MGRS SAC - Frequently Asked
Questions
How does Support A Child
work?
How
can I communicate with my sponsored child?
How
are funds managed?
How
can I become a sponsor today?
How does Support
A Child work?
What is Support A Child?
Support A Child is a program in which Asha
- CO, partners with its projects in India to provide for an
underprivileged child's education/total living expense. However SAC is
more than funding a child in need. It is an opportunity for you as a
sponsor to develop one to one correspondence & interaction with
a
special child. Asha selects the partner groups after careful site
visits by Asha members and after analyzing the track records and
overhead costs.
Are
the children, that are supported, treated differently than the children
who are not?
The SAC program supports all the children in a project.
If we
are unable to find a sponsor for a child we would support the child
through Asha's funds.
What benefits will the child I sponsor receive?
The child will be supported for education and living
expenses
including food, shelter, healthcare and nutrition.
Will I be the only sponsor for the child?
Yes.
How long should my sponsorship last?
We hope that you will support the child you sponsored
for at
least one year.
If I must discontinue my sponsorship, what
happens to the
child I'm helping?
We look for another sponsor.
How long is a child in the sponsorship program?
It is expected that the child will remain part of the
sponsorship program until the partner group can find other funding or
in some cases until she/he completes his schooling/training in the
project.
How are children chosen for sponsorship?
In most cases all the children in a project will be
included
in the sponsorship program.
How does Asha start a SAC project?
Asha only starts a SAC project with organizations it has
been
closely working with. This includes an Asha volunteer visiting the
project at least once a year, frequent communications with the project
and an analysis of the present situation of the project by the projects
group of the chapter. Please look for project details and updates on
the latest developments of the projects on the website.
When or how often will I receive a progress
report on my
sponsored child?
You will receive progress reports of the child once a
year.
When will I receive a photograph of my
sponsored child?
We will email you the photograph of the child as soon as
you
become a sponsor. Thereafter we will try to send a new photo once a
year.
How will most of the correspondence be carried
out?
We hope to carry out most of the correspondence over
email.
Why is most of the correspondence over email?
Our registration for the program is on-line and most of
our
donors have net access. From previous experience in Asha with SAC
programs we have found that the overhead costs of this kind of program
on the partner organizations is high. In an effort to reduce this
overhead we are trying to have all documentation available in softcopy
and mail the information to you. We shall try to scan information that
cannot be typed, for example, pictures made by children. In specific
cases when the sponsor communicates with the child, we request you to
send self-addressed envelope with stamps so that the child can write
back to you.
Can I send money directly to my sponsored
child?
Asha requests that monetary gifts not be sent to your
sponsored child. There are several reasons for this. - It is often
difficult for other families in the community to understand why a child
or the family received money from the sponsor. This can cause jealousy
and divisiveness in the community. - Also, some postal systems are
unreliable and there is no guarantee that the monetary gifts will reach
the project offices. Thank you for understanding.
What about visiting my sponsored child in
India?
You are definitely encouraged to do so.
Top
By enrolling in the SAC program for MGRS you can play a
role
in molding a kid's future. If you so desire you can even act as a
mentor
and guide your sponsored kid when he graduates from school.
The
expansion of the Indian economy is opening up a world of possibilities.
However without proper education these kids will
always remain mere spectators in this new world. Your contribution of
just $15
a month can make sure that at least one kid and his family will have a
shot at achieving all that we take for granted.
How can
I communicate with my sponsored
child?
How can I communicate with my sponsored child?
Can I write
to my sponsored child?
You are encouraged to write letters to your sponsored
child.
Teachers or coordinators at the project will translate your letters
into your child's language and give both your letter and the
translation to the child to keep. Once you have started correspondence
we request you to continue writing to the child irrespective of whether
you may be in a position to fund the child or not.
Will my child write to me?
Yes, if he/she can read and write or with the help of a
translator.
What address should I send my letters to?
All mails should be sent to our address. Asha for
Education
Support a Child Program (MGRS) P.O. Box 234 Lafayette, CO 80026
What other opportunities will I have to learn
about the
child I'm helping?
Asha will send you yearly progress reports of the
project. If
you would like some other specific information about the child for
example, a drawing by the child if she/he is good at it, we could scan
this information and mail it to you. Please do give at least four weeks
to be able to process such specific requests.
Can I send packages/money to my sponsored
child?
We understand your desire to send packages to your
sponsored
child. However we would prefer that you not send packages or money to
your child because of the following reasons: - Possibility of loss,
theft, or damage - Possibility of tension created in the community by
one child receiving numerous or expensive gifts.
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How does Asha ensure that my support actually
benefits the
child I sponsor?
We only work with trusted non-government organizations
(our
projects) with which at least one of our volunteers has developed a
sense of ownership and the rest of the group are always in the process
of monitoring the progress of the project.
How are my contributions used?
All contributions are used for the children in the
project and
any overheads encountered in running the support a child project. We
hope that there will be no overheads by keeping most of the
communication on email.
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I would
like to support a
child.What should I do?
Click here
to sign up.
What are the payment options?
You can send a check for your contribution ($15 per
month) in
favor of 'Asha For Education' . Please mention SAC MGRS in the memo
field. We
accept half-yearly or yearly payments.
Where do I send the check?
Asha for Education Support a Child Program (MGRS) P.O.
Box 234
Lafayette, CO 80026
Do you accept credit cards?
Yes, you can pay through credit card in two ways:
1. One
Time
2. Recurring
Is the contribution tax-deductible?
Yes, it is tax-deductible. For tax purposes, each
January you
will receive a year-end tax statement that will record all of your
contributions for the previous year.
Will I receive a reminder to send my
sponsorship amount?
Yes.
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