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:: SPONSOR A CHILD If you are already familiar with the Green Gecko sponsorship program and would like to sponsor a child now, please download this page count me in.doc fill it out and email it to getinvolved@greengeckoproject.org.
:: WHAT DOES A GECKO SPONSORSHIP PROVIDE
FOR THE CHILDREN?
For $1 a day, a Gecko sponsorship helps to provide Green Gecko kids with a rounded education, wholistic care and the opportunity to realise their dreams…
as well as a childhood. Your commitment enables us to deliver long-term
projects that will see each child through these formative, vulnerable years and
prepare them for adulthood as valuable members of their community. Sponsorship
directly funds our programmes for health care, nutrition, vocational training,
arts, recreation, meeting the costs of attending Khmer schools, and family
support.
:: WHAT DOES A GECKO SPONSORSHIP PROVIDE
FOR THE SPONSOR?
As a Gecko Child Sponsor, you will receive an introduction to, and profile of,
the specific child who will become 'your' sponsored Gecko. Every six months, we will keep
you updated with individual news about your child, his/her pursuits, triumphs
and tribulations. You will thus be able to attach a name and face to one of
many of Cambodia's precious children who struggle in desperate
poverty until people like you take action to give them hope. You will also
receive a subscription to the Green Gecko Newsletter which comes out every few
months, filling you in on what has been happening to all your child's friends at the centre. All correspondence from us
will be in electronic format (via email); not only does cut down on
administrative, postage and stationary costs, it's environmentally friendlier.
:: COSTS
A Gecko Sponsorship costs $1 a day, paid in one lump sum of $365 for one year.
:: PAYMENT YEAR
As our programme is heavily geared towards starting and keeping the kids in
government accredited schools, our administrative and financial bookkeeping
follows the Cambodian school year from October to October. Thus the Green Gecko
sponsorship year follows this cycle, so any payment made now will run from
October 08 to October 09. In September 2009 we will email you an invitation to
continue sponsoring for the next year until October 2010.
:: COUNT ME IN!If you would love to become a gecko child
sponsor, then register your intention with us by downloading this form count me in.doc. When we have your info, a child will be selected, payment
will be made and we will introduce you to your gecko kid with their profile and
photo!
:: HAPPY GECKO SPONSOR "I have been coming to Cambodia since
2005 and each time I have visited Green Gecko. It has been an inspiration to
watch it and the children grow. In the beginning, the children were unwashed,
gaunt, wary and aimless, with no realistic access to education or care. Today
it is the complete opposite - they have transformed into healthy, polite,
bright and confident students! I sponsor two Geckos, and knowing my yearly
contribution goes directly to making this transformation possible for all the
Geckos is a deeply rewarding experience. Tania and Rem's
amazing dedication and competence in creating a rounded educational environment
at Green Gecko is really working. I highly recommend becoming a sponsor!".
Lee Gilmore UK
frequently asked questions
Can we choose our own child? We welcome you to advise us of your
preference, as in girl or boy and a rough age range, but Green Gecko does not
encourage the selection of children based on their appearance. To be fair to
all the children, we prefer to choose a Gecko child for you to ensure that all
our Geckos are given the same opportunities.
How is the money spent? The sponsorship money you send is added to
that of other people who also sponsor Geckos. Your collective funds allow us to
provide necessities such as education, food, shelter, clothing and medical care
for the Geckos. In addition, your funds indirectly help to strengthen the
further community with our family support and micro business programs.
Can we correspond with our child? At this stage, there is no facility for
direct correspondence mainly due to lack of human and technical resources, we
hope this will change in the future and we will let you know when it does.
Will you give us another child once this
one has left gecko/grown too old? In the slim chance your gecko child leaves
us before their time is up, we will let you know and the decision will be
totally yours. There is no age cut off point, we have promised the children we
will support them until there education is complete and they are standing on
their own two feet.
Can we have a photo of our child? Yes, you will receive an email with your
child's profile and a separate photo
file attached for you to print yourselves for you to frame or magnet on the
fridge.
How do I know my donations are going where
you say they are going? GGP follows very strict accounting
procedures. Our financial records are fully accountable and transparent to the
public. At GGP only Khmer salaries are paid, all westerners are on a volunteer
or sponsorship basis.
Does all money go into a common pool to
assist all the kids or just our child? All sponsorship money goes into a common
pool to help us ensure that ALL children at Green Gecko receive equal treatment
and access to programs, whether they have a sponsor or not. The exception to
this is when a sponsor pays specifically for external English education; the
money then goes directly to the institution.
Am I the only sponsor for my Gecko child? The cost of caring for a child with all
that they need is of course more than $1 a day, even in Cambodia. As
such each Gecko child will require more than one sponsor to support completely.
If you would like to be the only sponsor for 'your' child, we would be delighted to provide you with
more information on how much it would cost.
Can we meet our Gecko child? YES, you can meet your child. However it is
our policy that ALL children at Green Gecko receive equal treatment and feel
equally valued, whether they have a sponsor or not. For this reason, we ask
that all sponsors remain anonymous to the children. You are welcome to visit
the centre and interact with your child in a group environment, it is important
to the self esteem of all the children that a particular child is not singled
out with special attention. All visits must be arranged in advance with
management.
Can I give gifts to my Gecko child? We understand your wish to send special
gifts to your Gecko sponsor child however; we it is a practice that we strongly
discourage. Communal gifts they can share are always preferred, a book of
stickers, a ball, skipping ropes. The children are aware that resources come
from sponsors, donors and volunteers, and they welcome all visitors with great
respect and appreciation. However, one of our strongest goals is to change the
lifelong perception of our former street kids that their survival is dependent
on begging or soliciting from foreigners. They need to believe in their own
ability to help themselves through education, with dignity, and with the
support and encouragement of Green Gecko and each other.
When will my Gecko no longer need
assistance? We hope that you will want to be apart of
Green Gecko's work for a long time. It is our promise to each Green Gecko Child
that we will support them through their education - whether it is high school,
vocational training or university – until they are supporting themselves. You
are welcome to follow them through on this journey or to whatever level you can
afford. We do not cut any child off at a special predetermined age.
How do I cancel my sponsorship? We are extremely appreciative of whatever
support you provide, if for whatever reason your circumstances change and you
wish to cancel your sponsorship we will honour your decision, no questions
asked.
When will I receive a renewal reminder? September 2009 with payment due in October
2009.
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