WHEN given the opportunity, Boolaroo resident Mary Gill jumped at the chance to meet her African sponsor child of almost three years.
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After contacting World Vision Australia, Ms Gill managed to organise a short trip to Swaziland as part of her six-week trip to Africa late last year.
Miss Gill had been sponsoring Princess Silindzile through World Vision and lined up the visit to coincide with her own overseas volunteering stint.
Swaziland is one of the smallest countries in Africa.
World Vision started operating in Swaziland in 1992 after a devastating drought.
In 1996, the charity's focus shifted towards rehabilitation and development, focusing on health, sanitation and education.
World Vision is now working on 23 projects with 558 staff and 53,659 sponsor children.
Princess and her family live in Ngudzeni, about two hours away from the city and a far distance from any shops.
The women have to walk five hours to give birth.
Miss Gill bought a few small gifts and groceries for Princess and her three younger sisters for their meeting.
"They were a little bit shy at first," Miss Gill said.
"But the balls and skipping ropes I brought along helped break the ice.
"Princess knew a little bit of English though, and kept saying 'I you love' and giving me a hug."
Miss Gill said she encouraged anyone sponsoring a child overseas to go and visit them.
"It gives a lot more meaning to your sponsorship," she said.
"We also visited the World Vision office and they told me all about the projects they had been working on over the past nine years."