After a student and sponsor become paired, they begin writing letters to each other twice per year. Once a student reaches Grade 11, communication via email or social media is an option if the student has internet access.
Students send letters, drawings, report cards and recent photos twice a year to their sponsors. The report cards (called mark sheets in Nepal) show each grade by subject area. Some schools list grades as percentages, others use A-E grades and GPA. Once students complete Grade 10, national board exam results will also be sent at the end of each academic year. Sponsors are contacted directly if academic issues arise with their sponsored student.
In their letters, sponsors should inquire about the daily life of their student, their school, family and friends. It is an opportunity to learn how people live in a developing country. Sponsors can also include information about their daily lives and include an updated photo with each letter.
Since Nepal is a developing country, it does not have a postal delivery system. All sponsor letters are hand delivered to the students at their schools by the Nepal staff. This is most often done via rented jeep over bumpy and sometimes treacherous roads. In some cases it involves flights on a small plane into a remote area and trekking for 1-2 days. It requires a tremendous amount of time and resources to deliver sponsor letters, collect student letters and report cards, take and develop new photos, meet with principals, teachers and parents, then sort, process and mail student letters back to sponsors.