Hope for Children

For just $1500 per year, you will completely change your sponsor child’s life. Your annual sponsorship covers:

• A first class education at The School of St Yared
• 2 meals and a snack each day
• School uniforms
• Text books and stationery
• Transport to and from school.

How are students selected?

Hope for Children only select the brightest, most determined, high-potential students from the most impoverished backgrounds. All potential students sit a non-biased intelligence test. If they score highly they are then tested in a classroom situation to see how they respond to the learning environment. Not only do the children have to pass academic tests, their family has to pass a series of checks to confirm their financial situation. St Yared employees will visit the potential student’s home, often on several occasions, to assess their living conditions and family income.

Competition for places is fierce. In our first year, over 500 children applied for the 40 places available. As our reputation spreads, more and more children try and secure one of these life changing places. In 2012 applications for new enrolments exceeded 4000. The more sponsors we have, the more places we will be able to offer.

For an annual donation of $450, you can support an individual child and their community in Ethiopia. Your sponsorship enables parents or guardians to:

• Keep their child in school and provide essential school materials and uniforms, until at least grade 10;
• Provide adequate nutrition, shelter and clothing;
• Access clean water, sanitation, health and psychosocial care;
• Develop alternative livelihoods and become economically self-sufficient.

How are children selected?

Generally, children eligible for sponsorship with Hope for Children are between 0 and 18 years of age. These children may have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS or their families are unable to support them because of extreme poverty. Children are often referred to Hope for Children by local government agencies and organisations, or may be enrolled by their families or guardians directly.

The children’s wellbeing and living situations are constantly monitored by Hope for Children’s Sponsorship team and by specialist Assessment Workers who make regular home visits to each child and their parents or guardians. A small portion of your sponsorship fee goes to this program administration in Ethiopia; to monitor the health and development of your sponsored child on an ongoing basis.