What is an RPC Sponsor?
An RPC sponsor is someone like you who has made the decision to personally
invest in the life of a child in need. As an RPC sponsor, you enable your
sponsored child to participate in a church-related program that offers
life-changing benefits including help with:
education,
health care,
social skills development
and Christian training.
And more than this, you can help your sponsored child develop a sense of
confidence and self-worth with the love you express through letters and prayers.
As an RPC sponsor, you are assured that there is a real connection between you
and the specific child you support. The child you sponsor will know your name,
write to you and benefit directly from your monthly sponsorship.
Your relationship with your sponsored child makes you a very important person
who has a significant role in his or her development. You stand alongside
parents, pastors, teachers, family and friends who are taking an active role in
encouraging and developing the child.
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What is orphan children sponsorship program?
According to UNICEF, for as little as $20-30 a child can be protected from
Vitamin A deficiency and a host of deadly diseases, including diphtheria,
pertussis, tetanus, and polio.
Saving a child's life can be so simple.
Especially when you use high quality, cost-effective, sustainable health
measures to improve the health and survival of pregnant women and at-risk
children.
You can help!
1. Sponsor a child
Monthly child sponsorship contributions help give poor communities the strength
and resources to pull themselves out of poverty, such as through life-saving
programs aimed at at-risk children and mothers. You can sponsor a child in a
country where your sponsorship dollars will be making a real difference for
children.
2. Become a Child Survival Solutions Sponsor
Monthly Child Survival Solutions contributions go directly to proven programs
that improve the health of at-risk children and mothers.
3. Make a one-time donation
If youre not ready to commit to on-going support, a donation now can help
children in need. With this one-time gift, youll be helping to deliver truly
lifesaving programs to children and women who need them most.
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What are we doing to help?
Our Child Survival Solutions are programs designed to improve the health and
survival of pregnant women and at-risk children in the neediest of countries
through high quality, low-cost and sustainable health measures.
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Can I send gifts to my child?
Yes. RPC encourages sponsors to give additional monetary gifts to their
sponsored children for special occasions, to address specific needs or simply as
an act of love. These gifts are another effective way for you to reinforce your
care and commitment to your child.
One hundred percent of all individual child gift amounts go to that child.
Social workers purchase gifts on behalf of our sponsors and make certain that
these funds are used appropriately. As a guideline, we ask that sponsors keep
these contributions between $10 and $25 for each child and limit their gift
giving to twice a year.
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How much does it cost to sponsor a child through RPC?
It costs $20 a month to sponsor a child through RPC. It's a pretty big
commitment but not
too big when you think about the incredible difference you can make in a child's
life.
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Will my child write to me?
Your child will write to you at least three times a year. A teacher or staff
person will help children who have yet to learn how to read and write. Letter
writing is developmental for children as it improves their basic literacy,
self-awareness and ability to put thoughts and feelings into words.
As you share your own family and personal concerns with the child you support,
you'll probably discover that he or she is consistently praying for you. As your
exchange of letters with the child you sponsor grows over the years, you can
build a scrapbook of letters and photos from your child. Your scrapbook will
serve as a constant reminder of the relationship you've developed with the child
you're helping and of how you've contributed to his or her growth.
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How can I communicate with the child I sponsor?
Once you've become a sponsor, we provide you with a special correspondence
packet that includes stationery, an envelope and the brochure Letters, Gifts and
Your Sponsored Child with practical suggestions about writing the child you're
helping.
We encourage you to send your sponsored child a personal or family photograph
and a short letter of introduction. RPC's staff will translate your letter and
deliver it to the child you support. Sponsored children typically keep their
sponsors' photos and letters in their homes as treasured possessions.
You may write to the child you sponsor as often as you like. When you write,
your sponsored child will benefit from knowing that someone in addition to his
or her family really cares. Your words of encouragement will make a big
difference to your child.
Correspondence between sponsors and the children they support is truly
developmental. The more you write the child you sponsor, the more he or she will
reap the benefits of your relationship.
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How long should my sponsorship last?
RPC sponsorship offers you the opportunity to stay with a child for a number of
years, usually through the school year in which the child reaches the age of 18.
While we hope that you will be able to continue in your support of your
sponsored child until he or she completes the RPC program, we recognize that
sponsors' circumstances sometimes change. You may discontinue your sponsorship
at any time.
