Letter writing
provides a personal link and sets up a relationship unique to you and
the child or family. We have seen that secondary students write more
frequently, as they are more knowledgeable of English and have more
access to writing materials. They may give you a school address or
an e-mail address, either of which makes your communication move more
quickly. It is absolutely your decision whether or not to share your e-mail or
home address.
If you are sponsoring a younger child who cannot yet write, you may be able to
establish a relationship with their parent or guardian. If you don’t
know the name of the parent, please contact Josephine Mburugu or
Karen Lau. Unfortunately, with some children, letter writing just doesn’t occur. It may be very hard for them to obtain writing
materials and their parent may not be able to write in English. This
may seem discouraging to you as a sponsor, but know that the HOPE guardians are making sure your contribution is used to enhance this
young life and enable the child to stay in school without
interruption.
When
you write, it is helpful to ask specific
questions about their life, how they spend their time out of school,
and about their family.
Sending greetings to their family and caretakers is also encouraged. Feel
free to share about your family, your work, your interests, but avoid
talking about your possessions. There is more information on letter
writing on the CHERISH blog.
If
you wish to add to your letter, please only send what can fit in an envelope. Photos of you or your family are treasured.
Bookmarks, postcards, drawings or stickers can also be included with
your letter. DO NOT SEND CASH. Due to high import fees, please do
not send packages. Keep in mind that if you send a larger flat envelope, you will need to take it to the
counter to have your postage calculated. If you need further
information, contact the postal office or usps.org.
You may receive requests for a particular gift, or for some type of assistance beyond that of your donation. If this occurs, please feel free to contact Karen or Josephine, who will help you in your response. If you receive information from your student regarding a serious need or issue, it is very important to let Karen or Josephine know, so that the HOPE guardian can be contacted.