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Frequently
Asked Questions |
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What
does Sponsorship cost?
For little more than a dollar a day, or $35 a month, a child can
be fully supported for an entire year. |
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How
long does sponsorship last?
Your
sponsorship commitment will last one year from the time we receive
your first donation, although it is our aim to establish a long-term
relationship with our sponsors. |
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Can
I sponsor more than one child?
Absolutely,
please sponsor as many children as you can. |
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Can
I email my child?
Gokulam
is not equipped at this time to offer this sort of correspondence.
With generous donations we may be able to make this possible in
the future. |
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What
amount of the funds is used to benefit the children?
100%
of the funds go directly to the orphanage and the children. |
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Will
my $35 a month sponsorship go directly to my child?
Your
monthly gift of $35 will be combined with the contributions of other
sponsors to make resources available that meet the needs of all
the children. Your donations will even help children who have not
yet received a sponsor. |
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May
I send gifts to my child?
You
may send photos and letters. Please refer to the Writing to Your
Child section for information and guidelines. We don’t allow
gifts to be sent because of the high duties and taxes, and because
it could create animosity between the children receiving gifts and
those not receiving gifts. You may however, send a monetary gift
to your child to commemorate a special occasion like a birthday,
holiday, or achievement. Your child will be notified that a sponsor
has given him/her a special gift. However, no specific details will
be given to your sponsored child about your gift. This again prevents
animosity between your sponsored child and his/her peers whose sponsor
may not be as generous. Monetary gifts will be put into your sponsored
child’s individual savings account. This money will help to
provide your child with start-up capital for when they leave Bhaktivedanta
Children’s Home and help them start an independent life. |
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Can
I write to my child?
Yes,
you absolutely may. Please refer to the How to Write Your Child
page for information and guidelines. |
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Will
my child write back to me?
This
depends on a lot of circumstances. Once a year, you will receive
a Thank you card from your child. Beyond that we do not require
the children to write, but most will. Even though the children are
taught in English, the younger children may need your letters translated
and their responses to be translated into English. This may take
some time. |
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Is
it possible to visit my sponsored child?
Yes,
but it will only be possible at times set by Gokulam. If you would
like to arrange a visit we will try and work with you to accommodate
the most practical schedule for you and the Home. |
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Is
my sponsored child a tsunami orphan?
He/she
may be. Approximately half of the orphans at Gokulam are tsunami
orphans. You will find out when you receive your child’s biographical
information. Whether your child was orphaned by the tsunami or not,
all the children are in desperate need of your assistance. |
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Will
I receive a monthly statement?
If your sponsorship is set up via electronic payment through our
Web site; you will automatically receive a statement via email.
Otherwise, sponsorships paid for using check will receive an annual
statement only. |
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How
do I sign up to sponsor a child?
You
can register online using a credit card payment, or print out the
Child Sponsorship form (PSD version) from our Web site, and then
mail in your payment by check. |
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What
type of help does Gokulam – Bhaktivedanta Children’s
Home provide for the children?
Because
of your generous contribution, your child will have full access
to a comprehensive education, the care and attention of a new family,
complete health services, new clothing and three nutritious meals
daily. Your sponsored child will once again have hope for a healthy,
happy and prosperous future. |
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If
I’m not ready to sponsor a child, are there other ways in
which I can help?
Yes! You are welcome to give a one time donation or a donation in
kind. Also please refer to our Advocacy and Fundraising page to
learn more about other creative ways you can help. |
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Can
you provide me with more detailed information about gift sponsorships?
What
better way to share your dedication to helping the world’s
needy children then by making a contribution in the name of another
individual? It is a great way to make any occasion more meaningful.
The Gift Sponsorship is a wonderful way to create a unique bond
and friendship between that special person that you wish to honor
and a needy child. If you would like to give a sponsorship to a
friend or relative, you are considered to be the “Gift Giver.”
As the giver, you are financially responsible for the sponsorship
of the child. Our sponsorships are $35 per month or $420 per year,
payable in advance or monthly. All materials about the financial
details will be sent to you. The recipient of the gift sponsorship
is considered to be the “Gift Recipient.” It is important
that you have the full name and mailing address of the recipient
before you create the Gift Sponsorship. Please be aware that all
correspondence from or about your child will be sent to the Gift
Recipient only. This also includes the original information, welcome
package, and the photo of the child. |
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How
will I learn about my child’s progress?
Expect
a yearly progress report and Thank you card telling you about the
child’s health, living circumstances, educational progress
and update on the program activities. Your personal correspondence
will also give you an idea of your child's hobbies, interests, schoolwork
and ambitions. |
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Does
Bhaktivedanta Children’s Home share or sell information about
donors?
Absolutely not! All information about our donors is kept in strict
confidence. |
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What
if I have specific questions about my child?
Please
feel free to email us with any questions about your child or the
sponsorship program and we will do our best to answer them as completely
as we can. |
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I
can see from the photos that the children appear to be participating
in some form of religious practice. What religion is taught at Gokulam?
The
children come from many religious backgrounds, Gokulam – Bhaktivedanta
Children’s Home believes in a nonsectarian approach to spiritual
education. As a result, the children acquire their spiritual foundation
through an ecumenical approach of drawing from the teachings and
cultures of many religions and their sacred texts. |
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What
will I get as a sponsor?
Within
three to six weeks you will receive a welcome package, which includes
a photo and brief bio of your child, comprehensive information about
the orphanage, and a fact sheet about Sri Lanka. You will have the
privileged opportunity to create a special relationship with an
orphan in a developing country. Once a year you will receive an
update from the orphanage about your child’s progress. |
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What
is your contact information?
Please visit our Contact page. |
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Am
I the only sponsor for my child?
You
may, or may not be. We want to ensure that the children have the
best care and services as possible. We will not turn any sponsor
away, so eventually a child may have multiple sponsors. |
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Is
my donation tax deductible, and what is the tax exemption ID number?
Yes, Gokulam – Bhaktivedanta Children’s Home has a registered
office in Maryland, USA, so all donations are tax deductible. Our
Tax ID is: |
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When
do the children leave the care of Gokulam – Bhaktivedanta
Children’s Home, and what happens to them? Do they go to university,
start a job, or get vocational training?
From the very beginning of a child’s life at Gokulam, we begin
planning for the child’s future. All children are given their
own bank account and funds are evenly distributed to each child’s
account to provide support for their college education, marriage
or career. The Bhaktivedanta International School grooms the children
for their independent life outside the Home by providing in-house
vocational guidance, marriage planning, business experience through
the Home’s own business ventures, as well as financial planning. |
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Are
all the children true orphans (lost both parents)?
Not all the children at Gokulam – Bhaktivedanta Children’s
Home have lost both parents. Some children at the home may have
one parent living; however they are unable to care for the child
because of disease, extreme poverty, or mental instability. |
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If
a child is not a true orphan, then can his/her parent take them
back?
Occasionally if a parent who was unable to care for the child becomes
well and able to care for their child again, then legally we must
give the child back to the parent. If this happens to your sponsored
child, we will notify and give you the option to sponsor another
needy child, or if you so choose, you may discontinue your sponsorship.
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