World News & Stories

Samuel Omoll has come a long way from living on the streets at just 11 years-old. Given a hand up, he’s now giving back.

A cross-party delegation of MPs, including Liberal MP Gagan Sikand, Liberal MP Pam Damoff, Conservative MP Len Webber, and NDP MP Cheryl Hardcastle, travelled to Kenya on a trip organized by World Vision.

Even before armed groups came crashing into her town in the Kurdish region of Iraq, Tabarak’s education was pulled to an abrupt halt.

When rebels attacked and burned their village in Central African Republic, 15 year-old Angela and 11 year-old Innes escaped with their mothers during the night, carrying nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Now they are in a safer place, but at the same time, they’re facing a different kind of danger. One that lasts much longer. The prospect of no education and a difficult road ahead. 

When civil war first erupted in Nyamal’s village, four years ago, she became one of the four million people who were forced to flee their homes. At Nyamal’s school in the camp, students learn to read and write, tackle math equations, learn about science and how to be good leaders in the future.
 

Jipara and her family were forced to flee their home in Myanmar when their village was burned down by the military, and it was no longer safe to stay. She attends a Child Friendly Space at the refugee camp where she tries hard to continue to learn and teach the other children.

After fleeing war-torn Somalia, Fatuma says education literally saved her life. She spent much of her childhood and adolescence in a refugee camp in Kenya, and is currently attending the University of Toronto. “Going to school gave me hope for a better future,” Fatuma says.

After the horror of Nepal’s 2015 earthquake, Nikita struggled to find the courage to step indoors. Her own home and school were badly damaged. Nikita joined the thousands of Nepali students who were trying to keep up with lessons in temporary structures, during the weeks and months that their schools were off-limits.

Seven examples of countries in crisis. Seven girls, coming of age amidst unthinkable circumstances. They share a common courage, in the face of danger and deprivation. And they share something else: an urgent need for education. Hadeel is the first girl.

The It takes a village series we’ve been sharing with you over the past month has been exploring the universal understanding that “it takes a village to raise a child” by highlighting the importance of community. 

The language of music is something that can transform a life. Isabel teaches it to her community in Guatemala through violin, in much the same way my high school choir teacher Laurelle passed it on to me.

Meghan Markle has long been involved in humanitarian efforts and charity work from volunteering in soup kitchens as a teenager, to advocating for gender equality with the UN and raising awareness for the world most vulnerable children.

Check out this year's seasonal snapshots: World Vision Canada's highlight reel!

Wawira’s story began with a single realization, “What did I do to deserve a better life than other kids around me?” While she grew up with comfort and three meals a day, there were those in her community of Ruiru, Kenya who didn’t have access to nutritious food or quality education. 

The place my nephew was born in enables him to get excited about lessons of math and reading, about lunchboxes with sandwiches and fruit and playground games of tag. In other corners of the world, children are not so lucky.

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

Eight year-old Maddy is pretty excited about back to school in Canada. In Ethiopia, the hunger crisis has stolen that joy from 10 year-old Marta.

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.

When Nancy's behaviour finally lands her in the principal's office, her teacher takes action and signs her up for World Vision's drama program.

Meet Melvin. He's only 11, but he says he can't remember the last time he played as a child. As a worker on a coffee farm, Melvin let go of childhood a long time ago.