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Question Index (click a question to read the answer)

Q: How much does a sponsorship cost?

Q: Is my donation tax deductible?

Q: Is my donation subject to GST?

Q: How much money actually reaches my sponsored child?

Q: Can I sponsor more than one child?

Q: How does the money reach the children?

Q: Does a child have to be Christian to be cared for by RNCH?

Q: Who decides which children are sponsored?

Q: Is there more than one sponsor per child?

Q: How long do I have to commit to a sponsorship?

Q: What if I have to cancel my sponsorship?

Q: Can I write to my sponsored child?

Q: Can I visit my sponsored child?

Q: How effective is sponsoring a child?

Q: What does the logo mean?

Q: How did the name come about?

How much does a sponsorship cost? Top ^
A: There are two levels. AUD$35 monthly pays for daily essentials while AUD$65 monthly pays for daily essentials plus extras such as education, uniforms and unforeseen or urgent medical treatment. More details

Is my donation tax deductible? Top ^
A: Donations of $2 and more in Australia and Canada are tax deductible.

Is my donation subject to GST? Top ^
A: No. Your support is a donation which does not attract GST.

How much money actually reaches my sponsored child? Top ^
A: 90% of sponsorship money directly benefits your sponsored child. 10% is used by ICARE for administration costs. 100% goes directly to benefit your sponsored child where it has been given as a personal gift for a special event such as a birthday or Christmas. Regarding special fundraisers for specific items such the invertor for RNCH Agra, water tanks, chickens, Bibles, eye tests: 100% of donations go to the item/event/child.

Can I sponsor more than one child? Top ^
A: Of course – you’re welcome to sponsor as many as you can afford, however, please consider in light of your ability to do so for the long term. For example, it would be more effective to sponsor 1 child for ten years than 10 children for one year.

Some sponsors like to sponsor a child the same age as their own child so they grow up together and learn from each other. It also gives their own child the opportunity to develop a sense of selflessness and the value of caring for others, as well as awareness of the daily challenges faced by those in developing countries.

How does the money reach the children? Top ^
A: RNCH has a partnership with ICARE for administration purposes and donor benefits (that is, being under the umbrella of ICARE enables all RNCH donations in Australia to be tax deductible). Donations in Canada are also tax deductible and are kindly coordinated by Old Windham United Church, which transfers donations in Canada to ICARE for RNCH. To obtain tax deductibility in your country, an organisation or church with charitable status will need to adopt RNCH as one of their options to give to, and coordinate receipting and funds transfers to ICARE in Australia.

ICARE processes all donations to RNCH and transfers the finances direct to a RNCH bank account in each location as required. Progress reports, photos and detailed budgets accompanied by receipts are expected from each Robin’s Nest before further money is released. More details | More about ICARE

Does a child have to be Christian to be cared for by RNCH? Top ^
A: No. Our program is extended to any child in need, where a sponsor is available to commit to supporting them for the long term. For accountability and practical purposes, RNCH work through local churches in the field, which means that all robins at some point will hear about Jesus Christ and the Christian message. They are raised with Christian morals and values and the decision to invite Jesus into their life is purely individual. No child is forced to become a Christian or removed from a sponsorship program for not being a Christian. Once they are taken under the wing of Robin’s Nest, we are committed to caring for them until they are empowered to care for themselves.

Who decides which children are sponsored? Top ^
A: There are a variety of ways. Often it is by word of mouth through, for example, family and church contacts. RNCH committees usually comprise a child social worker, so have community contacts, as well as working closely with the police and courts. Pastor Harry or Joseph and Pastor Jackson then visit the child to assess the need. They look closely at the character of the child and whether they would possibly fit into the home without upsetting its existing dynamics and harmony. In some cases where there is an existing caregiver, they may visit the home personally before deciding if they feel this is the best option for the child’s welfare and future development. When everyone is happy, the long process begins of registering the child with the courts to confirm by affidavit that RNCH field partners have legal custody of them.

Much consideration and prayer goes into each new addition to Robin’s Nest. Each child is a big investment for the house parents, pastors, committee members and sponsors in terms of commitment, emotions, time and finances, so we take extreme care in choosing the children we care for.

Is there more than one sponsor per child? Top ^
A: No. There is only one sponsor per child. We have sponsors who are committed to paying for the general needs of the homes, plus sponsors who are committed to supporting the daily and individual needs of the children.

