At Fundamaya, we deeply value the relationships formed between donors and the students they support. These connections are vital to the success of our educational programs and to building a compassionate, supportive community. However, to protect the safety, privacy, and dignity of both donors and students — and to ensure the integrity of our programs — we have established the following policy regarding communication:

1. No Direct Communication

We kindly ask that all communication between donors and sponsored students be facilitated exclusively through Fundamaya. This includes letters, phone calls, emails, video chats, social media, and messaging apps. Direct communication outside of our staff’s supervision is not permitted.

2. Why This Policy Exists

This policy is in place to protect everyone involved and is based on common best practices used by NGOs around the world. The key reasons include:

• Child Protection and Safety: Safeguarding students from potential harm, exploitation, or inappropriate influence.

• Privacy and Confidentiality: Respecting and protecting the personal information of both donors and students.

• Cultural Sensitivity: Preventing misunderstandings caused by language, cultural, or social differences.

• Equity Among Students: Ensuring fairness so that no child receives more or less attention or resources than others.

• Program Integrity: Keeping our programs consistent, transparent, and manageable for our team and participants.

3. Real Example from Fundamaya

In the past, Fundamaya experienced a situation where a sponsored student repeatedly contacted a donor directly, including making international collect phone calls that resulted in significant unexpected charges. The student began requesting increasingly expensive items, and when those requests were not fulfilled, the donor was met with ultimatums and emotional pressure. This created a deeply stressful experience for the donor, harmed the relationship with the student, and disrupted our ability to manage the sponsorship in a healthy and effective way.

This unfortunate incident highlighted how even well-meaning connections can turn into harmful situations without proper boundaries in place.

We have also had the experience of a family member contacting the sponsor without the student knowing and asking for things for themselves.  These situations are unusual but we do try to prevent any misunderstandings.

4. How Communication Should Happen

Donors are warmly encouraged to write letters and send messages to their sponsored students through Fundamaya. Our team will translate and deliver messages, and we are happy to pass along student updates in return. All communication is reviewed to ensure safety and clarity for both parties.

5. Gifts and Additional Support

Any gifts or extra support must be coordinated through Fundamaya. This helps us ensure fair distribution, appropriate use, and compliance with customs and local regulations.

6. Social Media & Online Contact

Please do not connect with your sponsored student or their family via social media (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.) or exchange contact information directly. This helps avoid misunderstandings and keeps everyone safe.

7. Visits and In-Person Meetings

If a donor wishes to visit, Fundamaya welcomes the opportunity to arrange a supervised visit with staff present at all times. We do not allow private visits or unsupervised meetings between donors and students.

By sponsoring a student through Fundamaya, all donors agree to follow this communication policy.

We sincerely thank you for your cooperation and for helping us create a positive, secure environment for all students, families, and donors. If you have any questions or would like help communicating with your student, please reach out to our team anytime.