Am I the only Godparent to my child?
No. To raise a child is more expensive than just one Godparent's contribution. Therefore, the children may also have additional Godparents in the U.S. or other countries.
*Cost averaged among nine NPH countries.
Click here for more information about sponsorship donations.
May I sponsor more than one child?
Yes! New children arrive at the NPH homes on a regular basis and sponsors are always needed. You are welcome to sponsor as many children as you would like for a minimum gift of $30 per month for each child.
Does my donation go directly to my Godchild?
Your sponsorship gift goes to the home where your Godchild lives. Your financial support enables the NPH home to provide food, clothing, shelter, health care, an education and other provisions to all of the NPH children, while giving you the unique opportunity to develop a special relationship with your Godchild.
Do the children have contact with their families outside of NPH?
Most of the children have contact with their extended families. There are scheduled "Visitors Days" during the year in which children receive visitors. The families arrive and spend the day on the NPH grounds, usually bringing food and beverages. The families usually consist of older siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, and sometimes a parent or grandparent. Older teens usually have a free day in which they are able to visit their family if they choose.
May I send a gift to my Godchild?
As stated in the Correspondence Section, small gifts such as stickers, drawings, photos and cards may be sent to your Godchild through Friends of the Orphans. Please make sure whatever you send is flat and fits into a 7” X 10” envelope. Packages are subject to high import taxes and may be confiscated. We encourage Godparents to provide their Godchildren with the greatest gift of all – love!
Sponsors may make a monetary gift in the name of a child which will be placed in the Sharing Fund. This money is used to give each child a personal gift on their birthday and at Christmas. NPH also uses money from this fund to pay for fun and recreational activities, such as excursions to the zoo or the circus, or to buy ice cream or treats for all the children. Click here to make a gift to the Sharing Fund.
May I send an e-mail to my Godchild?
The children are unable to receive e-mails from sponsors. The NPH homes have limited e-mail access and the children do not have consistent access to the Internet. The children love to receive letters and cards from their sponsors and these help to develop a more personal relationship with the child.
May I visit my Godchild at the NPH home?
Yes! You are always welcome to visit your Godchild! Click here for more information.
If you visit your Godchild at an NPH home, you may take a gift. However, we request that the gift is one that may be shared by all of the children, such as a board game, jigsaw puzzle, or book. Further details are available from your regional office.
When will I receive a progress report on my Godchild?
You will receive a progress report once per year. The timing varies depending on the school year in the country where your Godchild lives.
When will I receive a new photograph of my Godchild?
You will receive a new photograph of your Godchild each Christmas.
How long does my Godchild need a sponsor?
A child needs love and encouragement every day of his or her life. By sponsoring a child, you will become a padrino or madrina (“Godfather” or “Godmother”) providing consistent guidance and support to an orphaned or abandoned child who no longer has parents available to fill this vital role. Whether a child is in primary, secondary, high school, trade school, university or fulfilling his or her family service, he or she is still supported by the NPH family. As a member of this family, the more you involve yourself in your Godchild's life, the more your own life will be enriched in return. Sponsors are encouraged to continue their sponsorship as long as they are able.
From time to time we may ask a sponsor to transfer his or her sponsorship to a new child. This may happen when a child leaves NPH. In the majority of cases, transfers occur when children complete their education and begin a life on their own. Occasionally children may leave NPH before finishing the program. Children may return to live with relatives, they may desire to live independently, and sometimes children are unable to adjust to life in the NPH homes and leave on their own. These are sad circumstances for the directors and caregivers in the homes as well as for our sponsors. When a transfer is necessary, sponsors will be informed by the Friends of the Orphans Sponsorship Coordinator as soon as we learn of the departure. You will be asked if you are willing to sponsor another child living in one of the NPH homes. We will attempt to match the age and gender of your previous child whenever possible; however, we will ask you to sponsor a child with the greatest need.
How long do children stay at NPH?
There is no fixed age at which the children leave NPH. They stay until they feel prepared to live independently. It also depends on how far they want to pursue their education. Some children may leave NPH and start working after finishing secondary school. Others may stay and attend high school, take vocational training or study at a university. Additionally, when children have completed their education, or perhaps before going on to higher academics, they are expected to give back to their family by completing a year of service (año de servicio or año familiar). In almost all cases they gladly return to work with younger children or serve in the kitchen, offices, school or farm. During their Family Service they continue to be supported by NPH.
Can I stay in touch with my Godchild when he or she leaves NPH?
No. When children leave they receive financial assistance to help them get started in their new life, but they are no longer in NPH's care and we are unable to forward correspondence. We encourage Godparents to sponsor another child in need.
Are there other ways I can help the children of NPH?
Yes, there are many other ways to help besides sponsorship! You may: