“I felt SUPER happy! I would not stop talking about it. I still cherish and keep the letters and gifts till now. When I look at them, I can feel the warmth of my dear sponsor mommy. ” These are words of Ethel Pajao, a former World Vision sponsored child from the Philippines reminiscing on receiving news from her sponsor when she was a child.

Most sponsored children live in remote areas where infrastructure like roads and airports are a scarce luxury. However tough the journey may be, World Vision joyfully delivers tokens of love from child sponsors to the children, because your sweet gestures are a big load of joy!

Let us tag along with Mr Teddy on his journey from Singapore to India.

Hi! I am Teddy. I am going on a journey to bring a smile to a very special child, a World Vision sponsored child.   Here I am in Singapore Changi Airport, ready for the adventure ahead! After a four hour flight, I arrive safely in India. Namaste, Calcutta! The local World Vision India staff greets me and makes sure that the card and I pass through customs smoothly.   Sometimes when a gift or card is too large or is inappropriate, a hefty duty tax will be charged or the items may be stuck in the customs office for a few months, or even be confiscated. Those gifts are often left behind and will not be delivered to the child. If you are a child sponsor, please keep in mind the size and type of gifts for your sponsored child.  (If you are not sure, please refer to the gift guidelines in the Child Sponsors Handbook or simply ring up and speak to any World Vision staff at the Singapore Office.) After that, I am checked into World Vision Calcutta office. The staff there wants to make sure that the letter content is appropriate for the child to see. Living in a different cultural context, measures are taken to protect the child in case sensitive issues are mentioned such a politics, religion and race. Any message written in English is also translated into the local Language or dialect. During my stay in the office, I made many new friends.  A lot of them were books, stationery sets and clothes too. A box of colour pencils named Ms Rainbow told me she has been in the office for some time because the child sponsor did not provide sufficient information and had written a return address on her. These are some of the things that slow down the process of sending gifts or letters to you sponsored child. After taking in the hustle and bustle, I venture to the domestic airport to take another flight that will take me closer to my destination.   Here I am looking out the window of the plane!   Two hours later, I touch down in a town. This is a picture of me taken in the small but modern Dibrugarh airport. We are only halfway through on our journey, but enough flying for now, let’s go to the riverbank. The Brahmaputra River was calm at sunset. I hear from the locals that the river is not always calm. Sailing down this river is the only way to the village and sometimes, it is very risky.  I quickly hop onto the wooden boat before it gets too dark to sail. Ahh… here I am enjoying the soft rays of sunset. andand After a couple of hours on the boat, a car takes me on the bumpy and dusty track to search for that special child. I am very lucky today to have a truck available to send me. Most of the time, gifts are sent using bicycles or motorbikes to save cost although it will take longer to get to the child. Scenery of lush green paddy fields helps to distract me from my tiredness. A few more hours later, we finally arrive at our destination! My journey from Singapore has taken around a month. I cannot wait to finally meet the child!! Here she is…   Basanti was so happy to see me! She will write to thank her sponsor for sending such wonderful words of encouragement and love to her. I am over the moon to see her beaming with joy!

That ends Teddy’s journey from Singapore to India. Many times, sponsors ask why it takes so long before they receive a reply to their letters or gifts from their sponsored child. Teddy took more than a month before he met Basanti. The long and tedious travel coupled with the administrative processes that World Vision staff have put in place to ensure gifts are well accounted for and letters appropriately translated are needful in this love relationship between sponsor and child. Typically, it takes about three months for a sponsor to receive an acknowledgement from their child.

Nonetheless, it is worth the wait when you see the smile on his or her face. Your letters or gifts are a tremendous joy and encouragement to your sponsored child – a token of love that will go a long way.

To send gifts or letters to your sponsored child, please click here to find out more.