Visit Your Child: Global Connection Experiences
Global Connection Experiences · GCE
You know their name. Now come and see their smile.
You have written letters and prayed for years. A Global Connection Experience lets you travel with a Bridges of Hope team to meet the child you sponsor, their family and teachers, and see the school, clinic and community your monthly gift supports.
We are all connected
Many sponsors give for years without ever meeting the child they love. A GCE brings you face to face, so your child knows you are real and you come home understanding their world.
Why it matters
Letters carry love. Presence carries more.
Proof that someone cares
A visit tells a child, in a way no letter can, that a real person far away knows their name and is cheering them on.
Understanding, not guessing
Perhaps you have wondered what your sponsorship really does. Seeing the classroom, the meals and the clinic answers that question for good.
A stronger bridge
Sponsors who visit come home as ambassadors who help more children find a sponsor and help each project grow.
How a visit works
Three steps to meeting your child.
Tell us you want to visit.
Email our office with your child’s name and when you hope to travel. We check the destination and plan with our field team.
Apply and prepare.
Complete the trip application, record checks, insurance and team training. Your acceptance letter confirms your budget, about $6,000 CAD per trip.
Travel with a team.
A team leader and our local staff guide every step. You meet your child, their family and teachers, then debrief together within three weeks of returning.
Our commitments
Every child protected. Every visit taken seriously.
Children protected
Every traveller provides a criminal record check and a child welfare check. Adults are never alone with a child, and all contact with a sponsored child goes through Bridges of Hope.
Dignity in every photo
Children are never a tourist attraction. We ask permission before photos and never share images or locations that could put a child at risk.
Gifts given well
Small, practical gifts are welcome and our hosts help you give them well. Please never give cash directly to a child or family.
Safety first
We follow Government of Canada travel advice, require travel and medical insurance, and ask every traveller to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service.
Trained and led
Every team has a team leader who knows the project, plus the GCE Team Manual, cultural training and team meetings before departure.
Follow-through
Every team gathers for a debrief, and we help you turn what you saw into lasting support for your child’s community.
Sponsors of children in Boura, Burkina Faso. The Government of Canada currently advises Canadians to avoid all travel to Burkina Faso, so we are not sending teams there at this time. Your child still receives your letters and you receive updates from our field team, and visits will resume when it is safe. Sponsors of children in Uganda can ask about visiting now.
Questions
Before you pack your bags.
Can I meet my sponsored child alone?
No. For every child’s protection, visits always include our local staff and the child’s guardian or teacher.
Can I bring my family?
Yes. Family members are welcome, and each adult completes the same record checks and preparation.
Can I stay in touch after I visit?
Yes, through Bridges of Hope. Keep writing letters, and please do not exchange personal phone numbers, emails or social media with the child or family.
How much should I budget?
About $6,000 CAD per trip. Family, friends and your church can give toward your team budget through Bridges of Hope and receive an official tax receipt for eligible gifts.
Can my church or business come too?
Yes. Bridges of Hope also leads church, business and skills trips. See all Global Connection Experiences.
Your next step
One step today: ask about visiting.
Tell us your child’s name and when you hope to travel. We will listen and help you plan a safe, unforgettable visit. Because we are all connected.