There are many ways that you can make an impact in the world. You can volunteer your skills, donate food, become a mentor, feed the hungry, pick up trash, tutor students, and more. Today, the options are endless, leaving you with an array of choices that all assist in making the world a better place. However, despite these endless possibilities, this article will cover one tactic in particular: sponsoring a child in Eswatini.
If you've heard of child sponsorship, this strategy may sound a little frightening at first because it centers around your finances. It's easy to wonder if you have enough money to give someone, even if it's a child in need.
When sponsorship comes up, you may think about your bills, your salary, and the dreams you hope to fund. But the good news is that you don't have to be in the top 1% or become a millionaire to sponsor a child in Eswatini.
In fact, research indicates that the wealthiest 10% of Americans contribute only 25% of all charitable giving. Even more interesting, out of the $358 billion that Americans gave in philanthropic donations in 2014, only 14% came from foundation grants while 5% came from corporations. The rest of the money, which was 81% of it, came from individuals.
These statistics show that everyday people like you can make an impact by giving financially to causes that you support. You don't have to own a Fortune 500 company or be one of the wealthiest people in the world. You can sponsor a child in Eswatini if you're financially able and willing.
What is child sponsorship?
Child sponsorship has been around since the 1930s. According to a survey by Grey Matter Research and Opinion 4 Good, almost 9 out of 10 Americans are familiar with this practice. Still, only 24% of participants believe they truly understand what it means to be a child sponsor.
So, if you're part of the majority of people who don't understand what it means to sponsor a child, here's a breakdown of the practice.
This strategy is one that many humanitarian organizations use when they're caring for children in impoverished areas like Eswatini. These organizations ask for monthly funding commitments to support individual children, and the people who decide to contribute are "child sponsors."
Depending on the organization, the child sponsorship program can vary. Some will allow you to correspond with or visit the child that you're sponsoring. However, others require a bit more separation between the child and donor to prevent the kid from experiencing any confusion about their life.
Regardless of the setup, people tend to have positive opinions about the practice. Research suggests that 68% of current sponsors believe that child sponsorship is genuine and credible.
The benefits of sponsoring a child in Eswatini
Sponsoring a child in Eswatini provides numerous benefits. The more obvious ones center around the kids. For example, when you decide to sponsor a child in Eswatini, you help organizations offer the following benefits to children:
These benefits give children a normal life, a gift most kids in Eswatini don't receive. This kingdom is currently suffering from poverty, hunger, an orphan crisis, and inadequate education systems. But when you come alongside faith-based humanitarian organizations like Heart for Africa, for instance, you can sponsor a child in Eswatini to ensure he or she receives the abundant life that kids deserve.
Yet, the benefits of child sponsorship don't stop with the kids. You can also experience advantages. In fact, here are just three benefits of giving back.
When you do something kind or generous, science suggests that you encounter a surge in happiness. In a 2016 study, researchers indicated that performing "random acts of kindness" for the world or others led to a boost in happiness. This increase was also higher than the one you'd experience if you had done something nice for yourself.
If you want to increase your satisfaction with life, giving back may be a great option for you. In 2017, the Women's Philanthropy Institute published a report suggesting that people are happier when they give to others. The report also mentioned that the more people do or give, the happier they tend to be.
Giving to people also has significant health benefits. According to Bioethics at Stony Brook University and Stephen G. Post, professor of preventive medicine and the director and founder of the Center for Medical Humanities, being generous and giving back may help lower stress levels. A study from 2006 also indicates that people who give "social support to others" usually have lower blood pressure readings.
Sponsor a child in Eswatini through Heart for Africa
If you want to make an impact in your life and the lives of children in Eswatini, you should sponsor a child through Heart for Africa.
As a faith-based humanitarian organization, Heart for Africa is committed to instilling hope in Eswatini. And one way to achieve that goal is to help orphans and vulnerable children live better lives.
Devoted to making a difference, the team at Heart for Africa becomes the legal guardians of the children placed with them through Social Welfare. These children started life in challenging circumstances. As guardians, the staff at Heart for Africa commits to providing everything a parent would normally give their kids. But doing this requires the help of child sponsors.
With over 270 children, the costs of caring for each child can amount to a lot of money. For example, here is a breakdown of what Heart for Africa pays to provide for and love their children:
Heart for Africa has developed several strategies to cover these costs, but one of the primary ways is child sponsorship. And if this is something you're interested in doing, you'll receive three different gifts made by Khutsala Artisans, a Heart for Africa initiative.
If you contribute $30 per month, you'll receive a beautiful angel keychain. This gift represents how Heart for Africa views its child sponsors as every single one is considered an angel.
When you give a $50 monthly gift, you'll receive a keychain of a Swazi boy or girl. This gift acts as a reminder of the child you're supporting through Heart for Africa.
If you decide to give a $225 monthly gift, you'll receive the full package. You'll get all of the keychains as well as a picture frame with a photo of your sponsored child.
Make an impact by sponsoring a child in Eswatini
With so many people experiencing hurt in today's world, it's more important than ever to make a positive impact. There are various ways that you can do this, but hopefully, you'll consider sponsoring a child in Eswatini now that you've learned about this strategy.
Whatever amount you choose to give will be helpful. The only thing that matters is that you contribute what you can.
Click here to sponsor a child in Eswatini through Heart for Africa to make an impact and receive gifts from Khutsala Artisans!
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