Q: What was World Vision's most significant achievement this year?
A: Consistency. Even in these tough economic times, our donors' generosity enabled us to provide support for even more children through child sponsorship.

Q: What was the greatest challenge you faced?
A: Caring for the poor in an ever more complex, conflicted world. In May, we responded to two devastating natural disasters in Myanmar and China in the span of 10 days. We also faced many other profound challenges: global economic turmoil, climate change, persistent conflicts in more than a dozen countries and the widening gap between the rich and the poor. The death of one of our personnel in Somalia reminded us of the cost of doing good. Increasingly, small groups of people have the ability to do great harm to many. It's easy to become discouraged.

Nevertheless, we can't neglect the poor, including those in places that never make the headlines. Our supporters entrust and expect us to work with the most vulnerable. This year, more than 7,543 donors joined our Justice Network on global issues. Canadians care and want our government to do more for the poor at home and in developing countries. They're proving that small groups of people who are committed to loving their neighbour have the ability to bring great good to many.

Q: What is World Vision's top priority for 2009?
A: Our focus will be on improving the well-being of children and their families. We must sustain our commitments to them through our development programs, which include primary health care, food security, agricultural training, education and water provision. This will be tremendously challenging in the midst of a fluctuating world economy and so many other unpredictable factors. Canadians are going to have to tighten their belts and learn to live on less. We may be tempted to forget the poor among us — even though they will be the ones most adversely affected by the economic crisis.

Another priority will be to further strengthen our communication with our donors, something we always strive to improve. This year, charities cameunder increased public scrutiny. We welcome questions about our work because it means supporters are serious about their giving. They are holding us accountable to our core values of transparency and good stewardship. Many of our supporters have told us they want more detailed information about how we conduct our programs and how their support is helping to change the lives of sponsored children. In 2009, we plan to improve the material on our Web site, in our magazine and in donor correspondence.

Q: What inspires you to hope?
A: My belief that I'm making a difference; that I am serving the poor — who never fail to inspire me — and being true to my calling as a Christian. Our donors also encourage me every day. Their compassion knows no fatigue. My trust in God's grace and faithfulness ensures that my burden for the world doesn't exceed my joy in serving him.

Q: How does child sponsorship help children?
A: As any parent knows, giving cash to children isn't the best way to meet their basic needs. Most kids aren't thinking about saving for their education, the roof over their heads or the food on the table. And that's the way childhood should be — worry-free.

So if giving your monthly donation directly to your sponsored child isn't the best way to help, what is? World Vision has learned a lot about helping children during our 58 years of community development work. We have found that the most effective means of caring for children is to equip their parents and community to reliably provide for them. Our programs benefit sponsored children and their peers by improving local health care, increasing access to education, helping parents to develop viable livelihoods and building better safeguards for child security.

Q: How do you begin working in a new community?
A: Local communities that lack essentials such as food, access to health care and clean water invite us to work with them. We begin by developing relationships while learning from the people about their strengths and challenges. We ask parents and leaders about their collective skills and abilities, and how we can use those to overcome poverty.

Next, we find out what's already working in the community and have people define their priorities. What could we do together, as committed partners, to help children most? It might be repairing the roof of the local school, drilling a freshwater well or providing micro-credit and training so that parents can start their own businesses and earn more income to support their families.

We then conduct a baseline study to determine the most pressing needs. Our field staff are skilled development professionals. They work with parents and the community to come up with a long-range plan for the next 10 to 15 years. Finally, our staff and community members implement the plan to improve the well-being of children.

Q: What happens to the money given each month by child sponsors?
A: We pool your donations with gifts from other sponsors and supporters. The programs we operate with those funds help your sponsored child, as well as other children in their community.

Using sponsorship funds, we're able to facilitate local initiatives such as projects that provide clean water for children and help reduce disease. We also undertake national programs that tackle the root causes of poverty. For example, training farmers in improved agricultural techniques results in increased crop yields, better nourished children and more income for families. And we provide global support for local staff, such as technical assistance on how to prevent the spread of HIV and care for children affected by the disease, especially orphans. A small percentage of your support allows us to respond quickly to children and families affected by emergencies, and to extend help to children in desperate need wherever they may be. This integrated approach ensures that sponsorship programs respond to children's needs as effectively as possible.

We often combine funds from child sponsorship with government grants for emergency relief assistance and largescale development projects. In addition, we receive donated goods from Canadian companies, including medicine and clothing, as well as cash gifts.