There are currently millions of children all over the world that do not have access to the most basic health care, basic nutrition needs, education or life.
We are all aware of this painful reality. We have all heard about it, witnessed it, seen images or have even helped or wanted to help! Unfortunately, the truth is that these situations persist...
Most of these children live in Africa. The seriousness of the situation in this continent is well known, but it is particularly extreme in the sub-Saharan area and specifically in Guinea-Bissau. In fact, the reality of this country speaks for itself: Guinea-Bissau is at the 173rd place (out of 182 countries) of the Human Development Index from the UNDP Annual Report 2013. Besides being extremely poor, Guinea-Bissau is also a very young country where the age average is 25 years old. It is, therefore, easy to come to the conclusion that the main victims of this lack of development end up being the younger ones, especially the children.
The BAOBA Project, a child sponsorship programme, created by the Association "Afectos com Letras" aims to collect the support from sponsors' contributions, whether financial or otherwise, in order to make it possible for the Guinea-Bissauan children to attend school and have access to basic medical and nutritional assistance.
Class sponsorship
This modality enables several children to receive help simultaneously. Through this sponsorship solution it is possible to ensure school enrolment for a group of students (in Guinea-Bissau there are school fees even in public schools), as well as the possibility to acquire school material for a whole class (a blackboard for example, books for the teacher, or other materials for the students). The school uniform is also guaranteed, as well as a balanced meal during the period in which the children are attending school. It is important to refer that, in Guinea-Bissau, the schools do not always have the minimal teaching materials necessary to enable a positive and productive learning process.
Through this modality, the caring sponsors receive a datasheet that contains relevant information regarding the class they support. Once a year, the sponsors also get a feedback letter, from the responsible adult that monitors the class, as well as a photo of the class.
The class sponsorship foresees a monetary contribution of 15€ per month, which can be made by bank transfer to a specific bank account created for this purpose.
How long does the commitment take?
We hope that a sponsor can go along with the sponsored child at least to the conclusion of his/her studies (18 years old). However, our child sponsorship programme does not have a legal bond, which means that at any time it is possible to renounce the sponsorship of a child by simply giving back the most recent photo sent to the sponsor and the datasheet, so that both of them can be sent to another sponsor willing to continue the support.
The decision to sponsor a child should be thoughtfully made, seeing as assuming the commitment to sponsor a child or a class creates high expectations in the children and in the Mission, responsible for the monitoring. In case we cannot find another sponsor, the renouncement of the sponsorship can break the cycle of development of the child or class. The Association “Afectos com Letras” will always, nevertheless, do its best to find a new sponsor.
Is it possible to visit the child?
Visiting the mission is an enriching experience and helps to better understand the reality in which the children live and how our work is developed.
To do this kind of trip it would be wise to contact us first in order to receive all the necessary information. We will be very happy to support this kind of initiative.
The mission to support
The Mission from the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ, settled in Guinea-Bissau since 1980, has been developing its work in the area of human development through vocational training centres, health units, maternities, centres of nutritional rehabilitation, kindergartens and primary schools.
In Ingoré, a small village where the Mission has been settled for more than 25 years, the sisters have built health and education infrastructures and two recovery centres for children that cover about 30 villages in a 35km range.
In Sao Paulo, nearby the city of Bissau, the sisters also have built an occupational centre for young teachers, a kindergarten with 150 children and training courses for women.
Nowadays this Mission supports about 1000 Guinea Bissauan children and contributes directly to the improvement of their life conditions as well as to the overall development of the country.
With the sponsorship programme you can change two lives: the children's and your own...With the sponsorship programme, children continue living in their own environment, with their parents and, thanks to the sponsors' support, they have the chance to attend school and have access to food and essential medical assistance.
The sponsorship's main goals are not only the individual development of the children but also of their families and the surrounding community. By helping a needy child to overcome the obstacles of poverty, we are also improving the living conditions of his/her parents, which brings a positive reflex to the whole community.
The importance of the sponsorship and the role it plays has its strength in its main objective: the opportunity it gives to its beneficiaries to break the cycle of poverty, become autonomous and realize their full potential by contributing to their own development.
By joining the BAOBA Project you are contributing to the resolution of the problems inherent in a difficult childhood and are also encouraging the beneficiaries to stimulate the resources necessary for their proper development. The reach of BAOBA Project is not locked to the act of joining the initiative: it brings the sponsors closer to the understanding of the problems and of the necessities of the other countries and the sponsors take part in their commitment, not as spectators, but as full participating parties to a real process of development.
How to join the project?
To join the BAOBA Project you have only to send us an e-mail asking for the form - afectoscomletras@gmail.com or contact us by phone: (+32) 477 490808.
Bank account details
IBAN PT50 0035 0127 0005 5604 03038
Swift CGDIPTPL
IBAN PT50 0035 0127 0005 5604 03038
Swift CGDIPTPL
