Pledging 10% of Blog Revenue: Making a Difference by Sponsoring a Child

Pledging 10% of Blog Revenue: Making a Difference by Sponsoring a Child

As a random tidbit, the French aren’t particularly known for their charitable giving. We rarely contribute to our alma maters, and our donations typically hover around $50 during Christmas, with $3 at mass on Sunday being considered quite generous. When the Euro was introduced, the church even urged people who used to donate a 10-franc coin (worth about 1.5 Euros or $2) to give 2 Euros instead of 1 because donations had dropped.

Seeing many U.S. bloggers pledge a portion or all of their blogging income to charity inspired me to do the same. I’ve decided to pledge 10% of my blog income to charity, with a focus on education for girls in developing countries, who often have fewer opportunities than boys. By supporting a girl’s education, I hope to help raise independent young women who can also raise self-sufficient daughters, manage their homes effectively, and prevent illnesses through learned hygiene. An educated woman can take better care of family finances, and being able to earn her own income, she won’t be stuck with an abusive husband.

One aspect I particularly appreciate about sponsoring a child is seeing exactly where the money goes. Various NGOs do commendable work, but it’s sometimes unclear how donations are spent. Sponsorship typically includes an allowance for the family to ensure the child doesn’t have to leave school to work, covering most of the child’s food and education expenses so the family doesn’t bear additional costs.

My neighbor, a kind Spanish lady, has been involved with the local school and sponsors several children, either through foreign sponsors or directly. I sought her advice on the matter.

Before consulting her, I was considering two types of scholarships: one for academic merit and one for a girl who wants to pursue further education or learn a trade, such as cooking, hair cutting, or sewing. The scholarship would provide a deserving girl with the opportunity to achieve her dreams and acquire a skill that could benefit the village, offering her some financial independence.

Children here typically finish middle school at 14-16 years old. High school is in a different village, 20 miles away. Families can choose between sending their children to a public high school 20 miles away, with added costs for books, uniforms, and bus fare, or to a better boarding school 100 miles away, with a higher likelihood of securing a job. Convincing families to let their daughters stay away during weekdays is challenging, and there’s a risk the girls may drop out if they get pregnant or married, which isn’t uncommon at 18. The only condition for sponsorship is maintaining good grades; there’s no requirement for thank you letters or drawings.

My neighbor sponsors a few middle school children for $15 a month, covering their bus fare to a nearby village for weekly computer classes. Boarding school costs about $2,000 a year ($170 per month), which includes initial purchases like a mattress, uniform, books, and even a light bulb for their rooms. My neighbor is working to secure pledges from other sponsors to send the best students to boarding school each year, as an incentive for academic excellence.

The cost of going to a nearby public school is quite high, with daily bus fare amounting to $70 a month, plus other expenses. Learning a trade involves similar costs, with monthly expenses around $130. My pledge of 10% of blog income, roughly $300 per month, perfectly aligns with supporting one boarding school student and one trade school student. Any additional funds would be saved to sponsor more middle school girls.

As of August 3rd, 2013, the fund stands at $404 from July’s income.

I’ve identified a potential sponsorship candidate, a girl who aimed to attend law school but participated in a local beauty pageant despite seeming too serious for it. She comes from a modest family and seems a good fit. My neighbor also mentioned a young boy aspiring to become a nurse, but I will prioritize finding a deserving girl first.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever sponsored a child? How was your experience?