What is the Extended Sponsorship scheme?

Extended Sponsorship recognises the fact that young people need support as they take their first steps beyond the Homes. Graduating from high school is daunting for any pupil. For a decade or more, life, meals and timetables are mapped out for you. Suddenly, you’re thinking about how to build a career and stand on your own two feet – often in a big city like Kolkata, hundreds of miles from Kalimpong. As Lydia, one of our sponsored children, puts it: “In the Homes, they make everything easy for us. But when you go out into the world, you have to do it yourself. It’s hard!”

But it’s especially challenging if, like many of our young people, you don’t have a family network or financial support to fall back on. So the Extended Sponsorship programme is our charity’s way of helping these young people make the best possible start in their adult lives beyond DGH.

How does the scheme work?

Up to 15 or so of our sponsored children may graduate from DGH each year. Many will want to carry on their education by enrolling in college and training courses across India. All of these students are eligible for the DGHUK Extended Sponsorship Programme. Our aim is to help fund their teaching, welfare and accommodation costs as they go through these years of tertiary education.

How much does it cost? Course and subsistence costs vary, so it can be hard to put an exact figure on the sponsorship support needed. We work with each student on a case-by-case basis. But as a rough guide, we say that on average approximately £2400 per year will cover most student sponsorships – or £1,920, if the donation is given with Gift Aid.

How can you get involved?

If you don’t already support a child at DGH, a Student sponsorship is a brilliant way to get involved in the DGH cause. Like Child sponsorship, it’s a very personal programme. You’ll be linked to a specific student. And we’ll encourage you to keep in touch as they go through their studies. This is done with oversight from our Sponsorship Secretaries. Going on the above figures, it will cost about £200/month (£160/month with Gift Aid) to provide your student with everything they need during this phase of their education.