Please understand that a sponsored child's circumstances may change, too. For
example, sometimes families move beyond the reach of RPC's program and children
have to leave RPC sponsorship.
We will inform you as quickly as possible if any such circumstance affects the
child you sponsor, and we'll offer you the opportunity to support another child
in need of your help.
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What specific benefits will the child I sponsor receive?
The child you sponsor through RPC will receive opportunities and services that
most of the world's poorest children will simply never see. These opportunities
and services include the following:
The opportunity to receive an education: In some cases, this means providing
the cost of school fees, clothing and supplies. In other cases, it means
providing tutoring, help with homework, encouragement and, if necessary,
participation in a literacy program outside the classroom. Your RPC sponsorship
will allow one special child to stay in school longer if formal schooling is an
option and get the most out of his or her education.
The opportunity to be healthy: The health of the child you sponsor will be
monitored and care will be provided as needed. Children are taught about hygiene
and how to maintain personal health. In addition, and according to their needs,
many RPC children receive supplementary food.
The opportunity to develop self-confidence and social skills: The child you
support will be part of a church-related program where Christian adults offer
love, guidance, personal attention, guided recreation and safety.
The opportunity to hear the gospel and learn about Jesus: Most important, your
RPC sponsorship provides the child you sponsor with regular Bible training and
encouragement through a local church committed to Christ and the children in its
community.
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How much does it cost to sponsor a child?
If you choose to sponsor a child, the cost is only $20 per month.
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How important is prayer in RPC sponsorship?
Prayer is a critical link between RPC sponsors and the children they help. Your
sponsored child is in need and vulnerable.
Your prayers for the health, safety, education and spiritual development of your
child are critical. Sponsored children are greatly encouraged when they hear
that their sponsors are praying for them.
Remember that the child you sponsor will most likely pray for you, too. Often, a
sponsored child's family and church join in prayer with the child on behalf of a
sponsor. As you share your own family and personal concerns with the child you
support, you'll probably discover that he or she is consistently praying for
you.
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What other opportunities will I have to learn about the child I'm helping?
In addition to letters from your sponsored child, RPC will send you periodic
updates about your child's progress, a biannual publication about RPC's work and
annual newsletters about your child's country as your request.
You'll have a better understanding of your sponsored child's culture and life
and it's quite likely that your vision of God's Kingdom will expand, too. You
may even decide to visit the child you sponsor it is possible. It's an
unforgettable experience. You can find more about your visitation. Please call
(251)0911 216269 or e-mail <rpc@ethionet.et> Mr Alemu Checole, Communication
Officer. We will arrange your tour.
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Will I be the only person sponsoring the child I'm helping?
Yes. The child you're helping has just one sponsor: you. That's why your
prayers, letters and support mean so much to your sponsored child. Even if you
choose to sponsor a child as a family or a group (for example, a youth group or
a Sunday school class), the child you help will still be relating to your family
or group as his or her only sponsor. No other group or individual will also
sponsor the child you help.
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In which countries do you work?
Currently we work in Ethiopia Only.
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Is RPC affiliated with any church or denomination?
RPC works with local church partners and fellowships representing more than 11
denominations. Our statement of faith is the same as that of the National
Association of Evangelicals.
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How did RPC begin and what is its current status?
In January 1999 an invitation letter was sent out to eleven of the evangelical
churches affiliated with the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Nazareth to hold
a convention. The convention was on orphan, vulnerable, street children and
homeless young people. On the final day of the seminar, twenty-eight
participants remained as the Sunday school teachers committee. All twenty-eight
participants went out to witness to street people and many of the street
children witnessed to were willing to accept Christ as their Savior and come to
church the following day to receive instruction on the Word of God and have a
fellowship meal. The final day of the seminar was a Friday and that evening the
participants agreed to continue the work of serving these street people and
money was collected. With this money it was agreed to buy food for the homeless
young people for the next few meetings. On Saturday over two hundred homeless
young people and street children attended the meeting. They listened to the
preaching of the word in earnest. The first meeting was held in North Nazareth
Meserete Kristos Church compound. But the next meeting was held in Genet Church
because the location of that church was central to many of the street people.
Given RPC's reputation and goodwill services in Adama/Nazareth city, RPC was
approached by the Regional Administrative authorities of Adama/ Nazareth in late
2001. At that meeting it was suggested that we look in to the possibility of
intervening to assist in tackling the growing number of orphan, vulnerable and
street children in Ethiopia. Since the registration of RPC with the Federal
Government of Ethiopian as a local NGO, currently the Organization works in
close connection with the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Nazareth (ECFN).
