Meet Your Saathi
Meet the child whose hand you hold
Seeing a child's progress with your own eyes is the clearest proof of where your money goes. Every meeting happens at a venue Saath Foundation hires for that event, with our staff and the child's guardian there the whole time.
The rules, in short
They are the same for every Saathi, and they are not negotiable. The details follow below.
- 3 a yearAt most 3 meetings a year for each child, from all Saathis together, at least 8 weeks apart.
- 2 hoursAn individual visit lasts up to 2 hours. Never during school hours.
- 8 weeksAsk for an individual visit at least 8 weeks ahead, or 3 weeks for a Saath Milan.
- A hired venueNever a home, a school or a partner home. Staff in sight at all times.
- ₹500, one giftNew, shareable, handed over by our staff. Never cash or transfers.
- Staff photos onlyNo photos or videos of your own, and nothing posted online.
Two ways to meet
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Saath Milan: our group day
A celebration day at a venue Saath Foundation hires for that event, with games, art and time together. Any Saathi with a confirmed contribution to any program can come once they've been screened. This is where everyone starts.
See Saath Milan dates -
An individual visit
A quiet, supervised meeting with the child you support, at a venue Saath Foundation hires for that event. You can ask for one after 12 months of sponsorship and after you've come to one Saath Milan.
Check if you can ask for a visit -
Or a video call, hosted by our staff
If you'd rather not travel, or live far away, our staff can host a short video call from a Saath Foundation device, with staff and the guardian present. Video calls follow the same rules as individual visits: 12 months of sponsorship and one Saath Milan first.
Who can ask for a visit
- For a Saath Milan: any Saathi with a confirmed contribution to any Saath Foundation program, or an approved CSR representative, once they've completed the screening below.
- For an individual visit: you've sponsored that child for 12 months in a row, and you've come to at least one Saath Milan.
Children of visitors can come to a Saath Milan only, with their own parent looking after them.
Screening for every adult
- Photo ID, checked by our staff
- A police verification certificate from the last 12 months (or a police check from your country if you live abroad)
- A signed declaration, and two references (not family)
- The Visitor Code of Conduct, renewed every year
- An online orientation (about 45 to 60 minutes) before your first visit, and a 15-minute refresher before each individual visit
How often, and for how long
- At most 3 meetings a year for each child, from all Saathis together: up to 2 Saath Milan days and 1 individual visit, at least 8 weeks apart.
- An individual visit lasts up to 2 hours. A Saath Milan lasts up to 3 hours.
- Never during school hours.
- Notice: register for a Saath Milan at least 3 weeks ahead. Ask for an individual visit at least 8 weeks ahead.
Why the limits? Children aren't visitors' attractions. Their school, their routine and their own feelings come first.
Always at a venue Saath Foundation hires for the day
Every meeting happens at a venue Saath Foundation hires for that event or visit (a vetted public space, never a home or school). The exact venue appears in your donor panel once your visit is confirmed. The meeting is in a room that's open to view, with our staff in sight at all times. Never at the child's home, school or partner home, never in a restaurant or a car, and never at your home or office.
The child and family can always say no
Before every visit, our staff ask the guardian for consent, and ask the child privately whether they'd like to meet.
If the answer is no, the visit doesn't happen. We'll simply tell you the child isn't available. A child's support never depends on visits.
Gifts
- One gift, worth up to ₹500, new, and something the whole family can share.
- Give it to our staff at least 3 days before. They'll hand it over at the visit.
- Never cash or transfers, including UPI, and never gift cards, phones, SIMs, tablets, smartwatches, jewellery, clothes that need fitting, cosmetics or food from outside.
- At a Saath Milan, gifts are the same for every child or go into a shared pool.
- Nothing with your contact details on it.
Photos
Our staff take the photos, with the guardian's consent and the child's agreement. We share them with you through your Saath Foundation account. Please don't take your own photos or videos, and never post anything about the child online: not their name, face, age, school or neighbourhood.
The Visitor Code of Conduct, in short
Please do
Meet only at the venue Saath Foundation hires for your visit, at the agreed time; follow staff instructions; let the child set the pace (a high-five or handshake is fine if the child offers); talk about school, hobbies and dreams; accept a "no" without asking why.
Please don't
Swap phone numbers, emails, social media or UPI IDs; give money or promise future help ("I'll pay for college"); be alone with the child at any time; ask about the child's past, family, health, caste or religion; invite the child or family anywhere; offer your professional services outside Saath Foundation.
Children never perform for visitors, give thank-you speeches, or are "presented". Activities are shared and optional.
Breaking the code can lead to suspension from Meet Your Saathi and, where the law requires, a report to the police or the Child Welfare Committee.
After the visit
Our staff write a short report on every visit, and we'll ask you for feedback too. If anything worried you, tell us. You can reach our Safeguarding Officer directly.
Questions
Can I visit the child at home or at school?
No. Every meeting happens at a venue Saath Foundation hires for that event, so that staff can be there throughout.
I've just started sponsoring. Can I meet the child?
Yes, at a Saath Milan. Individual visits open after 12 months of sponsorship and one Saath Milan.
What if the visit is cancelled?
Sometimes a child isn't well, has exams, or simply doesn't want to meet that day. We'll tell you the visit couldn't be arranged and offer another date. Your sponsorship continues either way.
Can I bring my family?
Other adults can come with you to an individual visit, and each one needs the same screening as you. Children can come to a Saath Milan only.
Does a visit cost anything?
Your own travel is at your cost.
I live abroad. Can I visit when I'm in India?
Yes, under the same rules, with a police check from your country of residence. Please plan ahead: 8 weeks' notice for an individual visit. A staff-hosted video call is another option.