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Frequently asked questions

Here you will find a list of the most frequently asked questions. To facilitate your search, these have been grouped into different sections.

What are you looking for information about?

  1. 1. Intervida
  2. 2. Sponsorship details
  3. 3. The children
  4. 4. The projects
  5. 5. Communicating with your sponsored child
  6. 6. Fiscal benefits
  7. 7. Sponsor's Area

1. Intervida

Where does Intervida work?
Intervida works with communities in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Ecuador, Mali, Peru and Guatemala.
What are the TERRAs?
These are Territories of Active Solidarity. This is the nomenclature Intervida uses to define each of the geographic areas in which we carry out our development projects. In each country there are various TERRAs and each one may cover between 70 and 300 communities (except those TERRAs which are located in cities).
How long does Intervida stay helping the community?
Our aim is to pull out of the community within a 20 year time frame, when the local population is self-sufficient and no longer depends on exterior cooperation to continue moving ahead in its development.
How does the money reach the children?
The money is not given physically to the children and their families. The money reaches the children in the form of the development projects which benefit not only them, but their families and the rest of the community where they live.
Does Intervida collect clothes, food, etc.?
We do not, since the cost of sending these is prohibitive. We buy what we need locally in the countries, which enables us to save on transportation fees and invest more in the projects.

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2. Sponsorship details

What is sponsorship?
Sponsorship allows you to help improve the living conditions of a child from a disadvantaged community, as well as those of his or her family and surroundings, through development projects which benefit the entire community. As such, both sponsored and non-sponsored children benefit from the same programs, receiving the education, nutrition and medical attention they need.
Who benefits from my contribution?
You contribution benefits not only your sponsored child, but also his or her family and the rest of the community in which we implement our development projects. This way, the children who are not sponsored may also see their quality of life improved.
How long does sponsorship last?
Sponsorship lasts while the child is in primary school, approximately from 5 to 14 years old, depending on the country. Sometimes sponsorship ends because the child migrates with his family to another area where we are not active. Then the sponsorship ends for either of these reasons, we communicate with the sponsor to offer him or her the opportunity to sponsor another child.
When the sponsorship ends, can I remain in contact with the child?
This is practically impossible, since when the family moves we lose contact with the child. If the child has entered secondary school, it is also difficult to maintain contact since we do not work directly with these schools and we cannot deliver the letters you write to him.
How many people can sponsor the same child?
Each child has only one sponsor, which can be a company, a group of friends, an individual, etc.

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3. The children

Which children are sponsored?
Intervida registers all primary school children in the community where we work so that they can be sponsored.
What is the difference between a child beneficiary and a sponsored child?
The term child beneficiary refers to all those children who have a file and photo and are awaiting sponsorship. A sponsored child is a child who currently has a particular sponsor.
Can I choose the child’s country or gender?
While this is not habitual, if you have a specific reason for wanting to sponsor a child in a particular country, you can call us at 902 19 19 19.
What religion do the children have?
This depends on the country. In Bangladesh and Mali, the majority of the population is Muslim; in India, the Hindu religion is predominant; and in Guatemala, El Salvador, Bolivia and Peru the population is both Catholic and Protestant.
What happens when the children finish school?
Some children start working. Those who continue their studies in secondary school go to schools where we are not active. When the children finish their primary school education, we contact the sponsor and offer him or her the opportunity to sponsor another child in the primary school phase.
Why doesn’t Intervida work with secondary schools?
Given that today it is impossible for our work to cover all educational centers in the areas where we work, we limit ourselves to primary schools where we are able to attend to younger children. Likewise, it is not common to find secondary schools in the communities where primary schools exist. In many cases, it is necessary to go to a larger town to find these schools. The fact that we do not work directly with adolescents does not mean that they do not benefit from the development projects, since these are being carried out in their communities.
What happens if a child is orphaned?
The children live in communities in which the members support each other and family ties are strong; as such, usually close family members take the child in.

