The moment I realised the power of sponsorship

A couple of months ago, my husband Rhys and I had the opportunity to visit a *Compassion Child Sponsorship Centre for the first time in Puerto Princesa, in Palawan, the Philippines. 

When we arrived, every staff member who wasn’t teaching greeted us at the front gate with a handmade welcome sign—it was the warmest welcome I’d ever received. 

Grace and Rhys Ellis with the Compassion staff. Photo: Tearfund 

As we sat down to talk with the project’s director, they brought out a cold drink and offered us Filipino empanadas. We soon found out that the project director, Hermyne, had served at the project for 16 years. She shared stories about the children by name, and it brought her great joy to tell us about many who’d graduated to become police officers, pastors, teachers and engineers. 

We learnt that the children in the programme receive a school uniform, shoes, stationery, and regular medical and dental check-ups, as well as meals at the centre. 

But the support from the sponsorship programme run by the local church doesn’t stop there. When disasters strike their community, Compassion is the first to respond. 

During two typhoons, the church became an evacuation centre. Compassion also assisted families with repairs to their homes and handed out food parcels. For three years during Covid, the local church provided hygiene kits and food packs to families. 

It’s not only physical needs that are being met. Hermyne’s heart has always been to see children and families grow in their faith journey. She told us not only are the children coming to know Jesus, but the families are too and are making better choices. 

Project director Hermyne. Photo: Tearfund 

After learning about the programme, the Compassion team took us into the classrooms to meet the children. In unison, they said a polite hello with giggles of excitement. 

After seeing the programme in action, we visited the homes of three sponsored children. But it was the very last home I came to that I truly realised the power of sponsorship. 

Francine is enrolled in the programme. Her father, Francisco, works day and night driving a tuk-tuk to transport people around Puerto Princesa. After overhearing a passenger talking about Compassion, he was determined to get his daughter registered in the programme. 

Francine with the tuk-tuk her father uses to transport people around Puerto Princessa. Photo: Tearfund 

“Before sponsorship, our house was very small. We were seen as the poorest of the poor. Life was hard. Every day, every night I would look for a job or a passenger, just to earn money for our daily needs,” he told us. 

Before, all the children would sleep together in one space. After sponsorship, we were able to expand and repair our house. With the financial gift from Francine's sponsor, we were able to create new rooms and buy new beds for them. Now we are also eating better food that we could not afford on our own because it was expensive. 

Francine, now 18, is grateful for the opportunities the programme has given her. 

“Sponsorship means my parents don’t have to think about providing for me. My school needs, my bags and my school supplies are all provided for. The programme has also helped me to become confident, especially with dental hygiene. Now I can confidently smile,” says Francine. 

“The impact is very deep. In this community, some of the kids my age have already wasted their lives, by marrying young. Because of the support that I receive mentally, spiritually and physically, I feel like I have purpose in my life.” 

Francine is now studying financial management at university. She’s also involved in the local government for youth and is a secretary for the youth council. She wants to become a bank manager and provide a better life for her family. 

My biggest dream is to travel the world. With my birthday money this year, I bought luggage. It’s hidden away, but someday I will use it. 

Francine's life was changed forever, all because of a conversation in the back of a tuk-tuk. 

Do you know why this stuck with me? Because of that one conversation, Francine’s dreams are no longer limited. Her family are being released from poverty, they have come to know Jesus, and she can reach others with her testimony. 

Hope is rising. That’s the power of sponsorship. 

Sponsor a child today