Meeting Maynor in Nicaragua

It was after spending a summer teaching in a primary school in rural South Africa that Jenna Bates decided to start sponsoring a child with Plan. The teaching experience had a profound impact on Jenna, leading her to want to do something to help others in similar places.

Jenna started sponsoring Maynor in 2006 and, last year, travelled to Nicaragua to meet him and see for herself how Plan sponsorship contributions are working. Here is Jenna's story.

"We got up at 5 and went to a local bus garage to catch a public bus to Managua which was really crowded, busy, bumpy and great! We got a taxi to the Plan office and then out towards where Maynor lives. It was a three and a half hour drive, during which we got to see some of the amazing Nicaraguan landscape.

When we arrived we went to the school. It was really busy, all the children and people from the local community were waiting for us. I met Maynor - in all the bustle he seemed to appear from the crowd. It was a polite greeting but also really sweet and touching.

It was a very special moment to meet each other after writing, sending photos and looking forward to the visit. We went to Maynor's house to share a watermelon with the family. Lots of the other children and other local people came too and we all sat outside in the sunshine.

After this, the family took us down to the canyon, the pride and joy of the community - it was stunning.

They were very proud to have a new teacher who spoke English. We were also told about how Plan has helped with the health of the children, providing vaccinations and essential toiletries. I was incredibly inspired to hear what Plan were doing in the area and how it had had such great benefits for everyone.

I would, without doubt, recommend other sponsors to visit their sponsored children. It was an amazing and heart-warming experience. It was inspirational to see Plan's work in action and I will remain a supporter in the future and recommend Plan to others. I was very happy to be a small part of something so wonderful."