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- Blog
February is Donor Love Month here at Plan International ā a time to celebrate the appreciation we have for our incredible supporters who are the heart of our organization. Without your support, none of our work would be possible.
Today, weāre highlighting a dedicated sponsor named Sue from Washington who is crafting unique connections with her sponsored children around the world.
Sue first became a sponsor when she was in her mid-20s, sponsoring a child from Nepal. At that time, our name was Foster Parents Plan. She went on to sponsor girls and boys from Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
āI loved getting responses back from them, and because it was pre-internet, it was black and white photos and hand typed letters on lightweight āair mailā stationery,ā Sue shares. āI had no children of my own, then and now, so I had the time to dedicate to corresponding with them.ā
After retiring, Sue reconnected with Plan. This time, she wanted to do even more ā she now sponsors over a dozen girls ranging in age from 2 to 14, from all over the world.
Sue sponsors more than a dozen girls from around the world.
āI made the recent decision to do as much good as possible to bring a small bit of hope and joy to girls in places where itās sorely needed,ā Sue says. āIāve added more children as Iāve watched the world become harsher and more difficult for so many. With climate change, political instability, post-pandemic issues, wars and hunger rampant in the world, I wanted to be a tiny part of the solution rather than a deer in the headlights.ā
For Sue, the personal connection is still the most rewarding part of sponsorship, and she looks forward to receiving letters and photos from her sponsored children.
āAlso, when I write to them and especially when I make something for them, it fills me with joy and a sense of purpose,ā Sue says.
Sue started creating small homemade dolls to send to her sponsored children, each one uniquely designed with a particular child in mind. āI also make clothespin dolls, friendship bracelets, knitted tiny purses and little zippered pouches,ā she says. āMost everything is made from recycled, upcycled and repurposed materials.ā
Sue loves to make homemade gifts for her sponsored children, including rag dolls (left) and clothespin dolls.
Sue loved this creative outlet so much that she even created her own Etsy store. But the gifts that she makes for her sponsored children have a special place in her heart.
āI’m an artist and a crafter so it’s fun to make little gifts that bring joy,ā Sue says.
Sue makes other homemade gifts for her sponsored children, like small knitted purses and friendship bracelets.
When you sponsor a child, you have the opportunity to develop a meaningful connection with a determined girl or boy, while helping to improve the community and resources surrounding them. And, you join a global community of a million sponsors working together to create a brighter future.
This February, we celebrate sponsors like Sue, who make this critical work possible. Thank you for all that you do. Together, we wonāt stop fighting until weāre all equal.
- News & press
Press Release
Plan International welcomes ālandmark momentā: as Colombiaās child marriage ban comes into effect
Plan International celebrates the historic moment as Colombiaās new child marriage law officially comes into effect, raising the legal minimum age for marriage to 18 with no exceptions.
The bill was officially enacted following Colombiaās Constitutional Court ruling C-039 of 2025, which abolished legal exceptions that allowed minors over 14 to marry with parental consent. This landmark decision raises the minimum age of marriage to 18 with no exceptions.
āThis is more than just a legal milestone ā itās a life-changing moment for countless girls across Colombia,ā said Ćngela Anzola, President of Plan International Colombia. āWith this law now in place, we are one step closer to a future where every girl has the opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve her dreams without the burden of forced marriage.ā
Child marriage has impacted many girls and adolescents across different territories of Colombia. āThis law represents hope and justice for every girl who has been denied her childhood and autonomy,ā Ćngela added. āBut the real work starts now ensuring its implementation and changing the social norms that have sustained this harmful practice for generations.ā
While this law is a critical step forward, Plan International emphasizes that policy alone is not enough to end child marriage. The organization calls for continued investment in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for girls and their families, alongside awareness campaigns to challenge harmful gender norms.
āWe must ensure that no girl is left behind. Making this law a reality requires collaboration with leaders, schools, and communities to address the root causes that drive child marriage,ā Ćngela stated. āThis includes ensuring families have the resources they need so that marriage is no longer seen as the only option for girls.ā
The enforcement of the law includes the design and implementation of the National Comprehensive Programme for Life Projects for Children and Adolescents, a key initiative aimed at addressing the root causes of early unions, such as poverty and lack of education.
