Our Sponsor Sites
Where we Work
Sponsorship FAQ's
You may choose a child from our website or you may wish to contact our office via e-mail, phone or mail. Or, you may mail your request to Chalice.
Children usually stay in a program until they have completed school. Sometimes, however, circumstances arise that a child may leave the program beforehand. When this happens you will be notified and, if you wish, a new child will be offered to you.
The sponsorship cost is $33 per month for a total of $396 annually. You may make your contributions via cheque, post dated cheques or preauthorized payments from your bank account or credit card.* automatic withdrawal is only available from Canadian bank accounts – sponsor now -
The care a sponsored child or aged receives depends upon the circumstances and the nature of the sponsor sites.
Some projects care for homeless children or children not able to remain at home. In these cases your sponsorship will provide a home, a chance to go to school, nourishment, clothing and medical care, including visits to doctors or dentists.
For the children under the care of parents or a guardian, help is given to the child and family. This may include education, nutrition, clothing and/or medical care.
Elderly are provided with shelter, nutrition and clothing; and for those with illnesses, medication and treatment.
Many of our sponsor sites are not equipped with regular internet access.
If you wish to e-mail a letter to your child, please direct it to your Sponsor Representative, who will forward it on for you.
If you wish to mail cards, letters, photos, postcards, etc., please put your Child ID and/or Sponsor ID number clearly on your correspondence and mail to the Chalice office in Springhill. Please note that we are not able to forward anything larger than a regular card-size envelope.
There are many laws in our country and that of your sponsored child that govern all international procedures. Many agencies are involved that have their own guidelines. Finally, the child's legal guardians must be considered.
For these reasons, Chalice does not encourage sponsors to attempt to formally adopt their sponsored child. It is our desire that the children we help become happy, productive citizens of their own country. Our goal is that the children use their talents and training to help themselves, their families and their communities.
Each year you will receive a letter from your child, a status report and updated photo, a Christmas card and a sponsor site update. If your sponsored friend is unable to write, a relative or field worker may write your letter.
You may send a monetary gift to your sponsored friend for special occasions. To avoid jealousy we recommend a maximum amount of $25 Cdn., which will be used specifically for the child or aged.
Due to the fact that all Christmas contributions are pooled and distributed equally to all sponsored friends in all sites, there is no limit on Christmas donations. Please do not send your contributions in foreign currency.
You are welcome to visit your child. Please contact your Sponsor Representative to make the arrangements. Together with the sponsor site, they will provide you with any information you need for a very rewarding experience. Please remember that your child may live in conditions that you may find difficult. Some useful information concerning what to wear, eat, drink, etc., is very helpful before visiting.
| Kumbo |
| Kumbo |
|
Kumbo Site Staff:
The sponsor site of Kumbo, Cameroon was one of the first sponsor sites established by Chalice in 1996. Sr. Loraine MacKinnon, a speaker with Chalice, knew of three CND Sisters working in Cameroon with desperately poor women and children: Sr. Noreen MacDonald & Sr. Cecile Buoté both from Prince Edward Island and Sr. Marilyn Von Zuben from Ontario. Sr. Lorraine recommended that they be contacted to see if they would be interested in establishing a sponsorship program in their area. Each Sister took responsibility for one extended family and the Kumbo sponsor site was born. In November 1996 the first child was sponsored in the sponsor site. In 2007, Sr. Noreen retired as Site Director and Sr. Marilyn Von Zuben CND, graciously accepted the position. Recently St. Marilyn, after years of working tirelessly for the families in Kumbo has retired as director of the Kumbo Sponsor site. The new staff members are Sr. Louisa Wirmum - Director; Peter Nubong - Projects Manager; Rosette Barah - Book Keeper/Accountant; Peter Wirba; Rosca Jingla - Field Worker.
The site of Kumbo began slowly with 15 children, but grew rapidly to its present status with over 1400 elderly and children being sponsored. The onslaught of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the culture of the dominant tribe in the Kumbo area had a major impact on the growth of the site. When a man dies, no matter what the cause, his wife is blamed. Everything they owned then become the property of his family of origin and the widow and her children are driven from the compound. In many cases the women and children walk long distances to request help from the Kumbo sponsor site, as they have no other means for survival.
Sr. Louisa and her four co-workers do their best to improve the lives of the families with whom they are in contact. Woman are encouraged to become self sufficient while their children are enrolled in school. It is the goal of the site to have every person tested for HIV/AIDS. Fortunately anti-retroviral drugs are now available for those who test positive and Nivirrapine is greatly reducing the risk of mother to child transmission. There are two health insurance programs in the area, which are greatly helping in the partial payment of medical costs. Because sponsored children's school fees are paid the teachers are in turn assisted. The economic crisis and poor harvests, which are the result of global warming and other factors, have caused the price of food and other basic commodities to increase dramatically.
The weather of Kumbo is characterized by a short dry season of about four months (November - February) and a longer wet season (March - October). The months of August and February are the coldest and hottest respectively. The roads in Kumbo are seasonal, during the dry season they are extremely dusty and in the rainy season the mud makes traveling difficult. The inclement weather in Cameroon has caused a massive increase in the cost of food. In recent years the northern part of the country has been plagued with droughts. Torrential rains often follow these seasons of droughts, bringing with them water borne diseases. Unfortunately it sometimes happens that a child who has gone to fetch water is swept away by the current.
Life is not easy for the people of Kumbo, but their efforts, optimism, determination and ability to smile through adversity never cease to amaze, humble and inspire those associated with the site. Sr. Louisa and her colleagues feel it is a privilege to help people live with dignity and hope. The dedication of these people has made a huge difference in the lives of the people in their care. The love and kindness of the Chalice supporters makes it possible for the people of Kumbo to experience God's gospel in action. |
