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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you decide “where it's needed the most?”
As we are familiar with the families in Young Heroes, we can assess their relative needs. In general, “where it's needed the most” donations will go towards larger families who have a heavier burden making ends meet; child-headed households; and families in extreme poverty.
How did you arrive at the sums you're asking me to donate?
By research and shopping. The World Food Programme's standard for providing the nutrition a child needs is $19 per month. By shopping ourselves, we've confirmed that this is enough to buy everything needed in Swaziland and that an extra $10 will provide enough to buy sufficient additions to make up a wardrobe.
If it costs $19 to feed a child, why are you asking me for $19.95?
The extra $.95 is to cover the costs of the fees charged Young Heroes by Internet payment providers and by banks for converting foreign funds to emalangeni, the currency of Swaziland. We estimate that this amounts to 5% of the donations we receive. In order to give Young Heroes members the full amount they need, we are asking you to contribute less than $1 more.
In all other respects, NERCHA is underwriting the entire cost of the Young Heroes program. No other part of your donation goes towards paying for any overheads or administration – it all goes to the orphans.
How does the money get to the orphans?
As directly as possible. If you donate by credit card or American cheque, your donation goes into the Young Heroes bank account at Wachovia Bank in New Haven, CT, USA. Once a month, the money received is wired to the Young Heroes account at First National Bank in Mbabane. If you donate by wire transfer or international money order, the sum goes directly into this account.
There, the money is converted to emalangeni, the currency of Swaziland. From there, it goes monthly to the Swazi postal service, along with a list of each family that has received donations and the amount received. If you have donated a full year's sponsorship at one time, we will allocate your funds through the 12 months ahead.
The post office makes money orders that are sent to the families' nearest post office. The caretaker of the family presents a picture ID card, collects the family's funds and signs a receipt for your donation that is returned to us.