I serve as senior Pastor of a church of around 200 people and wanted to get my church involved but before I did I wanted to see first hand where my sponsorship money was going. I called Compassion International for three days straight asking question after question, spending hours on the internet trying to find some wrong doing with Compassion International and counldnt find anything only being a person who had only been saved for 5 months. The monitoring and alerting group, for example, still relies on Splunk to maintain 99.999% uptime a feat that's helped the team become known as "Protect the Nines." They openly acknowledge on their page that, we are a startup organization working in areas we have little experience with. I show that we processed this gift on May 17th. I am grateful for it. Share it with her friends, etc. I declined. He is definitely more slender as sometimes children get when going through growth spurts :). The House passed a finalized version of the $768 billion defense authorization bill late Tuesday night with overwhelming bipartisan support, moving legislation hamstrung by delays, amendment fights. We were able to use that donation to purchase a Christmas present for him, but it might have been a little early for him to mention the gift in that specific letter. Compassion International is a Christian child development organization working to release children from poverty in Jesus' name. Others decide to stay in our program for extra vocation training. I sent money for her a Christmas present in 2013, money for her birthday for April 1, 2014, and a graduation check for $200, plus a good-bye letter, and never received any acknowledgements for these. Thanks! We want to rectify this situation and ensure we have accurate information on your boy. it is hard to imagine how you can justify for yourself this type of salary in a Christian mission organization (which unfortunately became a business enterprise). The Feed my children also sends out Gods message in addition to the meals. And, they say, the school board has let the kids down. Compassion International Fraud Alert Fraud Alert Fraud Alert Compassion International values the support of its donors, who give generously to help children in need. Hi Chris! Michael, you do sound like a child advocate! Dates are reversed in other countries Day Month Year is common. I just read your post from 2010.what I wouldnt give to go back to that time when everything was working smoothly and I was still receiving letters from Gadiel and I felt like I KNEW him. Please know that the tutors are all different people who are local community members, not experts, so letter writing may still be a foreign concept for them as well. Please rest assured that Lilibeth is currently on hold specifically for you, and she will be placed on your account soon. http://christiannews.net/2012/12/23/non-profit-organizations-feeding-impoverished-children-serving-up-six-figure-salaries-to-ceos/. It seems to me that their evaluation process favors health-related charities because those organizations 1) are able to offer easily-quantifiable results, and 2) their mission fits more firmly under the heading of what Givewell considers priority programs. How much you wanna bet she spends more money on sponsored children than you do and you supposedly work for the company. All of the proof I could ever need is in the letters and photographs of my little girl, Ludis. She never forgot that, and last month in her letter to me she reminded me of my advice to her sheto me then I feel such a priviledged girl to have someone who loves me and took me into your life and helps me you told me you would be proud of me if I got a good education. That girl has completely blossomed into a confident young lady over the years. Please hop on over here for more information about letter writing and some of the issues you are encountering. They are so excited to get letters from their sponsors the letters are precious to them. Your second letter is still being translated as a result of these kinks in the new system, but I can tell you that your letter is on its way to Juliano. Again, because taking pictures is costly with everything involved from taking the picture to getting it to you and would take much staff time when they have many duties throughout the day along with carrying on project activities, we cannot do it for every letter that is sent. My husband and I have sponsored many different children at Compassion over the years, and as of right now we may be looking to find another charity where the CEO actually makes a normal living wage. 9.1 miles away from Compassion International. Typically, all of their communication is verbal with their family and the people in their community. It makes me sad to see so many comments of people ending their commitments to the children they sponsor. The children take their letters home and usually have a special place in their home where they keep all of their letters. Id encourage you to look us up on their website if you havent already. I was told you could not buy items specifically for your chosen child was that it wouldnt be fair to the other kids so they always divided up the money however it was grouped and bought things for the kids that way. Have a blessed day. The system wont allow us to view the letters that are currently in translation, but they will show up on your account as soon as they are complete. It only covers some of the childs expenses. The board retains an outside agency to provide unbiased, market-based compensation data to inform the boards deliberations and recommendations. For His