 Jagdish Chander 2460 Crescent Court, Plover WI 54467 (715) 341-1538 |
 Jyoti with the child she sponsors |
ShamaKids
Program || More About ||
FAQ's
Schools: Adavali ||
Adi Vidya Madir ||
Baba Ganda Singh ||
Mhaskal ||
PN Doshi
Kids to Sponsor: Page 1 ||
Page 2
ShamaKids Frequently Asked Questions
1. How are students chosen for the ShamaKids program?
The children eligible for sponsorship attend schools selected by SHAMA, Inc. in cooperation with the SPRJ Kanyashala Trust.
In order to qualify, their parents fill out forms giving financial information and details of the family. Those students in most need are selected for the ShamaKids program. Without this aid, many of them would have to drop out of school.
ShamaKids is a secular organization and has a strict policy of not discriminating on the basis of religion or caste. Sponsored children come from all faiths including Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Hindus and Muslims; the majority of them are Hindus.
2. What happens when you sponsor a child?
The ShamaKids program matches sponsors with a particular child. Your monthly contribution of $10 will provide your sponsored child with everything they need to attend school, including books and supplies, clothing and shoes, nutritious meals, bus fees, and medical care. It also provides after school coaching for subjects in which the student needs help.
You will be able to send letters to your student. The school will send you:
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a photograph of the sponsored child every year,
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an annual progress report for the child in academics and other co-curricular activities
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a letter from the child every new year, and
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details about the child, his/her family and their financial status.
The money from sponsoring children is not given directly to the students, but instead, pays their fees for them. The money is handled by the SPRJ Kanyashala Trust.
Click here for more about ShamaKids with pictures.
We ask new sponsors to commit to their sponsored child for a minimum of one year.
3. I'm interested in sponsoring a child. How do I get started?
Choose a child to sponsor from Page 1 or Page 2. Then do both of the following:
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Fill out and submit a printable form or the online form. If you have no preference of which child to sponsor, leave the child code blank.
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Click on this link for payment options. The transaction is not completed until the payment option is settled.
We ask sponsors to commit to their sponsored child for a minimum of one year.
4. What kind of schools do these children attend?
See these links for more information about each school:
PN Doshi College ||
Mhaskal village school
Baba Ganda Singh Public School ||
Adi Vidya Mandir School
Most of the children are from localities that include the slums of Mumbai, the tribal village of Mhaskal in Maharashtra, the village of Jahangirabad in Orissa and Maragarh and its surrounding villages in Punjab.
5. Does each child have only one sponsor?
Yes, each child has only one sponsor. Occasionally friends will pool together to jointly sponsor a child. At one time a whole class pitched in to sponsor a child--the teacher wanted the students to become aware of the disparity of living conditions and poverty in the world.
The relationship between sponsor and child continues as long as you wish, as long as the child is in school.
6. Does all the money from the sponsors get pooled together?
No, the money does not get pooled together. Separate accounts are kept for each child.
7. If a child is not sponsored, she or he still get to go to school?
The students for whom we seek sponsorship are those identified by social workers as most likely to drop out or to be drawn into the child labor force because of the family's financial conditions. Those among them who do go to school and are not sponsored miss out on the essentials necessary for a successful education.
8. Can sponsors communicate with the children?
You may communicate with the child and visit him/her under the care of the program coordinator at the school. The address to the program coordinator is given in the profile about the child that you will receive. This policy is in place primarily for two reasons: first, to protect the privacy of the child, and second, to take care of the translation needs in case the English and the local language skills are a hindrance to proper communication.
