Orphans are selected based on five main criteria: vulnerability, financial need, family size, housing conditions, and health. The families with the greatest need—such as larger families with dire financial situations—receive priority for sponsorship. Official documentation is required to confirm an orphan’s sponsorship, and the selection of children must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, age, gender, or disability.

We define an orphan as a child younger than 18 who is living without a father or both parents, or a child whose father’s whereabouts have been unknown for two years or more (one year or more for refugees and internally displaced people). The orphan may be of any gender, religion, or race.

A donor can make the intention to donate for orphans with their Zakat as orphans are among the groups of vulnerable people who are eligible to receive Zakat funds. Zakat-specific funds are often used to support efforts for orphans and their communities.

Yes. The sponsor and orphan are free to exchange correspondence via Build A World Foundation.

You can sponsor a child as long as you wish, up to the age of 18. In special medical or continuing education circumstances, our facilitates extended sponsorships through the age of 24. We require a minimum sponsorship time of one year because this allows us to plan ahead and maintain a consistent level of service to the orphan. However, in case of any difficulty, the sponsor may cancel at any time with advanced notice.

In many cases, sponsorship money is spent on providing for shelter, food, education & medical services for the orphans. Orphans are monitored to ensure that they are receiving the full benefits of sponsorship.

When an orphan in the program turns 18, they are not automatically dropped from the Orphan Sponsorship Program. If the orphan is either 1. Studying and needs funds for education, or 2. Has a medical condition that needs attention, they remain in the Orphan Sponsorship Program either by support from the donor (for as long as the donor is willing to support them), or by expenses covered through Build A World Foundation fund. There have been instances where donors have supported families with an orphan child(ren) until the orphan has reached the age of 24.