On occasion, a child will leave the orphanage. If this happens, it is usually because a family member becomes financially able to care for the child. That is a good thing. We believe that a child is best cared for by loving family members (if available and able) in a home context. If a child you are sponsoring does leave the orphanage, we will contact you about moving your sponsorship to another child. Of course you will have the option to discontinue the child sponsorship if that is what you want to do.
When will my deductions begin?
The first deduction will be completed immediately after initial payment. Ongoing child sponsorship donations will then begin to occur regularly every 30 days for monthly sponsors, every 90 days for quarterly sponsors, and once per year for annual sponsors.
What if I decide to stop sponsoring a child?
You may cancel your ongoing child sponsorship donations at any time. If you choose to cancel your child sponsorship donations, you may request cancellation from our child sponsorship cancellation request form.
May I adopt a child through HOPE?
No. Thank you for your concern and love for the orphans. Consistent with our vision, we do not facilitate adoption through our organization at this time. If you have an interest in adoption, please contact us and we will put you in contact with the appropriate organizations.
