Helping impoverished children in Africa has long been on the heart and mind of Aja Jardine of Vancouver. So when Aja found out about World Vision’s Destination Life Change program last year, it presented the perfect opportunity to volunteer overseas.

After fundraising to help cover costs for the trip and fulfilling other program requirements, she set off for 21 days in Tanzania.

“I wanted to go and make an impact, leave something physically behind,” says Aja. She did that by helping plaster a school and bringing gifts to Grace, the eight-year-old Tanzanian girl she sponsored prior to leaving.

Seeing sponsorship in action also had an impact on Aja. “I have a massive appreciation for the resourcefulness of World Vision. You’re sponsoring one child, but your support ripples out into the community. You plant a seed that grows and bears fruit for other people.”