Sponsorship Secretary's Report

AGM. March 2001

For the last eight years, The Albanian Orphans Mission has been running a child sponsorship programme supporting the children living at the Tirana under the management of Hope for the World, an American Charity. During the there has been many changes, as ever, in Albania.

At present we have 33 sponsors supporting 37 children at the Tirana orphanage, which is a reduction in the number of children supported, roughly in line with the fall in the number of children residing there.

Our aim has always been to focus on the teenagers, and as the government has returned to its old policy of easing the kids out of the orphanages at 14 years of age, we have realised the desperate need to start up our new project 'The Mustard Seed'.

So far, in a very short time we have 13 sponsors supporting the Mustard Seed on a monthly basis and others donating much needed aid items required by our team in Albania. These sponsors more than make up for the reduced number of sponsors covering the Tirana Orphanage.

We will need many more sponsors to cover the increased expenses of running the Mustard Seed, which, per child, is a lot less per week than the orphanage, but there are many more children in need. Ideally, sponsors willing to help in this new programme would be willing to write to these kids for their good and encouragement, so if you can't afford to give a lot but have the time to take up a pen pal, the kids will welcome this. We would rather have five sponsors giving £5.00 per month and writing to the children regularly, than one sponsor giving £15.00 who remains anonymous.

Moving on in the year , as the second project moves from a dream into reality we will need all types of help and prayer to achieve what we feel God is calling us to do.

Once the property is secured, we will need teams of people to carry out renovation projects, We will need people, churches, firms and organisations to sponsor specific items (most will be bought in country), rooms, tools, equipment etc.

Later, people will be needed to sponsor young individuals, to take a real interest in their development and progress, to write regularly as well as support them through monthly sponsorship for living expenses, tuition fees, pocket money etc. This whole project is still very much in the planning stages, but we would welcome ideas and thoughts. I'm excited about both projects and hope I have inspired you to become involved in some way. This is new, unique territory especially in Albania to be able to help these kids make a go of life.

Sponsorship of children, or our work in Albania brings very real benefit to the very children that money is aimed at. Every penny of the funds The Albanian Orphans Mission raises through its Sponsorship Scheme goes to the front line exactly where it is needed. As a registered Charity, we are duty bound to make our finances totally available to scrutiny, and we guarantee to send all the Sponsorship funds to benefit the children we support in Albania.

Sponsorship is a two way process. Every aspect of their lives costs money. From the food they eat and clothes they wear, to the cost of school examinations and doctors fees. Sponsorship enables us to give the children the very best chance of survival in such a difficult country. We encourage our children to write to their Sponsors regularly, and we hope our Sponsors will do the same.

If you have any questions, or would like information on child Sponsorship through the Albanian Orphans Mission, please do not hesitate to contact us.