Child Sponsorship
NewDawn India operates a sponsorship scheme and many of the children who live in the slum are sponsored, enabling them to receive a well-rounded education. The support and encouragement that the children receive through sponsorship is invaluable to them as they battle the caste system and work to achieve academic or vocational qualifications.
The most important part of being a sponsor is sending cards and postcards with messages of encouragement throughout the year. The children write letters two or three times a year and sponsors are also kept updated by the sponsorship secretary when there is any additional news about their child.
All personal data of sponsors is held securely in the UK and children’s letters are received by NewDawn India and then forwarded to sponsors
One of our young men who was sponsored for ten years and is now working and self-sufficient said to us recently “I cannot express the gratitude of the children here for what the sponsors are doing for them”.
You can see the photos and letters that have been sent by the sponsors. This photo was taken in January 2025 when two of our sponsors were able to visit Madurai.
The photo below is of a young woman (who has now completed her studies and is part of the alumni) reading a letter from her sponsor.
If you would like to find out more about becoming one of our sponsors please get in touch with us.
In the city of Madurai we sponsor the street children who attend the drop-in centres run by Vidiyal. The Vidiyal children live mainly with their families in the local slums (mostly in Melavasal), but attend the centres daily. Jesudoss and his team of helpers.
Sponsorship usually takes the form of a monthly standing order but some people prefer a yearly donation. The actual amount varies and it is important to have sponsors who write regularly to the children even if the monetary contribution is small.
Children and families have to show their committment to the Vidiyal programme for 6 months before a child can be put forward for a sponsor.
Sometimes they move on for family or cultural reasons. If this happens, we will advise sponsors and offer a new child. Your sponsor child will have an initial and a first name. The initial is the first letter of the father’s name.
Each sponsor is asked to contribute an additional £10 which is used to buy the child a Birthday and Christmas present. This is organised in Madurai but sponsors can provide personalised labels for the gifts.
Sally was able to visit her sponsor child earlier this year.