Sponsoring a Child

ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS

The FoTGA sponsorship scheme is one in which there is a personal link between the sponsor and the student.  Some people meet a child in the Gambia which they wish to sponsor and ask FoTGA to administer the sponsorship.  Others ask FoTGA to choose a student for them.  FoTGA has a list of students that need sponsorship.  All are children whose families are unable to send them to school without financial assistance.


WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE SPONSOR?

  • Continuous sponsorship from the time that the student is first sponsored until he/she reaches the minimum school leaving age (unless a change in a sponsor’s personal circumstances make this impossible).
  • If the student’s reports indicate that he/she is hard working and achieving good results, continued sponsorship until he/she reaches the end of Secondary Education.
  • Regular payments of sponsorship money by standing order so that FoTGA is always able to provide for the student’s educational needs. As the child progresses, this may need to be increased as below.
  • Occasional letters, giving the student a chance to learn more about his/her Sponsor (these can be sent through the Charity).

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE SPONSORED STUDENT?

Evidence that the sponsored student is working at school to the best of his/her ability.  This is usually a school report.

A thank you letter, however brief, signed by the student or a parent, each year until the student reaches the minimum school leaving age.

From children aged from 11, a letter each year about how he/she is progressing.

COSTS OF SPONSORSHIP

Our sponsorship scheme makes a payment directly to the parents or guardian of a student, which gives sufficient to cover normal school costs such as school fees, uniforms, stationery and meals and provides a small contribution to the family income.  The payment varies based on the needs of children at each grade.

The cost of sponsorship is £15.00 per month for children in Nursery School.

It is £18.00 per month for students at Lower Basic School and Upper Basic School.

For students at Senior Secondary/High School, the cost is £25 per month.

The cost to the charity of sponsoring a student is generally less than the amount the sponsor actually pays, except at Senior Secondary Level where, on average, the costs are equal to the donations.


CESSATION OF PAYMENTS

If a sponsor can no longer make the monthly payments, FoTGA will continue to support the student until they reach Grade 9 (or Grade 12 if the student is able).  This is funded in part by the surplus that is made from sponsors’ payments for children in grades 1 to 9 and from some of the money recovered in Gift Aid.


FURTHER EDUCATION

Students may request that they be allowed to continue their education to University, College or Vocational Centres.  However, there is no obligation by the sponsor to support this.  If the sponsor agrees then the Charity will administer this.  The costs vary considerably, but the sponsor will be expected to pay all of those incurred by FoTGA.

FURTHER EDUCATION

Students may request that they be allowed to continue their education to University, College or Vocational Centres.  However, there is no obligation by the sponsor to support this.  If the sponsor agrees then the Charity will administer this.  The costs vary considerably, but the sponsor will be expected to pay all of those incurred by FoTGA.


ADMINISTRATION COSTS

  • If a sponsor pay tax in the UK, he/she can sign a Gift Aid declaration and FoTGA can claim the tax that was paid on the gift from the government at no cost to the Sponsor.  The money obtained in this way covers most of FoTGA’s administration costs.  These comprise:
  • Administration of the Sponsorship scheme both in the UK and The Gambia,
  • The salaries of our staff in The Gambia,
  • Continuing the education of those children who have previously been sponsored but whose sponsors have ceased their sponsorship.
  • Extra payments for a few children suffering exceptional hardship and illness.
  • To help schools in emergencies e.g. to repair damaged classrooms or furniture.  Money for major building work is separately raised from individuals or companies.


FoTGA also receives some donations for the sponsorship scheme from ex-sponsors and others.

FoTGA reserves the right to use any surplus funds to further our stated objectives of ‘relieving poverty, alleviating pain and suffering and advancing the education of the people of The Gambia’.