Plan USA
Agent: Holly

·Q: I am thinking about sponsoring a child but I would like to know more about the program. Can you help me understand if my child will receive direct benefits and what that includes?
A: We work with a community-based program. When we go into an area, they have to have a high mortality rate, low GNP. When we go in, we speak with community leaders and then the leaders decide what needs to be done first. It is normally health and education, latrine-building, wells or construction. It varies per region.

·Q: Do you have doctors available for my sponsored child?
A: We work with a local health care facility. If there isn't one already there, we can usually build one.

·Q: So does every sponsored child go to the doctor?
A: Normally, but there is no guarantee. It depends on how the parents are. We work very hard to have children under 5 watched closely, immunized and on a growth monitoring program because of the higher mortality in that age group.

·Q: So every sponsored child does get that monitoring?
A: Yes, they do. Let's see, what else do they have? Sometimes they have a school lunch program, sometimes we provide the school fees because the parents aren't working and can't afford the community school fees, we do vocational training, seeds in some areas, agricultural training. It depends on the area.

·Q: Does my child get food?
A: They don't, no. What we are trying to do is make the community self-sufficient so we would help the parents get training to get a job. That way, we aren't giving out a hand-out.

·Q: Would clothing be the same way?
A: Yes. You can send two gifts a year to your child, but those things are normally the responsibility of the parents unless there is a disaster, and we do go in and help in disasters.

·Q: Do you have centers where the kids can go to receive benefits?
A: The majority of areas have a center where they gather the children. It is different in different areas; it could be a part of the school. The parents also have to attend regular meetings and training. Both children and parents attend meetings.

·Q: Is there a Youth program for older teenage years?
A: Yes, very much. We also do peer education where teens are teaching other teens.

·Q: Do you do scholarships?
A: Normally not for college; we try to get them through high school.

·Q: Are you religiously affiliated?
A: No. We promote education for girls and women.

·Q: What makes you stand out from the other organizations?
A: Part of it is the religious affiliation. We are respectful of all religions, but we are not affiliated with one. I tend to think that is exactly what the organizations are. They are very good as well.

· The agent directed me to look at the virtual village online if I go there to sponsor a child later.


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