Visiting your sponsored child and their family is an experience you’ll never forget. It’s a chance to meet them in person and see how their community lives. You’ll also get to see how your support is creating positive changes in their community, by providing things like healthcare and education, or by growing food and drilling boreholes for clean water. A visit such as yours is a unique opportunity to learn about another culture as a special guest.

Most importantly of all, your visit will be a huge event in the life of your sponsored child. It’s one that they will cherish and remember forever.

Read on to find out how you can make the most of your visit, discover the answers to many of your questions and learn how other sponsors have enjoyed their experience.

Before I leave

During my visit

When I return

Before I leave

What arrangements do I need to make?

You will need to organise all travel arrangements to your sponsored child's country and to the relevant World Vision office in that country. So that we can coordinate your visit, you will need to tell us*:

• Your departure date from Australia.
• Your arrival date in your sponsored child's country.
• The date, or a range of dates, that you are available for the visit (weekdays only). Please be flexible in the dates you propose. Sometimes a child may be on holidays, or the community could be celebrating a national holiday or cultural festival. Please also avoid planning your trip during the rainy season as remote locations can be difficult to access.
• The number and names of children and adults accompanying you on the visit.
• Your contact details while in your sponsored child's country, including your accommodation details.

*Information that you provide to us will enable us to make arrangements for your trip, including sending you information about it. It will also be used as the law permits or for other purposes explained in our Privacy Statement. We don’t rent, sell or exchange information we hold.

What assistance will World Vision provide?

We will provide:

• Assistance in obtaining a police clearance, which is required before a visit can proceed and for all people visiting your sponsored child.
• Coordination with the World Vision office in your sponsored child's country to organise your visit.
• Confirmation of the date and time of your visit and a contact address and phone number for the World Vision office in your sponsored child's country.
• An advance estimate of expenses that will be incurred during your visit.
• Answers to questions you may have regarding your visit.

Why do I need to give three months notice?

There are several reasons why you need to plan well in advance:

• A national police clearance is required for all people aged 16 and over, and this can take between 8-12 weeks to obtain.
• We need to contact your sponsored child’s family and notify them well in advance to be sure they are available to meet on the proposed date.
• Your visit is a very special occasion for your sponsored child, their family and community. They will want time to plan welcome activities and other aspects of your visit.
• Staff at the World Vision office in your sponsored child’s country need time to plan too. To ensure that your sponsorship funds go as far as possible, staff numbers are kept to a minimum. However this means there are limited staff members who must organise time away from their project work to accompany visitors.
• If there are other people planning to visit, we may need to coordinate several visits to reduce costs. Some countries have a very high frequency of visits compared to others and we need to be conscious of the impact many visits may have on each country.

Why do I need to get a national police clearance?

• World Vision has a strong child protection policy that specifies a commitment to being a child-safe organisation.
• All World Vision employees and supporters who visit sponsored children require a national police clearance. This is to comply with our Child Protection Policy which has been established to help us protect children from risks of abuse. It is also to protect employees and supporters.
• Click here to obtain instructions for obtaining a national police clearance.

Can I write and let my sponsored child know I will be visiting?

Although it is tempting, please don't tell your sponsored child that you will be visiting. If you have to cancel for any reason, he or she will be disappointed. World Vision project staff will tell your sponsored child on your behalf once the trip is confirmed.

What gifts should I take?

• Take small gifts that are easy to pack and that have a practical use.
• We have found children love pencils, crayons, t-shirts, skipping ropes, tennis balls, footballs (with a pump), maps of Australia, inflatable world globes, photo albums with Australian family photos and Australian toy animals. Keep it simple – the $2 shop is a good place to start.
• You will be surrounded by many children from the community. It's best to bring gifts that can be shared, like stickers and balloons, so that children who aren't sponsored don't feel left out.
• Please do not feel you have to take gifts. It's entirely up to you. You definitely should not hand out cash – that is what your child sponsorship is for.

Where can I find more information on the country I am travelling to?

• We suggest you talk to your travel agent about travel in your specific country.
• travel.roughguides.com is a good reference place for information on hotels, currency, culture, travel tips and general country information such as climate and tourist attractions.
• Before you travel, visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at www.dfat.gov.au or www.smartraveller.gov.au for travel and safety advice that may be current for particular countries.

What should I do to safeguard my health?

We strongly recommend that you visit a travel doctor or your local GP well in advance of your departure date to discuss any health issues or vaccinations you may need.

Depending on the country you are visiting, you may need vaccinations or medication for hepatitis A and B, malaria, typhoid, tetanus, polio, meningitis or other country-specific diseases.

