Students are so encouraged when they receive letters from their sponsors! You are welcome to write up to four times a year.

You can write a letter to your sponsored student and send it through the post directly to Rwanda.

HAVE QUESTIONS? CLICK HERE

Please use this exact format when addressing your envelope:

STUDENT NAME, REFERENCE CODE(e.g. SHYAKA FRED, KGL02090)
AFRICA NEW LIFE MINISTRIES
PO BOX 3351
KIGALI
RWANDA(must be capitalized and on separate line)
Please use our Africa New Life UK office address as the return address (Brook House, Transfesa Road, Paddock Wood, Kent. TN12 6UU), NOT your home address.

What should I write about?

  • Your family (names, ages, and age-appropriate stories)
  • Hobbies, activities, or sports you enjoy
  • Your own childhood (include some favourite memories or funny stories)
  • Your job, or, if you’re a student, what you’re learning about
  • Where you live (the climate, interesting facts about your town or city

In your letter, consider including a nice photo of yourself and your family, or perhaps a notecard with a special Scripture written on it.

Here are some key guidelines to keep in mind regarding communicating with your sponsored student:

1. Students and sponsors are not allowed to communicate outside of letter writing through Africa New Life. For the safety and dignity of all involved, please only communicate with your sponsored student through written letters, as described above. You can read our full Communication Policy for Sponsors and Students here.

2. Please do not send gifts/packages to Rwanda for your sponsored student. Problems have occurred in Rwanda with our colleagues having to pay heavy tariffs on overvalued packages or with certain items being removed from packages going through customs. Gift items will be available for you to purchase soon through this website, for local purchase and delivery. We’ll let you know when this option is available!

3. Do not send money to your sponsored student. Africa New Life does not give money directly to your sponsored student’s family, nor can we exchange money sent in letters to your student in Rwanda. This is due to both a Rwandan government request and logistical challenges. Cheques or cash sent in letters to Rwanda will be returned to the sponsor.

CORRESPONDENCE FAQS

Click on a question below to see its answer:

Students are not allowed to communicate with their sponsors outside of letter writing through Africa New Life.  Social media, phone, and email communication are strictly prohibited to protect both students and sponsors. Please do not connect with your sponsored student or their relatives through phone, email, or social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. This helps us protect both sponsors and students from inappropriate or confusing situations.
That depends on its size and weight. You can check online using the UK & International Postage Finder or by visiting your local post office.
Sponsored students write letters at Center Days, which take place once a month in each community. You can expect to receive an annual update letter from your sponsored student at the end of every summer. If you write to your sponsored student more, you will hear from them more often! You are welcome to write up to four times a year, and you will receive a reply letter to each letter you send.
We encourage you to write letters to your sponsored student and ask questions of them! We are not able to provide information on your sponsored student’s specific needs or information about their family, but you can ask questions about their family in your letters.
  • Tell them you’re thankful for them and explain why.
  • Let them know you care for them and their future.
  • Encourage their character by promoting kindness, peace, and love.
  • Encourage them to live a productive and purposeful life.
  • Encourage them to serve their communities.
  • Express your pride in their accomplishments.
  • Reiterate the importance of education.
  • Encourage them to invest time into their studies and to do well in school.
  • Encourage them to respect and honour their elders.
  • Write about your relationship with Jesus.
  • Remind them that there is hope in Jesus for their future.
  • Ask if they have prayer requests and share your own.
  • Remind the student that you pray specifically for them.
  • Talk about your own faith journey.
  • Tell them that Jesus cares deeply for them and encourage them to seek Him.
  • Encourage them to pray and read their Bible every day.
  • Share the importance of the Church.
  • Share Bible verses (perhaps include notecards with some of your favourite verses that the student can keep).
  • What do you enjoy most in your studies at school?
  • What are you learning at church and at school?
  • What are some of your favourite Bible verses and/or Bible stories?
  • What are your prayer requests?
  • What do you like to do outside of school (favourite sports or games)?
  • What are your parents’/guardians’ and siblings’ names?
  • What chores do you have at home?
  • What is your favourite food?
  • What do you want to do after you complete your education?
There are topics that might make the student feel uncomfortable or create unintentional expectations. Please avoid the following:
  • Sharing personal contact information.
    • Do not share your phone number, email, or address.
    • Do not connect with your student via email, phone, or social media platforms. (This helps us protect both you and the students from inappropriate or confusing situations.)
  • Asking about the Rwandan Genocide or their ethnicity
  • Discussing politics of any kind (UK, Rwandan, or other)
    • This is an inappropriate topic because it could cause alarm, concern, and discomfort for the student. Sponsored students are from a different culture and context. Because students in our program are minor children or young adults, they do not have a framework for understanding politics, especially in countries outside of Rwanda.
  • Making any promises
    • Circumstances often change unexpectedly and we do not have control over every aspect of life. Do not make a verbal/written commitment you may not be able to keep (e.g., promising future support, stating a plan to visit them in the future, suggesting support for their post-secondary education).
  • Suggesting they visit you or the UK someday
    • In Rwandan culture, this sounds like a promise that you will sponsor them to visit or study in the UK. We want our students to remain focused on their education and on helping transform their own communities. We do not encourage students to travel abroad for education or sponsor visits, nor do we facilitate such visits.
  • Elaborating on your possessions
    • The student needs your educational sponsorship because they live in extreme material poverty; always practice sensitivity by not focusing on materials things in your letters.
  • Using slang or colloquialisms that may be difficult to translate or understand
  • Describing pets as family members (animals are not viewed with the same level of affection in Rwanda as in parts of the West)
Scroll to Top