What Do I Say in My Letter?

Knowing what to say in a letter to a young person on the other side of the globe--one you've never met!--can be a daunting prospect for many Sponsors. We know our children love to receive letters, but ... what should we say?!

It is always important to consider the age of your child when writing, and to adjust your topics and vocabulary accordingly. Keep in mind also that although your child may be very young now, he or she will treasure and keep your letters and reread them in ten years when his or her comprehension skills are much higher. Also remember that your letter will probably be excitedly shared with your child's parents, siblings, relatives, friends, and other neighbors!

Suggested topics of discussion:

-Your family (spouse, children, parents, siblings, cousins) and pets
-Your favorite sports and hobbies
-Your favorite vacation spots
-Your occupation
-Your holiday celebrations and traditions
-Your town (geography, special buildings, climate)
-Why you chose your child (what made them special, what made you want to help them)

Do not be afraid to tell your children about your life's ups and downs! They will celebrate your successes and often offer words of comfort at difficult times.

Encourage your child often:

-Celebrate good grades
-Tell them you are proud of them
-Remind them that hard work will help them achieve their dreams

It's also a good idea to ask your child questions:

-Their favorite colors, cartoon characters, and sports
-How many kids are in their class at school
-How far their home is from the CI center
-Who lives with them (there are often relatives such as cousins or grandparents living in the same home, though they're not listed on the family report)
-Whether they have any pets
-What their hopes and dreams for the future are

Also, if you learn of something occurring in your child's area (earthquake, typhoon, fire) that may have affected them, you can ask them about it. Even though CI will notify you directly if your child was affected by any such event, your child will appreciate knowing that you are concerned.

Topics to Approach Cautiously, or Avoid All Together:

-Material items and possessions -- children can become discouraged when confronted with all the things they do not have
-Religion -- describing your religion (particularly with regard to holiday traditions) is probably okay ... trying to convert your child to your beliefs is probably not
-Social Issues -- many of our children come from cultures that are vastly different than ours, and discussing some controversial topics may inadvertently offend your child or his family.
-Extra gifts you have sent -- I know, this one sounds strange. If your letter arrives before the gift, however, it can cause confusion. Also, remember that your letter will probably be shared with neighbors--some of whom may also be sponsored, but whose Sponsor has not sent any additional gifts. Feelings of jealousy or neglect may inadvertently be triggered.

Once a few letters have traveled back and forth between you and your child, you will likely find it much easier to come up with topics of discussion! You may even discover a conversation develops over a shared interest. Only time will tell!

DP Tips and Tricks

Based on their own experiences, Sponsors have offered the following advice to make shipping your package to your child as painless and inexpensive as possible:

Mail your gifts in a padded envelope instead of a box. It's less expensive, and (supposedly) less tempting to thieves. WalMart sells yellow padded envelopes in a variety of sizes, up to 14.5” x 19”. A lot of goodies can be stuffed into one of these envelopes, but be careful to keep your package under four pounds or you will have to pay for priority shipping (USPS).

Mark your packages as a gift and a charitable donation on the shipping paperwork, and attribute as low a value as possible to the items inside. This will theoretically discourage thieves and draw less attention in customs.

Don't shop in thrift stores! CI may not deliver used clothing to children. Here is an explanation from Debbie Spring, Senior Sponsor Services Representative:

“The reason the staff requests no used clothing is because we've received packages both here in KC and at the SOA's that is stained, torn, faded, sewn back together, unwashed, have bugs in the box, used undies, etc. - basically things that many people would not want their own children to wear, but feel that a child with limited clothing should be thankful to receive. And in theory, it does seem that a child with limited clothing would welcome ANY clothing item...but in reality, no child (poor or not) wants to wear clothing that is poor condition -- even if it's free. The majority of families we serve have a real sense of pride and want their children to look and feel their best - just like us. All of this being said, if you have clothing that has been worn once or twice, or is in excellent condition and looks, smells and feels new, I personally, don't think that anyone would be insulted to receive it. And would not raise any red flags with the staff or family, because most sponsors take the price tags off the clothes they send anyway.”