I'm Ready To Sponsor A Child

Give the gift of hope this Christmas

We estimate that there are more than 50,000 children in Romania living with rare or life-limiting illness with 5,000 in the Bucharest area alone. With struggling and often corrupt healthcare systems, many of these children go with little or no help. Our Children’s Center at Copaceni, near Bucharest, offers respite and therapy services to children with life-limiting and rare illnesses. For the children and the families in our care, Copaceni offers hope.

Please help us to continue to provide hospice services to children and their families by signing up to make a regular donation to sponsor a child like David. 

For many of us, Christmas is a joyous time of year. Spending time with our family and friends, exchanging gifts, laughing, singing, and generally being merry. However, sadly for many families, such as those in our care in Romania, this is not their reality. For some families, they know this could be one of the last Christmases they will spend together. We need your help to ensure that children with life-limiting conditions in our care get the support they so desperately need this Christmas, and their families have the chance to make every precious moment count.

David’s Story

David is 6 years old and lives with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. He has been cared for by the team at our children’s center, Copaceni, for the past 2 years. David’s speech is very limited, and he has some developmental disabilities. When David visits the children’s center, he is cared for by a team of specialists who support him with physical therapy, art therapy, and provide medical assistance. His family is also offered social support.

David’s mother tells us what it’s like for David to be cared for at Copaceni:

“David loves visiting the hospice at Copaceni. It makes him so happy being with the other children. He especially enjoys playing with the art supplies and making a mess! 

All the team at Copaceni care for David like he is their own son – they are so kind and compassionate, like a family to us. I love to bring David here, and to see him smile.”

I'm ready to Sponsor a Child

Frequently Asked Questions:

I would like to sponsor a child

What happens when I sponsor a child?

When you become one of our child sponsors, you are contributing to the care of all our child patients, but will build a relationship with one child in particular.  This ensures that no child in our care will receive more or less support than others.

When you sponsor a child in our care, you will receive a welcome pack which will tell you all about the children in our care, as well as the work we as a charity are doing to support these children.  Around 8 weeks after you register to be a sponsor, you will receive a letter or drawing from one of our child patients.  You will also receive a Christmas greeting card and an annual progress update on the child, as well as information about our wider work at Copaceni.

Can I cancel my sponsorship at any time? What will happen to the child I sponsor?

While we hope your support is long-term, we know situations change. Should you no longer wish or be able to sponsor a child, please let us know as soon as possible and we will cancel your sponsorship within 1 month.

What happens to the children that do not get sponsored?

By becoming a child sponsor, you are helping support all the children in our care.  No child will be left out.

How is my sponsorship money spent?

By sponsoring a child, you are supporting the wider Copaceni project, therefore, you're actually helping lots of children as well as their families. A small amount (10%) of your donation will go towards the administration of the project.

Can I visit the child I sponsor?

We would love for you to be one of our volunteers on our annual Summer Trips.  While we cannot guarantee you will meet any one specific child, you will meet many of the children in our care, and have an incredibly fulfilling experience, seeing first-hand the impact your donations are having on our children and their families. To find our more information about our summer trips, please contact us or email [email protected].

What does my sponsorship provide?

$20 a month will contribute to the costs associated with caring for a child and their family, for example:

• Education
• Residential Care
• Day Care
• Transport
• Physical Therapy
• Medical Equipment
• Medical Supplies
• Psychological Support
• Social Support
• Spiritual Support
• Home-Care
• Technology

However, by giving more, you will also be supporting the running costs of our Children’s Center at Copaceni, enabling us to care for even more children.

Can I choose which child I sponsor?

Everyone who is kind enough to become a sponsor is allocated a different child, whose progress they are encouraged to follow.

Our staff in Romania and the UK will choose a child for you to sponsor. You can tell us if you have a particular preference for sponsoring a boy or a girl, or age preference, and we will do our best to match you with a child accordingly. 

You will be sent a photograph of the child you are sponsoring, as well as some further information about the child and their medical situation. Every year before Christmas we will send you a new photo and a report, so you can see the direct impact of your generous sponsorship. You are more than welcome to write and send birthday cards to your sponsor child (via our UK head office) and will almost certainly receive a reply.

Below we have featured three of the children benefiting from our 'Sponsor a Child' program.