What’s The Child I sponsor learning?

“I like to come to the project, because here I have learnt that God is with me no matter what. I believe it. I like to play with my friends too, and I have a sponsor!”

Ten-year-old Secia lives in Peru. Thanks to her sponsor, she attends her local primary school and receives the books and uniforms she needs.

But this isn’t the only place where Secia learns. Like all Compassion-supported children, she also attends a church-driven Compassion project once a week where she has the opportunity to grow and develop in a safe environment where she is known and loved.

Activities vary depending on where your sponsored child lives, but here’s an insight into a typical day at a Compassion project:

• 9:00am – Prayer time and singing

At their project, children pray and sing worship songs.

“When I come to the centre, I like the way our pastor prays with us. She begins singing songs of praise and worship. I love it and I want to become a pastor like her,” says Yves from Togo.

9:30am – Bible study

Each child receives an age-appropriate Bible. Through classes, they are taught how much God loves them and have fun learning about biblical heros like Samson and Ruth. “My favourite story is about God’s creation. My biblical hero is David. These stories never get old,” says Neung in Thailand.

10:30am – Breaktime

Every project provides a safe environment for children to play and enjoy their childhood. At breaktimes children also receive a nutritious snack such as a boiled egg, porridge or a piece of fruit.

11:00am – Social lessons

Many of the children come from challenging home environments so project staff take time to teach them social and personal skills such as conflict resolution and developing a healthy self-esteem.

12:00pm – Lunch and playtime

Children are provided with a nutritious meal or snack. Depending on the country, dishes normally contain seasonal vegetables, a carbohydrate such as rice, potatoes or maise, and then meat or fish. In Ethiopia, children are given food supplies to take home instead.

1:00pm – Health education

Children are taught practical health and hygiene tips. A simple lesson about the importance of washing your hands has a huge impact, keeping kids healthy so they don’t miss days of school due to illness. Children also take part in awareness workshops about the key health issues affecting their communities such as malaria or HIV.

2:00pm – Letter writing and career planning

A project day is also an opportunity for children to write to their sponsor. This is used as an educational activity to help develop their writing and spelling skills. Older children will also use this time to work with project staff to identify their strengths and interests, setting realistic goals for their future.

“Without Compassion I would have definitively not been able to accomplish my dreams. They would have stayed written in paper. The staff from the project and my sponsor encouraged me to dream big and God gave me the opportunity to make them a reality today,” says Lety from Guatemala.

16:00 Home time

Want to know more? Click on the map to find your sponsored child’s country. Discover some of the specific activities they’ll be benefiting from.