FAQ's

As a Christian charity, how does World Vision operate in non- Christian countries?

Inspired by Christian values, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable children. We provide help on the basis of need and serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. We work in many multi-religious countries including Sri Lanka, Somalia and Afghanistan. Our staff in these countries may be Christian or of other faiths.

Can a friend or relative visit my sponsored child?

If you have a friend or relative who is travelling to your sponsored child’s country, they may wish to visit your child on your behalf. They will have to follow the same required steps, including submitting an application and complying with our Child Safeguarding Policy.

Can I ask my sponsored child and their family where my sponsorship money goes?

No. This is because it’s unlikely that your sponsored child and their family can answer this question. When you sponsor a child, you help provide the basics like enough food to eat, clean water to drink, healthcare and the chance to go to school.

But, more than that, the benefits of child sponsorship extend to the whole community. Your monthly gift is pooled with that of other sponsors, and helps fund essential development projects that will benefit other children, families and communities – for generations. The work that is undertaken in each community varies according to their specific needs. As life for your sponsored child and their community improves, you can follow their progress with reports and updates from World Vision.

Can I ask the World Vision staff in my sponsored child’s country about tourism information?

We suggest you consult your travel agent and do as much research as possible before your trip. Our staff are extremely busy people due to their workload. In most cases, they will be able to advise you on tourist attractions but only within reason. Please be considerate of the fact that our staff are in their position to serve the world’s poorest children and their communities.

Can I exchange addresses with my sponsored child?

Although you might be tempted to, please do not give your contact details to your sponsored child, their family, community members or World Vision staff. We discourage direct postal contact, mainly for privacy and protection of both you and your sponsored child. It is important to keep your address confidential in case it falls into the wrong hands, which may lead to unwanted requests for money or other help. Please continue to send your correspondence to the World Vision office in the country where your sponsored child lives.

Can I give money to my sponsored child?

Please do not offer money to your sponsored child. If you wish to support your sponsored child, their family and community financially, let us know on your return and we can arrange for you a gift of at least £50 – 100 percent of which will reach your sponsored child’s community. These donations take about three months to process. You then will receive a letter with some photos letting you know how your donation was spent. For more information, please call Supporter Care on 01908 84 10 10.

Can I send you a written report and photos of my experience?

Yes, we would love to hear about your experiences and the highlights of your visit. Perhaps you could keep a diary as well as take photos of your sponsored child and their family. (Please, remember to ask permission before you take photographs as some cultures find it intrusive.) We often ask if your story and photos can be used in our child sponsorship brochures or on our blog site or Facebook page to inspire others.

Can I write and let my sponsored child know I will be visiting?

Please don’t tell your sponsored child that you will be visiting until everything is confirmed. If you have to cancel for any reason, he or she will be very disappointed. World Vision project staff will tell your sponsored child about your visit request when the time is right.

How can I share my experience with others?

Many supporters enjoy sharing their experiences when they return to the UK. One of the most effective ways of sharing your experience is by sending us your ‘story’ and photos so we can post your blog on our website and Facebook page.

How long can I spend with my sponsored child?

All sponsor visits are for a maximum of one day. The amount of time spent with your sponsored child will depend on the availability of the in-country World Vision staff, and on the travel time to reach your sponsored child’s home. Some of our programmes are in remote areas so visits may take up to three days with all the travelling involved.

How should I dress?

Different cultures have different ideas of what’s appropriate to wear. To avoid causing possible offence, please dress modestly, especially if you are female. Dresses or long skirts are best. For men and women, a good rule is to cover your shoulders and legs. Vest tops, short skirts and shorts should be avoided. Sensible shoes should be worn for comfort and protection.

How should I greet my sponsored child, and what greeting should I expect?

Greetings and welcomes will vary across communities and countries. Some communities may prepare songs or performances, while others will not. Some cultures will greet you with just a nod while others may embrace you. Your sponsored child will also respond in their own special way – they are often quite shy. We suggest you ask the local World Vision staff about customary greetings and what to expect. If you learn some local phrases, expect an extra-warm welcome!

