Thank you for your interest in Winged Dreams and possibly becoming a sponsor.
Sponsor a child
Sponsor a family
Sponsors are growing in number. Winged Dreams has over 100 Sponsored children and adults. As well as many families. We use two local Gambian volunteers who are known as our Ambassadors. They ensure the sponsorship is paid directly to the school, parents or the adult who is sponsored, obtaining receipts. The Ambassadors also act as a support & befriend the families Winged Dreams helps. Visiting those sponsored on a monthly basis ensuring all is well and also responding to emergencies should they arise, e.g. Urgent Medical assistance, or emergency food.
We also support our 4 Winged Dreams Junior Football Teams (100 players) This provides children from the poorest of families to access sport, and friendship. They learn discipline as well as how to look after themselves… We are able to identify those most in need of sponsorship. We also provide medical grants if any of our children are poorly…
Busumbala Village Nursery & Pre-School is a small community project, the staff do not get paid.. over 200 children attend… it costs £5 a year to send your child here… They had very limited facilities and mud hut classrooms had been washed away in the summer rains…. Winged Dreams fund raised and we were able to build 2 new classrooms, a medical room as well as 3 Flush Toilets!
We also have a Charity office in Lamin Village from where local families are able to receive emergency food, including rice, onions, oil, potatoes and cooking oil.
When individuals are sponsored, there are certain safeguards that Winged Dreams ensures are in place for their protection. If you are sponsoring a child, we have enclosed our Child & Adult Protection Policy for you to read, agree and sign.
Winged Dreams pays the sponsorship quarterly in advance. If you are able to pay that initial amount upfront then your monthly sponsorship, this enables us to start sponsorship immediately. Alternatively your sponsorship will begin once we have received 3 months sponsorship.
Get a Supporter’s Pack
You can also download a PDF copy of our Supporter’s Pack here
If you require any further information please do not hesitate in contacting us. Sponsors will receive updates and photos twice a year, more often whenever possible. If you would like to write to your sponsored child/family or send a photo or card, please do so through Winged Dreams.
Thank you again for your interest and support for Winged Dreams
CHILD SPONSORSHIP (Starts at £20 a month)
Your sponsorship pays for –
Annual School Exams
Text Books
Exercise Books
Pens & Pencils
Two uniforms
Two pairs of shoes
School Bag
Lunch at School
Transport (if necessary)
(An additional £10 a month for School fees if Secondary school age)
You will receive regular updates and photos of your child & copies of Annual school reports.
The children love to receive photos and letters from their sponsors. These can be sent through the registered office address. Some sponsors have visited their child under the direct supervision of the Winged Dreams founder or a Trustee. Winged Dreams ensures that appropriate Child Protection Policies are in place and adhered to. Winged Dreams is one of the few Charities that encourages sponsors to visit their children or family.
Winged Dreams has two local Ambassadors Fatima Bary and Mola Janneh. These two amazing local Gambians work tirelessly in an unpaid capacity to support all our sponsored children and families. They act as Mentors and advisors, sometimes visiting families weekly to ensure all is well. Our Ambassadors regularly undertake checks to ensure the children are attending school and their needs are being met.
Sponsorship is sent four times a year. Two of these are taken in person by our founder Carol Pearce who personally visits every child and their family at least once a year. Ensuring everyone is well, also ensuring the sponsorship is reaching the most destitute of families. Carol takes cards and gifts from their sponsors as well as a donation of Winged Dreams rice. The sponsorship money is used to directly pay for all school fees, uniform, shoes etc. Only a small residue is actually given to the parent.
Primary School Education in Gambia is now free although examinations, uniform, shoes etc must be purchased. Even this is beyond the reach of many Gambian families. Secondary School fees are expensive and cost approximately another £10 a month, plus the costs of uniforms, shoes, bags, books etc. Those young people wanting to progress to further education must find another £20-30 a month. This is very difficult when the average earnings of government teacher is £14 a month!
SPONSOR A FAMILY starts at £25 a month
Gambians live in extended family groups, many people living in one or two rooms known as a compound. Family members will share a mattress (If they have one) or sleep on straw on the floor. No electricity or running water. Toilet facilities are basic and shared with many other facilities. Cooking is done outside on charcoal using a one pot method.
Basic rent can cost from £20 a month just for one room.
Sponsorship helps a family to provide some basic food provisions for the children. It also enables us to help with medical grants and other emergency situations throughout the year!