where change begins
Today, the sponsorship program provides the children of the Mother Blessings home with their basic needs: food, shelter, education, and relationships. There are about 70 children under care of the sponsorship. Each child has individual sponsors, most of whom they have seen or know personally. The sponsorship fees provide the children with daily food, medical needs, clothes, school supplies, and so much more! The children are sponsored through 12th grade, and, upon graduation, are entered into the college program, where their sponsorship continues in a more specialized way.
Pictured: Alice
More than a picture.
Standing Side by Side is a deeply personal ministry that focuses on relationships and quality care. The children under the sponsorship do not just need food or education. They need love. Sponsors have the unique opportunity of providing this love by being a consistent source of care, concern, and stability. We regularly video call so that children can speak with their sponsors. Some sponsors (11, to be exact) have even had the opportunity to travel to Liberia to meet their kids. Whether the relationship is distant or in person, the impact this has on the kids is profound. They feel loved, supported, and valued as they grow and develop.
Commonly Asked Questions
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Sponsorship fees are based on a predicted average. For that reason, all sponsors pay the same amount, even though the cost per child can vary drastically. The cost is $50/month or $600/year.
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Yes! Having a relationship with your child is something we strongly encourage. If your child is old enough, they might have social media and would love to connect with you through that. We also commonly video call so that you can meet and talk to your kid! We have seen this impact both sponsors and the children in Liberia.
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This one is tricky for us. Ideally, a child should have the same sponsor, since this is healthiest for them and acts as a source of stability. However, both we and the children understand that not all sponsors can sponsor throughout. But if you do not plan on sponsoring very long, we encourage you to become a ministry donor instead.
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Yes, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
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The children know that contacting their sponsors and asking for money or making other requests is not allowed. In Liberian culture, it is common to ask sources of support for more, but we discourage this as a habit between sponsors and their children. But occasionally, they will do this in secret. If this happens, the best response is to contact us so that we can handle it. We advise telling your child that you love them and want to help them, but first have to check with us.
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Not at all! Culturally, “Mom” and “Dad” are concepts a bit more flexible in Liberia. They refer to many people at once as their parents, which simply means their sources of care and support. Consider it an honor!
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It might sound strange, but the answer to this is complicated. We try to keep all children equal, and if one sponsor buys something for their child, the other children will expect something similar from their sponsors. This could cause a chain reaction of conflicts. On certain special occasions, we have allowed it in the past, but usually, the answer is no. If the child shares a need, contact us and we will do everything we can to take care of them.
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Aside from monthly/yearly payments, the only other requirement is to be willing to engage with your sponsor child in some way. Other than that, we will have occasional opportunities to give gifts (e.g. Christmas), but this is optional, and we typically source our donations from more than just the sponsors.
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That would be amazing. But coming to Liberia is an expensive and difficult endeavor. However, a good handful of people have done it, and those trips have proven quite fruitful! If you think you might be interested, reach out to us and let us know.