MISSISSAUGA, ON. - In the first 90 days of the tsunami response, World Vision deployed 175 international staff, 900 national staff, and more than 400 local volunteers to the region, while providing life-saving assistance to over 1 million people. Today, World Vision releases its six-month progress report on assistance provided to help children and their families rebuild their lives in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand—four of the hardest hit countries.

"Because of Canadian generosity, children are returning to school, mothers are providing for their children, and fathers are returning to work," says Dave Toycen, president of World Vision Canada. When the Canadian government implemented a dollar-for-dollar matching program, fundraising efforts doubled.

World Vision is responding in tsunami-affected countries in four program areas that will address the critical needs of communities over the next three to five years. These include emergency response, economic recovery, community/social rehabilitation, and infrastructure rehabilitation.

"Seven million dollars has already been spent on emergency response and economic recovery," says Toycen. "Canadians entrust their money to World Vision and we want them to know just how far their dollar is going." Canadians donated more than $57 million, which includes funds from the Canadian International Development Agency's matching-fund program.

World Vision Canada has also worked with community leaders to open child-friendly spaces, build latrines, wells, and temporary-living centres as well as provide families with economic recovery incentives such as the provision of fishing boats, sewing machines, and other means to earn a living once again. In addition, the organization has provided materials to thousands of families for permanent homes.

World Vision's rebuilding effort is an on-going partnership with communities that will take upwards of five years for completion. "Not only do we want to give children what they had before but we want to better their lives," added Toycen. "This includes building homes, schools, and medical clinics that offer them opportunity and a future."

To view World Vision's full six-month report, including graphics, pictures and stories, click here.

World Vision is an international Christian humanitarian relief and development organization, working in more than 90 countries helping approximately 85 million people each year.