Daniel & Sirkku’s Sponsorship Story

ERDO’s CEO, Daniel Lepojarvi, and his wife Sirkku have been privileged to sponsor children for almost two decades. Over the years, they’ve been part of sponsorship programs in communities around the world, where they’ve witnessed firsthand how lives can change.

Their current sponsored child is a boy with a disability in Malawi, Mphatso, who is cared for by his single mother. Through Daniel and Sirkku’s support, ERDO provides Mphatso access to services and training, and helps resource his mother to better care for her son.

Daniel and Sirkku, who serves as the Program Manager at ERDO, have a deep love for the sponsorship work in Malawi at it specifically focuses on children with disabilities, who are often the most marginalized and don’t have the same resources we have here in Canada. For Daniel and Sirkku, it is deeply inspiring to know their contribution helps Mphatso’s family access specialized care, education opportunities and tools to improve their quality of life.

Sponsorship is not just financial for Daniel and Sirkku; it is a personal connection to transformational impact. They have seen how sponsorship empowers families, teaching kids to be resilient as they learn and grow, accessing new opportunities. Daniel and Sirkku love that their continuous support has long-term impact on Mphatso’s life! Updates from Mphatso’s family and the program itself reminds Daniel and Sirkku about the difference their commitment makes. “We’re humbled to be part of that journey,” says Daniel.

Sirkku and Daniel have traveled to many of ERDO’s ChildCARE Plus locations and have seen many examples of how sponsorship has changed lives. They have met children in all stages of sponsorship, from those who just started in the program to graduates who and are giving back by tutoring or helping in other ways. They were incredibly inspired to see the transformation in the children, whether it was an economic change, such as more access to food and education, or more of a personal impact, like a boost to their self-esteem and confidence.

For Sirkku, it is amazing to see the children begin to hope for a better future. She says, “In some contexts, they have been too afraid to dream bigger dreams. But through the program, often they can say things like, ‘I want to become a doctor’.” Daniel and Sirkku have also seen how transformation is not just individual, but spreads to help children’s families and their whole community.

One of the greatest rewards for Daniel and Sirkku has been seeing their own teenage children take on sponsored children of their own, using earnings from part-time jobs. As parents, it is incredibly encouraging to see God’s blessings in and through the lives of their kids. It was difficult for their children to pick a country to help because there are so many different needs around the world. Daniel and Sirkku are enormously proud that their kids understand their privilege and want to give back by supporting a child from another country.

Their teenage son, Ben, had the opportunity to travel to Zimbabwe to meet his 9-year-old sponsored child, Shadreck. He was looking forward to it for a long time, and getting to see Shadreck face-to-face helped encourage Ben to continue sponsoring, creating a more personal connection in their future communication through letters. Ben gave him a gift and saw the smile it brought to his face. Ben says, “It was a memorable experience for me, something I will never forget.”

There are still so many children waiting for someone to give them a chance.  Sponsorship doesn’t just meet basic needs—it transforms lives and opens doors to opportunities children never thought possible.

For $41 a month, you can help give a child the same opportunity—a fresh start and a future filled with hope.

Sponsor Now!

Your sponsorship could change everything for a child in need. Together, we can make this a year of transformation, hope and new beginnings. Let’s give a child the chance to break free from poverty and create a brighter future—for themselves and for the generations to come.