Whom You Help When You Sponsor a Child

One of the most revealing parts of working for CARITAS For Children is witnessing how children are selected for sponsorship through our Catholic charity. It is encouraging because children who are in deep need have hope of receiving assistance from a sponsor after completing this process. There is a part of me, however, that feels a bit helpless seeing the tremendous, even overwhelming, need in this region of Africa. I can't help wondering why I was born into such different circumstances‚

The first part of the child selection process is the initial interview. Families come from the village to meet with our Coordinator in Uganda, Mr. Joseph Kkonde. Guardians bring their children up to the top of the hill in Nkokonjeru, near where I am staying, to ask for a chance to have their children sponsored. These families come to Joseph, often unannounced, to request assistance with school fees. They know that Joseph has a connection to those who would open their hearts to sponsor a child. For that is one of our main goals: to serve the poorest of the poor, especially children who would not be able to attend school without sponsorship. 

Ruthie's home and family

From her impoverished living situation, it was clear that this little girl did not have much. But the striking truth in all of this, however, is that Ruthie possessed a contagious joy: playing, laughing, telling jokes, and running around with her little cousins. How to find joy within the daily struggle: that is a lesson that the example six-year-old Ruthie can teach all of us.

Ruthie and me

The second child that we visited was a five-year-old boy named Patrick. This little boy was particularly shy; he didn't take to my broken Luganda in the same way that Ruthie did. When I looked him in the eyes, I saw a difference; there was a deep sadness and loneliness that I could not get past. 

Patrick at home

After Patrick's grandmother told us that his mother had abandoned him "after trying to kill him" as a baby, and that his father recently abandoned him to move to Kampala, I began to understand where his sadness came from. I remember holding Patrick's hand and wanting so much to make him feel loved, but not knowing how. I can't imagine how such constant abandonment would affect me. Wishing Patrick strength and holding his hand tight, I felt helpless, wanting to provide this beautiful child with something.