When will I receive a letter from the child I sponsor?

If you’re new to sponsorship, you’ll likely receive your first letter two months after sponsoring, but you can write to them straight away through myCompassion or the Compassion UK App. If you prefer to write on paper by hand, you’ll find paper in your Welcome pack or you can drop us an email, and we’ll send you some.

However long you’ve been sponsoring,  please know letters of encouragement are often longed for and treasured by the children we serve for years to come. Letters bring great joy and delight, a reminder that they’re known, they’re loved, and they matter. Because of this, we want to make sure the processing and translation is done with excellence.

The average letter takes around 30 days from being written to arriving in your inbox or via the Compassion UK App. However, crises, disasters or disruptions in services like the internet can cause delays.

What difference do my letters make?

Your letters make a powerful difference to the child you sponsor. Independent research shows that receiving two letters a year boosts your sponsored child’s self-esteem.

But don’t just take our word for it; let’s hear the difference your letters make from the children who receive them.

Joan, Uganda

“What my sponsor has told me has changed my life… they have encouraged me to read the Bible; this has changed my life! Even reading books so that I can improve on my academics, which has also helped me.

Children, including me; we feel happy when our sponsors write letters to us because it lets us know that they care about us and they also love us. I encourage those who don’t write to their children, I encourage them to write to them because they also want to feel special.”

Maria, Peru

“[My sponsor’s] words were so timely they lifted me up… I am thankful to my sponsor because they make my heart really happy. Every time I receive a letter from them, I thank God for their lives.

Through their letters, they have taught me many things; for example, I didn’t use to pray as I pray now. My sponsor always prays for me, and I have learned to pray for my dad as well. I prayed that my father will come to Jesus.”

Project staff and volunteers who help distribute the letters also testify to the difference they make. Pastor Gad, pastor of Kabindi Church, Uganda, explains:

“We thank God for supporters who are so loving, who keep writing to their supported children, giving them encouraging words, scriptures and assuring them of their love. Children become excited whenever they receive letters from their supporters. They look forward to receiving the letters. They look forward to the time of writing back and sharing how they feel about them.”

You can read more about the difference your letters make from graduates we surveyed! Click here.

If you have further questions, please get in touch with our friendly team at 01932 836490 or by email at info@compassionuk.org.