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SPONSOR A
SPONSOR A
SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMS Donation can be for common
projects or for sponsorship programs as per preference of the donor. What we
give below are suggested amount. Any amount will be accepted as donation. The
sponsorship programs shall be for social service projects or for religious
projects. Sponsorship programs are the following. The social service projects
will have a developmental approach. That means the goal will be to lead the
economically backward people from dependency to self-reliance. We will give
priority in organizing self-help groups of the low-income people and to support
the members of such groups. In exceptional cases, we will support charity and
emergency projects.
1. SPONSOR A HOUSE CONSTRUCTION: $350 and above. (Photo: A House under construction with the support of Agape Movement.) Most
of the poor people in India live in independent huts. Most of them might have a
small property but no safe house. Such people need support for house
construction. The amount we provide shall be an incentive for them to raise some
local money and use their own small savings to construct a durable small house
of their own. The suggested contribution for a house is $350. We
will collect and give to the donor the details of the family along with
photographs of the old and new houses through the sponsoring organization in
India.
2. SPONSOR A HOUSE REPAIR: $200 and above. Many poor people in India
live in small houses constructed with their small income and help from
government, church, social service societies, or local well wishers. However
many of such houses are not be fully constructed because of lack of fund. Some
houses may not have strong roofs resulting in dangerous situation. Some roofs
may be leaking during rainy season. Some are damaged by heavy rain and wind.
Because of tropical climate, worms and fungus destroy the wooden portions of
roof. Some other houses may not have strong walls. They shall be using sack
cloths to cover the sides. It is unsafe for living in such houses especially for
young women. The floor of some houses shall not be concreted. Instead they use
mud and cow dung, which are unhealthy. Such families need financial support to
make their house safe and strong. The suggested contribution for a house repair
is $200.
We will collect and give to the
donor the details of the family along with photographs of the old and new houses
through the sponsoring organization in India.
3. SPONSOR A STUDENT: $ 125 per year for 2 or 3 years Children in India get
primary education at low cost. However, job-oriented courses like Nursing,
Engineering, and Social Work are expensive. So only students from high-income
families attend such courses. If we provide financial support for students from
low-income families, they can attend such courses and become self-sufficient.
Since such courses take two to three years, we suggest to provide $ 125 dollars
each for two or three years according to the duration of the course. We will collect and give to the
donor the details of the student, his or her photograph, the achievements of the
student, and letter of thanks through the sponsoring organization in India.
4. SPONSOR A SENIOR CITIZEN: $10 per month Senior citizens from poor families in India have no financial support from government. Many of them are sick and their family cannot afford to meet their medical expenses and other basic needs like food, clothing etc. We will give priority to those who need constant medical treatment. So we suggest sponsoring a senior citizen each by donating $10 per month. We will collect and give
to the donor the details of the senior citizen, his or her photograph, and
letter of thanks through the sponsoring organization in India.
5. SPONSOR A HANDICAPPED: $125 once / $10 per month There are many physically or mentally handicapped children or adult in several families. This program will sponsor such individuals or their families for their treatment, education, purchase of equipment, or for income generation programs as per need of the case. If the project is for income generation program for the person or the family, we suggest $125 as a lump sum grant. Others shall be given $10 per month.
We will collect and give to the
donor the details of the handicapped person, his or her photograph, the
achievements because of the help, and letter of thanks through the sponsoring
organization in India.
6. SPONSOR A PATIENT: $100 once / $10 per month There are chronically ill
patients who need constant treatment or those who need high amount for immediate
treatment like surgery. This program will support such patients. If the patient
needs one time support for surgery or similar expense, we will provide $100 as
one time help. We shall provide $10 per month for those who need constant
treatment. We will collect and give to the
donor the details of the sick person, his or her photograph, the achievements
because of the help, and letter of thanks through the sponsoring organization in
India.
7. SPONSOR A WIDOW’S FAMILY: $ 125 once / $10 per month According to the custom
in India, most young widows remain unmarried throughout their life taking care
of their children. They face financial, social, and cultural problems. Most of
these widows have no income to support their family. This program will support
such widows. If they are willing and capable of starting income generation
program, we will provide $125 per widow as one time help or shall provide $10
per month for two years. After two years of support, we will make an evaluation
and extend the help if needed. We will collect and give
to the donor the details of the widow, photograph of her family, the
achievements because of the help, and letter of thanks through the sponsoring
organization in India.
8. SPONSOR A VILLAGE:
$250 only Self-help groups of low-income
people of all religions are formed in many villages of India. These neighborhood
groups meet regularly to discuss their issues and to solve by collective effort
and to learn from each other. Such groups have micro-credit union. They deposit
a small amount every month and whoever wants to start income generation program
or to upgrade it will take loans from the micro-credit union. Many people,
especially women started working and began to earn income for their families.
[Photo: Villagers meeting to discuss their common issues] If we provide Rs. 10,000 to a
village, they will give Rs.1,000 each to 10 selected group members as loan to
start or upgrade income generation programs. They will return Rs. 100 every
month so that every month one more person will get a loan of Rs. 1,000. This
revolving system has become very effective for self-help groups. The suggested
one time contribution for a village is $250 only. The sponsor will send reports
and photographs of the activities taking place in the sponsored village.
