In the spring of 2014 we received some exciting news in the mail.  Canadians now sponsor 100,000 children through Compassion! That’s 100,000 kids who are being released from poverty in every sense—by having their practical needs met and hearing the good news about Jesus!

My family has been sponsoring a child through Compassion.  Let’s face it, in North America we have an increased responsibility to steward the wealth that we have been allowed to accumulate.  My wife and I made an agreement that no matter how low money may get in our family, we will make sure we can make this donation.

Read here how we joined with compassion (coming).

The big question is: Does sponsoring a child with Compassion work?

Many groups collect money to help children.  Each one has unique values and strategies on how to bring children out of poverty.  They will always share with you stories about how they are doing great work.

However, many do not have independent evaluation of the work being done from outside the organization.

I always thought ‘Why has no one ever done an independent study?’  Yes we get the great stories from the organization receiving our money. If what they are doing is true, which I believed, an independent study should reveal this.  There is always the challenge of money to get the bigger study done.  However, we could be talking about a lot of money being wasted.

In the spring of 2013, I read a report in a Compassion magazine about an independent study.  As I read the article, I was impressed that there was a recent study done.

The results of this study support the work Compassion is doing around the world.  The study looked at the impact on the adult life of formerly sponsored children.  The study reveals that there is positive impact in many areas of life.  Does there need to be more studies, yes; do some of compassion’s areas of work need improving, most likely. However, the study reveals the benefits of such work with these children.

Some of the results (http://www.compassion.com/does-child-sponsorship-work.htm)

• Education – Sponsored child stays in school longer
• Better employment opportunity.
• Leadership – Many of the children become leaders in their community

For those who want greater details, you can read those here in the Journal of Political Economy

The conclusion was that Compassion is working and helping, while recognizing that more studies need to be done.

Does it work? Yes.  Should you sponsor? Yes?

Go here to learn how?

100,000 Children Sponsored! from Compassion Canada on Vimeo.