The Furaha Sponsorship program promotes and encourages activities that are in harmony with and in obedience to the teachings and spirit of the New Testament. 1 John 4:21 says, “And He, Christ, has given us this command: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” The program was initiated and continues to operate in response and obedience to these teachings and to the great need of the children in Africa.
Furaha Child Sponsorship Program is an organization that aims to provide financial, material and spiritual aid to children in the African countries of Uganda, the Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Furaha began in 1988 in Uganda and Canada with one little boy being sponsored by the coordinator. It remained this way a few years until the program was further developed, gradually adding children from Uganda. Recently the Furaha program has grown to provide aid in two additional African countries; The Sudan and the Congo. Currently there are over 270 children being sponsored.
Furaha is a program of the Church of God in Eastern Canada and sponsored by the Board of Missions and managed by a coordinator and administrator in Canada and a coordinator/director in Uganda with the Church of God in Africa. The Furaha Child Sponsorship program is also supported by the Church of God in Western Canada. Both the Church of God in Eastern Canada and the Church of God in Western Canada are affiliated with the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana).
If you want to participate in the Furaha Child Sponsorship Program you may send funds to assist with child sponsorships, special needs of sponsor children and contribute for annual gifts for each of the program's children. You can also pray for the program and its leaders, the children and their families. If you want to sponsor a child you must submit an application form and then you will be sent information on one (or more) of the children waiting to join the program or a child presently in the program who needs a new sponsor. You will receive a child's background information and correspondence from the child should come at least once a year. Usually there will be a photo, a letter and their report card.
Regular support costs $30 a month to sponsor one child. Sponsors may also include a contribution toward the special needs / gift fund from which a gift is purchased for all the sponsored children in the program each year. Of the $30/month $1.00 is used for administration costs in Uganda and $1.00 is used for administration costs in Canada.
No, but it does provide for most of it. All kids get a base amount and then receive more as their grades and needs increase. An additional small amount is usually needed to supplement the additional fees in the education systems whenever end-level exams are given before the child can move on to the next level.
Younger children will not need the total amount of the sponsor fee in the beginning but as they progress their fee requirements increase and the funds that have been sent in for their support will be ready for use as needed. Families also will provide some support if needed but the program also has a special needs fund which receives donations to help with these extras. Occasionally administration funds will be used.
No, there is a set fee for the child's support for their entire schooling but expenses can be supplemented with the special needs monies if necessary. These funds are available for any child in the program that needs assistance in this way.
The administration fund is used to administer the program in various ways.
Two dollars of each month's support goes to administration fees - $1.00 for Canada and $1.00 for Africa.
The Furaha Child Sponsorship program provides funds for each child's education and some assistance may be given for relief such as food, clothing, basic medical needs or transport.
Sometimes children are found along roadsides or in other places where they have been deserted and someone brings them to a pastor, leader or school. Sometimes guardians/pastors/a parent will bring them to the church headquarters in Kasubi and request assistance. The need is then checked out to determine if it legitimate by contacting government officials or social workers in the area. Children are sometimes referred by the clinic supervisor for consideration for the program.
A sponsor provides regular funding to enable a child or children to join the program. If the sponsor wants to correspond with the child/children, mail can be sent to the sponsor office at Kasubi in Kampala, Uganda. A sponsor can also pray for the child and the family and for any specific needs that are shared. A sponsor may also send extra for the gift fund and/or special needs fund but this is not required.
Sponsorships occur in various ways: by individuals; by groups, such as Sunday schools, clubs, ladies groups; or by a group of friends who share the cost of sponsoring a child. Even if you are sponsoring individually, others may contribute money for the extra costs of the child. Also, if for some reason payments have been delayed for some time and funds are needed to enable the child to continue in the program so the child's support will then be supplemented by those who donate to the program without sponsoring a specific child. Sometimes funds from the administration fund may be used.
The sponsor may continue with the same child as long as the child is in the program. In the event that there has been a significant delay in the provision of child support, the child may be assigned a new sponsor. If the original sponsor wants to rejoin the program they will then receive a new child to correspond with if the previous child has been given a new sponsor to correspond with.
