Part of the aim of the Momentum Management Programme is to make you more profitable as a dentist, and another part is to assist you to develop as an individual. As part of this growth we encourage the sharing of prosperity with the less fortunate.

In line with this, for the past couple of years Momentum Management has undertaken to sponsor a child on behalf of each new Management Programme group. Each of the three children currently sponsored is funded through a Guatemalan based organisation called Common Hope.

The philosophy of Common Hope closely matches that of Momentum - they believe that our natural enthusiasm to help others can lead us to hurt them; that before being able to help we must educate ourselves about what is truly helpful and loving, because good intentions do not guarantee good actions. If in a desire to help, assistance is offered in a way that disables a person's own initiative, it does more harm than good. Common Hope seeks to separate their own needs from that which is best for the families, and have structured their sponsorship programme in a way that offers necessary support whilst encouraging independence.

Each new family sits down with their social worker to play a board game called "Step by Step". Each family member helps the whole family move ahead by a commitment to regularly attend school, take a literacy course, or find a new job. By the time the game if over, the family has worked out their own plan for their "graduation" from Common Hope.

Thus, not only does the sponsored child attend school, but his or her entire family has access to health care, housing, vocational training and many other programmes that help them thrive.

At the commencement of the sponsorship, each Management Programme group is able to choose the age and sex of the child they wish to sponsor. Thereafter, Momentum undertakes to pay the sponsorship annually on behalf of the group until the end of their Management Programme. Regular updates on the family's progress are passed on to the group during this period. At the completion of the Management Programme, the group is encouraged to take over the sponsorship, either individually or as a group.

The Common Hope sponsorship programme is not structured in such a way as to cover all the costs associated with developing entire families. If you wish to make a special contribution to assist Common Hope, we would be happy to assist you in doing so. We also receive regular newsletters outlining the general efforts and successes of Common Hope, which are available on request by contacting our office.