The Long Game
AMBER SMITH
The ACE Sponsorship Program was established 20 years ago and has touched the lives of over 650 children and their families. The program offers a unique opportunity to invest in the youth of Jamaica, specifically in St. Mary. The commitment level our sponsors have continually shown over the years is paramount. We have seen children’s Sunday School classes put coins together to sponsor a child. Elderly couples who sponsor multiple children and send monthly letters of encouragement. Parents who choose to sponsor a child the same age as their own children to cultivate friendships. Sponsorship stories are diverse, yet all share a common thread of inspiration in which people give to bless someone.
One such sponsor is Jenny Carson. She decided to make a long-term investment by sponsoring siblings, Ashley and Ashawn, for nine years. She celebrated their birthdays by sending gifts and writing letters in between. She watched them grow up. Unfortunately, Jenny became ill and was unable to work, so she made a tough decision to end her sponsorship. This year, Ashawn graduated from Primary School. When Jenny received an email with his graduation photo, she was so grateful and instantly shared the photo that was taken when she first began sponsorship (photos shown below). The photo shows Jenny holding little Ashley and the children’s mother holding tiny Ashawn, depicting the heart of sponsorship. We are so grateful for people like Jenny who choose to become sponsors and impact the lives of others.
Another longevity sponsor is Arlene Curran. Arlene met Ruschell when she was in basic school (preschool/kindergarten in the U.S.). Ruschell was so little and shy. The 12 years of sponsorship were filled with an abundance of school supplies, birthday gifts, funding home repairs, and even assisting Ruschell’s mother with cancer treatment. Every year, their friendship grew deeper, and now, Arlene is considered a part of Ruschell’s family. They share photos of significant events and even gift Arlene with personalized presents as well. Last month, Ruschell graduated from high school and plans to attend teachers’ college to become a basic school teacher. Arlene made the long-term investment in Ruschell, and now Ruschell is choosing to pay it forward.
The ACE Sponsorship Program is unique in that we don’t seek the quick, easy, and fast. Rather, we play “the long game.” Slow and steady investments and believing that God will bless our efforts. We choose to give without wanting anything in return. However, we often get more than we ever imagined possible.
If you are interested in making an impact and becoming a sponsor, please contact Amber Smith at amber@acexperience.org or visit our Sponsorships page for more information.
TRIP COST
There is an old proverb, “If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.” History proves that lasting change in a poverty culture is achieved by empowering the people to reach their full potential and become self-sustaining. ACE is invested in our community long-term and in conjunction with our partners in the US, we are identifying the circumstances of those around us in order to find real solutions for their unique needs.