Your Child Sponsorship makes a difference

World Vision only work within countries where we have our own offices; this way, we ensure that we can fully account for all the money that we receive. We have audited accounts that are publically available at any time. As a charity, we are regulated by the Charities Commission – a legal body, which oversees all UK charities and their activities. We are a not-for-profit organisation, and we know that the continued support we receive is dependent on our efficient use of supporters’ money. Our Annual Report is available to anyone who requests it.

In every case, it is the community members themselves who decide which children will become sponsored and represent their community.

We work with national governments and other international agencies to identify the regions and communities that are most in need, some of the hardest places where the most vulnerable children live. We then meet with community leaders and the wider community to gain a greater understanding of the challenges and the opportunities that exist for them and we develop a long-term plan together, to break the cycle of poverty.

Sponsorship brings much needed change to more than just one child — the benefits you help provide extends to each child's family, their community and other children in need. This is because World Vision partners, plans and works alongside local community members to help build healthy, sustainable communities for vulnerable children in the world’s hardest places.

Millions of children around the world need help to break the never-ending cycle of poverty. Hunger weakens them. Unsafe drinking water makes them sick. Missing out on an education can stop them from reaching their potential.

As a sponsor, you will help provide a child with sustainable access to life-changing basics like nutritious food, clean water, healthcare and education.

How? We work with a community, establishing together what work is required, and setting realistic goals for what can be achieved. If something's not working, we'll review it and change it.

Whether it’s training people in how to set up their own small business, drilling a bore hole or developing irrigation systems with farmers to produce a greater yield – we want sustainable change so that communities are equipped to give their children the best start in life.

The donation you give does not go directly to your sponsored child or family. That's because experience has taught us it’s more effective to use the money on projects that will benefit your sponsored child’s community as a whole, at the same time improving the wellbeing of the child you sponsor.

We have 60 years experience of working with parents and communities to improve the lives of children. We’ve learnt a lot in that time, and we are very good at it.

We help to change a child’s life by working with the community where they live. Children are often the first to feel the impact of poverty. Being community based means that World Vision’s development experts work with the whole community to address their priorities for improving the lives of their children.

The challenges that communities face keep their children from reaching their full potential. For example, a community that does not have access to clean water will inevitably have children that are unhealthy. Communities without adequate ways for families to generate income, have more children that cannot afford to go to school or eat. Communities that do not have adequate access to government services like healthcare and birth registration are limited in what they can provide for their children.

However, building a better community for children takes time. It involves things like building trusting relationships so we can work together, teaching people new skills and providing them with the right tools. It also includes transforming mind sets and looking at the importance of doing things differently so their children can have better futures. Our work within a community usually stretches over 10-15 years. The impact of child-focused community development is ongoing and along the way children’s health improves, communities become more resilient and families gain hope for their children.

£26 per month is what it costs for us to do this, but it works. We know it works, because we have 60 years experience of making it work.

You'll be given the opportunity to find out how your child is doing alongside regular news from their community that will help you build a relationship that could change both your lives. "I am so happy to have a friend in another country that I can write to and share pictures with," says Nareh from Armenia. “I am studying the Armenian alphabet. When I learn them all, I will teach them to my distant friend. I am so happy to have a friend in another country.”