MSC archived stories - September 1, 2019
I’ve just written to Faith for the first time, but was wondering what our veteran Zambia sponsors would think of my suggestion of a possible EG to her family.
Dear Faith,
I want to Welcome you to my family of sponsored children from around the globe. You are my very first child to join from sub-Saharan Africa – Zambia!
First, so that you know me, my name is Chelaka. I was born in Sri Lanka, but now live in Scotland of Great Britain. I have been a CI sponsor for 14 years now.
I'm learning a lot about you, dhuwa (daughter as in my mother tongue) and your life in Lusaka. In where I grew up in 70s and 80s the life was hard with civil unrest in the country for decades, so I can relate to somewhat even harder upbringing you're enduring without your parents around. Will you introduce your five members of the family to me? Do you normally have food to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
My priority is to get you to enroll in a school, preferably junior public school in Kanyama. And I'll take care of the rest until you graduate from CI.
We are closely connected through our membership of the Commonwealth of Nations. You may have seen cows in your neighborhood, but did you know one of Scotland icons is the Scottish highland cattle with long horns and woolly ginger coats? I thought asking if you would like to have a gift of a livestock animal or seeds to support your family's livelihood.
Lots of Love to my fighting spirit of wisdom!
Chelaka
I've always wondered what other sponsors wrote in their first letters. You share many interesting details. About your gift suggestion, I think all CI Lusaka children live in urban areas where they cannot grow livestock or crops. Someone who visited might know more, but I think this issue came up once. Another thing: the family might not feel comfortable replying directly to an offer of help. You'll see, keep us updated.
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Your letters to your kids are always so lovely ❤️ Thank you for sharing as it definitely gives me some ideas on drafting letters to my kids 😊
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I have two thoughts. First, I think you've written a beautiful letter - both thoughtful and thought-provoking! I only hope Faith, or someone in her family, has sufficient knowledge of English to appreciate what you write. Secondly, I'm intrigued by your idea of asking the family directly if they would welcome a gift of livestock. If CI has advised families not to request gifts from sponsors, would Faith's family be afraid/reluctant to answer you?
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I enjoy your posts, you are such a caring and compassionate person. Regarding your question, with gifts I would make an inquiry to CI as they will work with the family to determine needs based on their situation. The only caution is that in asking, it sets an expectation with the family that you will deliver on something. Asking the question directly may not pass the black marker review in the letter going to the family or the one coming back so you may not get an answer. You can ask these questions indirectly e.g. When I was growing up we lived on a farm and had chickens, cattle and ducks. 'Does your family have livestock? If so what kinds?' It is a 3 day weekend for CI but perhaps they will comment on Tuesday. I have only seen the rule about the family not asking for gifts but nothing for sponsors. The only guidance I have seen posted for sponsors is not to mention gifts until you get the letter acknowledging the family received the gift.
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None of my Lusaka kids are in farming families, but that's an interesting thought. Earlier this year I had two students (through another organization) both buy piglets with their EGs, both at the exact same time. The interesting thing was that one was in the Philippines and the other in rural India. With the next EG's, one bought animal feed and the other a large number of chicks. I thought that both were particularly enterprising. >>> I maybe got a clue to 'why' recently in The Economist: the severe African swine flu epidemic in China and Vietnam, causing a regional pork shortage (and higher prices - plus increased demand for chicken). >>>> I get the impression - and it's just an impression - the CI steers EG's more to store purchases than 'entrepreneurial' activities. I'd be curious if other families are buying livestock with EG's.
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My understanding is the same as some other sponsors. I think they'll likely live somewhere pretty densely populated and will not have the land to support growing food/keeping an animal. It does come with a lot of other questions too - would getting water/food for the animal be too much for the family? For requests like that, I prefer to get CI to ask the question so parents can decide without getting the child too excited. I have sponsored two children in Zambia for almost four years and I've found their education to be the most important help I could provide. Both are now in private school along with two siblings. The difference in my sponsored child's educational achievement versus her siblings who were older when I started sponsoring her is shocking. Josephine is in the same class as her brother who's two years older and is doing better in terms of grades. They're both three grades behind their 18 year old brother. The sooner you can intervene in education, the better. Don't be too put off private schools. My experience is the families and CI seem to be quite aware of what schools offer a good education. I had one family specifically request a move from a community school to a private school after a year because they weren't happy with the educational standards. I really liked sending beds as a first EG! Lots of the Zambians seem to be sleeping on mats.
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Thank you all for the feedback and I appreciate it very much. I was careful enough not to put the question directly (as my offer/wish) in the sense that people of Zambia are accustomed to receiving gifts of such kind. But as you alluded it could be subject to interpretation, so I will check with CI before they dispatch the letter. Basically, I was wondering whether to simply mention this in an EG without the knowledge of that’s at all feasible or desired, or as Frosty mentioned to make an inquiry, but would it be worthwhile go to this extent if urban environment limits such an enterprise?
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It sounds like you've already or plan to send an inquiry about her education. If you have multiple questions that you don't think are worth a visit on their own, now would be a good time! If I have some little questions, I'll throw them in with the bigger stuff so CI doesn't have to make a separate trip. I think when I did this in the past and I'd already sent an inquiry I specifically asked to add it to the preexisting one to make sure.
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Thanks for the advice, freestyle. Yes, education inquiry is already en route to Lusaka, but Faith has other needs too, which I hope to address later along with this one once we both acquainted ourselves as she is new to sponsorship as much as I’m to Zambia. I was just interested in learning how she will interact with me to start with :-)
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I nominate Chelaka for Sponsor of The Month. Chelaka, here is a sentence I put in my letters to the children/youths I sponsor in Lusaka. (Nyanja first, English translation second) Ndikukhumba chisangalalo chachikulu ndi thanzi labwino kwa inu ndi banja lanu. I wish great happiness and good health for you and your family. I include the words "your family" in all of my missives and in my EG's. (Extra monetary Gifts)
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Two observations regarding Zambia... (a) letter-writing can be on a very precise 90-day schedule (three kids' letters all together on 3/26, 6/26, 9/26 etc), and (b) I've been impressed by how deeply religious some kids are. Of course that's true elsewhere as well - but it can be big factor here.
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Rachel, You're the inspiration behind all of this, for which I'm eternally grateful. I'll use your meaningful sentence in Nyanja to close off my letters to Faith going forward, thank you!
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Bill, Yes, children are only allowed to write every 90 days, even in response to sponsor letter (CP); I’m very open to all religious beliefs and will see if Faith’s writings refer to Christianity.
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You always put such great thought into your letters and gift chelaka. I think this one is great!
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