Your letters are more than words on a page.

Letters help a child believe in themselves.
Inspire them to study harder at school. Even draw them closer to God.

Letters often become a child’s treasured possessions: they're read over and over and kept safe, often hung on the wall in pride of place.

Former Compassion-assisted child Lillian had this to say to her sponsor:

“I was the child no one remembered, but when you wrote to me and expressed how much love you had for me, I gained the courage to face life.”

Write a letter

Your letters to your sponsored child are so much more than words on a page.

They are hope, support, encouragement and love delivered in an envelope.

Your words can help a child believe in themselves, inspire them to study harder at school and draw them closer to God.

Letters often become a child’s treasured possessions: they're read over and over and kept safe, often hung on the wall in pride of place.

Former Compassion-assisted child Lillian had this to say to her sponsor:

“I was the child no one remembered, but when you wrote to me and expressed how much love you had for me, I gained the courage to face life.”

Write a letter

Letter Writing Inspiration

16 Jan, 2020

10 Simple Tips to Writing Great Letters to Your Sponsored Child

Have you ever sat down to write a letter to your sponsored child and battled with the blank page? You’re not alone! We’re here to help you defeat the writer’s block with our top 10 tips... Read more

14 Mar, 2018

Why Do My Sponsored Child's Letters Sound the Same?

It can be disappointing if your sponsored child hasn’t responded to your questions or even mentioned the letter you sent them. Here’s why this could be happening, plus handy tips to prevent it. .. Read more

29 Aug, 2019

How to Write a Great Christmas Letter to Your Sponsored Child

It’s that exciting time of year again: time to write a Christmas message to your sponsored child! Before the panic sets in over what to say, here are three helpful suggestions on what to include in your Christmas letter... Read more

FAQs

  • Why do my sponsored child's letters all sound the same?

    Letter writing is not always easy for children. In many countries, letter writing is not customary and it's uncommon to discuss personal things like hopes and dreams, or even what daily life is like. Our program staff endeavour to teach the children how to express themselves in writing, and will often use the letter-writing days as an educational activity.

    Sometimes children write what they think their sponsor might want to hear. Your sponsored child may need your help to understand that you are interested in their thoughts and opinions, and in the small details of their life. You can help your sponsored child to understand that you want to know him or her better by asking lots of questions in your letters, and telling your sponsored child about your own life. Highlighting the question you would really like answered is one way to bring your sponsored child's attention to it.

    If your sponsored child is young, their Compassion tutor may help write their letter. Please be patient while he or she learns how to write.

    You can:

  • Can I get another copy of the letter sent from the project?

    We would be more than happy to send you another copy of the letter from the project - just let us know you'd like one.

    You can:

  • Is it too late to send my Christmas letter or Christmas gift after the cut-off date?

    We try to ensure that the children receive their letters before Christmas, which is why we ask you to write and send your letters in October. However, please send us your letter and/or Christmas donation even if you have missed the recommended cut-off date in October. Although we cannot guarantee that your letter will reach your child before Christmas, they will still be excited to receive it.

    It's never too late to give to our Christmas Fund! Donations to our Christmas Fund are pooled so that every child receives a gift, so you can donate to it all year round.

    You can:

  • Will I receive any updates about my sponsored child from their child development centre?

    Yes! Every one to two years, you will receive an update from your sponsored child’s centre or from a Compassion staff member in their country.

    Releasing your sponsored child from poverty requires the united support of many different people in our global neighbourhood: family, friends, peers, local and international staff, church pastors and volunteers, mentors and you, their sponsor.

    These updates from the field provide you with different perspectives on the work of the local church as they serve vulnerable children. You can gain insight into your sponsored child's community, their child development centre, society and culture, and discover region-specific prayer points and letter writing prompts.

    Learn where you can find the latest update from your sponsored child’s centre.

  • Why does my recent letter from my Ethiopian sponsored child have such an old date?

    The official calendar in Ethiopia is different to the Gregorian calendar used by most other countries, including Australia. Ethiopia uses a solar calendar based on the time it takes for the earth to make one complete orbit of the sun. The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months: the first 12 months have 30 days each and the thirteenth month has five days, or six in a leap year.

    This means there is a gap of seven to eight years between the Ethiopian calendar and the calendar used in Australia. For example, the year 2022 in the Gregorian calendar is actually 2014 in the Ethiopian calendar.

    If you sponsor or correspond with a child in Ethiopia, you might notice that their letters are dated seven or eight years behind. Rest assured that the letter you have received is current and has been dated according to the Ethiopian calendar.

    You can: