THIS IS US SPOTLIGHT
SECTION THEME
A fresh take on child sponsorship Our new video series – featuring young people both behind and in front of the camera – reveals how communities benefit when someone sponsors a child.
How Child Sponsorship Works
WHAT’S NEXT? Plan International’s Child Sponsorship program supports sponsored children and communities to help foster sustainable change. “It’s not one program in isolation,” explains Hayley Riolo, director of child sponsorship at Plan International Canada. “We establish relationships in the sponsorship communities and work with people locally to launch initiatives – everything from education scholarships to school feeding programs. This foundational work acts as a lever to open the door to larger grants from institutional supporters. This means we can offer even more programs and services to a community. We call it the Plan Effect.” 1.3M sponsored children are supported by Plan International globally . We help break down barriers so children can learn, lead, decide and thrive.
had received mobile journalism training from Plan International to produce the mini documentaries, and the result is entertaining, evocative and revelatory. The videos on our interactive map show how child sponsorship opens up opportunities for communities to access additional Plan International programs – from skills and leadership training to sexual health education that helps prevent child, early and forced marriages.
Brandon, 15, in Honduras; Berenice, 13, in Paraguay; Mayday, nine, in Benin . These are just three of the more than 40 children from around the world who took video cameras into their communities in 2022 to share how their lives – and the lives of those around them – changed forever when they became part of Plan International’s Child Sponsorship program. The children teamed up with other young people who
2
8
1
Local leaders and community members are informed of and engaged in the program launch.
Staff monitor impact in the countries over time and share updates with sponsors.
After being invited to work in a country or region, the Plan International team assess whether sponsorship programming can assist and benefit communities.
6
Projects to support the key objectives as well as country strategies are completed.
7
Annual meetings with sponsored children and their families are held to discuss progress and challenges.
BRANDON’S STORY
BERENICE’S STORY
MAYDAY’S STORY
HONDURAS Brandon became part of the Child Sponsorship program when he was five. He says that life is hard for children in his community, but since Plan International launched the Children’s Clubs, they have educated their parents and community leaders about children’s rights and the importance of education. ”Fighting for our rights as children will always be a battle, but it will be won!” says Brandon.
PARAGUAY Berenice, a sponsored child of five years, talks about how boys get to go to school while girls are sent off to work for wealthy families. But thanks to Plan International programs, she is developing leadership skills and parents in her community are learning about the importance of educating girls. Berenice is intent on becoming a doctor. “No one sees our potential, but we’re changing this,” she says.
BENIN Mayday, who became a sponsored child two years ago, leaps into view, waving enthusiastically at the camera before explaining how Plan International works with local leaders to spread the word about the importance of education and sets up savings groups so mothers can start small businesses to raise money for their children to attend school. The video ends with Mayday’s two thumbs up.
3
9
Parents help enrol eligible children who are eager to take part.
Once all of the projects have been successfully completed and are providing key sustainable life improvements, we move our programming to new communities.
5
Our experts work with children and communities to develop project plans identifying the greatest needs and opportunities.
4
Participating children are connected with sponsors who are interested in supporting them alongside their families and communities.
Read why Jeff Gunn has been a sponsor for 16 years on page 91.
[
]
Approximately 10 to 12 years
18 | 2022 Annual Report
2022 Annual Report | 19
Powered by FlippingBook