In October 2007, I had the opportunity to visit Zuhura and her family, and learn a little more about who she is and what her life is like on a daily basis.

Prior to our visit, like many CCFC sponsors, Zuhura and I wrote letters back and forth to each other. Although the letter process is slow because of basic postal systems in the developing world, , we were able to build a friendly relationship. I wanted to know more about her successes and challenges, and I was interested in finding out exactly how my sponsorship has affected her and her family.

When I arrived in Zuhura’s village, I was delighted to find she and her family were very excited to meet me. They were warm and friendly, and accommodating in answering my questions and showing me where they live. I never imagined a woman could be as excited as Zuhura’s mother was to meet me.

Zuhura, her parents and three siblings live in a single room, approximately 10x12 feet in size. The walls don’t reach the ceiling, and with ten other families living in the same building, privacy is essentially non-existent. The family has one bed where the children and Zuhura’s mother sleep, and her father sleeps on the couch. Although they have access to a communal cooking fire outside, the streets are overflowing with sewage and garbage.

The effects of my sponsorship, though, were exciting to see firsthand.

Zuhura is thrilled she is now able to attend school – in fact, one of the highlights of my trip was being able to visit her at school and meet some of her friends. Her family is very thankful and grateful for the assistance they receive from CCFC. They told me how they now feel happier in general, and less burdened knowing Zuhura attends school and receives a well balanced and nourishing meal every day. In the community itself, CCFC and the local partners built a school that accepts non-sponsored children whose parents are too poor to pay for all the fees. It was truly gratifying to see the impact of my sponsorship dollars – the ways it has improved this little girl’s life, and others in her community.

Sitting down with Zuhura’s family and sharing a drink in their home was a very special moment for me. I’m convinced that now that we’ve met, our letters will become even more meaningful. We can relate to each other now – I’m no longer a stranger or “imagined” person to her.

After meeting Zuhura, I’m more determined then ever to sponsor her for as long as possible. I’m excited to see how she will grow and change over the next few years, and my hope is that I will continue to assist in her success and help her achieve her dreams.