First Light Child Sponsorship is a volunteer-staffed 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization committed to sharing the love of Jesus and advancing the visions of established, local leaders in developing countries. First Light was founded by Paul and Tabitha Carter – a couple from Washington state – in order to begin sponsoring children at Blessed Children’s Home. We are committed to ensuring that every dollar is used wisely and that 100% of sponsorship dollars is able to reach the Children’s Home. We are able to cover our overhead expense through the generosity of other donors as well as donations from our sister business, First Light Imports, which sells handicrafts and jewelry handmade in Nepal to supplement the work that we do. Operating these two organizations takes significant planning, dedication, and sacrifice for which First Light is thankful to all who give, whether in the form of monetary gifts or time. We could not operate without your generous and ongoing support.

First Light’s Child Sponsorship program takes a holistic approach to all the needs of the children. The sponsorship money goes toward all the expenses of daily life for the children, far beyond their meals. The sponsorship goes toward medical care, school fees and uniforms, clothing, personal hygiene, recreational items and all other aspects of life. We strive to send 100% of our sponsorship donations directly to the Children’s Home for the needs of the children. At the end of the day, our goal isn’t to send the most money to the Children’s Home, but for all of the children to see the love of Jesus in action.

We believe God led us to start this sponsorship program. Tabitha originally met Babu and Sabitri in Nepal in 2000. They were faithfully taking in children and had been for years. They struggled through religious persecution, false accusations, threats of poverty, earthquakes and even a civil war. They could have easily escaped these troubles themselves. Instead, faithful to God, they endured for almost three decades, loving the lost children of Nepal. Their example of the true love of Jesus has inspired us to launch the Child Sponsorship to fund their Home. As they continue to live by faith, we hope that God will use First Light to provide for these children. 

First Light Child Sponsorship was born out of the necessity of Blessed Children’s Home. It is our privilege to ensure that 100% of the sponsorship dollars reaches the Children’s Home directly.

Yes, our sponsorship program is designed with two sponsors per child in order to help ensure stability of funds and an ease of burden on the part of the sponsors. If a sponsor finds that they are no longer able to serve their sponsored child, then the child is still half-sponsored.

You may sponsor a child as long as you want and feel that you can. We hope that you will consider making your sponsored child a long-term commitment as we try to facilitate a way for you to build a relationship with your sponsored child.

As long as your child is part of the Blessed Children’s Home family, you may sponsor your child. First Light has future plans to setup a fund created specifically for helping the children who have grown to launch into their adulthood.

Babu and Sabitri accept all the children as their own, and raise them as family. The children who grow up remain part of their family. Some children leave to try and find work, while others go to university or get married. Some of the current staff have themselves grown up in the Children’s Home. Babu and Sabitri are committed to helping these young adults through life, and have even been able to put money toward some of their weddings and education.

In order to make sure all the children of the Blessed Children’s Home are included in gift-giving, we have created a special fund for fun and enrichment. Our Fun and Enrichment Fund goes toward special treats, fun memories, field trips and surprises for the children. This may also include communal resources such as books and musical equipment. We will update our webpage with the ongoing expenditures from this fund.

Yes. We encourage you to be active in your sponsored child’s life. You may e-mail them at kidmail@firstlightcs.org and they will be able to receive your letters with the assistance of supervised children’s home staff. First Light also monitors these e-mails for the safety and well-being of the children. Please encourage the dreams in their hearts, send them photos or things to brighten their days, and your sponsored child will be able to write you back!

There are a number of ways you can reach out to your sponsored child. The best and safest way is via kidmail@firstlightcs.org, through which you are able to interact directly with your child under supervision by BCH staff and also monitored by First Light Staff. As your relationship grows with your child, you may one day want to visit him or her. Due to issues with logistics, safety and the children’s well-being, First Light doesn’t currently host visits for sponsors. However, First Light makes annual trips to the Children’s Home, where we are able to see the wonderful growth and life happening there.

Due to tenuous religious laws, the staff must be very careful when it comes to expressing their faith toward the children. Although no child is required to attend, there is a daily time of prayer and devotion opened to the children. On Saturdays, the children used to attend church with Babu and Sabitri. However, due to restrictions on the Children’s Home, they are no longer allowed to let many of the children attend a Christian service. Instead, they serve the children, share with them the love of Jesus, and continue to pray for the freedom to exercise their faith openly.

You may cancel your sponsorship at any time necessary. We want you to consider this child sponsorship as a long-term commitment, and want each person to know that they are making a direct impact on the child they are sponsoring. Reach out to us by phone at 253-203-5425 or by e-mail at admin@firstlightcs.org with any questions or concerns.

Rest assured, the child is part of a family, and will be taken care of. We designed the sponsorship to take care of the entire Children’s Home, and no child will go without. Although we pair the sponsors with children, the resources raised will go toward all the children. We want to fully sponsor all the children, thus providing for all their daily needs.