Sponsoring a child in Rural India

“The SOTE child sponsorship programme gives dignified life to children from poor communities”

— Peter, CEO of CARE

young boy outisde his hut in rural india — Londor community child outside a family home

Why Sponsor a child in rural India?

Child sponsorship programmes are more relevant and needed than ever in rural India. Our child sponsorship scheme helps not only the child and their family but benefits their wider village community.

According to Times of India, ‘India is home to the largest number of illiterate people in the world with over 25% of the population still uneducated.’

Without an education, people are unaware of their rights and opportunities and are excluded from formal sectors of employment. In the rural villages we support, children often leave education before the age of 14, to help support the family home, and grow up struggling to find work.

The families we support live below the poverty line, referred to as ‘Dalit’s’ (untouchables). They are often situated miles away from water, roads, and hospitals and are ‘un-seen’ by the government due to an inability to obtain Identity (ID) cards and documents.

Salt of the Earth’s child sponsorship scheme benefits rural children as well as their community. We have been sponsoring children in India for over 20 years and understand that to best help rural children, their families must also feel supported.

Sponsored children with their school bags

What does our child sponsorship scheme fund?

Sponsored children are representative of their village and are selected from the poorest and most deprived families. Children and families not directly supported by this scheme will be able to access health and livelihood incentives funded by your donations.

Child sponsorship donations fund:

School uniform for your sponsored child every year.
A sturdy backpack, books, pencils, and school euipment every year for the child you sponsor.
Extra-curricular English classes and homework support for sponsored children and other children in their community.
Birthday parties, presents, and birthday sweets for sponsored children.
An annual educational school trip (popular with both students and staff!).
Creative play and materials.
Livelihood incentives for parents and local families (can include goat rearing, counselling, women’s refuge camp, skills training depending on village).
Health incentives in the child’s community (can include mobile health clinics, hygenie camps, sanitation equipment and training depending on village).
Wages of dedicated social workers, teachers, and NGO staff who support the child and family’s development.

The majority of sponsored children are Hindu, and some are Muslim. Our charity does not discriminate against religions. We sponsor families who are most at need.

sponsored children in India learning English — Extra-curricular English and homework class. Classes, uniform, and school books funded by SOTE sponsors.

Sponsored children enjoying educational trip!

“SOTE’s interventions are making vast difference in improving the quality of education in schools. The Sponsorship programme is providing immense help to students from poor family backgrounds to help them keep up with the learning level of other students.
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— Dr John L Fernandes, CEO WWI

CARE Foundation team with sponsored primary children

How much does it cost to sponsor a child in India?

Sponsoring a child with Salt of the Earth costs £20 per month.

The children sponsored through our scheme start at primary school age and we insist that they are sponsored through to their final years of secondary school.

Furthermore, as we are a volunteer-led charity with low overheads, we can guarantee that the large majority of money donated goes directly to Tamil Nadu without any deductions. We know of no other charity that can offer this.

What will I receive as a child sponsor?

When you sign up to sponsor a child in India, our team will send you welcome documents outlining the life of the child and their family.

Each year, our charity sends two updates on the child’s progress. In the first half of the year, you will receive a detailed school report and a photograph. At Christmas time, we send a hand-drawn letter from the girl or boy you sponsor, as well as a status report of the SOTE work implemented in their village with the help of your donations.

You can even write to your sponsored child!

To further your connection with the child you sponsor, you can write to your sponsored child twice a year and receive a personalised response.

Many Salt of the Earth sponsors enjoy building a conversation and learning more about the children they sponsor.

How SOTE Child Sponsorship has changed Bindu’s life

Bindhu, aged 11, lives with her parents and older sister. Her parents have no regular work and can only afford the cheapest of meals to feed her and her older sister.
Bindhu has been sponsored since starting school. Each year she receives school materials and uniform through sponsorship. She attends yearly educational trips and is supported with her homework at extra-curricular classes funded by sponsorship donations. At her school, hundreds of trees have been planted and the playground has been renovated.
With the encouragement of WWI, Bindhu’s mother has joined a local Women’s Self Help Group. Her mother has also set up a kitchen garden outside their home which is providing nutritious low-cost food.
In Bindhu’s village, there is a SOTE mobile clinic once every 15 days, providing free medical check-ups and medicines. Her performance at school is good and her teachers are very appreciative of her. She has grown to be quite self-confident.

Primary extra-curricular class in action

Sponsored children enjoying singing and dancing

How to sponsor a child:

Children on the waiting list are part of rural village communites Chengalpettu, India. These familes are often ostracized by society and live on the outskirts of villages. The majority of families live in tarpaulin or small thatched one-roomed homes.

Sponsoring a child through our charity will help to support the child, their family, and their wider village community. Explore children on our waiting list below and help change the lives of a young child and their family.