Our prayer is for all children to grow in their understanding of God’s immeasurable love. With hope that only comes from God, vulnerable children and their communities can overcome barriers and thrive. We aim to engage 46 million* people in 49 countries with activities and the tools needed to support the spiritual nurture of children.​

The need:​

A child’s Christian faith requires the same faith-building resources we all need: support from parents, encouragement from pastors and teachers, and active youth programs. Instead, children face a multitude of barriers:​

• Parents often follow harmful cultural norms, including abuse.​

• Pastors and teachers possess little or no training on ministering to children.​

• Violence in relationships affects children’s ability to understand God’s love.​

Our response:​

Partnering with parents, pastors, Christian faith leaders, and local ministry partners, we create opportunities and remove barriers for children to experience God’s love — and to know Jesus’ offer of life in all its fullness.​

Each year about 3.5 million children around the globe take part in World Vision–supported activities that strengthen their faith and help them learn about God’s love for them.

*Reach will require additional support from other sources such as public grants, gifts-in-kind, field offices, and other funding sources.

Every year, half of the world’s children experience some form of violence, and children who live in extreme poverty are often at greatest risk. By 2030, we aim to help end child marriage and harmful practices everywhere we work in Kenya and in parts of Bangladesh.​

The need:​

• Girls are hurt by harmful cultural norms and traditions, including child marriage and early pregnancy. Every year, 12 million girls are married before they turn 18. That’s 22 girls every minute.​

• At least 200 million women and girls worldwide have endured female genital mutilation (FGM).​

• In Bangladesh, 51% of girls are married before they turn 18, and in Kenya, this is the case for 21% of girls. 110 million girls are at risk of becoming child brides by 2030.​

Our response:​

World Vision has 75 years of experience working with communities, donors, partners, and governments to create opportunities for better futures for vulnerable children, even in the toughest places. Our expertise in delivering water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions, combined with decades of leadership in gender equality work and a proven track record of helping people lift themselves out of poverty, means that we are uniquely qualified to address the barriers that prevent girls from reaching their full potential.

Around the world, 8,000 World Vision–supported child protection committees are working to protect children from harm by identifying violence against them and ensuring they are connected to protective services within their community.

Two years have passed since conflict erupted in Sudan, triggering one of the world’s most urgent and complex humanitarian crises. Millions have been displaced, families torn apart, and communities left without access to basic needs. 

But even in the darkest moments, hope shines through. Because of the support from partners like you, World Vision has reached over 3.2 million people across Sudan and neighboring countries — bringing life-saving aid and renewed hope for the future.

For over 75 years, motivated by our faith and empowered by our partners, World Vision has rushed in to save lives, reduce suffering, and restore hope. By reaching people in crisis, we can demonstrate the life-changing love of Jesus through lifesaving actions. We aim to support 70 million* people affected by emergencies and humanitarian crises internationally by 2030.​

The need:​

• The United Nations estimates 305 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2025 as a result of conflict, extreme weather, natural disasters, and other emergencies.

• Today, 1 in 6 children around the world are living in or fleeing a conflict zone.​

• 1 in 69 people in the world are forcibly displaced, making up 1.5% of the world's population.

Our response:​

When disaster strikes, we are on the ground, quickly providing immediate support — and we stay to help children, families, and communities rebuild for the future. Before emergencies happen, we work with communities to develop disaster preparedness plans. During a crisis, our global staff activate providing lifesaving assistance to children and families. And after our initial response, we work with the communities over the long term to rebuild livelihoods and restore children’s sense of security.​

When a disaster strikes, World Vision is able to respond within 24 to 72 hours with lifesaving emergency aid — thanks largely to our local staff in communities worldwide. Last year, World Vision responded to 84 disasters and humanitarian emergencies in 65 countries.

*Reach will require additional support from other sources such as public grants, gifts-in-kind, field offices, and other funding sources.

https://www.worldvisionphilanthropy.org/2025-february-newsletter

In focus: International Day of the Girl 

Today, October 11, we come together on International Day of the Girl to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.

If current trends continue, global gender equality won't be achieved until the 22nd century. A girl born today will have to wait until her 97th birthday — beyond her expected lifespan — to celebrate an equal society. Girls are disproportionately affected by global crises, conflict, poverty, and the loss of gains made for human rights and equality.

But we know girls are resilient. According to a recent analysis by the U.N., "Girls are not only courageous in the face of crisis, but hopeful for the future. Every day, they are taking action to realize a vision of a world in which all girls are protected, respected and empowered."  

We're hopeful for the future too! It will take all of us to accelerate progress toward a future in which every girl can reach her God-given potential. Below you'll find some different ways you can take action today!

Raise awareness through social media

Save either of the images below to share to your own social media! Here's some suggested social media copy you can use. 

• Medium copy:
  This International Day of the Girl, we come together to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. @StrongWomenStrongWorld_WV has been a leader in #GenderEquality for decades and integrates a gender lens into everything they do. They know that ending extreme poverty won't happen if half the people in the world are held back. Learn more at strongwomenstrongworld.org today.

• Short copy:
  This International Day of the Girl, we come together to promote girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. @StrongWomenStrongWorld_WV has been a leader in #GenderEquality for decades and integrates a gender lens into everything they do. Learn more at strongwomenstrongworld.org today.

 Social media photos:

Use your influence: Speak up about issues affecting girls

Barriers to girls' education

Child marriage

Gender-based violence during emergencies

Sponsor a girl: #1000Girls movement

We set out with a goal of getting 1,000 girls sponsored by October 11, International Day of the Girl. We are excited to share that we've exceed that goal already, but there are still so many girls who need sponsors. Visit worldvision.org/1000girls if you are interested in being part of this movement.