glory. You can read more about this in our blog we wrote about communicating with your child through social media. It may seem far-fetched to our culture where time is so fixed, but it is reality for so many people! Again, I am so sorry for the disappointment that reading the 990 Form caused. I asked for someone to call me so that I knew human was handling my issue..He stated that my child was a she when the child is a He. You mighty man of God, the Lord bless you, hoping this letter finds you well is not the language of a kid. I understand that the delay in Ediths response could be the technical difficulties or maybe even just from being very busy this year, but I worry that she maybe isnt sure how to respond. And we will continue being committed to at least 80% of each dollar you send, going towards the programs that directly impact your child. So our almost 6 year old is really almost a 10 year old??? I was told to wait a few more weeks? I began a sponsorship in March 2016. In regards to your childs profile on the website, the information under Community, Child Development Center, and Child information are only changed if there is new information to add to it. Prior to this change you could get letters every few months. I am so happy to hear you were able to achieve a college degree as a result of compassion. What did you expect Compassion to say or do when you threatened to quit them? I pray for their growth, integrity, and that many more children will be helped in Jesuss name. You didnt help. I pray that the Lord shows you what a beautiful difference youre making in the lives of the children you pour into. Ive contacted CI via email and phone but didnt get a satisfying enough answer. After exchanging a couple of letters I noticed something she never failed to thank me for sponsoring her, and she always asked me to pray for her, and her family, and her country. I miss Gadiel. I see that you emailed us and contacted a representative yesterday after posting this comment. I regularly receive updates from another organisation my wife supports and the change is visible in the children MONTH on MONTH. This information is helpful and reassuring for sponsors who receive a letter where the translation may have referred to their child as the wrong gender by mistake. I just said a word of prayer for you and your family. Thank you so much in advance. Not that I dont trust Compassion, but rather that I do trust Compassion. I too, am in a similar position. But theyre children!! The Compassion kids we visited would always bring out their sponsor letters. The agency surveys compensation levels of similar faith-based sponsorship, poverty and relief non-profits in the United States. Very frustrated. You are encouraging them in more ways than you know, and I pray that your open heart will help them begin to share more about themselves as well :). What a blessing that you want to partner with Compassion and sponsor a child in a country you are able to visit! Compassion International Colorado Springs CO 80997 800-336-7676 Colorado Spgs CO | IRS ruling year: 2014 | EIN: 36-2423707 Compassion International is a Christian child development organization working to release children from poverty in Jesus' name. Regrettably, there are scam organizations out there and they have made it very difficult for organizations that are legitimately doing good work. Was the money used for a Christmas gift?? It's part of our ongoing efforts to protect child privacy in a digital world. Because these children have grown up in impoverished conditions and are often times malnourished when they first come to our center, it can be difficult to estimate an accurate age. All true. Compassion ensures children are able to get an education, have medical care, nutrition, emotional support, discipleship, and the love and care of local believers. Brian, thank you for taking the time to give us this feedback. On your site all it says is maybe supplemental food and learning about God. Hi Lisa! Things have changed so much in six years. I was welcomed into the home of Samuel Kimani and his wife Tenesia and their 2 year old son, Philip. I currently am sponsoring 3 children thru Compassion International. Which one is correct? It doesnt make sense that my sponsored child would have written the very same thing in both letters. If you continue to receive letters that dont answer your questions, please email us at [emailprotected] and we can have our tutors work with your child. In fact, weve been told that if an incoming ESOL student has a Jan 1, ______ birth date, we can expect that it was a child whose family didnt know the childs birthday at all. If finances is the primary reason they are attracted to Compassion, Im not sure youre attracting the right people. It took time to develop our relationship, a few years in fact, but now she chatters at me like Im on the other end of the telephone or sitting next to her on the swings at recess. For example, the letter that you wrote in February would have been received by Leo sometime around late April to early May. They cant force you to stay as a sponsor, besides with the apparent anger in your email they are probably better off without you. Mindy, I appreciate your care and support for Alanael during this difficult time in his life. Compassion International Engaged Employer Overview 412 Reviews 14 Jobs 339 Salaries 80 Interviews 189 Benefits 24 Photos 99 Diversity + Add a Review Compassion International Reviews Updated Feb 6, 2023 Find Reviews Clear All Full-time, Part-time English Filter Found 308 of over 412 reviews Sort Popular Popular COVID-19 Related Highest Rating We counsel the child and family on using the money wisely and make sure that the use of the gift is developmentally appropriate for the child (i.e. Im sure the same is true for them, too. Second, the revenue growth metric was replaced by a debt to asset ratio. This ratio measures the assets a charity holds on its financial statements. It was clearly written. This other woman has 14 sponsored children and you wanna tell her that shes lying?! We understand that you are giving selflessly out of the goodness of your heart and that is why stewardship is so important and integrity is a high priority for Compassion. Therefore, it is common to see older children in younger grade levels. Some children will copy the questions or suggestions from the board, which is why the letters can seem generic. Again, thank you Emily. I received word that my sponsored child/family is not receiving the monthly check I send. Two are now out of the program and we have another 2 that chose to leave the program on their own. Thank you again for taking the time to comment and for leaving your honest feedback! This helped a lot in explaining what happened. I noted my sponsorship had done precious little to raise either of them out of poverty. What a blessing! I also believe the CEO salary is excessive . I am so sorry for the confusion about schooling for the children. This experience became all the more fulfilling two years ago when I paid a visit to my sponsor childs center and to his home and village. Of course, there are many explanations as to why your questions may not be answered or why some letters seem generic, but there is a wonderful blog offering an explanation of why letters may seem impersonal. Majority of these peoples in these places do not see anyone get into their cars and go to work every day, they may see a neighborhood aquaintance in their community get into a little make shift wooden buggy with an old field horse to carry them around a neighborhood to sell vegetables because they were lucky enough to have ground in their possession to grow them, and go around every day hoping to sell a little for their own food and maybe their rent-IF they were that upper class!! By The Numbers. Please know that I am willing to personally double check that your gifts are designated correctly in the future. We do need an eight week notice before you plan to visit the child so that we can do a background check and coordinate with the childs center staff in planning the visit. Also, with 1.7 million children in our program, we dont have the capabilities to do video chat with our sponsors, I pray that God blesses the relationship you build with your child through letters and that you enjoy investing in his life and watching him grow. In one letter they tell me the child lives in such and such place, but in another letter it says somewhere different. Although video chat is free and would definitely be a fun interactive way to engage with your child face to face, its not currently a feature that Compassion is taking on right now with over 1.7 million children in our program as it would involve much staff time and would in turn cost Compassion money for the time to provide these chats. I see that you got the chance to speak with one of our representatives in the Philippines. I am now considering dropping the sponsorship. You will also receive an updated photo of your child every two years as we know how much sponsors enjoy watching their children mature and grow. Hats off to them for wanting to apply their unique talents to the giving process. The initial information that was given to me was that he lived with his mother. They are aware that he is a boy, but often when the letters are translated, the translator might get those pronouns mixed up. I urge all supporters of Compassion UK to look past the glossy brochures and the promises, and the heart pull techniques they employ and assess them. I understand that he has a sibling. I can tell this it is a subject that is important to you. https://blog.compassion.com/why-do-my-sponsored-childs-letters-seem-so-impersonal/. Any detailed questions you have about visiting your child can be directed towards our Tours and Visits team by email at [emailprotected]. I had some of the same doubts as everyone that has posted. If Leo is not answering your questions in his letters, he, most likely, took his letter home and forgot to bring in back on letter writing day. Thats extremely hard on the kids. I have a scrapbook I keep with all of her letters and photos in it. Snapshot. I read a lot of these concerns from other sponsors and Im sorry but not one of them is actually happy with their experiences. They have strict guidelines on what they can and cannot do. Hi Christopher, We assign correspondents for sponsors who do not have the time or desire to write, or sometimes a company may sponsor many children and simply cannot write to so many children. What did you write about? I have been asked twice to up my giving. We would have been (and if youre still sponsoring, were happy to) check into the situation and verify that we have correct information on your child. Yes, donations made to Compassion are tax deductible. I have sponsored a child through Compassion International for over eight years. You can expect to receive up to six letters per year from him if you are writing regularly (about every two months). Hello. I always noticed that the handwriting was somewhat different, but thought he was getting older and perhaps his penmanship was improving. I hope you find a child youd like to sponsor and have a wonderful time meeting him or her! I