Help finding a organization to suport a child in India that is not religus?

Question

Im looking for a organization that alows you to sponsor a child in India. Something like http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm where you are able to coraspond with the child threw the mail. But I dont want it to be a religus organization. There are so many sites out there, and its so hard to tell what are good trustworthy organization that are getting the job done and organization that are just trying to get your money.

Does anyone out there know of a good organization that will alow me to coraspond with the child I am suporting and is not religius?

Answer 1

Ignore Victoria. I also won't donate through a religious organization when it comes to sponsoring a child. The reason is that a lot of the Christian orgs (for example, World Vision) actually preach Christianity to the kids you're helping. Volunteers have been harassed and in a few severe cases killed because of this. These are not necessarily Christian orgs - other religious orgs have had the same issues. I just know that World Vision is one example that's been in the news over the past years because of this problem. They're not always in Christian countries and that's where the issue comes from. I even have Christian friends who will not donate through religious organizations. It has NOTHING to do with being atheist.

Anyway! That said... I'm just starting to sponsor a child through SOS Children's Villages. Their program is great and has been around for over 50 years with villages all over the world. I talked to current/past sponsors and did all my research online and on the website. They're really great and I chose them over Plan and World Vision.

Answer 2

It tells you something when yes the religious and the non religious fight like cats and dogs, but the religious are the one's organizing and putting their money where their mouth is. And all the non religious people are sitting around complaining and claiming that they are just trying to scam people.

I'd retract my statement if you could show me the atheist versions of the YMCA, Catholic charities, the Salvation Army, and Awana's. Yes I know many of these organizations have goals of converting, but at least they bring food and medical treatment along with their words.

Answer 3

Please check out baaldan.com - I'm the secretary of Baal Dan Charities - we help street children and orphans in India, and also have a child sponsorship program for $25/month.

Because we are smaller charity, our admin costs are MUCH less than larger org's (where sometimes 10-15% of your donation is used for admin costs).  Currently with our sponsorship program, your entire donation goes to the kids!

I'm not entirely sure if you'd be able to correspond directly with the child through mail, but if you contact us on our website w/ the question you will get a definite answer on that.  

We have no religious affiliation at all, but as you may know - many of the schools in India who take in street children and orphans are catholic schools, and sometimes we do have to sponsor children in these schools.  This doesn't mean they convert the kids - it just means that the child usually has to come from a catholic family.  If you have questions about this, again, please email us through our website.

Since we are a smaller organization, I think you'll find it relatively easy to contact us whenever you need to, and get more personalized treatment that you would with a large org.

PS.  We were featured on the Dallas NBC news recently so check that out on the website too! thanks!

baaldan.com