We understand that communication from or about your child is very important to you. That’s why GlobalFingerprints staff are working diligently to provide at least two correspondences from or about your child each year. Below is more detail about how child correspondence works with GlobalFingerprints.
Correspondence may be from your child or from someone caring for your child
When you think of correspondence with the child you sponsor, probably what comes to mind is writing notes back and forth to one another. Sometimes this is possible. But there are also situations where this is not feasible. One common reason is the child is too young to correspond.
Unfortunately, another common reason children cannot correspond with sponsors is religious persecution. In countries with limited freedom for Christians, GlobalFingerprints does not tell the children in the program they have a sponsor in the United States. Instead, they are told that someone who cares about children is providing financial support to help them.
GlobalFingerprints staff in these countries with limited religious freedom still share Christ with the children in the program, typically in a very open way. In fact, God is drawing many children from Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu backgrounds to Christ through the generous support of sponsors and help provided by GlobalFingerprints. But we realize it is not in the best interest of the child or GlobalFingerprints to highlight the connection between GlobalFingerprints and the United States.
In these cases where a child cannot correspond directly with their sponsor, someone who is in contact with the child or their care worker will provide updates on how your child is doing.
Correspondence typically comes through the GlobalFingerprints website
Typically, communication from your child will come through the GlobalFingerprints website. When correspondence from your child or someone who cares for your child is uploaded to the GlobalFingerprints website, you should receive an email alerting you. This email will have a link to the correspondence portal where you will find the message from or about your child.
To check if you have any correspondence from your child…
- Go to “globalfingerprints.org”
- Click on “sponsor login”
(If you do not remember your password you provided when you set up your account, click on forgot my password and follow prompts)
- On the next screen hit the “login” button
- Your sponsored children will be listed under the heading: “Active Sponsorships”.
- Click “View Sponsorship” and you will see the correspondence.
If you have correspondence from your child but have not been receiving email alerts, it could be that your account does not have your correct current email. To verify your account has the correct email listed…
- Go to “globalfingerprints.org”
- Click “sponsor login”
- On the next screen hit the “login” button
- Click “Update Sponsor Info”
- Check to see if the email is correct and make any necessary changes.
- Click on “Save Changes”.
Once your email is correct, you will be notified when a new correspondence is added.
Although much of the GlobalFingerprints correspondence comes through the website, some GlobalFingerprints staff go the extra mile and send correspondence or pictures and thank yous from the children directly to sponsors. So, you may receive updates that way as well.
Correspondence can be very difficult. Thank you for your patience
It sounds pretty simple to ensure every sponsor receives two updates from their child each year, but it can be notoriously difficult. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, some of our care workers travel nearly 100 miles (each way) through the jungle by bicycle to visit sponsored children. Add to that the fact there is very limited internet access and you can imagine the difficulty.
That’s not to make excuses. We are continually working to improve our communication system so our correspondence will be more timely. But we are also very grateful for your patience as we work toward improvement.
Don’t hesitate to call us if there is a problem
If you have not been receiving updates from or about your child, let us know. We’ll try to figure out where the breakdown is occurring and will work to get you an update on how your child is doing.
You can contact us at: (800) 745-2202 or GlobalFingerprints@efca.org.