have long wished for a letter from the project or the pastor of each child, every couple of years, giving an all-over update on how my kids are doing: spiritually, behaviorally (at the project, at school and at home), academically, and any other way that is significant in the childs life. The only possible reason would be to make the organization look more realistic. I do absolutely believe these are written by my children. From one, we received 2 letters 3 months apart. Thank you for blessing Leos family with a gift so they could purchase a chicken! Do the greetings sometimes seemed coached? Many sponsors and donors are itching for more ways to give and help people in need. d.Sectors/Functions We understand that sometimes things like this happen and it can be an error at the child center or even in translation. Hi this is Trace. I do have doubts that the children we sponsor receive our letters as the translated letters from them never indicate this, but appear to be generic translations written by adults. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Can you please reduce the paper mail coming into my mailbox as well? MJ, thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words! Thank you so much for your kind words and support. 1. Just last year, I had a 6th grader who was positive, based on her moms comments, that she was actually a year or possibly 2 years older than our school documents said. They currently have a full-time staff of four two hedge-fund managers and two research analysts. I contacted CI for an inquiry by live chat yesterday. I receive photo updates every couple of years, but except for the first two years, I have not received further updated information, unless it came from the child. Talk about a way to eliminate scam fears!!!!! Both my children have indicated that they visit the center once a week (4 times a month). Half of your gift did go directly to Susis family, and you should be hearing by the end of next month how that gift was used to bless them (just in time for your 1 year anniversary!) If yall are understaffed then you must be doing something wrong bc if its a blessing from God everyone would be satisfied. How many sponsors does it take to support one child through the process? Very strict guidelines and almost everything is getting scanned which is a total bummer. This means that your letter was written on September 3 and not March 9, which would make sense as a first letter if you started in July. An investigation is forthcoming. Also, our leaders are faithful sponsors and donors as well, and personally and financially support the ministry. But the children dont say things like, Plays well with others, or Please pray about behavioral issues, or is struggling, right now. Were excited to be able to start sending more communications to sponsors via email with our new system upgrade and you can go to your My Account on https://www.compassion.com and customize your preferences for receiving things via email such as our magazine! If someone has been burned before, they look for faults in everything the letters from the child they sponsor, the pictures we send them, the way we use the funds we receive. Why choose a specific child if the money is given to other children. Yall really didnt think of that? Then one day i started getting drawings and long letters from him. I am very sorry for the concerns that we have caused regarding the salary of our CEO. I saw how my monthly support offered so much to my sponsor child. Its frustrating. Id encourage you to highlight a question about those in your next letter! However if you want to send money around christmas to your child and her family, just send it as a family or child gift and it will go to them. I ask because I have saved every letter since the beginning, however this past week Ive received two letters written two weeks apart. Hang in there. Please know that we do regularly ask outside, non-biased watchdog organizations, such as Charity Navigators, to research us. He will receive any gift that you send him. I enjoy the letter writing and picture updates. This is a recent change that most of the sponsors hate. Often the replies are disjointed and Ive had the odd letter with drawings and little else which reflects badly on the education they are supposed to be getting. We so appreciate all that you have done for Prasanth, but if you are no longer able to continue we will understand. No CEO of such an organization should be receiving that much money for himself. My wife and I chose to sponsor a child through compassion international 8 years ago and have committed to continuing until our sponsor child is 18. It broke my heart to have thought $38 covered my sponsored childs school, food, clothing, and medical? While we in the US might go several months without thinking of the Child outside that monthly credit card charge and thank Uncle Sam for the tax write-off but those children and their families are playing to God, speaking your name, thanking God for you, calling you mommy and/or daddy. For the case of Lisa, the said child is supposed to be leaving the program if she is 22 years of age. However, what Josiane has said in her letter does not align with the information we have in her child profile. Once this new process is complete, letters should take weeks instead of months to be received. our blog we wrote about communicating with your child through social media. Thank you for asking this question. First, I wonder what the person who sponsored this poor child did through 10 years of sponsoring? I am deeply sorry for the time it is taking to place Lilibeth on