Sponsorship Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
About Adventist Child India
About Adventist schools
About sponsoring
About sponsored children
About Adventist Child India
How is Adventist Child India different from other child sponsorship
projects?
Adventist Child India is the only program of its kind
that is an official project of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This
is the only program
that exclusively supports children’s education in India’s
Seventh-day Adventist Schools.
How does Adventist Child India identify children who need sponsors?
Children
are chosen based on the recommendations from the local Adventist pastors
and the principals of the schools they will attend. Children
must be under 14 years of age and must come from
Adventist lay families with a household income of less than $50 per
month. Applications from
needy children are again screened by the Southern
Asia Division’s
Child Care Office, which manages the sponsorship
program.
Is this project only for children of Adventist families?
Adventist Child India primarily provides sponsorships for children
from Adventist families. However, we will not turn away needy non-Adventist
children, especially orphans, who are eager to get a Christian education
in one of our schools.
Why is the program restricted to Adventist schools?
Adventist
Child India focuses as much on establishing in children a firm foundation
in Bible-based Christian principles as it does on providing
quality education. We know that this combination
is available in the Seventh-day Adventist schools in India. We also
trust that an Adventist
education will encourage children to become tomorrow’s gospel
workers who will nurture the growth of the Adventist
Church in India.
About Adventist schools
Why does Adventist Child India require children to study at boarding
schools?
Parents from villages where there is no Adventist school
within walking distance find it more convenient to send their children
to the nearest
boarding schools. We believe that the wholesome
Christian atmosphere and way of life in our boarding schools will encourage
the children
to truly grow in the faith. They will learn not
only from their books but also from Bible-based lifestyle choices and
from continuous interaction
with Christian companions and with Adventist mentors,
teachers and staff. At these boarding schools, children who often come
from very low-income
families—that can barely afford one meal a day—will get
the basic comforts of life such as healthy food,
clean beds and medical attention.
How often do the children get to go home/visit with their families?
Two or three times a year, and in some instances more often, depending
on the distance between school and home. Parents may come to the school
to visit their children as often as they like.
What do the children learn at school?
Generally, Seventh-day Adventist schools in India teach Bible, Math,
Science, History, Geography, and languages (English and the local language).
They prepare students to take the state (SSLC) and national (CBSE/ICSE/ISC)
level high school certification exams.
What is the language of instruction?
All Seventh-day Adventist
Schools in India offer instruction in English. Some students don’t
know English on entering these schools and are given special instruction
to bring them up to speed. English is
the language of business in India. It opens the
world to the children and prepares them to enter any of the six Adventist
colleges and other
professional courses available in the country.
How is the children’s Christian experience built up at
school?
The children take part in morning and evening worship, vespers, youth
meetings, Sabbath School, and worship services at the local church.
They learn to lead out in many ways. They also participate in Week of
Prayer, temperance contests, Bible camps, and Pathfinder clubs.
About sponsoring
I want to sponsor a child but can’t find the right one
on this website-what do I do?
If you would like to sponsor a child but are not able or do not wish
to pick a specific child through this website, please email child@adventistchildindia.org with your contact information. Adventist Child India will identify the
child in greatest need of your sponsorship and send you the details.
What are the children who are waiting to be sponsored doing right
now?
Often, children waiting for a sponsor have started their
education at a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school with help from
a contingency
fund. However, they can’t continue for long without a sponsor.
In some cases, the children waiting for a sponsor
are at home but eager to start school as soon a sponsor is found.
About sponsored children
How do I send letters/gifts to my sponsored
child?
Do not send any letters or gifts directly
to the school or to the child. All correspondence and gifts should come
through the Child Care office.
We record each letter and gift and remove the sponsor’s mailing
address before forwarding to the children. This
is to protect the sponsors from being inundated with possible direct
requests for help. In turn,
correspondence from the children to sponsors will
also be routed through the Child Care office.
Can I visit my sponsored child?
Yes you may visit your sponsored
child in India. We can help coordinate your visit with a time when the
child is at school. Please discuss your
schedule and plans with the Child Care Office—email child@adventistchildindia.org.
When will my sponsored child start school? How many months a year
are they in school?
Your sponsored child will start school as
soon as we receive confirmation of your sponsorship and process the
required paperwork. Most schools
start in June and run through March. However in
the Northeast some schools begin in January or February and go through
November. A child is at
school 10 months of the year. However the sponsorship
contributions are required for 12 months. The total amount needed
to cover the cost
of the child’s education and boarding expenses is spread over
12 months to allow for smaller payments. Further,
funds that come in during the vacation months help to provide school
uniforms and books
for the next school year.
How long will my sponsorship have to continue?
We encourage
you to continue your sponsorship until your child
competes 12th grade. This ensures continuity in the
child’s education.
However, if for any reason you are not able to
continue your sponsorship, please let us know (email child@adventistchildindia.org)
so that we can
find a new sponsor for your child.