B. RELIGIOUS AND PASTORAL PROJECTS
A. SPONSOR A PARISH: $100 per month Many parishes in India have
economic difficulties to maintain the parish expenses. Since parishioners are
poor, their contribution is not enough to meet the expenses. The expense
includes the honorarium of the priest, sacristan, part-time sweeper, and
accountant. There are also expenses for electricity, regular maintenance. If we
can provide $100 per month the parish shall raise the rest. The suggested period
of support is for three years. The sponsor will get relevant
photographs of the sponsored parish community and its church. The parish will
also offer a Mass each for the intention of the donor and will request the
parishioners to pray for the donor’s intentions.
B. SPONSOR A BIBLE COURSE: $125 only Bible
courses are now well appreciated in India. Most dioceses in India have pastoral
centers and directors to promote Bible studies. However, they find it difficult
to raise money to meet the expenses of the training program. The expense is for
food, accommodation, educational materials, honorarium and traveling expenses
for resource persons etc. The courses shall be in diocesan level, regional
level, or parish level. It can be a three-day residential program or regular
monthly or weekly classes. If we provide $125, the organizers will raise the
rest of the amount. The sponsor will get report and
photograph of the sponsored course. The organizers and participants of the
course shall pray of the intentions of the donor. 3. SPONSOR A RETREAT / SPIRITUAL COURSE: $125 only Since each diocese in India has
pastoral centers, it is convenient for them to organize retreats and Christian
leadership training programs. All dioceses have organizations for children,
youth, and adults. People have a great thirst to attend such programs also. If
we sponsor a retreat or a course of three days by donating $125, the organizers
shall raise the rest by local contribution. The sponsor will get report and
photograph of the sponsored course. The organizers and participants of the
course shall pray of the intentions of the donor.
4. SPONSOR A RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHOOL: $125 only All parishes in India
have catechism or religious education schools. Teachers work in these schools
are volunteers. However, many of the parishes do not have enough furniture,
education materials, and library. The sponsor of the school shall give $125 as
one time donation. The sponsor will get
report and photograph of the sponsored religious education school. The staff and
the students of the school shall pray of the intentions of the donor.
5. SPONSOR A SEMINARIAN: $250 per year You might have considered
yourself becoming a missionary or secular priest any time in your life and could
not make it. Or you might have wished that you could send one of your children
for the same. But those thoughts remain as dream. How about sponsoring a
seminarian by supporting for seminary training and praying for him? You will
eventually have a priest or missionary who will be your spiritual son. There is
rare chance that your sponsored student might drop from the seminary. Then
don’t get disappointed. At least you have helped for his religious training to
become a good lay missionary. You will get another seminarian as your spiritual
son. The sponsor will pray for
the seminarian and contribute $250 per year till the completion of his course.
You will get the photograph and details of the seminarian. He will also pray for
you and write you letters of thanks.
6. SPONSOR DISTRIBUTION OF BIBLE AND RELIGIOUS
ARTICLES: $50 and above With the introduction of
Charismatic Movement, Bible Conventions and Hospital Ministry, there is more
demand for Bible and religious articles than before. Such materials can be
distributed at subsidized rates to those who might make good use them. There is
no specific amount for this contribution. Suggested contribution is $50 and
above. The recipient will be
asked to pray for the intentions of the sponsor. The sponsor will get a report
of how the money was utilized with a list of beneficiaries. METHOD
OF SELECTING BENEFICIARIES Agape Movement shall not normally select the
beneficiaries. We will entrust that responsibility to reliable organizations,
institutions, or churches in India. However, donor’s priority will be
respected in the selection of sponsoring organization or beneficiary. For
example if a donor requests to support with his or her contribution a particular
institution or parish or village we will try to respect that. In such instances,
Agape Movement may not be able to get reports and photographs in time from some
of those organizations or beneficiaries. The donor may have to contact them
directly to track the progress of the project and to receive the reports and
photographs. Agape Movement shall give priority to support
members of self-help groups organized by social service societies. Help should
reach the most deserving without any discrimination of caste or creed. Administrative expenses of
Agape Movement and sponsoring organizations shall be minimum so that maximum
amount shall reach the needy without any injustice. We assure that at least 90%
of the contributed amount shall reach the beneficiary. A maximum of 10% of the
donation is expected for the administrative expenses of Agape Movement USA,
Agape Movement India, and sponsoring organizations. The expenses include
printing, stationary, postage, photographs, telephone, monitoring, evaluation,
and reporting. - Holy mass and prayers will be offered for the intentions of the donors. - Those who receive benefit of the projects will be encouraged to pray for their sponsors and to write thank you letters to their sponsors. Direct help to the already supported beneficiary or sponsoring organization should be avoided because beneficiaries or organizations will have a tendency to ask for direct help by giving false information. - Donors will receive a private newsletter with the news of activities and various achievements by the projects sponsored by the Agape Movement. - Those who sponsor individuals or special projects will get report and photographs of their project. - All donors will get annual statement of accounts of Agape Movement. - When the organization gets tax exemption from IRS, the donors will get tax exemption for the amount they donate.
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As far as possible annual or semi-annual get together shall be arranged
in each region to discuss and evaluate the activities of the organization. Grand
donors and consistent donors will be honored in such meetings. |
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