Minimalism is a growing trend these days. Basically, it’s the idea that to focus on what’s important, we need to get rid of the unnecessary objects, activities, and baggage that clutter our lives.

In September a group of Canadians collected donations provided by friends, family, colleagues, doctors, and even dentists to give to children in Tanzania. Read more about what it was like seeing those donations distributed.

Canadians are pretty generous - that's a fact. How do we know? We've got the numbers to prove it! 

This Human Rights Day, we're reflecting on a few gifts that offer hope for a better future, and can impact the lives of children and families forever.

For years, our hearts have been broken by the conflict in Syria. As we near the holiday season, the images of children who have been hurt and even targeted by the violence, especially in Aleppo, seem almost too much to bear. 

In early 2015, Vandervoort went on the journey of a lifetime to Kenya, to see the different projects that World Vision offers the community.

Learn how Christmas is celebrated around the world! Read about joy and traditions from Ethiopia, Colombia, Bangladesh and more. 

In a rare moment of winter cheer, these displaced Syrian children had some fun in the snow, north of the city of Aleppo. 

Questions raced through my mind as we got closer to the remote family farm. I was about to meet my sponsored child!!

For years, our hearts have been broken by the conflict in Syria. This holiday season, the images of children hurt and even targeted by the violence, especially in Aleppo, seem almost too much to bear.

Malala Yousafzai is a name that, by now, should need no introduction. The youngest ever Nobel Prize laureate, and a courageous champion for girls' right to education, she is a hero to girls everywhere.

The ceasefire in eastern Aleppo has shattered, stalling the evacuation plan to get people out of the city on buses. As eastern Aleppo lies in ruins, the reports of violence against the children of Aleppo signal a terrifying new chapter in the Syrian Crisis. 

Recently, I returned from North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, where I had the opportunity to visit some of World Vision’s alternative energy water projects. 

Winter is here. And children are freezing. Literally. The Syrian families who’ve fled their homes have nothing except the clothes on their backs. It’s not enough. They’ve given up jobs, warm beds, school, loving friends, security, stocked pantries and more — all to stay alive. Here are their stories.

As someone who survived a mental illness, I'm glad conversations around mental illness are beginning—especially for women in the world’s toughest places.

Fourteen-year-old Haitian Sonite Edmond despondently recalls being forced to work as a restavek when she was just six years old. Meaning “to stay with” in Creole, restaveks are children working in domestic slavery, as Sonite was forced to when she went to “stay with” her godmother in Port-au-Prince.

In the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010, World Vision initiated the largest single-country disaster response in the organization’s history. Over the last three years, as the focus has shifted from emergency relief to long-term development, World Vision has helped several million Haitians.

For fifteen-year-old Mao, poverty turned an innocent sleepover at a friend’s house into a childhood trapped in Cambodia’s sex trade.

Children should be playing, learning to read and write and experiencing happy, healthy childhoods. But when there’s not enough money to put a meal on the table, children have no choice but to earn their keep. It’s a growing problem, particularly in countries that don’t have strong governments, laws and regulations to make sure children are going to school, not down mine shafts.

Sponsorship is about more than just giving money to someone in need — it’s about letting children know that they’re loved!

Young Sonia works long hours every day, hoping to make enough money for a few vegetables. She’s homeless and sleeps wherever she can, covered only in a thin sheet. Recently, she’s been unable to see at night – a symptom of malnutrition – and fears going blind altogether. Not to mention all the other reasons a girl on her own has to be afraid of.

My first public screening of the film Girl Rising was in Seattle. The theatre was sold out. The energy was electric. Despite five years of work on the film and a huge campaign to support it, I wasn’t nervous. I was more curious to see how people would respond to the stories on the screen.

For these five children, getting to school is no simple matter. But mountain ranges and rivers won’t stop them from getting an education. And, like their commitment to learning, our admiration for them knows no bounds. 

What started in 1985 as a way to shake the cobwebs off after New Year’s Eve has now grown into a family affair for the Courage clan. Gaye Courage, the “Queen Polar Bear” and mother to Co-Founders Todd and Trent, was the one who instigated the whole thing when she told her boys to “go jump in the lake”. Today, Gaye joins the family on New Year’s Day to take part on the largest charitable polar bear dip in Canada.

One hundred dollars a month: that’s the price Amira is paying for the small one-room shack her family is living in off of a main street in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. It’s an exorbitant price for Syrian refugees. And one Amira isn’t sure she can continue to afford.

Srey Neang packs 4000 heavy bricks onto a truck every single day. It’s backbreaking labour, work not meant for a 13-year-old girl. In fact, she spends more time working than she does in school, making her dream of becoming a teacher seem like an unlikely reality. 

Ever wonder what that extra gift for your sponsored child's birthday buys? Group birthday celebrations held once a year, like this one in El Salvador, are happening in your sponsored child's community too. With group birthdays, every child in the community gets to feel special and most of all, loved!

