Why should I write a letter to my sponsored child?
Being able to write a letter to a child halfway across the world is magical. Letter writing is one of the best ways for you to develop a bond and a lasting relationship, that you will both cherish forever. It is also often the case that you are the only person sending the children letters which makes them feel special and important.
It provides the children with a sense of long-distance community, improves their self-confidence and gives them something new to look forward to, whilst also allowing them to learn more about you and your life. Furthermore, they are also able to put the things they have learned at school to practice and to be able to talk about their new experiences and adventures.
Children are curious and friendly and want to learn more about you and your life, therefore by sending a hand-written letter full of information about their lives and want to tell you about theirs, it’s a beautiful way of forming a bond.

This clever way of communication has been made possible by volunteers and translation committees that spend the time translating the messages to get rid of the language barrier. The sponsor and sponsored children can develop a relationship and friendship without borders.
When Children of the Mekong or local managers and volunteers visit sponsored children, often they have postcards and letters pinned on their walls that have been sent from their sponsors. This demonstrates that children are strongly impacted by the letters that they receive.
Children that may have not known initially how to write letters back to a sponsor, over time become encouraged to read and write back as they become more mature and willing to tell you more. They come to realise that the sponsor wants to develop a relationship with them and have an ongoing conversation, further changing their minds to want to write back. As a sponsor you can possibly even visit them in the future, it very much gives the children something to look forward to.
Many people have questions regarding writing a letter to their sponsored child: