Many Unitarian and Universalist families around the world live on less than $1 a day. Education is one long-term strategy to break out of the cycle of extreme poverty, but going to school often means walking several kilometers each way, buying uniforms, supplies and often paying tuition. This is beyond the reach for many families.

UUPCC has joined together with U*U organizations in the Philippines, India and Transylvania to identify potential students and to monitor and maintain the personal connections between student and donor(s). We have agreements in place to assure fairness in the selection process and accountability of the use of funds.

Every student who graduates from high school or college will be expected to pay back, over a number of years, 20% of the total received once they have a job. This will provide an additional source of funding for future sponsorships.

Student sponsorships are one ideal program for individuals, religious education classes or small groups to grow a friendship and have a real impact.

Individuals and groups (even whole churches) can sponsor students. You are asked to commit to sponsoring the student for 6 years in elementary school, 4 years for high school and 4-5 years for college and seminary.

Your student will be assigned based on your choices of age and country and your relationship begins at the beginning of the school year for that country. You will be given a student's name and contact info. You will be asked to contact your student at least twice a year to maintain the relationship. The student will be asked to do the same. You will be asked to pay the sponsorship costs once a year prior to the beginning of the school year.

The rest is up to you. You may choose to write letters, visit, exchange photos and/or talk on the phone or through Skype or Yahoo messenger or other means of communication as appropriate for the age and available communications systems.

To get started: If you are an individual and want to sponsor a student, all you need to do is register online at uupcc.org or by calling the UUPCC office at 781-275-1710. You will be asked to select a country and a school level. (See below for details on costs.) We ask that you commit to sponsoring the student for the duration of that level of schooling. (Example: Philippines, elementary, 6 years.)

If you are a group (RE, Social Responsibility, Small Group Ministry, other) select a designated person as registrar. This person will be the person of record for the sponsorship and will collect the funds and send them to UUPCC. Again, we ask that you commit to sponsoring a student for the duration of the level of schooling you choose. Register by calling UUPCC office 781-275-1710 or go to uupcc.org.

Sample Sponsorship Costs (Click the Learn More button below for full details):

Philippines: School year starts in June. Sponsorship covers uniforms, tuition, books and transportation.

Transylvania: School year starts in September. Sponsorships cover room and board.

India: School year for high school starts in February. For college, the year starts in June. Sponsorships cover tuition and books. For high school students it also covers uniforms and exam fees.