How long do I have to commit to a sponsorship? Top ^
A: For at least one year and then if for some reason you’re unable to continue, we hope you would consider helping us find another sponsor to continue supporting your sponsored child because word of mouth is the most effective way to get the needs known out there. You are their sole lifeline so please don’t underestimate your purpose (commitment) and the role your sponsorship plays in Robin’s Nest. We consider you a partner and team member. We rely on your monthly donation to ensure there are enough funds to feed and clothe your child. You are truly investing directly into your sponsored child’s life. We pray your commitment will carry on throughout their post secondary studies until they have skills enough to give back to society (others) what society (others) has given to them, and ideally go on to help grow God’s kingdom. We are presently in the process of organising a scholarship program if you’re interested in helping a child that way.

What if I have to cancel my sponsorship? Top ^
A: If at all possible, please give us two (2) months notice so we can begin searching for a new sponsor. If you are in a position to help us locate one, we would greatly appreciate it. Funds will begin to deplete when you stop the sponsorship as we only take on new children when we have enough sponsorship support to pay for the basic needs of a new child.

Can I write to my sponsored child? Top ^
A: Please do – they will be delighted to hear from you. When you write to the children it comforts them knowing that someone cares and also gives them more purpose in life and a hope for the future. You are like a surrogate parent to them as their parents have died or, in a few cases, have abandoned them so please don’t underestimate the vital role that you play in their lives.

Best to keep letters brief as they need to be translated and sending a few times per year such as one for their birthday and at Christmas would be adequate. Postcards are the best option. If you are not inclined to send letters that is fine, too. There is an email option to make communication easier, however, the personal contact is the best … and enclose a photo of you with a few stickers or something tangible to show the children your love and commitment.

For security reasons, all correspondence between children and their sponsors goes through ICARE, which handles the administration for RNCH. More details

Can I visit my sponsored child? Top ^
A: We are in the process of arranging access for sponsors to make visits. To visit, you will naturally need to undergo a process of police and child checks. We’ll post more on this site as things progress. If you’d like to register an expression of interest in visiting your sponsored child, please notify Robin and Grahame

How effective is sponsoring a child? Top ^
A: Seeing a five-year-old girl smile within a matter of months, having not previously known how to … that’s effective sponsorship. Seeing a previously uneducated 6-year-old achieve an A in his first year at school … that’s worth every cent. Enabling a 9-year-old to retain his sight from a gel bought with sponsorship funds … that’s awesome. Hearing about a little boy in Newcastle, Australia work his heart out to bake cakes and sell toys to donate money for these little ones … that’s world-changing behaviour. Read more

We believe that sponsorships do an effective job of changing lives for the better, worldwide.

What does the logo mean? Top ^
A: Our slogan from Psalm 91:4 is the inspiration for our logo that displays a baby in the arms of an angel, being protected, cared for, loved and nurtured.

Angel: Angels are usually a symbol of flight and freedom/heaven/paradise or a messenger of God. This seemingly paradoxical context of an angel in a box represents one that is not focused on itself or its ability to fly, rather its focus is on taking care of a child. The box represents a protective barrier, a house, a home, in the arms of the angel. This links into the 'Children’s Homes' aspect of our name. The square behind the angel essentially represents the nest of protection our little robins will live in with their safe, warm beds and full bellies.

Colours: We chose red for the blood of Jesus and the sacrifice he shed for us on the cross, as well as the sacrifice that donors and sponsors make to enrich the lives of the children. Robins also traditionally have a red breast. Blue represents a robin’s egg blue and blue is also a symbol of rebirth, fertility and continuation of new life. Our little robins will have a new chance in life due to your sacrifice and mercy hearts to help them. Our colours are representative of a new chance in life, new life and fresh beginnings, a new life in Christ and the opportunity to be born again if they choose.

How did the name come about? Top ^
A: When the Webuye partners (the first home) were struggling to find an appropriate name, ‘Robin’s Nest’ was proposed by Robin’s dad. Robin had an aversion to it but was encouraged by family and friends to submit it as an option when no other name was forthcoming. The partners loved it as soon as they heard it and immediately referred to the children as ‘little robins’. This endearing term has been adopted for all children who come into the care of Robin’s Nest.