Guatemala packages Cancel Se requiere un título

Can we currently send packages to Guatemala? 

You might just want to ring CI and chat with them directly. I don’t think we can currently send packages anywhere because of Covid: the centers are closed, so no one is there to receive the package. But of course every country is different. 

@oleon004:  At this point, we are not encouraging sponsor to send packages. The central office only has limited staff and not one to sign for the package, and with the centers closed the staff may not be able to travel into the communities to deliver the package due to government Covid restrictions. We hope you understand. 

Can you send a book to a sponsored child?  Is that considered a package?
My sponsored child is in the Phillipines.

@MyDearDear I’m not a staff member, so I can’t answer definitively, but my understanding is that in normal times you can send paper products, so yes, a book- but it would have to be able to fit into an 8x10 envelope, and be under 1/4” thick, probably a soft-cover, as well. I don’t think this counts as a package. But really, you will want to chat with Children International directly to clarify. I know that I’ve seen some chatter on one of the message boards about an online service sponsors sometimes use to order items for their sponsor kids, as well. I believe it’s in-country, so that makes it easier on CI. If you haven’t looked already, go to the message boards, look for your child’s region and country, and check it out. It’s amazing the innovative ways people have found to connect and help their sponsor kids! 

Thank you for letting me know.  I will call CI.  But, has anyone out there in sponsor land actually mail a book to your sponsored children during this time?  It would be nice to know if anyone has sent something of small size to CI instead of sending EG through CI to gift something to a child.  A gift selected and mailed always add a special touch from the heart!  (From a sponsor)  

Hi MyDearDeer, at this time we are holding all sponsor mail sent to our office in Kansas City, as we are not able to forward them to our project offices. Once the government restrictions each country we work in allow for our central office staff to get back to work, we will open back up mailing sponsor letters, photos, postcards, etc. to the agencies for delivery to the youth.  Please do use the letter tool on your MyCI to keep in touch for now, and of course, reach out to our Care Team with any questions you might have. 

No- ever since last March, I think (?) - the paper mail services have been closed since that first wave of Covid hit. So no one has sent anything. I’ve not even sent anything to the center for when they re-open - I can only imagine the mail build up there! But hopefully soon, as more and more people become vaccinated, we can get bits of our old world back. Personally I really miss (!!) snail mail. Relying on email has been hard. Fingers crossed things will get better soon. 

Thank you Debbie.  How long after they turn 18 are the children allowed to stay in the program?

@oleon004, in our international agencies, teens typically graduate from the sponsorship program within three months after their 19th birthday. 
Teens in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S., graduate from our sponsorship program when they graduate high school. Hope this helps. 

Question, would be trouble at the moment to send birthday cards to Guatemala? I understand that they might not be delivered for long time, but it would not take a lot space in post office box, or storage.

We would recommend that you submit a birthday card through your online account, instead.