menu Plan International UK Work with children in the world’s poorest countries to build a better future You are here: Sponsor a girl breadcrumb navigation: Home / Sponsor a child / Sponsor a girl STAND WITH GIRLS YOU CAN HELP GIRLS LIKE LORDINA ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS SPONSOR A GIRL Coronavirus affects us all, but for many girls around the world it means they won’t ever go back to school or complete their education. All too often girls are made to drop out of school and give up on their futures. Instead, they are at an increased risk of child marriage. Sponsor a girl today and you can help her achieve her dreams. Start by choosing where you’d like to sponsor below: SPONSOR A GIRL 1 2 3 4 5 STEP 1 Our child sponsorship programme benefits children in 50 countries WHICH CONTINENT? Wherever the need is greatest Africa Asia Central and South America Do you have a specific country in mind? you’ll be able to select in the next few steps. HOW SPONSORSHIP WORKS A one-to-one connection You’ll have a one-to-one connection with the girl you sponsor. She’ll write to you and if you want you can write back, or even visit! to empower girls and their communities We do everything we can to educate, empower and protect girls in our communities. However, families will always have autonomy over their own lives and the future of their children – every sponsored girl’s journey is unique. from as little as 65p a day It's just 65p a day to sponsor a girl. At least 80% of our income goes towards funding vital projects, benefiting whole communities in the country where your sponsored girl lives. WHY GIRLS NEED YOU Every three seconds another girl becomes a child bride Three million girls a year are at risk of female genital mutilation 17 million girls worldwide were reached by Plan International last year Now the lasting impact of coronavirus is putting more girls at risk, as families who were already struggling lose their income. SPONSOR A GIRL TODAY HOW SPONSORSHIP HELPS GIRLS WHEN YOU SPONSOR A GIRL, YOU HELP HER WHOLE COMMUNITY Safe clean water and healthcare You'll help provide all the essentials that help give girls the strength and hope to go on to reach their potential. Protection from child marriage You’ll help protect girls from abuse like child marriage and FGM and give them a chance to decide their own futures. An equal chance for girls to learn You’ll help give girls a chance to achieve their dreams by providing books, uniforms and safe places to learn. Working with boys and men You’ll help educate boys so they grow up understanding the value of girls, meaning the whole community benefits. ANTORA'S STORY Child marriage is a big problem in Antora’s community in Bangladesh. But thanks to child sponsorship, this 10-year-old girl doesn't fear marriage and is able to go to school. She also attends a club that teaches her about her right to refuse child marriage, how handwashing can protect her from diseases and how to shelter safely if a disaster strikes. “I don’t think I will be married early. I like going to school!” She says. Now more than ever, sponsors are needed to help girls like Antora continue learning through these tough circumstances. SPONSOR A GIRL WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE Welcome pack and photos A welcome email and a pack in the post introducing your sponsored child, along with information about them and their community. You’ll also receive a booklet in the post, with guidance on how to write and tips on what to say. Letters and drawings Your sponsored girl will send you a letter or drawing. It may take a little longer to arrive while we take steps to keep communities safe from coronavirus, but you’ll see it’s worth the wait! For each letter you send, you’ll receive a reply. Updates about her progress You’ll receive an annual progress update in the post, showing the difference your donations are helping to make to the girl you sponsor, her friends and her community. WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SPONSOR A GIRL Judy "Child marriage is wrong on so many levels. That’s why I knew I had to sponsor Ana, because I want her to know that I will stand with her.” Amrita “I just want Katia to grow up to be a strong independent woman, to stand up for herself and to be anything in the world that she wants to be.” Elizabeth “To receive letters and to complete the experience by visiting Sarah in her community has been amazing.” SPONSOR A GIRL WHY CHOOSE PLAN INTERNATIONAL Pioneers of child sponsorship Plan International were the first-ever child sponsorship organisation Over 80 years' experience Sponsors have been enabling children globally to reach their potential for over 80 years Leaders in girls' rights We listen to and empower girls to find solutions to the unique challenges they face YOU CAN HELP HER ACHIEVE HER DREAM Every girl dreams of what she wants to be, but dreams are forgotten when you’re a girl with no choices in life. Boys are more likely to go to school, while too many girls are being denied an education. Girls are being made to suffer FGM, forced to marry men up to three times their age, or have babies even though they’re still children themselves. When you sponsor a girl, you can help her achieve her dream. And when your sponsored girl writes to you, she’ll tell you all about her dreams and you can encourage her to reach for them. FAQS Is sponsorship like adoption? No, it's not. The girl you sponsor will have a family of her own, but your words of encouragement play an important role for her and her community. Letter writing also helps girls learn about other cultures and improve their literacy skills. How long will I sponsor for? We hope your relationship with us and the girl you sponsor will continue for a number of years. But, if your circumstances change, you can stop at any time and we will try to find another sponsor for her. Children are usually sponsored until they are 18. What about boys? Whether you choose to sponsor a girl or a boy, you’ll help projects focused on equal opportunities for all children. We know girls are the most vulnerable and we ensure that boys play an important role in building secure communities that value girls. Can I send a gift? Yes, you can send small gifts that fit in an A4 package. To promote fairness we ask you to follow our guidelines on what you can send. These include modest, shareable items such as crayons or skipping ropes. Please understand that it will take longer for gifts to arrive while we protect communities from coronavirus. How do you keep children safe? Your support will not only help end harmful practices such as child marriage and FGM. Safeguarding children and young people is at the heart of everything we do, which is why we have well-established systems in place to make sure the children we work with are protected. How can I request more information? Our Supporter Relations team are happy to answer any questions about sponsorship and our work. You can reach them on 0300 777 9779 or supporterquestions@plan-uk.org or request an information pack below. Download an information pack Request an information pack MORE FAQS BE A DREAM MAKER TODAY SPONSOR NOW Share this FACEBOOK LINKEDIN TWITTER Useful links MY SPONSORSHIP JOBS AND VOLUNTEERING RESOURCES POLICY RESEARCH AND INFLUENCING MEDIA CENTRE CONTACT US SAFEGUARDING TERMS & CONDITIONS PRIVACY NOTICES COOKIE NOTICE Site Search Search Follow Connect with us FACEBOOK TWITTER YOUTUBE INSTAGRAM Central Contact Switchboard: +44 (0) 300 777 9777 Plan International UK Finsgate, 5-7 Cranwood Street London, EC1V 9LH UK Small Print Registered Charity No. 276035. | Sitemap Analytics On Off We use analytics cookies to help us understand how you use our website, so that we can make it better. 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