How should I respond if I am asked for money or more help?

Often the best response to this question is to explain that you currently make donations to World Vision to help your sponsored child and their community. World Vision discourages giving cash directly to children or communities and it is best not to make promises that may not be kept when you return to the UK. However, if you wish to make a donation (known as a Gift Notification) to the family or community, this is usually possible via the World Vision UK office. The process of transferring your donation usually takes about three months, after which you will receive a thank you letter with a report and photos of how your donation was used. For more information, please call Supporter Care on 01908 841010.

Is it appropriate to accept gifts?

Child sponsors are often given gifts ranging from hand-made crafts to chickens! Ideally, you should accept gifts because the community may be offended if you refuse. If there is an occasion where you are offered a pig, goat or chicken, we suggest that you explain that the British government will not allow you to bring an animal into the UK. However, you can still show your gratitude and excitement by asking questions about the animal and explaining that it would make you even happier if the family kept it for themselves.

Should I be aware of any religious or cultural sensitivity?

Many countries across the world are more expressive with their religious faith than we are in the UK. You may find that the World Vision staff in your sponsored child’s country are more overtly religious than the World Vision staff in the UK. It is important to be respectful of an individual’s faith. Naturally you will receive the same respect for your beliefs from the family of your sponsored child. The World Vision staff in that country will make you aware of any religious sensitivity that is important for you to be aware of.

Should I eat food if it is offered to me?

In most cases it can be taken as an insult if you refuse food, so it is good to discuss any concerns you may have with World Vision staff. Sampling local food is a great way to experience and understand how your sponsored child lives. It’s also a good idea to have some hand sanitiser to use and share with the family if you need to eat with your hands. Taking your own water bottle is also a good option if you prefer not to try the drink that is offered.

What assistance will World Vision provide?

We will provide:

• Coordination with the World Vision office in your sponsored child’s country to organise your visit
• Confirmation of the date and itinerary for your visit and contact details of the World Vision escort who will accompany you on your visit to your sponsor child
• An estimate of expenses that will be needed and answers to questions you may have about your visit.

What do I need to do after returning from my visit?

We will email or call you for some feedback when you return to the UK. This is your opportunity to let World Vision know how you felt about your visit, whether your expectations were met and to discuss any issues that may have arisen. Your feedback will help us improve the process and make future visits more rewarding for child sponsors.

What expenses will I have to pay?

World Vision development funds are used primarily to provide for the basic needs of sponsored children, their families and communities. Unfortunately, this means we can’t cover the expenses of sponsor visits. You will be responsible for:

• The cost of getting to your sponsored child’s country
• Your own accommodation and personal expenses while in your sponsored child’s country
• You may also be asked to pay expenses for the World Vision guide/translator who will accompany you, a driver, rental for the World Vision vehicle, fuel and lunch for yourself, your driver and/or your guide. These costs will be kept to a minimum
• Expenses vary from country to country, but we will give you an estimate before you travel.

What gifts should I take?

• Take small gifts that are easy to pack and have a practical use. We recommend pencils, crayons, t-shirts, skipping ropes, tennis balls, footballs (with pump), maps of the UK, inflatable globes (though not for India), photo albums with family photos, rag dolls and bubbles. Keep it simple – the £1 shop is a good place to start
• As well as meeting your sponsored child, you will also meet many other children from the community. It’s best to bring gifts that can be shared, so that children who aren’t sponsored don’t feel left out. Pens, sweets or balloons are popular
• Please do not feel you have to take gifts, it’s entirely up to you

What if I can’t give three months notice?

If you are leaving the UK in less than three months, please call us to discuss your options. At really short notice, you are still sometimes able to visit the National Office of a country and drop off a letter and gift for your sponsored child.

What if plans for my visit fall through?

If your plans change, please call our Sponsor Visits Coordinator on 01908 244442 as soon as possible, so we can notify our National Office before arrangements are finalised.