āOur work continues,ā Ćngela emphasized. āTogether with families, communities, and partners, we must ensure this law is not just words on paper but a reality that protects and empowers every girl in Colombia. Only then can we create a future where girls grow up free, equal, and full of promise.ā
Plan International remains committed to working alongside civil society and government partners to ensure that every girl in Colombia is free to pursue her future, unburdened by the consequences of early marriage.
About Plan International
Plan International is an international development and humanitarian nonprofit that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world and tackle the root causes of challenges children face. We are there from birth until adulthood, and we support children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity, while particularly focusing on the experiences of girls. With more than 85 years of experience, we work to transform lives in more than 80 countries. We won’t stop until we are all equal.
For further information or interview requests, please contact:
Vannette Tolbert
Senior Manager, Communications
Email: [email protected]
- Blog
āFor me, peace is a dream ā a dream I hope will soon come true,ā 18-year-old Valery from Colombia says.
Valery hopes her art will inspire younger generations to ālive a peaceful life without fear.ā | Nelson Pacheco, Ā©Plan International
Valery, along with many other women and girls living in conflict zones, is seen as a weapon of war ā making her particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence and exploitation. This intensifies existing gender inequalities and limits opportunities for education and financial independence.
Violence causes devastating ripple effects in girlsā lives
Instability and uncertainty have a damaging impact on girlsā mental health, creating lasting trauma that affects their overall well-being and development.
āWhile there are many problems, the one that most affects our lives is violence,ā 23-year-old Yadis explains. āIt leads to school dropouts, and girls and women are often seen as objects of war, used for purposes that have nothing to do with us. This violence has also severely impacted our security, limiting our freedom of movement and imposing restrictions on our daily lives.ā
When you support Planās initiatives with a gift, you empower women like Yadis to use their creative talents to find peace within themselves and help others find theirs. | Nelson Pacheco, Ā©Plan International
Finding peace through art and music
Thanks to the generous support of caring people like youĀ , Plan launched the Empower Art for Peace project to help girls like Valery and Yadis.
āWe chose art as a medium because it is a powerful catalyst for emotions, enabling individuals to process negative experiences and transform them into meaningful actions,ā Sara Erazo, who manages the project, shares.
Sara has worked for Plan International for 21 years and believes the connection between art and culture is essential for fostering peaceful resilience. | Nelson Pacheco, Ā©Plan International
The Empower Art for Peace project promotes reconciliation and peacebuilding in areas heavily riddled with conflict. By fostering studentsā creative energy in school through music, art and creative exercises, they can develop leadership skills while expressing themselves artistically.
Through these creative outlets, young people are gradually empowered to recognize and demand their rights as individuals.
Valery has become a talented violinist and drummer, and is often invited to perform at events. | Nelson Pacheco, Ā©Plan International
Valery has inspired members in her community with her leadership journey through music.
āFor me, music has been the lifeline I need,ā Valery says.
A minute of silence
āThe situation that most impacts the lives of adolescent girls and young women in our region is the societal context,ā 18-year-old Nicol says. āIt often limits our self-acceptance as girls or women. Sometimes, we wish we had been born as men to avoid the challenges we face, such as sexual harassment, which is a daily occurrence. These issues cause us to feel less confident ā sometimes we avoid wearing certain clothes or even going outside to avoid these situations.ā
Nicol finds peace through the Empower Art for Peace project. | Nelson Pacheco, Ā©Plan International
āI wrote a song āUn Minuto de Silencioā ā the song is a minute of silence for the young people who left us, for the government that focuses only on statistics, and for the mothers who cannot stop crying,ā Nicol says.
How YOU can help paint a peaceful future
Your generous gifts can inspire other girls, like Nicol, to utilize creative outlets to help them recover from trauma, violence and anxiety. Whether itās music bringing communities together to sway to the beat or a beautiful painting or poem to inspire conversation, the Empower Art for Peace project provides a safe space for expression, especially in places where verbalizing certain thoughts and opinions might be dangerous.
āInstead of picking up a gun, we can pick up an instrument, a book or start making art or poetry,ā Valery says. āWe need to move away from violence and explore possibilities.ā
Thank you for helping to curate a future of peace and possibility for girls and young women in Colombia.
