Hussam Ibrahim Abu Mtour is a very bright little boy who loves school. He has five brothers and sisters. His father works as a laborer, but cannot bring in enough income to provide for a large family. Hussam's dream is to go to college and study engineering. Money from the scholarship program would go towards school supplies, food, and clothing.

In 1986, UPA began its Child Sponsorship program to provide humanitarian assistance to disadvantaged children in the Palestinian Territories and refugee camps in Lebanon. Over the past 2 decades, UPA's Sponsorship Program has provided financial support to over 1,400 children.

Through UPA, sponsors from around the world give financial support to Palestinian children at orphanages, schools and other welfare institutions. Sponsorship funds are administered by UPA's trusted partner organizations in the West Bank, Gaza and refugee camps of Lebanon.

Our partner organizations are extensively assessed for their performance potential, and vetted for their accountability in benefiting all the sponsored children in their care. As with all UPA projects, transparency is critical.

Palestinian children today confront military occupation, discrimination, poverty and conflict, just to fulfill their basic human right to an education. For $40 a month -- less than $1.50 a day -- sponsors can provide funds for children's school tuition, transportation and hot lunches.

Many children in UPA's sponsorship program face the added challenges of mental and physical disabilities. A sponsor from abroad can help ease the burden of medical costs, and give them a unique connection to another person who cares.

Mohammed Ismail Shaaban has one brother and one sister. Their father passed away after a long illness, and now there is no one to provide for Mohammed, his mother, and his brother and sister. The family is in dire need of money. The sponsorship funds would help Mohammed's mother buy him food, clothes, and other basic necessities.

UPA sponsors are directly involved in their child's development through a regular exchange of letters and photographs, as well as progress reports from teachers and school social workers. As of 2009, UPA began distributing quarterly reports with project outcomes to our generous sponsors.

In some cases, UPA has helped sponsors visit their children in Palestine and Lebanon, connecting with family members and school administrators so that they can directly observe how they impact a child's life. Sponsor-to-child interactions provide a sustaining bond of love and support that is invaluable to both.

To learn more about the program, email sponsorship@helpupa.com with "Child Sponsorship Info" in the subject line.