On October 8, 2005, a major earthquake shattered the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Pakistan. Canadians responded to the news with a generous outpouring of donations. A year later, it is apparent that the giving of Canadians has helped make a significant difference.

Here are three World Vision projects that have helped quake victims re-establish their lives.

1. Immediate Emergency Assistance
Just days after the earthquake struck, World Vision was on the ground in Pakistan distributing basic necessities to people whose homes had been destroyed. These provisions included tents, tarps, blankets, clothes, water containers, cooking tools, and hygiene and medical kits. In the year that has passed, more than 280,000 residents of northern Pakistan have benefited from this assistance.

2. Helping Children Recover
Traumatic events often disrupt a child's education and jeopardize the child's future as a result. In northern Pakistan, many quake-affected children were expelled from school due to poor academic performance and aggressive behaviour attributed to the trauma of living through a deadly earthquake. In response, World Vision staff arranged special classes to bring these students to acceptable academic standards and to work with them on their disruptive behaviour.

In addition to academic assistance, 17 child-friendly spaces have been set up in Pakistan by World Vision. These centres provide a safe environment in which quake-affected children can play and learn basic hygiene skills. World Vision staffers also work with family members to stress the need for ongoing emotional and psychological support for the children. Almost 5,000 children have benefited from these programs.

3. Rebuilding Livelihoods
The earthquake and subsequent landslides destroyed much of the mountainous region's infrastructure and many people's means of making a living. Since the quake, World Vision-funded programs have been rebuilding access roads, irrigation channels, and water and sanitation systems. These projects have the added benefit of providing much-needed jobs for residents of the region. World Vision's rebuilding efforts have helped 12,000 people.

Click here to donate to World Vision's emergency preparedness program.