Child Sponsor Program
The Child Sponsor Program enlists your help in meeting the specific needs of one child. Your support provides for the education, health, nutrition, housing, clothing and general well-being of a child carefully chosen for their potential to flourish and succeed through hard work and determination. Sponsors of GCI are invited to build a personal relationship with their children through letters and photographs. Upon receiving requests for sponsorships, GCI staff and volunteers will help you select a child from among those waiting for support. Becoming a Sponsor opens doors that can lead to life-changing experiences for years to come. Read more about how to donate or become a sponsor.
Drs. Rebecca Liu and Tim Sell:
Three and Three Make Six Wonderful Girls
For example, in 2007, Dr. Rebecca Liu and Dr. Tim Sell of Ann Arbor, MI started sponsoring three Chinese girls, one "sister" for each of their own daughters, Amanda, Natalie, and Audrey. Dr. Liu and Dr. Sell feel strongly that one of the best uses of their resources is giving hope and education to children who have the ability to create a better life for themselves with just a little support and encouragement.
Amanda, Natalie and Audrey write letters to their "sisters" in China and feel a relationship to them that was enhanced by Rebecca's visit to Beijing with the Golden Courage delegation in October, 2008. At that time, she had the opportunity to visit with each of her 3 Chinese "daughters", give them gifts and letters from Amanda, Natalie, and Audrey, and really understand their living situation. Rebecca returned home even more committed to continuing the support of these girls, all at different stages of healing from the trauma of being homeless and without resources at such a young age. Rebecca also returned with letters, calligraphy, poetry and well wishes for each of their daughters from their Chinese "sisters."
Rebecca and Tim believe their daughters benefit, as well, from their contribution to Golden Courage International in support of these girls. They are learning the value of sharing, being appreciative of what they have, and connecting closely with people on the other side of the planet as if they are family - and that is exactly what they have become.
Laura and Jeremy Seligman and Little Artist:
A Testimonial
When we agreed to sponsor a child three years ago, it was an opportunity to make our support of Golden Courage International more real and more personal. We were committed to helping children in need, and we were moved by Dr. Lu's stories about his experiences and the work he had undertaken, but here was a chance for our support to feel more personal and direct. We learned that our sponsored child was named Little Artist, and that while she was in a difficult family and economic situation, she still aspired to do well in school and to achieve her dream of becoming a calligrapher and artist.
We know that many people have sponsored children through various programs, but nothing can compare to stepping down from our minibus in a rural village outside of Beijing and seeing Little Artist waiting for us. She came running up and grabbed us by the hands, holding on to us every moment she could during our brief visit to her school and then to her home. We saw the incredibly difficult environment that our sponsored child lived in, in the midst of which she demonstrated her calligraphy skills for us, painting messages of love and hope. It is an experience that will stay with us always.