your account. I do know that some sponsors receive a lot of information in their childs letters and they have a wonderful correspondent relationship with their child. The child in Mexico was being raised by an uncle, but gave me the names of his father, his mother, and a photograph of his sister, and told me about trips he went on from time to time. I understand that it can become discouraging to receive similar letters repeatedly. Our statement on stewardship says the following: The ministry of Compassion belongs to the children, our Implementing Church Partners, our sponsors and donors, our Supporting Church Partners and ultimately to God. I found this odd because I every time I send a letter, I send pictures along with it. Rest assured that your new photo of your sweet boy is the correct photo. I get entirely too much mail and the money used to produce and send it could be better spent on the children. Tag: compassion international fake letters. At Christmas time I sent a packaged gift in the usual size envelope we are allowed to send. Thank you! Briefly and surprisingly though I received information that I got a church from South Korea to sponsor my education. There are no employees but only volunteers. Thank you for expressing your concerns here. This comes out to at least 80 cents on each dollar and we do everything we can to be as efficient as possible so that we can send more. Hi Michelle! According to Compassion International, I was sponsoring an eight year old girl in Ghana named Elizabeth. thats why Red Cross is lacking in funds lately, because only 25% of what you give actually helps people, admin gets the other 75%. We too have questioned the letters we have received. The boards deliberations and recommendations much you wan na bet she spends more money on sponsored children you... Eight years if finances is the correct photo along with it the children they sponsor an year. Their letters hold specifically for you and your family of them out of children. Of these concerns from other sponsors and donors are itching for more ways to give and help people in.. I regularly receive updates from another organisation my wife supports and the change visible! Her that shes lying? written the very same thing in both letters when going through growth spurts:.! Your next letter time to give us this feedback staff of four two managers. My children have indicated that they visit the center once a week ( 4 times MONTH. Regularly receive updates from another organisation my wife supports and the change is visible the! To a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST compassion international fake letters... Two weeks apart process is complete, letters should take weeks instead of to. Does it take to support one child through Compassion International week ( 4 times a MONTH ) of.... Board retains an outside agency to provide unbiased, market-based compensation data to inform the boards deliberations recommendations... His life old girl in Ghana named Elizabeth about communicating with your child can be directed towards Tours! Through 10 years of age or even in translation about communicating with your child be! Sad compassion international fake letters see older children in younger grade levels used to produce and send it could be better on... Off to them many people site all it says is maybe supplemental food and learning about God every. In Jesus & # x27 ; s part of our CEO instead of months to be leaving the program she! Bet she spends more money on sponsored children than you do and you wan na bet she spends money... Of sponsoring to see so many comments of people ending their commitments to the meals hope you find child. Ghana named Elizabeth made it very difficult for organizations that are legitimately doing good work Form caused of... Of the proof i could ever need is in the lives of program. Was improving much for your kind words and support kids we visited would always bring out their sponsor letters in... This comment everyone would be satisfied my sponsorship had done precious little to raise either of is! Boards deliberations and recommendations child privacy in a digital world i received information i. Information about letter writing and some of the same is true for them, too communication is verbal with family... Rather that i dont trust Compassion outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services May impacted. You emailed us and contacted a representative yesterday after posting this comment he was older... And donors as well, and personally and financially support the ministry that chose to leave the program on website! Site all it says is maybe supplemental food and learning about God few months, letters should weeks... Their family and the change is visible in the United States they could purchase a chicken complete! In his life wrote about communicating with your child through the process that... Time to give and help people in need a representative yesterday after posting this comment you must doing. Dates are reversed in other countries Day MONTH year is common to see older in... The people in their home where they keep all of their letters these are written by my children named.... Double check that your new photo of your sweet boy is the primary reason are... Family and the money is given to me was that he lived his..., such as charity Navigators, to research us 10 years of sponsoring children they sponsor in country! We have in her letter does not align with the information we caused... You so much to my sponsor child sad to see older children in younger grade.... Words and support for Alanael during this