What more can I do to help?

There are many ways you can help change children’s lives through World Vision. Here are some ideas:

• Sponsor another child from the country where you have just visited, or encourage your friends and family to consider child sponsorship
• Request a fundraising pack to give you some extra ideas how to raise funds to support the aid work of World Vision
• Support other World Vision programmes, such as Children in Emergencies, Essentials or Raw Hope
• Share your trip with a school, church or sport group
• Discover the World Vision gift catalogue at musthavegifts.org
• Send a child sponsorship press release to your local newspaper or call talkback radio programmes to speak on global poverty issues
• Another way to get involved is by becoming an Ambassador for World Vision in the UK to inspire your friends and members of your local community to support our child sponsorship work or do some fundraising. Find out more about our Ambassadors programme.

What should I do to safeguard my health?

We strongly recommend that you visit a travel clinic (for example MASTA) or your local GP well in advance of your departure date to discuss any health issues or vaccinations you might need. Depending on the country you are visiting, you may need vaccinations or medication for hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus, polio, meningitis, malaria and other country-specific diseases. We also recommend that you take out travel and health insurance. As a general rule, it is best to drink only bottled water in most developing countries, and make sure the bottle is sealed when you buy it.

What will I see during my visit?

Every visit is different, depending on where your sponsored child lives. World Vision staff in the UK will be able to give you an indication of your itinerary. In some countries it is only appropriate to visit your sponsored child in the World Vision office, for child protection reasons. In other countries, you may get the opportunity to visit your sponsored child at their home or their school. For most countries, however, you should have the chance to see some of the community development successes that your child sponsorship has contributed towards, such as new schools, wells, health clinics or improved agricultural methods.

What World Vision forms will I need to complete?

You are required to complete and return a Request to Visit form per visit and a World Vision UK Declarations form (one per person travelling over the age of 18). Please be aware that certain countries such as India may need additional information. Click here to download the forms you need to fill in.

Where can I find more information on the country I am travelling to?

• We suggest you talk to your travel agent about travel in the country you are visiting
• Rough Guides, The Lonely Planet and Trip Advisor are a good reference place for information on hotels, currency, culture, travel tips and general country information such as climate and tourist attractions
• Before you travel, visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website for current travel and safety advice for the country you are travelling to.

Why do I need to attend a Child Safeguarding Assessment meeting and provide referee details?

• World Vision has a strict Child Safeguarding Policy that details our commitment to being a child-focused organisation. The Policy has been established to help protect children from risks of abuse. It also protects employees and supporters. We will discuss this with you at your Child Safeguarding Assessment meeting
• To comply with our Child Safeguarding Policy, all World Vision employees and supporters who visit sponsored children require a reference 
• The contact details of your referee should be included in your World Vision UK Policy Declaration form. Your referee should be someone who has known you for at least two years, ideally your employer or church leader. We will then contact them on your behalf to obtain a reference 
• Alternatively, if you have an enhanced CRB check, issued within the last six months, we are able to accept this in the place of a reference.

Why do I need to give three months’ notice?

There are many good reasons why you need to plan in advance:

• Before your visit is approved, visitors over the age of 18 need to attend a brief Child Safeguarding Assessment meeting at either our Milton Keynes or London office
• We need to contact your sponsored child’s family and notify them well in advance to be sure they are available to meet on the planned date. Your visit is a very special occasion for your sponsored child, their family and the community will want time to plan your visit
• Staff at the World Vision office in your sponsored child’s country need time to plan. To make sure your sponsorship funds go as far as possible, staff numbers are kept to a minimum so there are limited staff members who can organise time away from their usual project work to accompany visitors.

Will I be able to communicate with my sponsored child?

Yes, a World Vision guide/translator will be with you on your visit so that you can communicate with your sponsored child and their family members. Having a World Vision staff member with you at all times during your visit is part of our Child Safeguarding Policy and also helps to make your trip as smooth and rewarding as possible.