Welcome back, Sponsor.

You may be wondering how the STARS program works to provide the funds for our students to thrive. Together, you and other donors provide food, housing, schooling, and extracurricular activities for all of our students. While your donation helps all of our students attend school, your mentoring opportunity is one-to-one. Our students look up to their sponsors as mentors and benefit from your kind thoughts, positive examples, sincere wishes, and the opportunities to practice their English with their sponsors. Your sponsorship is also an important part of helping your student internalize the message that people believe in them, no matter what stigma or culture may tell them.

If the student you are matched with leaves campus because of graduation or family circumstances, your sponsorship continues, and we will assign you to a new student who will benefit just as much from your care and support.

A few years ago our sponsorship model changed. We now match students to sponsors instead of having sponsors choose who they get to sponsor. This has helped even out the number of sponsors each student has, because we are matching on shared interest rather than having sponsors “pick” students they want to sponsor.

We know that students are especially excited to have their sponsor visit campus. We try to only assign one RSOA sponsor to each student so as many students as possible get to have the experience of meeting their sponsor!

Sometimes there are students who have one or two sponsors before another student has a sponsor, and that is because we need to keep the costs of assigning sponsorships at a minimum. So there are times that we double up sponsorships, because there is cost and time associated with printing the welcome box reveal cards.

To complete your “Sponsor Sign-Up,” email hellosponsor@risingstaroutreach.org with your short bio and picture so your Rising Star can open their own sponsor reveal. They are eager to meet you!

Introduce yourself in 4–8 sentences for your short bio. Write whatever you would like them to know about you! Attach a headshot, a family photo, or an action shot in a sports game — really anything that is appropriate and represents who you are!

We know you are eagerly waiting to meet your Rising Star. Your welcome box with the student reveal card should arrive in a few weeks!

If the student you are matched with leaves campus because of graduation or family circumstances, your sponsorship continues, and we will assign you to a new student who will benefit just as much from your care and support.

A video chat is a chance to get to know your student and help them feel supported. Keep the conversation relaxed and focus on simple, age-appropriate topics such as school, favorite subjects, friends, hobbies, sports, music, family traditions, or what they hope to do in the future.

You can also share a little about your own family, work, community, or daily life. Photos, maps, pets, and familiar objects can help make the conversation easier, especially when there is a language barrier.

Here are a few fun questions you might ask:

• What is your favorite thing to do after school?
• What is your favorite subject in school?
• What game do you like to play with your friends?
• What is your favorite food?
• Do you have a favorite animal?
• What makes you laugh?
• What are you really good at?
• What would you like to learn how to do?
• What is your favorite holiday or celebration?
• What is the best thing that happened this week?
• Would you rather be able to fly or become invisible?
• If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
• If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
• What do you hope to be when you grow up?

You do not need to work through the entire list. Choose a few questions and let the conversation develop naturally. You can answer the same questions yourself, which can make the exchange feel more comfortable and help the student get to know you too.

Do not worry about filling every moment. Pauses are normal, and students may be shy at first. Listen carefully and let the relationship develop over time.

Please avoid discussing money, asking about difficult family circumstances, or making promises about gifts, travel, education, or future financial support. Rising Star Outreach staff will be present to help with translation and guide the conversation when needed.

Donate to our celebration fund for Tamil Nadu or Bihar, or send an email with your best wishes.

To ensure fairness among students, Rising Star Outreach does not allow sponsors to send personal gifts directly to an individual student.

You are welcome to send letters, cards, photos, or drawings. These personal messages often mean more to students than a physical gift and help build a lasting connection.

If you would like to support students in another way, Rising Star Outreach can share opportunities that benefit the broader school community.