FAQ

How can I become a sponsor?

Here you’ll find the children currently waiting for a sponsor.
If you decide to sponsor a child, simply fill out the contact form on that child’s profile page. You’ll then receive all further information by email shortly after — including details on setting up a standing order, the child’s profile, and an info brochure. The sponsorship officially begins with the first transfer of your standing order.

How long does my sponsorship last?

Your sponsorship supports the child for as long as you wish or are able to — it ends at the latest when the child completes university or vocational training. If you choose to sponsor an older child, the sponsorship will naturally be shorter than for a younger one.
You can find more information about the school system in Uganda here.

What happens if I want to end my sponsorship?

Sometimes life circumstances change — and we completely understand that. You can end your sponsorship at any time and without giving a reason. We just kindly ask that you let us know as early as possible, so we can find a new sponsor for your child.

I want to help a child without taking on a sponsorship.

No problem – even a one-time donation can make a big difference. In our program, we also support children in emergency situations who don’t have a sponsor. Simply enter “Child in Need” as the purpose of your donation. Your support will reach children who urgently need help.

How can I get in touch with my sponsored child?

Your sponsored child will write to you several times a year (in English) and will be thrilled to receive a reply from you. Many children keep these letters for years and treasure them deeply. It’s also possible to send small packages to your sponsored child in Uganda — feel free to reach out to us!

Does my donation really reach my sponsored child?

Yes. Your sponsorship donation is not a general contribution — it goes directly to your sponsored child. If your child is fully provided for and a small amount remains (for example, if the child has fewer medical needs), we use the remaining funds to support other children who don’t yet have a sponsor.

Can I visit my sponsored child, and can he/she visit me?

You are very welcome to visit your sponsored child in Uganda — we’ll gladly help you with the planning! The other way around, however, is unfortunately not possible: we do not support invitations for sponsored children to travel to Germany. The differences between the living environments are significant, and such a trip would be an intense culture shock that many children would struggle to cope with. An exception may be considered if the sponsored child has completed their education or university studies and has a stable professional perspective in Uganda. In such cases, we assess individually whether a visit might be possible.

I would like to support a younger child, but currently none are shown on the website.

We understand the desire to support a child from the very beginning of their educational journey. However, we’ve found that younger children usually find a sponsor very quickly, while older children often remain on the waiting list for years — or never find a sponsor at all. That’s why our website primarily features children who are in urgent need of support — currently, these are mostly older children. We warmly invite you to consider giving one of them a chance.
If your heart is still set on supporting a younger child, feel free to contact us — we’ll be happy to find a solution together.

Note on the spelling of names and birthdates:

Many of our children come from remote villages with very limited infrastructure. In many cases, parents or guardians are unable to read or write. This can lead to variations in the way your sponsored child’s name is spelled or written over time.Some differences also stem from the local language: for example, in Luganda, the letter R is often pronounced like an L. So the name Eria may be pronounced Elia, and Julia might sometimes be written as Juria. In rare cases, exact birthdates are not known, as they were never officially documented. These dates are then based on the family’s memory or estimations. This is especially true for children who were abandoned or taken in by others. Our staff investigate carefully and do their best to determine accurate information — but small inconsistencies cannot always be avoided.

How are children selected for the sponsorship program?

Our team in Uganda receives requests for help from families almost every day. Before a child is accepted into the sponsorship program, our staff conduct a home visit to carefully assess the family's situation — looking at living conditions, financial resources, and the actual need for support. Age, gender, or religion do not play a role in this decision. In many cases, our team becomes aware of urgent situations themselves — for example, when a child is orphaned, seriously ill, neglected, or even abused. In such cases, teachers, neighbors, or church members often reach out to us, as the communities in Uganda are very supportive and caring.