A former sponsor child from Malawi will be in Mosgiel on Friday night to raise awareness for child sponsorship.
Charles Kabena, who was sponsored in Malawi, will talk at East Taieri Church in Mosgiel tomorrow night, as part of the ''A Night of Hope'' tour with World Vision.
East Taieri's Senior Pastor the Rev Dr Martin Macaulay said Mr Kabena was a ''real success story'' of what child sponsorship could do.
''His story is going to be powerful, and encouraging.''
Mr Kabena trained as a journalist through his sponsorship, and now works as a communications officer for World Vision in Malawi.
''And now he actually sponsors children himself at his former primary school, so they can get an education and become professionals like himself.''
As well as raising the profile of child sponsorship, they hoped to connect with a compassionate wider community outside the church, he said.
''It's about connecting with what quite a lot of people feel, which is a compassion for the poor, but: What can I do about it?''
Because of last week's flooding, the venue had been shifted to slightly up the hill and would now be held in the East Taieri Church building.
Former Zed frontman Nathan King would play some music also, which Mr Macaulay said would draw a lot of young people.
''He's got a real heart for child sponsorship himself, and he's a great musician.''
• A Night of Hope: 7pm, Friday, June 12, at East Taieri Church , Mosgiel.
- Greta Yeoman
