Support Switched On

Change Lives

Find out how you
could help
a desperately
needy community
to get jobs
that will change
their families'
lives for good.

Watch this ONE MINUTE VIDEO.

Because Switched On works in a smart way, "on a shoe string," using computers for correspondence and so on, the sponsorship fees are low and our admin overhead is less than 5%.

We'll offer you anonymous contact with your students through easy-to-use messaging.

Thanks,

Richard, Merja & the team

- Showing Christian care.

Help the poor and oppressed, such as James:

Name:

James

Age:

Birthday:

9th February

Hobbies:

Football & studying

Community:

New Delhi refugees, India

Sponsor language tuition for persecuted refugees!

Tell me more...

Message from a Burmese sponsored student:

Dear sponsor

I am so grateful to you that you have aburden for our Burmese refugees,and supporting us throught the English course,Especially it is very helpful for me to learn more about English,and it's even helping me to get better Jobs, in fact,before i learned English from this tranining centre,i was washing utensil,but now i have got abetter job as an office girl i have desire to be come a good teacher

Thank you

Your sincerely

Zar

You can see students available for sponsorship on the "Sponsor Now!" tab (near top of page).

Note: We have handed over the Delhi slum centre (mentioned on the video) to a local trust that is now better placed to take it forwards. Thanks to all who faithfully supported this work!

Sponsor Persecuted Burmese Refugees

31 refugees
sponsored so far

Target: 50

Sponsor one or more places for Burmese refugees living in an Indian city. They have fled cruel persecution from an oppressive military regime because they are Christians. Unable to speak a local language, they can earn a meagre 70p/day working as labourers, which means they must share tiny apartments and struggle to afford even rice because of escalating food prices. Your donation will enable us to teach them basic English and computer skills so they can earn several times that pay and provide for their families.

Approximately one year after commencing English teaching, to enable these persecuted refugees to find jobs paying a reasonable crust, I am happy to report that as of April 2010, over 30% of the adults had in fact increased their income by around 50%, and the majority are making good progress in speaking English. Please find individual cases by clicking this link, and some class photos. Even the better earners' families are still below the poverty line, but their income is improving substantially.

By sponsoring, you will have the joy of occasional contact with your sponsored student(s) and optional message exchanges - all via Switched On to protect your privacy.

Student sponsorship - £10/month

Click on Sponsor Now! to see the profiles of those who still need sponsoring.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | About Switched On

Why sponsor?

Some reasons to sponsor through Switched On:

These folks need help to dig themselves out of deep poverty. They are unfairly oppressed.
Computer & language (English/Hindi) skills provide a big boost to the self-worth of these oppressed folks.
These skills are in demand, so this is a shrewd way to give, providing maximum benefit.
We are a small charity and so you can enjoy close involvement in this compassionate venture. Yes, we'd like to know who you are!
Switched On's unique computer/Internet-based system beats other sponsorship programmes that send letters:
- Messages are returned much quicker - bringing your students & you more enjoyment!
- Paper, postage, personnel & environmental costs are slashed.
- Online convenience.
Our Western admin overhead is just 5%, making for lower fees.
Over time, you can enjoy helping & befriending a few people, as each is typically supported for only a couple of years.
Technical, language & management skills are on the ground in India. Richard & Merja can guide for max effectiveness.

Sponsor Now!

Scroll through students available and choose whom to sponsor (select "Older posts" at bottom for more).

Who to sponsor / Where to give
Sponsorship ID(s)

Eg.:

1. "ts0734, ts0735" - two students with the given IDs
2. "Choose 2 for me" - or 1, or 3, ...
3. "Use as needed" - if you do not wish to sponsor a student.

Notes / special requests

e.g. if the sponsorship is a gift for someone else. We can contact you by email/phone if necessary.

Donation
Select currency

- £
- €
- US$

The cost of sponsorship per student is 10 GBP/month.

If you would like to pay in a different currency then please state the currency here.

Different currency

Contact Details
First name *
Last name *
Street Address 1 *
Street Address 2
City/Town *
County/State *
Postal/Zip code *
Country *

I am a UK taxpayer paying tax at the basic rate or above. Please treat all donations I make to Switched On (International) as Gift Aid:

Other country *

Email address *
Email confirmation *
Telephone
Payment method

Options available depend on your country selection above:

Print standing order form to sign and post

Order a standing order form to be posted to me

Obtain bank details to set up payment myself (e.g. online banking)

Pay by PayPal

Obtain Finnish bank details to set up payment myself

Pay by PayPal

Pay by PayPal - An efficient way to give monthly from outside the UK (More info)

Obtain UK bank details to set up payment myself (Can be high international payment charges, so may be best to set up annual payment)

* indicates a required field.

Read donor comments

Case study

Santosh's father is a farm labourer, typically earning less than £1 a day. Following a short Switched On computer course, Santosh now earns £2.75/day as a data entry operator. He can now help his family pay for food.

Switched On in photos

Richard, Merja and family are now based in India. Here are some photos.

Improvisation - we can't get decorations here!

A Switched On course (trialled with a wealthier group than the slum children and Burmese)