Sponsorships

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"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."
(The answer of the Kenyan Vice-President regarding school fees in Kenya)

Sponsorships are the most important part of our project. Through sponsorships, the children of very poor families obtain an opportunity for good education and thus a better life. Nearly a quarter of approx. 1400 children (as of  2010) at Mekaela Academies have obtained a sponsorship through Watoto. Due to that circumstance, we managed to firmly integrate Mekaela Academies into the neighbourhood of Ukunda, rather than just creating elite schools for better-off families.

Group photograph with a lady. Some of the almost 60 children who had a sponsorship in spring of 1999. The lady on the right is Siggi, who contributed a lot to our project. Siggi had been living in Kenya from 1994 to until 2000 and had committed herself to the very poor families.

This is how children may obtain a sponsorship:  The children's parents submit an application form together with a photo of their child, on which they agree to the terms and conditions of sponsorship. After the head-teachers' and the Education Manager's recommendation the application form is sent to Germany where the child is placed on the waiting list until Watoto receives a declaration of sponsorship (in writing or online) for it.

It is very easy to become a sponsor: Simply fill out a form you can find at the bottom of this page and send it to us by mail, fax or email. Unless we are able to charge you by direct debit, you are required to transfer the sponsorship amount once annually, before the beginning of the following year. If applicable, Watoto will issues a donor's receipt for tax deduction purposes. Because Watoto has no administrative or other expenses, each donated Euro for the children goes directly to the schools.

At the beginning of each term, Watoto transfers due amounts for school fees and other services to Kenya. During the year, we receive copies of the children's report books as well as their letters to the sponsors and pictures which we forward to the sponsors. To explain why we insist on checking on the school reports: If a child's performance drops below the level of 50% in three consecutive terms, the sponsorship may be withdrawn.

There are good reasons for this: The sponsored children generally achieve average grades of 80%, they are normally at the top of their respective class. A significant drop in their performance usually indicates that the family has lost interest in the education of their child, thus reducing the likelihood that the child will finish primary school level or even secondary, let alone join university. On the other hand, dozens of families are desperately waiting for sponsorship for their child, and they are perfectly willing to work hard for such an opportunity. For their sake, it just wouldn't be fair to block the door into a better future.

We do not think a sponsorship should relieve parents of all financial burden. Some sort of contribution should be paid by parents, too, no matter how small it might be.

And one other important suggestion: Every donor should be aware that with the beginning of a sponsorship the child's and its parents' hopes are raised by the prospects of a better life through good education. Although Watoto has set up an emergency fund to cater for cases of hardship, every donor carries a large responsibility for the sponsored child. Thus, a sponsorship should only be undertaken with the clear intention of following it through to the end of the child's education, even for several years.

Micki Wentzel is in charge for sponsorships at Watoto. She maintains communication between the donors, the schools and Watoto. Any inquiries may be directed to Micki, so if you wish to obtain further information about a possible sponsorship, please contact her by email.
 

 

 

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© Watoto e.V. 2010