Rate Increases
Kenya is a developing nation, which means the cost of caring for a child is relatively low. We have worked very hard to keep actual costs affordable so that we can create a favorable situation for anyone who wants to support a child.
For several years we have set the monthly sponsorship rate at $15, and during that time Kenya has been experiencing an increase in their cost of living. Inflation is on the rise in their economy, and ultimately that affects the market price of food, clothing and school supplies.
After talking with Pastor Benard, we feel that $25 is closer to the amount needed to adequately provide for the needs of the children in Ahero. However we did not want to make that drastic of an increase in sponsorship immediately. We do not want sponsorship to be a burden to anyone. Our hope is that by slowly increasing the rates in two phases sponsors would have the margin to increase their giving incrementally. (We are especially sensitive to those sponsors who provide for more than one orphan, and/or who are already making sacrifices to be able to do so.)
Our Promise to Our Sponsors
100% of the amount of your sponsorship gift goes directly to the needs of the children in Kenya -- every month. We do not use any of your sponsorship money to cover overhead expenses, organizational operating costs, or staff salaries. We find other creative ways to pay for Hungry4HIM's operating budget. (And several of you give to our General Fund monthly to ensure that sponsorship funds remain just that. We are very grateful to you!)
We will continue to work hard to keep sponsorship rates manageable, while at the same time advocating for the needs of those who cannot speak for or take care of themselves. Though we know sponsorship is difficult financially for many, we believe that it is just as rewarding. Thus as the need arises we will continue to ask you for more -- trusting that you will do what you can, and enstrust the rest to our Heavenly Father.
We will continue to strive for excellence both State-Side -- to provide the most accurate information to donors and sponsors -- and In-Country -- to provide the best of care for children of poverty.
** Will Rates Continue To Increase?
Yes. The rate of sponsorship is determined by the climate of the Kenyan economy (or whatever country H4H branches out into). Therefore the sponsorship rate will be adjusted to keep pace with the changing demands in-country.
However... We have no immediate plans to increase the rate beyond January 1, 2012 -- when it will become $25 per month. After that -- as far as we can tell -- the rate will not go up.
Therefore...
Pray! Our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and he owns the Kenyan economy, too. We can pray that Kenya's economic times will stabilize and that the cost of living (and feeding and clothing children) will normalize for a season. We believe that prayer changes things.
