Compassion Primer

I want to take a moment to highlight the different components of Compassion's ministries that I will talking about and experiencing on my trip.

CSP - Child Survival Program
This is the first phase of Compassion's ministry to release children from poverty in Jesus name. This program targets children under the age of 5 and their caregivers, including expectant mothers. For $20 a month, you will be linked to a project (not an individual child). This program provides prenatal care, food, health care, infant survival training, education and a community of faith. As a sponsor, you will receive letters from various mothers benefitting from this program. The hope is that this program will truly release these children and their families from poverty, eliminating the need for further sponsorship. For more information about CSP, please visit their website HERE.

CDSP - Child Development Sponsorship Program
This is probably the arm of Compassion's ministry you are most familiar with - one on one sponsorship with a child living in poverty. For $38 a month, you can choose a child (or be matched to one) to sponsor. You are the child's only sponsor. This sponsorship allows the child to participate in a church-based program that offers life-changing benefits, including help with learning development, health care, social-skills development and Christian training. You will have the opportunity to build a relationship with your child through letters and prayers. This relationship goes both ways, and I'm blown away by the knowledge that there are children all over the world praying for me and my family.


LDP - Leadership Development Program
The Leadership Development Program exists to develop Christian leaders and the young people selected for LDP have distinguished themselves in the CDSP through service, academic excellence and leadership. Students in this program are pursuing a university education as well as targeted Christian leadership training. For $300 a month, you can sponsor an LDP student. Like CDSP, this is a one on one relationship in which the sponsor serves as a long distance mentor. Sponsorship helps provide tuition, books, room, board and transportation when necessary. For more information about LDP, go HERE.

CIV - Complementary Interventions
There are many additional needs that sponsorship cannot possibly cover, and this is where complementary interventions come in. There are specific on-going needs (aids, malaria, disaster relief, global food crisis and unsponsored children to name a few) and there are special medical needs that arise (like Achile needing a new heart). For more information about CIV, please visit the website HERE.

I hope that helps and you will have a better understanding of what I'm talking about. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments!