Meet 4-year-old Sanchita. She needs you.

Sanchita lives in an area of India that is at high risk for child exploitation and abuse. She lives in a house with dirt floors and mud walls. Something like this:

Sanchita’s parents earn the equivalent of about $22 a month. A month.

She is living in an area where many parents succumb to the pressure of surviving: selling their children into sex trafficking. Young girls are given away, like little pieces of broken property, for just a few dollars. Sanchita’s community doesn’t have access to clean water. The luxury that we have of drinking fresh water, bathing in fresh water, and cooking in fresh water, is not something she has. And because of this, disease is rampant in her community.

Sanchita’s face cries out to me. Her eyes tell me the story of a childhood filled with pain and anguish and fear. I have to help.

But it’s not just about Sanchita. She and thousands of other little girls are being sold every year in India. It’s overwhelming thinking about all the horrific wrong that goes on in the world.

But it’s not overwhelming to think of just one. 

The one little girl or boy I can help by getting someone to pay a mere $38 a month to ensure that Sanchita stays out of the sex trade and stays in school. That she gets fed and clothed and educated and knows she will be safe. That she has clean water to drink.

Just watch this short video and tell me you don’t want to swoop this little girl up into your arms and squeeze her (especially minutes 1-3):

You may be asking me, “Well, if you care so much, why don’t you sponsor her?”

Friends, I can only do so much.

Our family fell in love with Compassion International years ago when the president of Compassion spoke at our church. We immediately realized that we may not be able to change the whole world for everyone, but we sure as heck could dramatically change the world for a few children.

We decided we would revamp our budget, eliminating things that were not necessary. We asked our kids if they would be willing to take a portion of any money they received each month to help a child on the other side of the world. The answer was a resounding “yes!” and that day, we made a difference in 5 children’s lives.

Each one of our kids helps sponsor a child through Compassion. I’d like you to meet four of the six children we sponsor:

We matched each of our kids with a child their age so they can grow up with a friend on the other side of the world, someone they can personally connect with. Our girls also help sponsor children through another organization–at the time that we were looking for sponsor kids, we couldn’t find any that were as young as our girls through Compassion. Our kids write letters to their sponsor child each month, sharing what they’ve been doing, asking how school is going, and just chit-chatting.

Usually, we send a small Christmas gift of $25 to each sponsor child. Last year, a few months after Christmas, we received a letter back from Subhash (see above photo), saying he was so excited to receive our financial gift–he had bought a mattress (he’d been sleeping on the floor before that), his mom bought a new pot to cook in, and he bought new clothes and a piece of chocolate. (The chocolate killed me–a child after my own heart! =) ) With his letter, he sent a photo of him and his mom, standing with their new Christmas gifts.

What an incredible reminder for our children–that having “the next cool thing” isn’t really all that important when your friend doesn’t even have a bed to sleep in. 

Can this organization be trusted?

It’s not very often that I put my complete trust into an organization. It wasn’t without much research, prayer and conversations with Superman, that we came to the conclusion that Compassion is not only trustworthy, but is probably one of the most efficient charitable organizations in existence.

Currently, 84% of what Compassion receives goes directly to children in poverty. Only 16% is used to cover overhead costs. 

That is incredible! 

“Independent researchers have conducted an in-depth study of Compassion’s child sponsorship program to determine its impact on the adult life outcomes of formerly sponsored children. The researchers concluded that Compassion’s program has large and statistically significant impacts on the educational, employment and leadership outcomes of our children. This research has been peer-reviewed and will be published in the April issue of the Journal of Political Economy—one of the most prestigious economics journals in the world.” You can read more about that study HERE.

A CNBC article stated, “Of the 5,500 largest charities in America that depend on support from the public, our research shows that the typical charity spends 75% of its budget on programs, 10% on fundraising and 15% on administrative,” says Sandra Miniutti, Vice President, Marketing & CFO of Charity Navigator. “Donors should look for groups that hit or come close to this benchmark and remember that charities must pay for mundane things like the electric bill and they do have to spend some money to bring in donations.”

Compassion is doing an amazing job of changing children’s lives, and I want you to be a part of it!

Friends, I’m not trying to sell you something. I’m not trying to manipulate you or cajole you into doing something you don’t want to do. I am truly, truly passionate about this.

My goal today is to find a sponsor for at least ONE child. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Sanchita–it just need to be one child. That just means one of you fiddles with your budget and finds $38 a month to ensure Sanchita, or another child in need, has a chance at a better life.

What will your money go toward?

The child you sponsor through Compassion will receive opportunities and services that most of the world’s poorest children will simply never see. These opportunities and services include the following:

• The opportunity to receive an education: In some cases, this means providing the cost of school fees, clothing and supplies. In other cases, it means providing virtual tutoring, help with homework, encouragement and, if necessary, participation in a literacy program outside the classroom. Your Compassion sponsorship will allow one special child to stay in school longer if formal schooling is an option and get the most out of his or her education.
• The opportunity to be healthy: The health of the child you sponsor will be monitored and care will be provided as needed. Children are taught about hygiene and how to maintain personal health. In addition, and according to their needs, many Compassion children receive supplementary food.
• The opportunity to develop self-confidence and social skills: The child you support will be part of a church-based program where Christian adults offer love, guidance, personal attention, guided recreation and safety.
• The opportunity to hear the gospel and learn about Jesus: Most important, your Compassion sponsorship provides the child you sponsor with regular Bible training and encouragement through a local church committed to Christ and the children in its community. On average 450 children around the world make a commitment to follow Jesus every single day in a Compassion church center.

Maybe you are looking to help a child in another country. You can look through the many, many kiddos waiting for a sponsor HERE. It doesn’t have to be Sanchita. It just needs to be SOMEONE. 

For $38 a month, you can buy:

• 9 Venti Mochas at Starbucks
• A family of six (ONCE) combo meals at McDonald’s
• A pair of shoes
• A haircut (although not with my hairstylist–she charges $45) =)
• Printer ink (that stuff is expensive!)
• A couple bottles of essential oils
• OR you could change a child’s life.

Seriously, what better way to head into the holiday season than knowing you are giving a child the BEST Christmas gift ever–a chance at breaking the cycle of poverty.

You can find more information on Sanchita HERE. Set your search terms to “India” “female” and “ages 1-5” and you will see her sweet face looking right back at you. 

Please note: If you choose to sponsor a child today through Compassion International, let me know, and you will receive a thank-you gift straight from me! 

PS–I do not receive any compensation for helping to sponsor children through Compassion. I am just so passionate about these children!