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4. The projects

What type of projects does Intervida work on?
In Intervida we work on development projects to ensure that the most disadvantaged communities of Latin America, Africa and Asia can improve their living conditions in a sustainable way.
What type of information will I receive on the projects which benefit my sponsored child?
At home you will receive periodic updates on our activities through the Intervida Magazine. Each year, you will also receive our Annual Activities Report, which will provide you with a detailed account of all we have accomplished. More information can be found on this Website and in the Sponsor Area.
Is it possible to visit the projects?
Yes, you can visit our projects. All you need to do is contact us by telephone at 902 19 19 19, or by sending us an e-mail to viajes@intervida.org. We will provide you with all the information you need for your visit.
Is it possible to work as a volunteer on the projects?
At the moment, no. The teams working on the projects are usually people from the country and specialized in specific fields. This way, we are able to achieve a greater level of interaction between the communities we work with and our technicians.

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5. Communicating with your sponsored child

Can I visit the child?
Whenever you want. All you have to do is call Intervida and we will provide you with all the information you need to visit your sponsored child.
Can I write to my sponsored child? Where should I sent my letters?
You can write to the child as often as you wish. You should send the letters to the central office in the country where the child lives. Intervida will provide you with this address. Once the letter has reached the central office, these will be delivered to the child by our staff. We ask that you send your letter directly to the central office so that we can ensure that your letter reaches its destination.
Can I send gifts to my sponsored child?
We do not recommend this due to the expense of doing so and for the risk that these will be lost and never reach the child. We cannot take responsibility for the customs fees for the gifts you send; this money is designated to our development projects. If you decide you do want to send a gift to your sponsored child, we suggest that you send practical things that can be shared with his or her siblings, friends and/or classmates, such as storybooks, puzzles, colored pencils, etc. This way, we avoid creating discrimination and differences among the children.
Can the children come to Spain?
No, since this would be an incredible culture shock for them. At the same time, it would be very difficult for parents to allow their children to go for fear that they may not return.
What does the child know about me?
The child knows that our NGO collaborates in the schools and is aware of the help that comes from Spanish collaborators, although we never make this relationship personalized since not all children in the schools are sponsored. However, you may write them and visit them as often as you wish and it is then that the child will realize that you are his or her sponsor.
Why do sponsors only receive school work twice a year?
The preparation of the school work requires a large effort on the part of our teams in the South. First, they must design the models to be elaborated together with the teachers to ensure that these have pedagogical value; then there is the elaboration of the work by the child, which requires two school visits; finally, these must be collected and sent: all this requires an incredible amount of time and resources, which is why it is only possible to send them twice a year.

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6. Fiscal benefits

Is the sponsorship tax-deductible?
Yes, 25% in the case of individuals and 35% in the case of companies. We are an entity of public utility which meets the requisites established by Title II of Law 49/2002 of the 23rd of December, on the Fiscal Regimen for non-profit entities and fiscal incentives of sponsorship.
Can I deposit the 21 euros in an account?
Yes, naturally. Intervida has an account number available so that you can deposit the sponsorship fee directly. The only requisite is that deposit be made semesterly or annually. To be able to make this transfer, you must include the first and last name(s) and the reference code of your sponsored child, so that we know who the deposit corresponds to. The account is number 2038-9918-18-6000021659 the Caja de Madrid. A separate account is available for making one-time or periodic donations: 2038-9918-11-6000059939.

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7. Sponsor's Area

What is the Sponsor’s Area?
The Sponsor's Area is a new space designed exclusively for the sponsor, offering him or her personalized and confidential information. Each sponsor will find their sponsored child’s personal information, information on the country and the TERRA – Territory of Active Solidarity – where the child’s community is found, and the projects which are being implemented, the heads and the beneficiaries.
How can I view my sponsored child’s information?
To access your sponsored child’s information, you must be registered on the Sponsor's Area and will have received a username and password to use for direct e-mail access (for any questions in this regard, please consult the Quick guide on accessing the Sponsor's Area).
What happens if I have more than one sponsored child?
If you have more than one sponsored child, you will be able to see the information for each of them. Each tab corresponds to the name of one of your sponsored children. This way, you can easily locate the information on his or her country and TERRA by navigating through the tabs.
Information on my sponsored child’s TERRA
To access the information on the TERRAs, projects, heads and beneficiaries, simply navigate through the various tabs.
Can I save or print the information on my sponsored child?
You have the option to print a document with all the information on the child you sponsor, his or her country and the TERRA which covers the community where he or she lives. You can also download a PDF version with the child’s photograph.

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