Sometime ago I posted about Women for Women organization and after that I participated to become a sponsor. Soon after, I was matched by a woman from Afghanistan who is a mother of 2 children and five years younger than me. In Women for Women terminology, the sponsor and the sponsored are called sisters.
What so unique about the program is that you can actually have a personal relationship with your matched sister. It is not only about donating, but you are encouraged to send letters to your sister back and forth. With your donation, your sister is going to be put in the program and be given basic education and skill so that she can rebuild her life after the war.
Three days ago I received a letter from Women for Women and am notified that the sister has just been graduated from the program. In the same letter, I am now matched with a woman from DRC Congo, a mother of 6 children. Is also said that they are going to send me a letter very soon and will show the interview of my Afghan sister how she is now after she graduated. :)
Reading the letter, I really feel so blessed that I can be part of the program. Who would have thought that the sponsor who should be the one who helps is actually also the one that -in a way, or many ways- is helped. One example is that after participating with the program, I have noticed that I have grown more interest in my day job too as this experience has given more meaning in what I do for living. It is also unbelievably touching experience whenever I receive a letter from my sister, knowing that somebody out there is connected to me and is able to open up about her despite the trauma that she had been through in war. Moreover, I have developed more interest in where she is,- in this case, Afghanistan- its culture, its issues, its problems, etc. I could not avoid buying some books about Afghanistan, and follow all news about the country. So in the end I have more knowledge and have learned about something new just because of my relationship with the sister.
To become a sponsor, what we need to give away is only $27 per month. We might not feel it too much if we lose $27, but it can mean so much for somebody in other parts of the world. So if you have a spare $27 in your monthly budget, maybe you would like to consider to be part of the program and make a difference in somebody's life.
Happy Valentine's Day. Let's share the love.. :)