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I just have a couple of questions that I was thinking about today. Right now I'm paying for two of my sponsored kids to go to school, since they weren't able to afford it.

My first question is how do I know if they still need the aid? I'm assuming they do since there hasn't been any documented huge change in their living arrangements. Do I need to send any requests or would it just be assumed or documented? I have no problems with paying for their schooling, I just need to know who needs it and how much.

Secondly is when the payment is due. They are in Zambia and Honduras and I forget when their school years start.

Thanks!

CI operates on a shoestring budget, so they do not do Education Reports and other reports unless the sponsor specifically requests them. The best time to send money for school is the month before the school is due to start (although, if this does not cover the whole school year, it is fine to send supplemental school funds later).

School in Zambia (and Guatemala) starts in January.

School in Honduras... I don't know (but I'm sure you could find out with a phone call.)

If you want to send money for school in advance and can't afford a big lump sum, you could try starting a fundraising page on FirstGiving, or some other reputable fundraising site. Then (at least with FG) you can make "offline" contributions as you are able, month by month, so that, hopefully, by the time the funds are due, you'll have enough to cover start-up costs and at least three months of monthly needs. It is probably safest if you can cover at least a semester. When the time comes (the month before the school starts) you should call CI and ask them to transfer the funds for the child's schooling.

If you or others donate through the FirstGiving site to a CI fundraiser, it takes longer. I think the funds get transferred on the 15th. So, for a child in Zambia, you would need to get in FG donations before October 15, so that it gets transferred to CI and processed in November, and then is available to release for the child's school in December (so that the child is covered in January). So, three months ahead, before the 15th.

i wrote.an.email first week of Oct to see if I could help Clement in Zambia attend school. They said it would take a certain number of weeks (is it 6-8?) to get back to me. Is that time frame correct? If so I should expect to hear back in Nov/Dec. Does this mean I would need to send the appropriate contribution asap, after I get a reply? CI told me Oct is the right time to ask about school fees

Honduras' school break is all of December and January.

Re: when the Education Report/school costs report get back, I know from experience that it can be frustrating. It is true, September, or early October, is the best time to ask for such reports if the child starts school in January (or perhaps even February). However, due to the 6-8 week time lag, and it could take a little longer, one might not have that information in time to get the child the right amount of money in time, before school starts.

My suggestion: in such a case, try to send a few hundred, and ask that it be spent on school needs, as well as asking how much more will be needed for that year. I'd advise at least $300, preferably more. Hopefully, the child's start-up fees and first few months will be covered, and that will buy you the time you need to get more information.

If there is a possibility he/she will not be going to school next year, I would advise requesting that, if the child does not go to school, that the money be spent on some kind of vocational training. (Last I read, a CI child who has at least a 5th grade education can qualify for vocational training.)

It would also be wise to ask how the child is doing in school. I found out this way that one of my girls had a learning disability and needed a tutor. This has helped her school performance and despite the difficulty, she has a strong motivation to do her best.

thanks Sabrina. lots of useful info

Thanks so much for the reply it helps!

@sakurose – as the school year in Zambia begins in January and in Honduras it begins in February, if you would like to know any information concerning their upcoming school years, let me know or send us an email (children@children.org) and we’d be happy to request the information for you! We do recommend sponsors request the information a few months before the start of each new school year, as circumstances, costs, etc. could possibly change from year to year.

@jesscoffee – the time frame given to you was correct - we typically do say about 6-8 weeks to allow the agency to gather all the necessary information and get it sent back to you. I took a quick look at your account and we did request the information at the beginning of October, so you should be receiving a reply within the next month. The information will include by when any necessary funds would be needed – as the school year in Zambia begins in January, the funds would likely be needed in December.