SPONSOR LETTERS
OVERVIEW
For those sponsors who wish to write a letter to their sponsee (and his/her family):
You will type or handwrite a letter to your student and their family! You will send your typed letter to letters@friendsofkakamega.org, or, your handwritten letter to this physical address: Name of your student, attn: Linda Bennett, 24 Parker Ridge Road, Biddeford, ME 04005.
Whether by email or post, please make sure the name of your student is on the letter and your contact information is available to Linda so she can confirm she has received your letter or can call you about your letter if she has any questions.
Linda Bennett is a board member of Friends of Kakamega, in fact, she visited Kakamega in 2018 and may even know your student. She is working with John Chisholm and various Care Centre staff members in Kenya to help with this letter exchange. If you send a letter, you will not only get back a letter but probably photos and more information as well.
Once your letter is printed at the Care Centre office, it will be given to one of the social workers who is assigned to the region where your sponsored student & family live. The social worker will hand-deliver your letter to your sponsored student and collect a response from the student and perhaps his/her family members as well.
Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Because it is!
HERE ARE SOME LETER-WRITING TIPS:
For those with Primary Students:
These sponsors supporting young students should keep in mind they are learning English and you will help them read your letter best if it is a single page, three or four paragraphs long letter with simple sentence structure.
You can attach a photo or two if you wish. Actually, your face will be a lovely reminder of your relationship with them, it will.be appreciated. Tell them a little bit about what is happening during this COVID-19 time for you, and ask a couple of questions such as:
For those with High School students:
Older students have a better command of the English language, however simple sentences will still aid these trilingual students who have not yet perfected English. They will enjoy one or two photos you share, as well as information about what life is like for you.
The U.S. presidential election and the current status of COVID-19 where you live will engage them well, as both topics are in their newspapers regularly.
Ask them what they are doing now that they are home, and what they miss or look forward to about returning to high school.
You can also ask about favorite subjects in school, or favorite sports, and any of the questions previously suggested for younger students.
For those with College/University students:
These students will enjoy any news you share with them, and photos are also appreciated. Their English is quite advanced at this level, so don't worry about sentence structure unless you're a Shakespearean.
For those sponsors who wish to write a letter to their sponsee (and his/her family):
You will type or handwrite a letter to your student and their family! You will send your typed letter to letters@friendsofkakamega.org, or, your handwritten letter to this physical address: Name of your student, attn: Linda Bennett, 24 Parker Ridge Road, Biddeford, ME 04005.
Whether by email or post, please make sure the name of your student is on the letter and your contact information is available to Linda so she can confirm she has received your letter or can call you about your letter if she has any questions.
Linda Bennett is a board member of Friends of Kakamega, in fact, she visited Kakamega in 2018 and may even know your student. She is working with John Chisholm and various Care Centre staff members in Kenya to help with this letter exchange. If you send a letter, you will not only get back a letter but probably photos and more information as well.
Once your letter is printed at the Care Centre office, it will be given to one of the social workers who is assigned to the region where your sponsored student & family live. The social worker will hand-deliver your letter to your sponsored student and collect a response from the student and perhaps his/her family members as well.
Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Because it is!
HERE ARE SOME LETER-WRITING TIPS:
For those with Primary Students:
These sponsors supporting young students should keep in mind they are learning English and you will help them read your letter best if it is a single page, three or four paragraphs long letter with simple sentence structure.
You can attach a photo or two if you wish. Actually, your face will be a lovely reminder of your relationship with them, it will.be appreciated. Tell them a little bit about what is happening during this COVID-19 time for you, and ask a couple of questions such as:
- How is your life during the pandemic when schools closed?
- What do you like about school, and do you look forward to returning to school?
- What chores do you have at home?
- What do you like to do when you to play? Do you have a favorite sport?
- Who do you look up to? Who is your shujaa (hero) and why?
- What are the names of their family members and please say more about them?
- Any other direct and simple questions that likely have direct and simple answers
For those with High School students:
Older students have a better command of the English language, however simple sentences will still aid these trilingual students who have not yet perfected English. They will enjoy one or two photos you share, as well as information about what life is like for you.
The U.S. presidential election and the current status of COVID-19 where you live will engage them well, as both topics are in their newspapers regularly.
Ask them what they are doing now that they are home, and what they miss or look forward to about returning to high school.
You can also ask about favorite subjects in school, or favorite sports, and any of the questions previously suggested for younger students.
For those with College/University students:
These students will enjoy any news you share with them, and photos are also appreciated. Their English is quite advanced at this level, so don't worry about sentence structure unless you're a Shakespearean.