"World Vision" and religion

[DRSB]

I sponsor a gilr in Armenia through World Vision, a charity program I selected carefully as pronouncedly secular, by sending 50 Franks every month. No big money but my intention is to keep it up for at least 10 more years to come, until the girl finishes her studies, she is 12 now and I like to think that my help helps her.

Anyway, I got a leffer from World Vision Armenia thankig me for my contribution thanks to which they had organised Christian summer camps and other Christian activities. While I also receive once or twice a year short letters from the girl and know that she benefits from my contribution, I'm pissed off that the religious references in her writings increase as well, it is all "God bless you" and "many blessings", etc.

I absolutely don't want to suppport any Christian programs!

[devogue]

I sponsor a child in Bangladesh through World Vision as well.

Yes, the Christian thing is there and it bothers me as well, but I figure that as long as they are improving the wee man's life then it's worth it. Philosophical musings and reflections on existance can wait until he, his family and community have time to think about more than day to day survival.

[Woodbutcher]

We have sponsored several children in several countries. They receive education, medical attention and the village may get help in the form of clean water and hygiene and health information. It helps.

[Azathoth]

There are loads of non-religious chile sponsorship agencies out there. I wouldn't touch world vision with a shitty stick

[Xamonas Chegwé]

You should reply to her messages by saying that you don't believe in any god, but you thank her for her good wishes in any case. No need to be forceful about it but just letting her know that you can be altruistic and benevolent without the fear of a sky-fairy keeping you in line might make her think for herself a little.

[Rum]

IIs there anything wrong or impractical about the following proposition?

Once you know the young person and perhaps the family, you cut out the middleman (I assume they take some of the money for admin in any case) and send it directly to the young person or their family?

[DRSB]

IIs there anything wrong or impractical about the following proposition?

Once you know the young person and perhaps the family, you cut out the middleman (I assume they take some of the money for admin in any case) and send it directly to the young person or their family?

Good idea, have thought about it too, however, I only have contact through World Vision, no other address, have thought of going there but it will be a difficult expedition. Strange thing is, the girl wrote once that her favourite subject at school was Russian so I wrote to her in Russian, which I luckily speak, but her letters are invariably in Armenian with an English translation on paper with World Vision-logo. Yes, the middleman takes 20% for the administration, I don't know how the rest is distributed, obviously, not all goes to the girl, some part goes towards the organisation of Christian camps.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I sponsor a gilr in Armenia through World Vision, a charity program I selected carefully as pronouncedly secular

Research fail!

Here is the first sentence in their Wikipedia page...

World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an international evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God."

About as secular as the pope! Pray tell, exactly how careful was your selection process, Deersbee?

[DRSB]

I sponsor a gilr in Armenia through World Vision, a charity program I selected carefully as pronouncedly secular

Research fail!

Here is the first sentence in their Wikipedia page...

World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an international evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God."

About as secular as the pope! Pray tell, exactly how careful was your selection process, Deersbee?

I got involved through World Vision Switzerland, which looked very serious and secular to me, in all presentation materials help is in the foreground with actual numbers as to how many km water pipelines were installed in Africa, etc.

Now that you're pointing this out, I'm thinking, those Christian camps may not even be of the locally anchored Greek Orthodox type, which I'd be more accepting of, because at least it is part of the national history and identity, but Evangelist! Now this is really scary, but logical, as Greek Orthodox don't go missionizing and organizing camps!

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I would cease contributing to WV immediately and contact the girl privately, offering her the same money privately but letting her know that you are an atheist and were misled into thinking that WV was a secular organisation. Tell her that you are not happy with them sending her to bible camps and indoctrinating her with ancient lies.

[DRSB]

I would cease contributing to WV immediately and contact the girl privately, offering her the same money privately but letting her know that you are an atheist and were misled into thinking that WV was a secular organisation. Tell her that you are not happy with them sending her to bible camps and indoctrinating her with ancient lies.

Good advice, but as I said, I have not way of contacting her without going through the organization. I am going to request an e-mail address though, not sure about the level of e-readiness in Armenia but will try.

[Thinking Aloud]

I have a horrible feeling that contacting directly won't be allowed... I hope I'm wrong, and I hope you can make contact. (I presume all the letters you've had omit addresses...)

[DRSB]

I'm sure direct contact won't be allowed. I have a feeling that the girl's letters are dictated. Here's what she wrote me:

"Hello dear friend. Have a blessed Christmas, and a Happy New Year. May hope, love and warmth be in your hearts. May this new year bring many blessings to you and your family. May God bless you. With warm wishes, Astine."

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I expect that all of the 'sponsors' get the same letter! They put the money you send into running orphanages, etc. (along with plenteous religious indoctrination) for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of children and assign individuals to them randomly. It's a scam. If you can't contact the girl personally, get out NOW and tell them exactly why you are doing so - tell them you are doing it because they have lied about their religious agenda, given you no real contact with the child you are supposedly sponsoring, and you would rather give your cash to a more secular (not to mention honest) organisation.

[nellikin]

Would it be dreadful to stop supporting her directly? As you said - a large cut actually goes to community development etc. (including indoctrination). If you donated the same money to Engineers Without Borders or Medicins sans frontier, or whatever, they do a lot of community development too, without the bullshit religious indoctrination. As somebody else pointed out, there are loads of non-religious charities out there...