Reading Sponsorship

Our organization has been running the Reading Sponsorship Program since 2020, a pioneering initiative that aims to build safe emotional bonds between volunteers and children in care through reading. The program is carried out in child protection centers across the province of Seville and has been recognized for its innovative nature and positive emotional impact.

The goal of the Reading Sponsorship program is to offer children and adolescents in care a different kind of relational experience, based on the exchange of personalized books and letters. Each participating child is paired with a reading sponsor—either a “godmother” or “godfather”—who selects a book tailored to the child’s interests and writes them a thoughtful, affectionate letter. Through this epistolary connection, young participants gain a sense of recognition, validation, and companionship that complements the professional support they receive in care centers.

Beyond promoting a love of reading, the program seeks to expand the emotional support networks of children in care, many of whom have experienced trauma, abandonment, or a lack of trust in adult figures. Shared reading becomes a powerful tool for emotional connection, cognitive development, and the introduction of new, caring role models.

The Reading Sponsorship program has also fostered a strong, empathetic, and committed volunteer network. Through quarterly training sessions, ongoing technical support, and personalized guidance, volunteers are equipped to build respectful, long-term relationships adapted to each child’s needs. In some cases, the experience has even inspired sponsors to pursue more stable forms of connection, such as foster care or becoming a collaborative family.