In 1973, mother-of-three Gill Pope wanted to do something about the child poverty she had witnessed during the 15 years she had spent living in Nigeria and South Africa. Education, she believed, was the key, and so began her 34-year commitment to ActionAid and our work sponsoring children. 

Over the past three decades, Gill and her husband have formed personal links with more than ten people through sponsorship.

"I had seen some of the need and I knew what could be done, so I wanted to find a practical way to help."

The longest sponsorship was with Violet Sunday Wasike from Busia district in Kenya. Gill was first put in touch with Violet when she was six.

"It started with drawings and then moved on to handwritten letters - some of where I live, other places I’d been on holiday - anything that I thought the children might find of interest."

Her early communications from Violet were sometimes sad. Some of the drawings she sent were of the graves of her neighbours who had died because of HIV. Many deaths were caused because people had tried to treat themselves with local herbs as they couldn't afford medical care.

But, as Violet got older, the letters became more hopeful.

"She told me in one of her most recent letters that she'd got a job selling fish, but had hopes of becoming a lawyer.

"The death of her father had meant that her mother couldn't afford to fund this further study, but the education she'd had up to the time she left school had made her see that she didn't have to remain as a small farmer, or give in to an early marriage."

Gill also believes that the benefits reach beyond the child, to the family and into the community as well. And the benefits aren't all one way.

"I've enjoyed the contact I've had, and the sense that I'm doing some good. There's always the promise that things might get better, and I'm so interested in seeing the development of the children.

"Now that I have grandchildren of my own I see more than ever the incredible difference between the children here and those we sponsor - I like to feel involved, and to be doing something positive and tangible."