Sponsor Toolkit

How do I write my sponsored student?

The easiest “How” is simply to send an email addressed to projectchildletters@uboratz.org with an attached letter document.

  • Please use the Project Child Letterhead that you may download “HERE”.

  • Write your letter on the downloaded Letterhead.

  • Add/paste small photos to your letterhead document only. Do not attach photos to the email. Try to keep to 1 page only..

  • Rename your letterhead document to include your child’s name and KAC number.

  • Convert your letterhead document to a PDF.

  • Email the Letterhead document as an attachment to projectchildletters@uboratz.org

We will send all letters over at least once per month for delivery to your child. If you prefer to send printed letters and photos, deliver/mail them to Michele Lockwood, 3935 Montglenn Trace, Cumming, Georgia 30041 or they may be dropped off at Perimeter Church in the basket behind the Atrium receptionist. If a team is not traveling within the quarter, we will box up the received letters and mail with the US Postal Service. (It costs us about $100 for a medium sized box, so we have to restrict these mailings to letters, cards and photo’s).

What about Gift Packs?

Packages can be sent over with journey teams assuming they have luggage space and the items are provided in one resealable manila envelope size 11X14 or less per child. (ziplock plastic bags are not allowed) To expedite teams through customs, securely tape a “Gift Inventory” sheet (download “HERE” to the outside of your envelope. You must include your name, your child’s name, the KAC number, his Grade in School and a list of gift items. As with letters gifts may be mailed to the home address of Michele Lockwood mentioned above, or left in the Tanzania Basket behind the receptionist desk in the Main Foyer of Perimeter Church.

When to Send?

We generally have journey teams going to Tanzania in March, June, July, Sept and Nov and will seek to collect packages 14 days before the published departure date via Michele Lockwood as noted above. We will also send a mail/letter pack before Christmas and before Easter. Specific due dates are communicated via Ubora Bulletins with a “Mail Call” notice. If you miss the “due date” please don’t count on your letter or package being delivered until the next Mail Call.

What to Send?

That greatly depends upon your relationship with the child – and of course his or her age. I think the overarching purpose is to communicate to the child that she is loved by God and valued by you, and that your desire is that she grow in her relationship with Christ and in serving others. Of course, you need to learn about each other’s family and faithfully seek to encourage. Tell them what Christ means to you and maybe how you celebrate holidays. Try to write about things the child might be able to relate to being careful not to highlight our material blessings in your letters or photographs. Remember, you are communicating into a fairly conservative culture. It is great to include letters and drawings from your children, plus to respond to the letters that you receive from your student.

Following are example gift items, depending on age, that must fit into one 11X14 resealable manila envelope per student.

  • School supplies - pens, erasure, rulers, small calculators

  • Stickers for boys/girls

  • Hard candy - individually wrapped pieces are best as sanitation is not the best there for opened packages

  • Deflated Soccer Balls, Frisbee’s

  • Books with pictures - "I Spy" books, Bible Stories, culturally appropriate (NOT Disney or skimpyclothed characters)

  • Journal - blank or lined paper with colored pencils. (Possibly include a verse or two in it for the kids... along with the sponsored child's name... makes it harder for the kids to feel the need to "share" or to feel guilty about not sharing...or for someone to take it from them.)

  • Decorative notepads

  • Fine line markers

  • Fancy pencils (can be purchased in sets of 10 at the dollar store) - the kids never have enough pencils

  • Pencil sharpener (hand held) or two or three! Those are like GOLD!!!

  • Small, draw-string backpacks

  • Clothes - Girls - long skirts, tops with sleeves, fancy socks, colorful scarves for older girls

  • Boys -Sweat socks, T-shirts - team logos or action figure shirts. Baseball or stocking caps

  • Boys or Girls—short sleeve or long sleeve "Hoodie" or windbreaker style jackets. (thin jackets fit in the packages, sweatshirts do not.)

  • Children's Bible or devotional, science books, mathematic games, Jump Ropes, matchbox-type cars

  • Hacky-sacks, toothbrush and toothpaste - a toothbrush case is great

  • Small lotion

  • These are just some ideas—but whatever you send—It must fit in resealable manila envelope less than 11X14 in size.

CONSIDER – We have over 600 children now in Project Child. Be patient waiting for a response to your letter knowing that for the younger grades, each letter needs to be translated into Swahili and communicated to the child. Letters coming back are often prepared in mass on a letter writing day to make sure as many kids are covered as possible and to reduce the organizational time required of our staff and teachers in Karansi. Sometimes these letters seem very patterned – but we have had the privilege to see and experience these letters to become very personal as the children mature and the sponsor relationship evolves. (Especially when sealed with a sponsor visit) Regardless of the difficulties in really developing a relationship with such a wide expanse of age, culture and distance, please know that your engagement in the lives of our children, even if only from a financial perspective, results in massive impact on their lives and provides them a real hope for a future. Reminder: Include the gift list, sponsor name, child name and KAC number on the outside of the envelope using the Gift List Form found “HERE”