Alba was eight when she was “blessed” by someone, more than 8,000 km away, who cared. “If I saw [my sponsor] now I would give her a hug and tell her it was all worth it,” says Alba, the nursing-school graduate who’s now 24 and working in a lab. We caught up with the grateful young adult to hear about her journey through sponsorship with Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC). Check it out.
What was your life like before sponsorship?
Life was not easy. It was just my Mom and my brothers, and we had many needs. At the time, finishing school was a dream. Our expectations changed when [CCFC came to] our community, and we started to participate in activities. People helped us, trained us; they taught us we could achieve our dreams. That helped me to change my point of view and achieve things I did not think I could.
What is it like to receive a letter from your sponsor as a child?
It is indescribable. You cannot imagine how it feels. [But,] it is not only about the letter; it’s also about the feeling that someone who does not know you is interested in you — in your studies, in your life. Sometimes, even your relatives do not care so much. I always kept my letters in a box in my closet. Unfortunately, my house was in a low part of the community and flooded. All my letters were [ruined].
What did you share with your sponsor in your letters?
She shared about her life, her country and customs. We shared about our worlds. I learned [she spoke] English, they play hockey on ice (in Canada) and the beaver is its national animal, just like the maple is the national tree. Being sponsored represented a huge change — a before and an after to me, my family and my community. [My sponsor] always told me to continue studying, so I would have the tools to reach my dreams.