In Africa, it is time to head back to school, and with the beginning of the new school year, our volunteers have started visiting the children in our sponsorship program—a journey that often includes delivering their annual gifts.

Through our Sponsorship Project, sponsors have the opportunity to contribute €10 once a year towards a gift for their sponsored child. This small gesture means more to the children than words can express.

The most beautiful part is that the children choose their own gifts. Their choices are almost always practical rather than toys. They often select mattresses, blankets, suitcases for their few belongings, school supplies, new shoes, or even beautiful dresses and little high heels that they proudly wear on special occasions. Recently, one of our sponsored children surprised us by choosing a chicken as her gift! Every choice tells a unique story and reminds us how much joy can be found in things many of us take for granted.

Years ago, we used to prepare the gifts in Croatia. Sponsors carefully selected them with love, while we packed them and carried them to Africa with our volunteers. From there, the gifts still had a long and challenging journey before reaching the children. Large quantities of presents had to be transported across countries and were then gradually delivered over several months in the limited luggage space of our volunteers to even the most remote villages.

Everything changed after one particularly painful experience. During one trip, an airline lost an entire shipment of gifts. Despite every effort, they were never returned to us. It was heartbreaking to tell sponsors throughout the Kilimanjaro region that the gifts they had lovingly prepared had simply disappeared. That difficult experience inspired us to find a better solution.

Today, sponsors contribute €10, and the children purchase exactly what they truly need or dream of owning. This approach eliminates long delays, expensive transportation, and uncertainty while ensuring that every child receives a meaningful and useful gift.

This year, we took another important step in the village of Mkongo, where more than 110 sponsored children are part of our program. Because the village is extremely remote and has no shops, we arranged with the school principal for our volunteers to bring all the gifts during their visit.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors—and especially those who donated so that children without an individual gift contribution this year could also receive a present—every single child received a gift. We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this possible.

A truck arrived in the village carrying a full load of backpacks, trainers, and many other gifts. The children watched in amazement as this unexpected treasure arrived. Their excitement was beyond words.

The joy that welcomed us is difficult to describe. The smiles, hugs, excitement, and pride on the children's faces as they received their gifts were the greatest reward for all the effort.

One of the most touching moments came from the many sponsors who also sent handwritten letters and photographs of themselves and their families. For the children, these may have been the most precious gifts of all. At last, they could see the face of the person who supports them, read words of encouragement, and know that somewhere far away there is someone who thinks of them, prays for them, and believes in them.

Thank you to all our sponsors. Your €10 is so much more than a gift. It is dignity, joy, encouragement, and a reminder to every child that they are not alone. Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness leave the greatest impact.

Together, we are building bridges of love that reach even the most remote places. ❤️

Take a look at our gallery to see the incredible gifts our sponsored children have chosen over the past two years—you may be surprised by their creativity, their practicality, and the stories behind each choice.