Sponsorship FAQs
What is happening with sponsorship in Haiti now?
As of February 1, 2011, all sponsorship operations in Cap Haitien in the North East have resumed. Sponsorship in Croix-des-Bouquets, Frères, and Jacmel will resume in July 2011.
Why has information regarding sponsored children taken so long to collect?
Plan sponsorship staff were directly affected by the earthquake and living conditions for most of them are still harsh. In spite of this, they all reassumed their work almost immediately. Several of these staff members were at first redirected to help with other tasks in the emergency phase. Recently, they have started to reassume their sponsorship work. Logistical problems caused by widespread damage to infrastructure and communications in Haiti also made their task more challenging. Moreover, a number of families were displaced as a result of the earthquake.
Shouldn’t sponsored children have been Plan’s number one priority in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake?
The well-being of the sponsored children is hugely important to Plan and efforts to establish their whereabouts and safety were made as soon as possible. From the beginning, we sought information from all possible sources, including neighbors, community volunteers, and leaders. However, the focus of Plan’s immediate response was not only on our sponsored children but on providing immediate aid and child protection assistance to hard-hit Haitian communities in our program areas, offering assistance to everyone in need.
What about the other areas?
Croix-des-Bouquets, Jacmel, and Port au Prince (Southeast and West) were the areas most severely affected by the quake. Due to the increased demands on the sponsorship staff and the impact of the earthquake on our sponsorship volunteers, sponsorship activities will continue to be suspended. The situation of sponsorship in the Southeast and the West is being constantly evaluated and when the conditions are right we will reassume sponsorship operations.
Can I begin to write to my sponsored child?
If your child lives in Cap Hatien in the North East, you can resume communications with them. However, you may experience a delay in the delivery of communications because of the ongoing cholera outbreak. In the West and South East areas, it could take several more months before communications can restart. Once communications can begin in these areas, we will inform our sponsors.
Is sponsorship still needed?
Yes, absolutely. Sponsorship contributions are necessary, as they will be used to cover and expand project involvement; the need is great and every single cent will make a difference. Sponsorship resources need to continue to grow over the next few years, which will allow planning for long-term reconstruction.
