FAQs

• How is the global food crisis affecting children in poverty?

  As food prices climb, so do hunger and malnutrition in young children. The impact of childhood malnutrition is catastrophic and has both short and long-term effects. The increased risks caused by malnutrition include:  

  • Diabetes, cardiovascular problems and cancer later in life

  • Growth stunting and wasting

  • Poor academic performance and intellectual development

  • Increased prevalence of attention deficit disorders  

  • Child marriage, as girls are offered in marriage arrangements for dowries that will feed their families

  • Child labour, as children leave school early to support their families

  • Premature death 

• Can I give a food package directly to my sponsored child?

  We really appreciate your desire to help your sponsored child through the provision of a food package. The funds raised through this campaign can’t be directed to an individual child. Instead, they are pooled together to provide food packages for the Compassion assisted families most in need of nutrition support across over 25 program countries.

  Please be assured that our local staff understand your sponsored child’s unique needs, including their nutrition, and they are trained to identify malnutrition and provide immediate support.

  However, you can choose to give an additional financial gift to your sponsored child or their family anytime and they will receive 100 per cent of your gift. Local workers will help your sponsored child and their family to purchase a gift that assists with their greatest needs.

  You can give a child or family gift online in My Account or by contacting us on 1300 22 44 53 or at compassion@compassion.com.au

• Doesn’t my sponsorship help provide food for my sponsored child?

  Yes, it does! Your sponsorship contributions help provide supplements to fight against malnutrition, which may include a meal or snack at the child’s local child development centre, depending on the local context and the child’s individual needs. Because our Child Sponsorship Program provides for a child’s holistic needs, your sponsorship giving also covers education support, healthcare, tutoring and mentoring, skills training and Christ-centred guidance.  

  The global food crisis is increasing the cost for Compassion’s church partners to provide meals for children as part of normal programming—and many families are now even more reliant on those meals. The cost of providing this urgent support exceeds what sponsorship giving alone can provide, which is why additional funding is needed to cover the shortfall.  

• Does distributing food packages or sending cash transfers create dependency? 

  Compassion’s National Offices and local church partners work to set appropriate expectations with families so they understand the short-term nature of aid. The primary goal of Compassion's response is to reduce the impact of the global food crisis on families in poverty, and short-term aid is a critical part of this strategy.  

  In the transition out of short-term relief and toward long-term development work, families are empowered with ways to be self-sufficient through strategies like income generation activities, vocational training and financial management workshops.

• What is the global food crisis?

  Conflict, extreme weather and COVID-19 have created a global food crisis that is having a devastating impact on children in poverty. According to the UN, the world is now moving backwards in its efforts to fight food insecurity and malnutrition. Because of the crisis, the number of people around the world with insufficient food has doubled. Hunger upends the lives of children in poverty and undermines holistic development.

  The global food crisis is affecting many of Compassion’s partner countries. The cost for Compassion’s church partners to provide meals for participants as part of normal programming will increase—and families will be even more reliant on those meals. Children living in poverty are likely to be at an increasingly severe risk of malnourishment or undernourishment and we must act now to bring urgent relief.