For decades, child sponsorship has been a powerful way for people to stand alongside girls, children, and communities to drive lasting change. We are proud of its impact, and of the millions of sponsors who have made it possible. 

Sponsorship is a vital part of how we work to advance children’s rights and equality for girls.It connects people across borders and strengthens communities long term.

This is sponsorship as it is now: rooted in solidarity, shaped by communities, and focused on long-term impact. 

Sponsor a girl today: support the development of a whole community, and your donations will help provide what’s needed for more girls to thrive.  

By becoming a sponsor, you can better understand global challenges and their root causes, and help girls lead change in resilient communities that support and protect them, even when a disaster hits a community. 

Why sponsorship matters more than ever

Across the world, girls face rising risks and shrinking opportunities, but they’re not backing down. Your sponsorship helps her stay safe, stay in school, and shape her own future, while strengthening her entire community. 

Child sponsorship works because it lasts. Long-term, flexible support allows communities to plan, adapt and grow, increasing opportunities and helping girls build the confidence and skills to make their own choices.  

When crises strike, that consistency becomes a vital foundation for resilience and recovery. 

At its heart, sponsorship is built on respect, dignity and shared humanity. It enables us to work alongside communities over many years, responding to changing needs and reaching more than a million children worldwide. 

Global aid is shrinking, and inequality and climate shocks threaten girls’ security. Yet girls are raising their voices and leading change. Sponsorship is a powerful way to stand beside them with urgency and purpose. 

What sponsorship makes possible 

When you sponsor a girl through Plan, your support goes beyond one child alone. Your sponsorship helps: 

• Keep girls in school  
• End violence and harmful practices 
• Improve access to quality and appropriate healthcare, clean water and safe sanitation 
• Build skills, open up opportunities and leadership 
• Strengthen communities so progress continues long term  

Join a global community of change-makers

Whether you are a long-time sponsor or just beginning to explore sponsorship, you are part of a global community committed to children’s rights and equality for girls. 

Find your local Plan Office to learn more about sponsoring a girl – and how your support helps drive change today and for generations to come. 

Sponsorship in action: Real stories, real change 

• Sponsorship boosts education in rural community – Cambodia
• From sponsored child to community leader – Honduras
• Speaking out against child marriage – Bangladesh
• Giving back, years later – Uganda
• From refugee to activist – Ethiopia

Sponsorship boosts education in rural community – Cambodia

This story from Cambodia shows the impact of sponsorship: a community‑built school, created with local partners, where attendance has surged by 80% and child marriage is falling because girls can stay in class and shape their own futures.

From sponsored child to community leader – Honduras

“Coffee is very important to me. I call it the little black coffee that carries my dreams,” says Karen, 26, a former sponsored child in Honduras. 

Through Plan-supported entrepreneurship training, Karen launched Kalo Café – a business that now employs local people and inspires young women in her community. What began with sponsorship support grew into livelihoods, leadership and lasting economic change.

Speaking out against child marriage – Bangladesh

“I can make my own choices and pursue my dreams,” says Sinthiya, 14, from Dhaka. 

Supported through sponsorship, Sinthiya joined a youth-led campaign that empowered 800 adolescents and secured commitments from parents and local leaders to end child marriage.

Her story reflects how sponsorship strengthens young people’s voices and changes community attitudes for good. 

Giving back, years later – Uganda

“I fled South Sudan when I was 7,” says Nyari, now 18.  

She was sponsored through Plan and attended a Plan partner school. Today, Nyari is an activist and adviser within Plan’s humanitarian work in Gambella, campaigning for girls’ education and against child marriage. Sponsorship supported her at a critical moment and helped unlock her leadership. 

From refugee to activist – Ethiopia

“I fled South Sudan when I was 7,” says Nyari, now 18.  

She was sponsored through Plan and attended a Plan partner school. Today, Nyari is an activist and adviser within Plan’s humanitarian work in Gambella, campaigning for girls’ education and against child marriage. Sponsorship supported her at a critical moment and helped unlock her leadership. 

Sponsor a girl and power the next story

Explainer: How child sponsorship works

What does sponsorship support? 

By sponsoring a child, you are standing in solidarity with, and supporting community-led programmes that address the challenges children face every day – from education and protection from violence to health, livelihoods and gender equality. 

Why take a community approach? 

Because children thrive when their communities are strong. Community-led change helps remove barriers like poverty, harmful stereotypes and lack of services – so improvements last long after programmes end. 

Related pages

How we are financed

Find out how we raise, spend and safeguard funds to ensure resources are used responsibly and reach communities as intended.

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Where we work

Across the world, Plan International works with girls and communities to drive lasting change — explore where we work and connect with our local teams.

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Contact us

Get in touch with Plan International to connect with our teams, partners and offices around the world.

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