The following are just a few of the questions we’ve been asked about sponsorship through A New Song International.
How much does it cost to sponsor a child through A New Song International?
Sponsoring a child through A New Song International costs $35 per month.
Am I the only sponsor for my sponsored child?
Yes. Each child in our program has one sponsor which is why your support is so important.
How does A New Song International Sponsorship work?
Your monthly sponsorship gift is combined with the gifts of all the other sponsors in A New Song International Sponsorship program to improve the lives of every child at Happy Times and those sponsored in the surrounding community. Pairing you with a specific child gives you the opportunity to put a face and name to the ever pressing needs of the orphans and children living in poverty at Happy Times and its surrounding community.
What benefits will the child I sponsor receive?
When you sponsor a child of any age through A New Song International, you provide tangible solutions to these children’s most pressing needs such as clean water, food, shelter, and care. A classroom education and educational materials such as books, uniforms, shoes, and school bags are provided to all primary school aged children served at Happy Times through our general sponsorship program as well. Secondary students, however, rely on our Secondary Tuition Scholarship Fund to continue their education.
Sponsorship through A New Song International restores hope in each sponsored child’s life as they come to understand that someone sees them and loves them enough to to provide for their most basic needs.
Do sponsored children receive more support than unsponsored children at Happy Times?
No. Sponsorship funds are pooled together to benefit every child at Happy Times and those sponsored in the surrounding community.
Can I communicate with the child I sponsor?
It is our hope that you form a relationship with your sponsored child. The children would love to hear about your family, pets, community, state and country, favorite things, holidays and traditions, school, and work. Feel free to share encouraging words and scripture and ask questions. Please refrain from the discussion of politics, world events, finances, food, home, or personal belongings, and please make sure the photos you send are culturally appropriate to send to an impoverished child.
Letters and pictures may be sent through your account on our website. Responses can be viewed on your account. Please note that it may take a month or two to receive a response from the child you sponsor.
Can I send money directly to my sponsored child?
No. Sending money directly to a child does not fall in line with A New Song International’s principles or objectives. However, if you come to know of a specific need that your sponsored child has, and you would like to meet that need, we are certainly open to discussing how best this can be done. Feel free to contact us anytime with questions or concerns about your sponsored child’s needs.
How long will my sponsorship last?
Children are typically enrolled in A New Song International Sponsorship program until they complete their secondary education or have completed vocational school, which is typically around the age of twenty. However, once children have completed primary school, around age thirteen, child sponsorship funds can no longer support the significant increased cost of school fees and will need additional scholarships through our Secondary Tuition Scholarship Fund to continue their education. Sponsored secondary aged children still receive housing, food, discipleship, and care.
We would love for you to continue your sponsorship until your sponsored child has completed the program through secondary school. We do realize, however, that circumstances may require you to end your sponsorship before your sponsored child finishes the program, and you are free to cancel your membership at any time.
On occasion, circumstances in a child’s life may disqualify him or her from receiving A New Song International Sponsorship services after enrollment. He or she may be reunited with family. A family may move beyond the reach of our influence. Or an older child may choose to drop out of school despite our efforts to counsel him or her otherwise. If this happens, we will be sure to contact you and provide the opportunity to sponsor a different child.
How do I cancel my sponsorship?
You can cancel your sponsorship at anytime. You can remove sponsorships through your online account yourself or contact laurie@anewsongintl.org to cancel.
How do I know my sponsorship funds are being used to impact my sponsored child?
A New Song International and Happy Times Childcare Initiative hold one another accountable through transparency and good records. We have put good financial and accounting practices in place to ensure every dollar is used for its intended purpose.
What percentage of my sponsorship fee goes directly to program activities that help my sponsored child?
A New Song International is committed to good financial stewardship. We believe we are financially accountable not only to our donors but to God. We are committed to making sure every dollar we are entrusted with is used well to make the greatest impact for our children in Uganda.
95.5% of all money that comes into A New Song International Sponsorship program goes directly to helping the children of Happy Times and the sponsored children in the surrounding community. 4.5% of each sponsorship donation goes toward program fees which include credit processing and software fees.*
Orphan Status Explanation
The word "orphan" has been used differently by various organizations. Our definition has taken the biblical truth of what it means to be an orphan or fatherless into account along with the most prevalent definitions used by organizations like UNICEF and Christian Alliance for Orphans to accurately convey each child's circumstances as accurately as possible.
Orphan Status Definitions:
Single Orphan - One parent has died.
Double Orphan - Both mother and father have died.
Total Orphan - Status of parents unknown. Child was abandoned and has no known family.
Social Orphan - A child whose mother and father cannot care for him or her due to mental illness, poverty, or any other reason.Please Note: As defined by ANSI, a child is not considered to be an orphan of he or she is in the care of one parent and the other parent has not died.
Children of single mothers or single fathers are not considered to be orphans.
Be sure to contact us if you have any additional questions about A New Song International Sponsorship program.
*These figures are based on 60 child sponsorships.