Partner spotlight: When girls have the opportunity to thrive

A Strong Women Strong World and Next Gen partner impact story by Stephanie Cochlan

Today, we celebrate the International Day of the Girl. Over the past year and a half, this day has taken on a profound significance for me through my growing involvement with World Vision. 

About two years ago, I joined World Vision’s Next Gen.  Soon after, Next Gen began to focus on responding to the hunger crisis in Somalia — a country I initially knew very little about. As I delved deeper into the issues impacting girls there, I was devastated to learn that many girls often face limited access to education, disproportionate food insecurity, child marriage, early pregnancy, and both psychological and physical abuse.

What struck me even more was how deeply rooted these injustices can be in the culture. As a young woman, I always carry some form of protection and stay vigilant especially when alone, knowing I can call for help if I feel unsafe. But, heartbreakingly, many girls around the world have no one to call and no means to defend themselves. Their suffering is constant, with no escape. That realization fueled my desire to do something meaningful — to be an advocate for these girls, to let them know they are not alone. World Vision gave me the platform to contribute to that mission.

This became especially clear when I had the opportunity to travel to Honduras this past winter. It was there that I saw firsthand how communities can be transformed when girls are empowered with both resources and people who believe in them. When girls have the opportunity to thrive, they do extraordinary things — they learn, they dream, they lead. They don’t just keep those resources to themselves; they share them, multiplying the impact within their communities as they grow.

Through this journey, I’ve come to realize that empowering girls not only uplifts individuals — it transforms entire communities. That’s what I envision for Somali girls — and girls around the world: a future where they are not just survivors, but leaders and change-makers. I hope you’ll join me in this important work! 

Stephanie Cochlan (left) visiting a World Vision project area in Honduras.

ICYMI: Strong Women Strong World®: Beyond Access at Concordia Summit

We were honored to be a lead programming partner at the 2024 Concordia Summit. We were joined by Nicholas Kristof (The New York Times), Dr. Bethany Caruso (Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University), Dr. Greg Allgood, and Sherrie Westin (Sesame Workshop) and explored how to accelerate progress for women and girls globally. Watch the recording below! 

World Vision believes ending extreme poverty is possible. But it won’t happen as long as half the people in the world are held back. Together, we aim to equip and empower 150 million women and girls to reach their full potential by 2030.​

The need:​

• The global water crisis disproportionately impacts women and girls who spend more than 250 million hours hauling water every day.​

• Women face more barriers to accessing technology, credit, financial services and economic opportunity.​ Globally, 740 million women do not have access to financial services.

• Every year, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18. That is 22 girls every minute.​

Our response:​

As a leader in addressing inequalities for women and girls for decades, World Vision integrates a gender lens into everything we do because we know that when women and girls gain equal access and opportunity, children are better cared for, families are stronger, and communities are more prosperous.

Since 2016, World Vision has equipped more than 58 million women and girls to overcome the major barriers that keep them from productive and fulfilled lives by helping ensure access to clean water, improved healthcare, economic opportunities, quality education, emergency support services, and protection from violence against women and girls.

But what if there was no clean water at the hospital, unless you brought it yourself? No handwashing facilities? When baby is on the way, these are terrifying possibilities no mother should have to face.

Can you imagine a mother delivering a baby without clean water? Or doctors and nurses trying to protect newborns and new moms from infection in unsanitary conditions?

Anzazi had to wait hours for dirty water after giving birth

Anzazi (middle) holds her 1-month-old son, Solomon, outside the clinic where he was born — a clinic that’s entirely dependent on rainwater.

At the Mbwaleni Dispensary, a clinic in Kenya, medical staff rely on rainwater stored in two big tanks. When the tanks run out, mothers like Anzazi must bring their own water to wash themselves and their newborns after giving birth.

Anzazi went into labor around midnight. By 6 a.m., her third child, Solomon, was born. But she had to wait hours to get access to water to clean herself and her new son. Her mother-in-law had to make the two-hour round trip to a dam — where the water was dirty and shared with animals.

“I know it is important for me to make sure the child is cleaned immediately after the birth so he would not be exposed to any infection,” says Anzazi. But she had no way to do so.

The lack of clean water access poses a serious problem not only for mothers, but also for medical staff. They can’t properly sanitize their hands and equipment, which dramatically increases the potential for life-threatening infections.

“I’m speaking on behalf of other mothers,” says Anzazi, who was fortunate to give birth to a healthy child. “If we had clean water in the community, it would really help us and help us to live a good life.”

Hardworking medical staff want to wash their hands

Nurse Daniel examines a young child at the Mbwaleni Dispensary in Kenya. His clinic’s sinks are often unused, as the operation runs on rainwater.

Nurse Daniel is in charge of the Mbwaleni Dispensary. His team sees numerous patients each day and attends to pregnant mothers giving birth — all without readily available clean water.

Besides needing clean water for deliveries, the staff need to wash their equipment and sanitize their hands between patients. But when their two collections tanks run dry, they must buy untreated water from the nearby dam.

In October 2024, the situation came to a head. “In the next two to three weeks, we will have no water at all. If we don’t have water, we have a problem,” said Daniel at the time.

Stories like Anzazi’s and Daniel’s are repeated across the world

In the areas where World Vision works, half the health centers don’t have clean water. Five in six of them lack even basic handwashing facilities. This solvable problem is leading to infections that claim the lives of millions of babies and mothers each year.

But we’re called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and there is good news to share. World Vision is reaching more health centers with clean water — as well as handwashing facilities, infection prevention protocols, and training of healthcare workers — than any other nongovernmental organization.

Learn more about how you can partner in this work in the Water space here on the Community Hub.

https://www.worldvisionphilanthropy.org/world-vision-water-and-health-update-june-2025