French people aren’t known for being big on charity. We rarely give back to our former schools, our typical holiday donations are about $50, and giving $3 at Sunday mass is seen as generous. When the Euro was introduced, churches even had to ask people who used to donate 10 francs (about 1.5 euros or $2) to start donating 2 euros (about $2.60) instead of just 1 euro (about $1.30) because the donations had dropped.
Seeing how many US bloggers donate a portion of their income to charity (sometimes all their blogging income), like Free Money Finance and Gajizmo, has inspired me. I’ve decided to pledge 10% of my blog earnings to charity. I have a strong interest in education, especially for girls in developing countries who often have fewer opportunities than boys.
By supporting a girl’s education, I hope to help her become an independent woman who can, in turn, raise independent daughters and manage her household well. Learning about hygiene can help her keep her kids healthy, math skills will help manage the family finances, and an income can provide an escape from abusive relationships.
One of the things I love about sponsoring a child is seeing exactly where the money goes. There are NGOs out there, but it’s hard to know if your donation is being used effectively. Sponsorship often includes an allowance for the family, which helps them avoid pulling their child out of school to work. It covers the child’s food and education costs, making it easier for the family to keep the child in school.
My neighbor, a wonderful Spanish lady deeply involved with the local school, sponsors several kids either through foreign sponsors or directly. I sought her advice.
Before talking to my neighbor, I was thinking of establishing two scholarships. One would be for academic merit, aimed at girls who want to continue their education, and another for the most motivated girl looking to learn a trade within a year or two, like cooking or sewing. For many, this could be their only chance to pursue these dreams. The skills learned can provide them with income and independence, bringing economic activity to the village.
Girls here finish middle school around 14-16 years old. To attend high school, they need to travel 20 miles to a neighboring village or attend a boarding school 100 miles away. Public school costs include books, uniforms, and bus fare, whereas boarding school costs about the same but offers a higher quality education and a better job outlook upon graduation.
It’s challenging to convince families to let their daughters attend boarding school, especially since the girls might drop out if they become pregnant or get married, which isn’t uncommon at 18. The only condition is that they maintain good grades. I don’t expect thank you letters or drawings, just continued academic effort.
Currently, my neighbor sponsors several middle school kids at $15 a month, covering their bus fare to a nearby village for weekly computer classes. Boarding school costs around $2,000 a year or $170 per month, including items like mattresses, uniforms, and books. Some expenses are peculiar, like a light bulb for their room, but that’s part of the initial outlay.
For those attending nearby public schools, the bus fare alone is $70 a month, plus school supplies and living expenses, making the cost comparable to the better education at boarding school. Learning a trade in the next town costs $70 a month plus living expenses, totaling about $130 monthly.
My 10% blog income, about $300, is enough to sponsor a boarding school student ($170) and a student learning a trade ($130). Any excess will be saved, and for every $200 saved, I’ll sponsor another middle school girl for a year. It’s important not to leave them hanging after just a month.
Update as of August 3rd, 2013: The fund has $404 from July’s income.
Since the village’s beauty pageant, I’ve noticed one contestant who wants to go to law school. She comes from a humble background and seems like a good candidate. My neighbor mentioned a young boy aspiring to become a nurse starting his classes in September, but I’ll prioritize finding a deserving girl first.
Have you ever sponsored a child? How did it go?