Holistic child development means we begin, in some cases, with prenatal care and go all the way through youth development for young adults preparing to launch into adulthood. It means we take a long-term approach to what we do and go beyond simple involvement in the lives of the children and families we serve.
All of our child development programs provide opportunities that encourage healthy development in four areas — spiritual, physical, social and economic.
The foundation of Compassion’s approach to child development is the Child Sponsorship Program. Through this program, children are connected with Christian sponsors committed to helping them develop their God-given talents and abilities and break free from the generational chains of poverty. Compassion trains and equips local church partners to administer a broad range of child development opportunities. Sponsors’ monthly support assists the local church in its outreach and sponsors’ letters to children counter poverty’s darkest message to a child: You don’t matter. Children can be enrolled in the Child Sponsorship Program as early as age 1 and through age 9 and complete the program sometime between the ages of 12 and 22.
The Child Sponsorship Program provides:
- Educational opportunities – both formal schooling and nonformal training
- Healthcare and supplemental nutrition, as needed, and health education
- Life-skills training
- A safe, loving environment in which to learn and play
- The opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and be discipled