Please notify the coordinator if you want to leave the sponsorship program so a new sponsor can be found to enable the child to continue in the program.
A sponsorship lasts until the child is finished their education at whatever level it is pursued, whether it is secondary, post-secondary, or technical schooling. If the individual sponsored moves out of the supervision area, gets married or refuses to cooperate with reporting, they will exit the program and the sponsor will be assigned a new child to correspond with.
Yes, program sponsors may contribute to the special needs / gift fund or to the general program and it will be used where it is needed most.
Also, see # 7 & # 13 information.
Communication with the sponsored child is done by sending mail through the sponsorship office in Kasubi. It is sent to:
Child's name
c/o Colleen Stevenson
P.O.Box 1353.
Kampala, Uganda, E.A.
When you join the program you will be sent the background information page with a photo. The goal is that you receive annually, the communication form that includes a photo, letter and a school report. Some children write more frequently than others and sometimes children are in remote areas so communication is less frequent.
No, you are to send correspondence and personal gifts through the sponsorship office at Kasubi and it will then be distributed to the child. Small gifts for birthdays may be sent in a small bubble package
Do not send money or large parcels that require duty payment on the receiving end.
Do not feel obligated to respond to these requests since the support they are already receiving through the program is providing significant assistance. Please let the coordinators know of the request as it may be a need wherein it is determined that the program special needs funds can be used.
If you inquire of the coordinators regarding the child's situation, those in the sponsorship office will endeavor to provide the requested follow-up information.
Sponsors have sometimes visited missionaries or traveled with mission / work camps and have been able to visit the sponsored child. Contact the program coordinator for more information.
The Word of God instructs us to care for the needy, the widows, the orphans, the poor and our neighbors. In Africa there are so many orphans and half-orphans who may have nobody to care for them or, they are being cared for by siblings, pastors, elderly grandmothers and guardians and they have no hope of an education without outside assistance. We can't help everyone but we can help some. With sponsorship we can make a difference in their world and what opportunities they will have with an education and skills to make a living.
June is the month that has been chosen when the churches within the organizations of the Church of God in Western and Eastern Canada are encouraged to promote the Furaha Child Sponsorship Program. This is a time to share stories of sponsored kids and seek more sponsors for the children waiting for sponsorship in the Furaha program
Prayer is very important - prayer for the families and the children in the program; prayer for the leaders and workers; prayer for financial needs for the various special needs.
No, anyone may join the program but it must be understood that the program is operated by a Christian organization: The Church of God in Eastern Canada.
Contributions for projects within this program are tax-deductible. Additional gifts given or sent directly to specific individuals are not tax-deductible through the charity.
The program is monitored by on-site visits of the Canadian coordinator and/or a Board of Missions representative every three years as a minimum. A program agreement (with CRA requirements) is in place with the program director in Africa - missionary Rev. Colleen Stevenson. An Administration Fund Policy is in place. Program funds are audited as part of the General Assembly of the Church of God in Eastern Canada.
There is no separate audited statement for the Furaha Child Sponsorship program. It is included in the financial statement of the Church of God in Eastern Canada which is registered with CRA. Financial information on all registered charities is available on the CRA website.
Funds designated for an approved and specified project, ministry or program will be used for that project, ministry or program. However, when any such project, ministry or program need has been adequately met, or where such project, ministry or program cannot reasonably be carried out in a timely manner, the donor agrees that such designated funds may be used as and where needed by The General Assembly of the Church of God in Eastern Canada.
As of July 1, 2010 the new coordinator is Denuja Navaratnarajah and new administrator is Praneetha Selliah. Julie and Ken Wiebe will continue to assist as needed and be available for consultation.
Sponsors who send support through the Church of God in Western Canada (COGWC) will continue without any changes.
Checks are written to: Church of God in Western Canada
Mail to:
Church of God in Western Canada
4717-56 St.
Camrose, AB T4V 2C4
All other sponsors write checks to: Furaha Child Sponsorship Program
Email Address: furaha.africa@yahoo.com
Check your sponsor correspondence from the coordinators or e-mail to the address above to find out where to send regular mail or cheques.