One day, about seven years ago, I was in a mall and came across a World Vision kiosk. Normally I'd just pass it by, but this time something, or should I say someone, jumped out at me. I saw a picture of the cutest little boy that instantly made me stop. Right then and there. I started sponsoring Ruben.

They may not share the same views when it comes to politics, but on the issue of child slavery, these five Canadian MPs all agree: it needs to stop. Wayne Easter, Russ Hiebert, Dean Allison, Wai Young and Isabelle Morin, took to the bustling streets of Phnom Penh and Bangkok, where they met slavery’s youngest victims.

In 2013, the Rana Plaza garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh, killing more than 1,100 people. Many workers had received an ultimatum that day after complaining about dangerous cracks in the structure: go to work now or lose your pay. In the days that followed, Canadians watched in horror as information was released linking some of their favourite clothing brands with garments being sewn in that very building.

September marks the return to school for millions of children around the world. For some kids, the transition back into the classroom is easier because they have the supplies (things like books, notebooks, pencils, and backpacks) they need to enter the school year with confidence. 

They’re known on television as the Property Brothers. Good-looking and confident, they stride into millions of Canadian living rooms each week with real estate and design advice. But when World Vision’s brand new ambassadors, Vancouver-born twins Drew and Jonathan Scott, stepped into a one-room hut in Delhi, India, they were clearly treading new ground.

As Canadian children get ready for back-to-school next week, they’re joining millions of children who are learning all around the world. Some study in school buildings with desks and chalkboards. Others learn under a tree, on a mountaintop, or in a refugee camp.  

This Saturday, I got to meet real-life superheroes. They were refugee mothers, recently arrived from the Middle East having escaped Syria. All of them had come to a giant playdate organized by World Vision and the Mennonite Central Committee for their families. 

When disaster strikes, World Vision is positioned to respond, to help mitigate the impact on vulnerable communities. Here's how.

Mãe, Mère, Maji, Induk, Mama, Ammee, Mom; the word ‘mother’ in any language represents strength, love and security. And these moms are no exception!

As Father's Day approaches, I wanted to learn how dads around the world encourage, mentor and care for their children. Looking through the World Vision photo database, I found dozens of men who go to immense lengths for their little ones.

Children like Hamaad, Manal, Ahmed, Aman and Raqwa* have been through more terror before the age of 14 than most Canadians will endure in a lifetime. In fact, Iraq is now home to 3.3 million internally displaced people and 8.4 million people in need.

Rahima was married at 14. Her husband wanted sons, but life became difficult as child after child passed away.

This is a real letter from 35-year-old Rahima, an Afghani mother who had given up hope when she learned her son Belal was severely malnourished.

13-year-old Nimco lives in the Baki district of northwestern Somalia, an area of the country that’s been devastated by years of civil war. Her village had a serious shortage of latrines. Until recently, 70 per cent of people were relieving themselves outside, causing sanitation issues that led to sickness and even death.

Growing up in Senegal, I went to school with kids from all over the world. In that environment, surrounded by the poverty of our host country, my parents taught me to value the cultures and traditions of people from all walks of life, to practice compassion for all, and to celebrate the things that made each of us unique.

Kaye has a smile that puts you at ease right away. The 14-year-old student made friends easily when she transferred to a new school several years ago. Smart, driven, and kind, she was an instant favourite with teachers and her peers.

People around the world have been expressing solidarity for those suffering in Syria by lighting a candle in their honour. 

You want to purchase flowers for someone special. You also want to be socially responsible. Where do you start in the search for ethically sourced flowers?
 

We all gathered under a large Baobab tree in the community of Manonga, Tanzania. It seemed as though the whole community had come out to see us and share the progress they had made with their irrigation project.

It all started when Rosemary's grandfather Danford received five goats in 2011. "Here comes the freedom," Danford said he told himself.

With the military offensive approaching Mosul, Iraq, scores of children and their families from outlying villages are already fleeing to an overcrowded Camp near Erbil in northern Iraq.

World Water Day is about more than clean water. It's also about sanitation and hygiene, since proper sanitation and hygiene (in conjunction with clean water, of course) can help reduce the risk of deadly diseases. That is why toilets, or latrines as they are called in some countries, are so important.

I remember missing a few days of school over the course of my education. Seeing me doubled over with cramps, my mom would take pity on me and sign me out of class.

In case you missed it, this is our most-viewed video ever!

On October 4th my colleagues and I anxiously watched the news as Hurricane Matthew tore through Haiti. All of us were hoping and praying that the damage would be minimal, but the storm was deadly.

But sometimes Otília is too weak to play soccer…or go to school. This happens when she has diarrhea caused by the water the family drinks from the stream.

Talking to children about tragedy is a job most parents would love to avoid. If only our children did not need to hear about things like terrorist attacks, hurricanes, earthquakes and wars. 

I was in El Salvador when I met Edwin, who is not much younger than my own son Aidan. Although the two boys have similar commitments to their education, I quickly realized as I listened to Edwin’s story that the hurdles he faces to achieve this basic right were far different than my son’s.

Heavy monsoon rains in Sri Lanka have led to massive flooding and landslides. Over 500,000 people have been affected, with 169 dead, 102 missing, and 75,308 have had to flee their homes.

