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Yes! Attach one of the yellow cards from your sponsorship packet to assist staff in identifying your child. Or, simply write your child’s name and sponsorship ID clearly at the top of your letter. Try to keep your message simple to help with translation. Please do not include your mailing address or other direct contact information in the content of your letter. 

Standard, flat mail may be sent through the Helps Ministries office or mailed directly to Ethiopia. (If including a donation with your letter, please send it to the Helps Ministries office so your gift can be processed.)

Write about yourself, family, faith, hobbies, sports, the area where you live. Ask your child about his/her favorite school subjects, interests, and dreams for the future. Include a photo of you and your family, or a postcard from your city or state. Tell your child you’re praying for them, and encourage them to do their best in school.

Yes! Most children write letters to their sponsor at least 1-2 times per year. You’ll also receive occasional updated photos of your child. If you haven’t received a letter or update for quite some time, please contact us.

Photos, stickers, and other small items that fit into a flat envelope are great to include with a letter to your child. Please do not send cash, checks, fine jewelry, or electronics. If you wish to send a gift to your child, please contact us first – we’ll be happy to offer suggestions and answer any questions! Due to high postage and customs fees, we can’t forward packages to Ethiopia, but we may be able to arrange a local gift purchase or even hold your gift until a volunteer or staff member travels to YZM and can deliver it personally.

You may send your child a message through our website or by email to yzm@helpsministries.org. Simply include your child’s name and ID in the subject line. Your message will be printed and delivered to your child.

However, please do not attempt to contact your sponsored child directly by email, phone, or social media. For the child’s protection and to ensure healthy and appropriate communication, all correspondence must be directed through program management and social workers. 

Children don’t automatically leave the program at a specific age. Instead, they graduate once they finish school. Students are encouraged to pursue college or vocational training after secondary school, giving them the best tools for success as an independent young adult. These older students may continue to be sponsored until they finish their degree or diploma! 

Sometimes a student may move out of the area, drop out of school, or stop participating for other reasons. In these cases, the student will leave the sponsorship program early. If your sponsored child graduates or leaves the program for any reason, we’ll contact you and give you the opportunity to transfer your sponsorship to another child who doesn’t have a sponsor.

90% of every gift (less any card processing fees, etc.) directly supports the Yezelalem Minch program. However, please note that your sponsorship donation is a representative gift. Your gift does not support your sponsored child alone, but instead benefits all students in the program – including those who have not yet been matched to a sponsor of their own. 

Your sponsorship support through YZM helps provide basic physical needs such as food and nutrition, medical care, school fees and supplies, school uniforms and casual clothing, hygiene supplies and education, as well as psychosocial and spiritual support through extracurricular activities, mentoring, and much more!

A Standard Sponsorship is a commitment of $30/month, and a Comprehensive Sponsorship is $60/month. Each child can have either one comprehensive sponsor or up to two standard sponsors. These sponsorship levels ensure that Yezelalem Minch can cover the monthly program costs for every child.

Sponsorship donations can be made by automatic monthly bank draft (ACH), personal or bank checks, or by credit card. Checks should be made payable to Helps Ministries, PO Box 6449, Asheville, NC 28816. Include “YZM” and your child’s name and/or sponsorship ID in the memo area or an attached note.

To set up monthly recurring donations or to make a full year donation towards an existing sponsorship, click here. To make an online donation for a different amount or another specific purpose, please visit our general giving page.

Yes! Helps Ministries is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and your sponsorship contributions are tax-deductible in the United States. You will receive donation receipts and a year-end giving statement from Helps. Our federal tax ID is 56-1133231.

If you need to update your name or mailing address, or change your gift amount or payment information, send us a quick email or call 828-470-1770. We’ll be happy to walk you through any next steps!

That’s ok! We understand that your sponsorship is a voluntary gift, and sometimes challenges and other priorities come up. If you need to put a sponsorship on hold temporarily, change your giving amount, or end your sponsorship altogether, just let us know!