We also recommend that you take out travel and health insurance.

As a general rule, it is best to drink only bottled water in most developing countries.

What forms will I need to complete?

You are required to complete and return:

1. A Request to Visit form
2. A Sponsor Visit Agreement
3. A National Police Clearance form
4. Some countries such as India and Vietnam may require further information such as passport details. Additional forms will be sent to you if this is the case.

These forms, along with relevant instructions, can be found on the application forms page.

During my visit

Will I be able to communicate with my sponsored child?

Yes, a World Vision guide/translator will be with you so that you can communicate with your sponsored child and their family members. Having a World Vision staff member with you at all times during your visit is part of our Child Protection Policy and also helps to make your trip as rewarding as possible.

How long can I spend with my sponsored child?

All sponsor visits are for a maximum of one day. The amount of time spent with your sponsored child on that day will depend on the availability of the in-country World Vision staff, and on the travel time required to reach your sponsored child's community.

How should I dress?

Different cultures have different ideas of what's appropriate to wear. To avoid causing offence, particularly if you are female, please dress modestly. Dresses or long skirts are best. For males and females, the best rule of thumb is to have your shoulders and your legs covered. Singlet tops and brief skirts or shorts should be avoided. Sensible shoes should be worn.

What expenses will I have to pay?

World Vision development funds are used primarily to provide for the basic needs of sponsored children, their families and communities. Unfortunately, this means we can't cover the expenses of sponsor visits.

You will be responsible for:

• An application fee for the police check. Please see the Application Forms page for the current cost.
• The cost of travelling to the relevant World Vision office in your sponsored child's country.
• Your own accommodation and personal expenses whilst in your sponsored child's country.
• You will be asked to pay expenses for the World Vision guide/translator who will accompany you, a driver, rental for the World Vision vehicle, fuel and lunch for yourself, your driver and/or your guide. These costs will be kept to a minimum.
• Expenses vary from country to country, but we will give you an estimate before you travel.

What will I see during my visit?

Every sponsor visit is different, depending on where your sponsored child lives. Our staff in Australia will be able to give you an indication of your itinerary.

In some countries it is only appropriate to visit your sponsored child in the World Vision office, for child protection reasons. In other countries, you may get the opportunity to visit your sponsored child at their home or their school.

For most countries, however, we hope you will have the opportunity to see some of the community development successes that your child sponsorship has contributed to, like new schools, wells, health clinics or improved agricultural methods. Many sponsors have been impressed to see how the community has worked together to transform their lives, and to understand how much this benefits their sponsored child.

In some countries sponsors can only travel as a group to a World Vision project elected by the Local Government. This means that the sponsor will not have the opportunity of meeting their own sponsored child.

Please contact our Sponsor Visit Coordinator on 1300 303 440 for further information.

Can I ask my sponsored child and their family where my sponsorship money goes?

No. It’s unlikely that your sponsored child and their family can answer your question. When you sponsor a child, you help to provide the basics like enough food to eat, clean water to drink, basic healthcare and the chance to go to school. But, more than that, the benefits of child sponsorship extend to the whole community. Your gift of $43 a month is pooled with that of other sponsors, and funds essential development projects that will benefit children, families and communities for generations.

The work that is undertaken in each community varies according to their specific needs. As life for your sponsored child and their community improves, you can follow their progress with reports and updates from World Vision.

A small portion of your sponsorship money (up to 5%) will be used in Australia to address the underlying causes of poverty. For more information on how a sponsored child and their community benefit, visit worldvision.com.au/childsponsorship.

Can I ask the World Vision staff in my sponsored child's country about tourism information?

No. It is not appropriate to ask the World Vision staff for tourism or other information that is not directly related to your sponsor visit. We suggest that you have all your tourism questions answered by your travel agent.

Only in circumstances where you absolutely cannot find out specific information from your travel agent, it may be appropriate to consult local World Vision staff. This request can be arranged by the Sponsor Visit Coordinator at World Vision Australia, prior to your departure.

How should I greet my sponsored child, and what greeting should I expect?

Greetings and welcomes will vary across communities and countries. Some communities may prepare songs or performances while others will not. Some cultures will greet you with a nod and others may embrace you. Sponsored children will also respond in their own unique way.

We suggest that you ask the World Vision staff once you arrive about local greetings and what to expect. You will receive an extra-warm welcome if you learn a few local words and expressions.

Should I eat food if it is offered to me?

This is a good question to ask the World Vision staff when you arrive. In most cases it can be taken as an insult if you refuse food, so it is good to discuss any concerns you may have in advance.

