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Member since 7/3/10
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Posted on: 7/27/11 6:13 PM ET
a lot of the stuff on the news recently has reminded me that I am very fortunate to have good health, a job I enjoy and a pretty good standard of living.

A very kind relative helped ensure I didn't have to worry too much about finances when I was at university. I've been thinking about sponsoring a child's education to hopefully benefit someone else a little.

After a brief google search I am feeling rather overwhelmed with the choice out there. So I'm hoping someone can recommend a website which helps you search through all the options out there.

In short I am looking for something where as much of the donation as possible benefits the child's education. Not focusing on any one religion. Something where I would be able to see the benefit to one child (selfish maybe, but then I get to see the positive benefit) and a charity which isn't too big. Also I wouldn't want a massive minimum donation. I'm lucky I don't have to worry too much about the bank balance, but I also like to be careful and save money for that rainy day.

Right now I feel like I don't know where to start. Thanks.
  
Member since 4/25/08
Posts: 3299
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Posted on: 7/27/11 9:08 PM ET
In reply to rmusic1
I don't know how it works in the UK, but if I were in your position, and as kind and generous as you are, I would call the local high school and ask them about setting up an award for a deserving student, or students, for the coming year.

We have end-of-the-year prize givings and awards, and that would be a good time for it.

That would skip the charity's cut, however small, and you would most likely be invited to the presentation. You can meet the student or not, and I cannot imagine a school turning down a scholarship.
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Barb
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 7941
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Posted on: 7/27/11 9:19 PM ET
In reply to rmusic1
A group I belong to called The Friday Club gives a scholarship to a child at the local high school. It's not nationally sponsored, so it doesn't get the advertising and marketing costs that a nationally sponsored group would. Also, 100% of what we donate goes directly to this person and not to some administrative person before it touches the hand of who it was intended. I would check with any of your schools to see if they are in need and donate that way. It is much friendlier, stays at home, and the rewards are great.
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Member since 6/11/10
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Posted on: 7/27/11 10:14 PM ET
I have sponsored children for years through World Vision, and it is a very reputable and honest charity, where most of the monies given go all to the child. You get updates, and a photo each year, and you can write to your child directly, too. It's very personalized, in that sense. World Vision is also wonderful in that, in addition to helping the children go to school and be well-clothed and fed, they also help the local communities where the children live - putting in wells, for example. They do not in any way "require" the children or their families to adhere to a certain religious persuasion. HTH
  
Member since 5/8/03
Posts: 1732
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Posted on: 7/27/11 11:21 PM ET
A relative of mine, a wonderful woman who is an artist, developed a passion for Africa and lives there 6 months of the year. She has started a small charity to provide scholarships for students there. You can sponser individual students and then send and recieve letters from them. More information is at this linkAnansi Education

I just attended a small auction to support this organization and was able to meet many people who have visited there and met the students. We even had a skype interraction with the students. I have committed to sponser a student for 3 years.

I don't know if this is the type of thing you are looking for, but I thought I'd pass on the information. It is a small organization with very little overhead. And Kathryn is a wonderful woman.

Susan
  
Member since 6/6/04
Posts: 1042
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Posted on: 7/28/11 11:21 AM ET
Médecins Sans Frontières is my preferred one of my chosen ones MSF
Basically they stay when everybody else leaves.

The other one is Guide dog schools . Because I feel they add real quality of life and independence to handicapped people. And that way I feel I still have a dog, despite the fact that I can't have one with the type of life I lead (would simply not be fair on the dog).

Gilraen
  
Member since 8/28/10
Posts: 550
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Posted on: 7/28/11 11:35 AM ET
It probably works differently in the UK, but I thought I would just mention my husband's story here, just in case.

In the US, giving a scholarship to a local high school student may not have the effect intended. This was years ago, but I think it still works the same way: Many colleges and universities in the US offer selected students 'student aid' packages to help enable them to attend college. (I'm not talking about loans, that need to be repaid.) These packages are largely based on financial need, though some are also partially, and occasionally wholly, based on merit. My husband, from a home without the $ for a pricey private education, was awarded an aid package that was some of each: need-based and merit-based.

He also won a local merit-based scholarship awarded at his high school. When the university was informed of this, they simply reduced the amount of his need-based aid by a corresponding amount. So there was no benefit to him, though I suppose there might have been a benefit to another student, to whom the university could then offer the aid.

Just thought I'd throw this out there. I agree it is so difficult to find ways to make sure your giving has the intended effect. I also agree that giving locally is generally best.
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marjoriekh
  
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Member since 7/1/08
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Posted on: 7/28/11 12:33 PM ET
Have you thought of actually finding the child yourself? Call a local high school and find out from a Guidance Counselor if there is a deserving student. Meet them and make a determination. I sponsor 3 children through World Help: one in Uganda, one in Peru and one in Ukraine. I always pick older teens for sponsorship. My sponsorship pays for their schooling.

Have you checked out Kiva.org? That is a great way to lend out money around the world.

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Sewing: A creative mess is better than tidy idleness. ~Author Unknown
  
Member since 4/8/02
Posts: 2683
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Posted on: 7/28/11 7:34 PM ET
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has a program that links Indian kids who are going away from home to college with individuals who can not only help financially, but more importantly can help mentor. How about a kid who is aging out of foster care? 18 and you are out, it doesn't matter if you are still in high school, your age determines when you leave. These kids usually fall through the cracks, and even if they start a training/learning program, they do need help from someone who can mentor and guide and provide emotional, moral support asl well as the occassional invitation to dinner/lunch/breakfast
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JanieV
  
Member since 4/8/02
Posts: 2683
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Posted on: 7/28/11 7:34 PM ET
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has a program that links Indian kids who are going away from home to college with individuals who can not only help financially, but more importantly can help mentor. How about a kid who is aging out of foster care? 18 and you are out, it doesn't matter if you are still in high school, your age determines when you leave. These kids usually fall through the cracks, and even if they start a training/learning program, they do need help from someone who can mentor and guide and provide emotional, moral support asl well as the occassional invitation to dinner/lunch/breakfast
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JanieV
  
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