This World Day to End Child Labour is a poignant one for me. It’s been over three years since I started living as a more conscious consumer, by educating myself about child labour in the products I buy and use. That all started with a little blue dress I bought in England.

In many urban areas of India, families live in old, one-room houses. The houses do not have toilets, so everyone is forced to rely on public toilets that are shared by several families. The lack of dignity makes using these facilities a harrowing experience for young women.

The health clinic in Nnalinya, a village in central Uganda was in very poor shape. And as things go in Nnalinya, being one of the poorest and least serviced parts of Uganda, it would have remained that way for many years if not for the determined advocacy efforts of local residents.

For students in remote areas of Kenya, a portable learning lab could be the boost they need on the road to literacy.

This World Humanitarian Day, as the threats to aid workers increase, their protection has not, which is why more and more humanitarians require military-grade survival training to do their job
 

We’ve gathered 10 unique ingredients for food activism. These life ingredients take care of the earth and share the bounty with the most vulnerable in our global community.

It was at a youth forum where I met Jennifer, a World Vision Kenya volunteer. By the age of nine Jennifer was expected to work every day or go hungry. This Day of the Girl, I’m remembering Jennifer’s courageous commitment to a Hunger Free world, and I’m even more determined to join her in making that a reality. 

Put a little love on your doorstep this fall. Carve a heart into your festive pumpkin, and show your neighbourhood that you support the world's most vulnerable children. 

She led a life dedicated to making the world a better place. Though I never met Alex, I still consider her a role model of mine. Because of this experience, I've become inspired to make a difference in our world- and you can too. 

You may remember that last year we shared the story of Rosemary, a plucky sponsored child whose life was changed when her family received goats through World Vision’s gift catalogue. Well, her story didn't end there!

Razia is one of the 900,000 refugees who have fled across the border from Myanmar to Bangladesh. As a member of the Rohingya group, she has been a target for violence in her home country. Many of the refugees are living in the same conditions as Razia – no food, water, healthcare or proper shelter.   

When the start of the school year rolled around in Brazil, six-year-old Jaciele was excited to begin her education. Her mother, Marizete, was less thrilled. Learn more.

“I thought sponsorship was a relationship between the children and the sponsors, but actually, my parents also enjoy the World Vision sponsorship program,” says Karia, laughing at her mom and dad. At 11 years old, Karia is joyful and full of life....

Niame, 11 years old, was once a borderline street child. Her father, Namakan, lost his left eye and went blind due to a terrible accident a few years ago. Learn more about their story.

​In Mozambique, early marriage, where girls marry before age 18, is among the highest in the world. When girls marry young, they drop out of school and are far more likely to face extreme poverty.

At 14, Mina has a kind smile. On a visit to Butwal in April, I had the privilege of spending some time with her family. They haven’t had it easy. Read more.

Valentina, an 11-year old sponsored child, is in the sixth grade. She’s part of a group of 43 children who participate in the ‘I Read, Comment, Imagine and Believe’ (IRCIB) program.

​Stanley is a pastor in South Cotabato, but in the past he wasn’t focused on caring for children. “I didn’t think of defending children’s rights as part of God’s creation,” he admits. Read more.

I absolutely love chocolate, but I have decided to make a choice to start eating only ethically sourced chocolate.

Families are fighting malnutrition in Honduras, with a new way of thinking about adding vegetables to the kids’ tortillas. Not rolled up inside, where they can be detected and avoided, but mashed into the actual dough.
 


Ten years ago, my life completely changed while working in Buduburam Refugee Camp, Ghana. To have the opportunity to return to Ghana last fall, once again changed me forever. As a child sponsorship ambassador, I am privileged to share these stories.

Education took Sunday from child refugee to agricultural scientist. Now she is improving the lives of women and families in her community, by teaching them how to be food secure. 

For the first time, adolescent girls will contribute to the G7 leadership conversation. And with their voices front and centre, we all stand to benefit.

Buying cruelty-free makeup may be a no-brainer. Then last year I found out that the “cruelty-free” products I was using might not be cruelty free for children.

Typhoon Mangkhut made landfall in the Philippines early morning, local time, on Saturday, September 15th as a Category 5 hurricane.

With each passing year, Polar Bear Dip costumes get more imaginative! Here are 10 ways past dippers have made a big splash. What will your costume be this year?

For 65 years, we’ve turned our outrage at injustice into action, going wherever children are most vulnerable. One person can do something, but many, together, can make a greater impact. Justice requires action. Will you join the movement?

Karen Ng didn’t set out to become a leader, but through her involvement with the Toronto Multicultural Youth Council she has impacted the lives of 15 sponsored children.

These community leaders are gender equality warriors, breaking down the barriers that hold women and girls, men and boys back from experiencing life in all its fullness.

Govinda shows us how literacy helps contribute to a brighter future.

In 2019, youth advocacy is arguably what fuels the fire of global movements. Meet two young women who are fighting to put an end to violence and discrimination against women.