RPC is now in the process of putting in place different projects to be
implemented in Ethiopia.
Nearly two thousand and five hundred children have been rehabilitated and
supported through RPC. RPC's Christian commitment has never waned. We are keenly
aware of the part we can play in fulfilling the Great Commission. All of our
employees are committed followers of Jesus Christ, dedicated to developing
children worldwide and we are working exclusively through local churches and
fellowships.
At present, RPC serves over 453 orphan children, 400 street and vulnerable
children, 400 widows and beggar women in our poverty stricken country, Ethiopia.
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Does RPC partner with Christian musicians, speakers and ministries?
Yes, over the years RPC has partnered with many Christian, Pastors, Doctors,
Executive managers, musicians, speakers, promoters and ministries who share
RPC's heart for impoverished children around the world.
These spokespeople not only have a strong desire to serve as advocates for
children in need but they are also sponsors of children themselves. In fact, the
great majority have visited RPC projects overseas and witnessed the
life-changing effects that sponsorship brings.
RPC's partnership many times includes financial assistance for these people,
speakers and ministries. This does not make their passion to help the poor any
less significant. We want to honor the Kingdom-building work that God has called
these ministries to accomplish. These partnerships are relationships built on
Kingdom efforts, mutual respect and trust.
RPC's investment in this area has a two-fold benefit: Many of new sponsorships
are acquired while supporting other Christian ministries that are also building
God's Kingdom. Therefore, we feel these relationships are both fiscally and
spiritually responsible.
Note: As a part of its longstanding commitment to financial accountability and
stewardship, RPC invests less than five percent of its total expenses in
fundraising activities.
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What makes RPC stand out among other childcare organizations?
As a RPC sponsor, you'll discover RPC's distinctive values:
A focus on child development: Our program targets the needs of individual
children first. Many organizations focus on needs of the community first. Both
approaches have value we also use both of them according to the sponsors
interest. We believe RPC's emphasis reminds everyone staff, sponsor and child
alike that everything we do is based on the needs of the children we serve.
Working exclusively through local churches and Christian fellowships: We want
sponsored children to view the benefits of RPC sponsorship as an expression of
God's love for them. We also want to equip the Body of Christ in the countries
where we work with effective child development ministries so that church leaders
and members around the world can become effective child advocates in their
communities.
A goal of child discipleship: We believe the most loving thing we can do for
children is to introduce them to Jesus Christ. Here's why:
1. When children discover their worth to God, their self-esteem blossoms.
2. Children who recognize their roles as disciples are a strategic part of
today's Church.
3. Children discipled in the Word and ways of God become our most potent weapon
against tomorrow's poverty because they are tomorrow's Church.
Our goal, then, is to take a child from the brink of disaster to abundant life
as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
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Can I see a copy of RPC's most recent audited financial statement?
Yes. RPC is audited each year by an independent accounting firm. We publish this
report in its entirety and make it available to anyone at any time.
Accountability is a commitment and a value that drives our whole organization.
We are totally committed to earning and keeping your trust.
If you have any questions about financial issues, please call us at (251) 0221
116224. Our Sponsor Relations representatives will gladly respond to any
questions you might have.
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What percentage of expenditures are spent on program activities?
Throughout the years, RPC has consistently averaged more than 80 percent of
total expenditures being used for program activities, with less than 20 percent
being used for fund raising and administration. During the past five years, the
actual program percentage has averaged nearly 82 percent.
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How does RPC insure that my support actually benefits the child I sponsor?
RPC works exclusively different Evangelical churches and Christian fellowships
to assist children. RPC children program social workers become personally
acquainted with each sponsored child and his or her unique needs. Sponsorship
support for all of the children in a project is combined and managed to provide
a wide range of developmental activities and opportunities.
RPC's Board conducts audits regularly to make sure funds are properly received,
tracked and managed. Every financial process is regularly audited both
internally and externally.
But it's not enough to insure that funds are reaching your child's local project
and being spent on planned activities. Like you, we want to be sure that real
development is taking place in the life of every sponsored child. RPC works hard
to monitor and evaluate each local project in terms of program effectiveness and
long-term impact right down to the individual child. Any time we see an
irregularity, we take immediate and appropriate action.
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