It was an exciting day at a Back2Back partnering children’s home in Nigeria – sponsorship letter day! Anytime letters arrive, the children without sponsors usually gather around Ene Oklo, Back2Back staff, hoping someone had sent in a letter just for them. One young man, Ekon*, wasn’t among those who swarmed Ene, anxiously waiting.

“I noticed immediately that Ekon had received a sponsor letter, and I shared the news with the others so they could go find him,” shared Ene. 

The kids shouted with joy and excitement, running to locate him and share the exciting news. Ene followed behind, wanting to see Ekon’s reaction. His eyes went wide with disbelief, then hope, unsure if his friends were playing a prank on him. Ene stepped forward, holding out the letter to the young man, and he jumped, laughed, then cried tears of joy.

“Will you read it to me, Auntie?” Ekon asked Ene shyly, wanting to soak up this special moment and imagine his sponsor’s face and voice as she read. Ene took the letter back from Ekon and joyfully read aloud to him his first sponsor letter. When she finished, he took it back, continuing to look at the handwriting on the page and smiling. Ekon was so elated to finally have a sponsor and receive a letter that he slept with it beside him all night.
This is just one example of how impactful sponsorship is to the children and families Back2Back serves around the world. Safe adults showing up in the lives of vulnerable children to say, I see you, I’m cheering for you, I believe in you, is priceless.