Sampling local food is a great way to experience and understand how your sponsored child lives. However, if you are uncomfortable with the idea of eating the food, perhaps try something that is more familiar like a banana, some bread or rice.

It's also a good idea to have antiseptic hand wipes to use and share with the family if you end up eating with your hands. Taking bottled water is also strongly recommended.

Is it appropriate to accept gifts?

Sponsors have been given gifts ranging from hand-made crafts to sheep! Ideally, you should accept gifts because the community may be offended if you refuse.

If there is an occasion where you are offered a pig, goat or chicken, we suggest that you explain that your government will not allow you to bring an animal into Australia. However, you can still show your gratitude and excitement by asking questions about the animal and explaining that it would make you even happier if the family kept it for themselves.

How should I respond if I am asked for money or more help?

Often the best response to this question is to explain that you currently donate money to World Vision to help your sponsored child and their community.

World Vision discourages giving cash directly to children or communities and it is best not to make promises that may not be kept when you return to Australia.

Can I exchange addresses with my sponsored child?

Please do not give your contact details to your sponsored child, their family, community members or World Vision staff.

We discourage direct postal contact for a variety of reasons, and most particularly for the privacy and protection of both you and your sponsored child. It is important to keep your address confidential in case it falls into the wrong hands, which may lead to unwanted requests for money or other help.

Please continue to send your correspondence to the World Vision office in the country where your sponsored child lives. You’ll find these details inside your sponsored child's photo folder.

As a Christian organisation, how does World Vision operate in non-Christian countries?

Inspired by Christian values, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people. We provide help on the basis of need and serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

We work in many multi-religious countries like Sri Lanka, Somalia and Afghanistan. Our staff in these countries may be Christian or of other faiths.

Should I be aware of any religious or cultural sensitivities?

Many countries across the world are more expressive of their religious faith compared to Australia. You may find that the World Vision staff in your sponsored child's country are more overtly religious than the World Vision staff in Australia, depending on the country you are visiting.

It is important to be respectful about individual faith and naturally you will receive the same respect for your beliefs from your sponsored child's family.

The World Vision staff in that country will make you aware of any religious sensitivities if they feel it is necessary.

When I return

Can I send you a written report and photos of my experience?

Yes, we would love to hear about your experiences and any highlights of your visit.

It's great if you can keep a diary, taking notes about what you have seen, the cultural differences you noticed and how you observed your support through World Vision is helping your sponsored child and their community.

It's also a good idea to take photos of your sponsored child and their family to remember your visit. However, please ask permission before you take photographs as some cultures may find it intrusive.

We often ask if your story and photos can be used in our brochures or on our website to inspire other sponsors.

What do I need to do after returning from my visit?

• We will call you on your return to obtain your feedback and go through a debrief of your visit. The debrief will only take about 10 minutes and we usually conduct this over the phone.
• This is an opportunity for you to let World Vision know how you felt about your visit, whether your expectations were met, and discuss any issues that may have arisen.
• If needed, we can help explain some unfamiliar cultural practices that you might have observed.
• Your feedback will also help us to improve the process and make future visits more rewarding for sponsors.

Can I share my experience with others?

• Many supporters enjoy the chance to share their experiences when they return. We encourage you to talk about your visit with family and friends.
• If you're interested, one of the most effective ways of sharing your experience is by inspiring a friend to support our work, or becoming a volunteer for World Vision in Australia.
• Please call us on 1300 303 440 if you would like to discuss ways you can get involved, or we can discuss various options with you during the de-brief process.

What more can I do to help?

There are many ways that you can help change lives through World Vision. Below are just a few ideas that you may like to consider, otherwise please call us on 1300 303 440 or discuss these options during the debrief process.

• Share your experience with other potential child sponsors by volunteering at a World Vision child sponsorship shopping centre stand.
• Consider asking a friend or family member to sponsor a child from the country you have just visited, or sponsor another child yourself.
• Support World Vision's other programs such as Twice As Green, Child Rescue or Water Health Life project
• Share your experiences with a school, church or sporting group.
• Discover the Smiles gift catalogue at worldvision.com.au/smiles. This is a great way to solve all your gift dilemmas.
• Join our latest campaign, learn about ethical shopping or stay connected with what’s happening in the world and how you can make a difference at worldvision.com.au/wvconnect.
• Write a letter to your local newspaper or find an opportunity to call in on talkback radio to speak on global poverty issues!

If you have any further questions, please contact our Sponsor Visit Coordinator at sponsorvisits@worldvision.com.au or call 1300 303 440.