Tips for Letter Writing

Don't fret, just write.
Make a plan.
Keep copies of the letters that you write to your sponsored child.
Learn about your sponsored child's country.
Don't wait to receive a letter from your sponsored child before you write again.
Give your sponsored child an example to follow.
"...it is not content that matters as much as contact."
Tell stories to your sponsored children.
Not every letter that you send has to be a work of literature.
Don't fuss if your letters seem "dorky."
Write out the date on your letters.

• Don't fret, just write. Writing a letter to your sponsored child doesn't have to be a chore. If you haven't written in a while, don't feel guilty, just write a letter. You don't have to have a lot to say. A pretty little card that just says, "I'm thinking of you." says a lot. Return to top.

• Make a plan. Think about how often you can reasonably write letters, and when the best time will be to do it. Then, make a commitment to yourself to do that. Do you want to write monthly? Maybe you can write a letter on the same day that you send your sponsorship check. Can you only commit to writing twice a year? How about planning to write a letter for your sponsored child's birthday and for your birthday?

  If you have made a plan about when you'll write, you'll more than likely follow through on that plan. If you don't, simply start over. Readjust your plan if necessary, and write a letter. Return to top.

• Keep copies of the letters that you write to your sponsored child. It can take a while for an exchange of letters to complete a cycle, and you'll likely forget what you wrote. It's also really fun to look back every once in a while to see how your correspondence has changed, and what kinds of things you've talked about... Return to top.

• Learn about your sponsored child's country, culture, and religion. You'll likely feel more comfortable writing to your child if you have a basic understanding of his/her point of view. You'll also gain some understanding of what kinds of questions to ask, and what kinds of things he/she will understand.

  The Internet is a perfect place to start. My favorite search engine is Google. All you have to do is type in a list of key words (in order of importance) and "viola!" you'll find a useful list of links.

  The public library is, of course, always a good resource. I'd recommend going to the children's section. There you will find basic information that will likely give you a satisfactory understanding of what you're looking for without getting too detailed... For example, before I went on my first trip to India, I went to the local library to read about Islam. (Asma is Muslim.) I found a fascinating book written for Muslim children that explained in simple terms basic information about the religion. I'm not a philosopher, so I simply wasn't interested in anything more detailed. The detail level was just perfect. Return to top.

• Don't wait to receive a letter from your sponsored child before you write again. Both you and your sponsored child will be spending a lot of time waiting, making it harder to develop that valuable relationship. Return to top.

• Give your sponsored child an example to follow. If you want to know details about his/her family, tell him/her about your family, and then ask questions. If you want to learn about his/her culture, tell him/her about yours. (For example, tell the child about a wedding that you attended, then ask him/her to tell you about weddings in his/her culture.) Return to top.

• "...it is not content that matters as much as contact." This is a quote from a sponsor named Paul. I believe that he's saying that by making regular contact with our children, we are showing them our love and support. We don't need to have anything brilliant to say, the "contact" says enough by itself... Return to top.

• Tell stories to your sponsored children. Can you remember any stories from your childhood that have special meaning to you? Do you think that the stories will translate well to another culture and/or language? Everyone loves stories... I'd recommend sending a story that you remember from your childhood, one that will help the child learn a little about your culture. After I sent my first story to my sponsored kids, Alaso sent me a story in return... I've uploaded some stories to help you start...

  I recommend sending your story in parts. But, remember to number the parts, and wait no longer than a week (preferably less) between sending installments! Also, take care not to send too many stories or ones that are too long. Think of the poor translators... Return to top.

• Not every letter that you send has to be a work of literature. Sometimes a simple card to say "I'm thinking of you" is more than appropriate. But, also consider making some of your letters extra special by tucking a little gift inside - a cloth bracelet, a bookmark, a sticker, a handmade card, a photograph or drawing... Things that you make yourself de-emphasize the fact that you're the one with the money... Showing that you care enough to take the time to make some stupid little trinket, will mean a lot. Return to top.

• Don't fuss if your letters seem "dorky." I don't generally let anyone read my letters to my sponsored children, because they're generally quite sappy and somewhat simplistic. This is the nature of corresponding across cultures and across generations. Your letters won't look like the letters that you'd send to your friends. They shouldn't. Once you allow yourself to write "dorky" letters, letter writing will suddenly become much easier... Return to top.

• Write out the date on your letters. Most parts of the world write their dates something like this... "25 September 1997" or "25/9/97", writing the day, then the month, then the year. I found this to be a bit confusing at first... In order to make it easier for the project staff and your sponsored child, consider either following this format, or writing the words. I can't get used to writing a date like this... "25/9/97", so I usually stick with either "September 25, 1997" or "25 September 1997". It just makes things easier for all concerned... Return to top.