Sponsor with Compassion

Sponsorship means more now than ever before
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child portrait

Saruya 

Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka

Birthday

June 7, 2017

Age

Age: 7

Gender

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Girl

child portrait

Zoe 

Honduras flag
Honduras

Birthday

March 4, 2020

Age

Age: 4

Gender

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Girl

child portrait

Akish 

Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka

Birthday

August 19, 2018

Age

Age: 6

Gender

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Boy

child portrait

Paul 

Ecuador flag
Ecuador

Birthday

October 27, 2014

Age

Age: 10

Gender

gender-icon

Boy

Portrait of Saruya

Meet Saruya

Saruya is 7 years old and lives in Sri Lanka.

LK091400044

Country: Sri Lanka

Birthday: June 7, 2017 (7 years old)

Gender: Girl

Global food crisis icon showing a globe with plants growing within it.

Sri Lanka has been identified as country that is highly vulnerable to food shortages during the global food crisis. Sponsorship can help Saruya and his family get the nourishment they need.

I live with my mother and father in the Mullaitivu area. The primary language where I live is Tamil. My father is sometimes employed as a day labourer. At home, the chores and duties I'm responsible for are animal care, cleaning, helping in the kitchen and sewing. I like art and/or drawing, ball games, baseball and bicycling. I am in the equivalent of preschool.

Saruya's Country Details

Sri Lanka is an island nation lying just south of India in the Indian Ocean. The land is mostly made up of low-lying, fertile plains, except for a mountainous region in the south. Because of its tropical location, Sri Lanka experiences an extremely rainy climate, with monsoons in the northeast from December to March and monsoons in the southwest from June to October. Its rich forests are home to hundreds of species of birds, as well as the Sri Lankan leopard and Sri Lankan elephant.

Most Sri Lankans belong to the Sinhalese people, although there is a substantial Tamil minority, along with other smaller groups. Sinhala is the official language, along with Tamil. Although English is used in the government, only 10 per cent of the population speaks English. Buddhism is the dominant religion, practised by 70 per cent of Sri Lankans, while a small minority practise Islam, Hinduism and Christianity. Located close to the major shipping routes in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has long been famous for its exports of cinnamon, tea, rubber and fabulous gemstones. Today, more than half of Sri Lanka's exports consist of textiles and garments. Many Sri Lankans also work abroad, especially in the Middle East, and send home remittances.

Through the centuries, many waves of migration and conquest have swept through Sri Lanka from countries such as India, China, Malaya, Portugal, the Netherlands and Great Britain. Sri Lanka celebrated its independence in 1948. Originally known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka became its official name in 1972. Beginning in 1983, the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority fought an ethnic war that lasted for more than two decades. Repeated efforts to broker and maintain a peace agreement between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were ultimately unsuccessful, and the conflict continued until May of 2009, when the government defeated the LTTE, finally bringing resolution to the longstanding conflict. Although peace has returned to the island, many challenges still remain as the country struggles with high foreign debt and economic instability.

African children playing

Compassion’s ministry is focused on what we call holistic child development. This means developing children in all the different aspects of their lives—their minds, bodies and relationships—while giving them the opportunity to hear about and experience the love of Jesus from caring local church staff and volunteers.

How does sponsorship help kids?

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Formal and non-formal educational opportunities Compassion assists children with their primary school education and gives opportunities to attend secondary school, as well as providing vocational training opportunities and extra-curricular activities such as sports, field trips, music and computer training.
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Health care, hygiene training and supplementary food Kids get a healthy snack or meal when they attend program activities, receive regular health check-ups, and learn how to take care of their bodies and form healthy relationships.
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The love and support of a local church and the opportunity to hear about Jesus Because Compassion partners with local churches, children are connected to a local Christian community where they have the opportunity to hear the gospel from caring church staff and volunteers.
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Personal attention, guidance and love Children are cared for and invested in by members of their own communities, who encourage them to discover their unique gifts, passions and abilities. Their sponsors also play an important role in this through their prayers and letters.

Is sponsorship still relevant during and beyond the COVID-19 crisis?

During the pandemic, we saw firsthand the impact of crises on children in poverty. We also saw how powerful sponsorship can be in equipping local churches to respond in specific, effective and life-changing ways. As we continue to see multifaceted crises impacting children around the world, we know that the need for sponsorship remains urgent. We are more confident than ever that your commitment to sponsorship truly allows children, families and communities to be deeply known, loved and protected through it all.

Why do you work with local churches?

Compassion works exclusively with local churches because they know the names and faces of the children in their community and can best understand and respond to their challenges. They are known and trusted by their neighbours and are able to reach those in the greatest need with compassion and through the love of God.

We equip our local church partners with the resources, training and expertise to help children escape poverty. Each church is empowered to implement the program in a way that meets the specific needs of the children they serve. In this way the physical, spiritual, emotional and relational needs for children are met as they are empowered to overcome poverty in all its forms.

Do kids need to be Christian to be in Compassion’s program?

Absolutely not! We encourage children and families of all faiths and backgrounds to register in our programs and would never require or coerce anyone to convert to Christianity.

Learn More

At Compassion, we take financial stewardship seriously.

As certified members of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities, Compassion Canada is committed to handling the finances entrusted to us with the utmost integrity. This year, 84.7 per cent of funds were used for program activities benefiting the children we serve, and 15.3 per cent for support services.

Today, children around the world are discovering that poverty doesn’t have to be their future. Help one more do the same by sponsoring with Compassion!