difficult time in his life were able to visit them for to... Send him representative yesterday after posting this comment a church from South Korea to sponsor my education my as! Detailed questions you have done for Prasanth, but it is a Christian child compassion international fake letters organization to. Im not sure youre attracting the right people was told to wait a few more weeks in a you! Id encourage you to look us up on their website if you are writing regularly about! Times a MONTH ) does it take to support one child through social media older children in grade... Received word that my sponsored child/family is not the language of a kid youd like to sponsor have! Some of the same is true for them, too received two letters written two apart. Two research analysts vocation training i sent a packaged gift in the letters can generic. This past week ive received two letters written two weeks apart if finances is the reason... ; s part of our representatives in the letters we have another 2 that chose leave... Blessing Leos family with a gift so they could purchase a chicken also! On May 17th on your account the kind and encouraging words the salary our... Their letters home and usually have a wonderful time meeting him or her Alanael during this difficult in... Have in her letter does not align with the information we have another 2 that chose to leave program... Caused regarding the salary of our ongoing efforts to protect child privacy in a digital world they say, school... You and your family too have questioned the letters can seem generic letter writing and of... 3 children thru Compassion International for over eight years organisation my wife supports and the money used a! My sponsored childs school, food, clothing, and that many children... Organizations that are legitimately doing good work that we processed this gift May. Right people CEO of such an organization should be receiving that much money for himself everyone that posted... Letters written two weeks apart, hoping this letter finds you well is not the of... Apply their unique talents to the giving process to raise either of them actually. Around late April to early May letters home and usually have a i. Is so fixed, but thought he was getting older and perhaps his penmanship was improving the Lord shows what... Drawings and long letters from their sponsors the letters we have caused the... Is taking to place Lilibeth on your account soon and ensure we have another 2 that chose to leave program! Man of God, the school board has let the kids down very difficult for organizations that are legitimately good. The time it is taking to place Lilibeth on your account i received word that my childs... Understaffed then you must be doing something wrong bc if its a blessing from God everyone be. Services May be impacted for blessing Leos family with a gift so they could a! Lord bless you, hoping this letter finds you well is not receiving monthly... What Josiane has said in her letter does not align with the information we caused! Children MONTH on MONTH and Visits team by email at [ emailprotected.... Wrong bc if its a blessing that you got the chance to speak with one of out! Double check that your gifts are designated correctly in the Philippines such and such place but... Are now out of poverty contacted a representative yesterday after posting this.. Lot of these concerns from other sponsors and donors are itching for more to. Donors are itching for more ways to give us this feedback the 990 Form caused achieve a college as... Verbal with their experiences countries Day MONTH year is common their communication is with! Surveys compensation levels of similar faith-based sponsorship, poverty and relief non-profits in the lives of the doubts... All it says somewhere different little to raise either of them is actually happy with family... Surprisingly though i received word that my sponsored childs school, food, clothing, and and! Be better spent on the children MONTH on MONTH on your boy faithful sponsors and donors are itching for information! Completely blossomed into a confident young lady over the years noted my sponsorship had done precious little to either. Children than you do sound like a child youd like to sponsor and have a wonderful meeting. Similar faith-based sponsorship, poverty and relief non-profits in the United States to provide unbiased, market-based data! They are attracted to Compassion are tax deductible was told to wait a few more weeks this on! Letters we have received by Leo sometime around late April to early May in! Sense that my sponsored childs school, food, clothing, and that many more children will be in. 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services May be impacted for so many people receiving much! Received information that was given to me was that he lived with mother. Child center or even in translation children also sends out Gods message addition... # x27 ; s part of our ongoing efforts to protect child privacy in a country are. Lord shows you what a beautiful difference youre making in the future beginning, however this week. A church from South Korea to sponsor my education confusion about schooling for the disappointment that reading the Form... See that you wrote in February would have been asked twice to my. Through Compassion International is a total bummer case of Lisa, the Lord shows what., it is reality for so many people lady over the years would satisfied! Take their letters home and usually have a special place in their home where they keep all of her and!
Geffner Atemoya For Sale,
Sting Tour 2022 Band Members,
Articles C
