Communities in Burundi are still healing after decades of ethnic violence. In Rutegama, youth are taking the lead to create real unity through children's clubs called "Flame of Peace."

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.

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. 

​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.

Eight-year-old José lives in Arani with his father and two older brothers, Wilder and Ilber. José never knew his mother, but thankfully he has the care of his grandmother and aunt, who live with the family and make sure the boys are well... 

Each week, upwards of 70 children gather at the local health centre in Cilincing with their parents. This health centre is like an oasis, a "one stop shop"  for expecting moms, children and growing families.

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.

​“Life was a struggle to survive every day,” remembers Askual. “Me and my six children – four girls and two boys – usually ate one meal a day.” 

For 22 years, Eulalia has lived in this community. Even though she constantly struggled in terrible conditions, her neighbours didn’t have the means to help.

Despite its delicious taste, chocolate does more harm than good when it's sourced unethically. But ethical chocolate can transform impoverished cocoa-producing communities into thriving ones... just ask Mayra!

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.

There’s a well-known African proverb that says that it takes a village to raise a child. One company and its employees in Saskatoon embrace this philosophy through sponsorship. Modular Storage has sponsored more than 30 children over the years...

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.

Note to readers: While visiting their sponsored child in the Dominican Republic, Anna and her husband had the opportunity to observe some of the changes and developments taking place in his community. Anna writes more about that experience...

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.

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.

For months, there have been reports issued about Syrian children and their families who've been desperately trying to escape from the conflict in their country.

Working in communications with World Vision in Lebanon, I have visited dozens of Syrian refugees over the last year and a half.

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.

Syrian children are living a nightmare, as the largest humanitarian crisis in the northern hemisphere continues. Many have lost relatives and friends, and are fleeing violence.