Charity sees 60% growth in child sponsorship

One of the fastest-growing charities in Ireland has seen a 60% increase in the number of people willing to sponsor children in the developing world in the last 18 months, it emerged today.

At the launch of ChildFund Ireland – formerly the Christian Children’s Fund of Ireland – the organisation said it enabled more than 3,000 Irish people to sponsor youngsters in the Third World.

It has seen an increase of 60% in numbers signing up in the last 18 months, while Government funding to the charity has increased six-fold in the past year.

ChildFund Ireland’s chief executive Michael Kiely said the charity made an important contribution to helping children out of poverty in the developing world.

“Over 11 million children die each year before the age of 5 – about 30,000 children a day.

“Our contribution is small in world terms but it is important.

“The West as we call it is awash with money and awash with food – and yet children a few hundred miles away are dying from hunger and totally curable diseases.

“Agencies like ChildFund can help bridge this gap and help to counter the massive injustices which exist on our planet,” he said.

At the launch, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Conor Lenihan said ChildFund Ireland was one of the fastest growing non-governmental organisations in the country.

“As ChildFund has grown, so too has your partnership with the Government, in support of your important humanitarian and development work.

“I look forward to that partnership going from strength to strength in the coming years,” he said.

The charity arranges sponsorship of children across the world, starting at €22 a month, and plans to expand its programme.

Worldwide, ChildFund International has a budget of €500m and assists eight million children and their families in 55 different countries.