Around the world, 65.6 million people — 1 of every 113 people on the planet — have been forcibly displaced, either in their own country or across borders as refugees. That’s almost as many people as the combined populations of California and Texas, the most populous states in the U.S.

On World Refugee Day, June 20, World Vision recognizes the responsibility we have as Christians to care for people in need. As a child-focused organization, World Vision is strongly committed to serving refugees, more than half of whom worldwide are children. Humanitarian crises always deliver the heaviest blows to the poorest — especially children — in the most underdeveloped, unstable parts of the world. Our faith calls us to reach out to God’s children in need, to protect lives, restore dignity, and renew hope.

Easy and sustainable access to clean water changes everything. Once World Vision provides a water source in a community, we want to make sure that the water continues to flow.

Through independent evaluations, we have learned a key predictor of long-term sustainability of the water points is to have a water committee that takes ownership of the water point. Critical work of the water committee is to charge a small and affordable fee so that there are funds available for ongoing maintenance and repair. World Vision has an excellent record of long-term sustainability of water points because we are able to walk alongside communities for an average of 15 years to ensure that the water committee is self-sufficient. 

Estella and Augustine Nsabika’s story is one of family and faith, a strong demonstration of how World Vision is helping vulnerable households in Zambia climb the rungs of the economic ladder and increase their economic stability. This strong framework is the basis of THRIVE (Transforming Household Resilience in Vulnerable Environments) - growing families through education and faith.

Isaiah is the son of Adele and Kevin LaCombe, members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is his story.

I am Isaiah LaCombe.

I'm a fourteen-year-old, which means I'm a part of generation X, and I live in the great state of Washington. Lots of people say where they live is the best place on earth, but when I say it I mean it. Washington isn't great because of the landmarks, or the culture, or even the amazing views. Sure, those things don't hurt, but what truly makes Washington so great is that life never gets all that tough. That's not to say there aren’t people here who struggle, because there are. But no matter who you are, living here never gets too tough.

Because I live in such a great place I’ve never truly understood what it means to be the poorest of the poor.

World Vision United States has named Edgar Sandoval as its next President and Chief Executive Officer. Sandoval, 53, has served as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer for the past three years. He will assume his new duties on October 1. Sandoval will take over from Richard E. Stearns, who announced his retirement in January.

Robin and Stu Phillips are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

Although she was raised in a family that did not have an active faith, God was faithful to meet Robin Phillips. When she was eleven, Robin’s heart was gripped by two questions, “Who am I?” and “Why was I born?” The search led her directly to Jesus. Reading Jesus’ words, in a “red letter” edition of the Bible, convinced Robin that she was to help the poor and vulnerable.

Julie Razwick is a member of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is her story.

When World Vision would visit Julie Razwick’s church in Redmond, Washington, inviting church members to partner in the ministry through child sponsorship, she couldn’t resist sponsoring a new child each time.

Though she blamed it on their cute faces, God was planting seeds in Julie’s heart, one child at a time.

Lila and John Trull are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

In 1999 Lila and John Trull, parents of three daughters, visited a Mexican orphanage with their church to relieve staff members in desperate need of a vacation. There a little boy named Fernando captured Lila’s heart. When they returned to the orphanage in 2002, the couple discovered that although they’d been praying for Fernando to be reunited with his family, he was still living in the orphanage. When the Trulls left Mexico, Lila told John that it would be too difficult to return unless it was to invite Fernando to become a part of their family. That very night, Lila was awakened by God’s voice saying, “Through love all things are possible.” Eight months later Fernando joined the Trull family.

Sandy and Jeff Grubb are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

Over twenty years ago, as a married father of three living in Portland, Jeff Grubb was volunteering locally, but had an itch to get involved on a larger scale. When he contacted a friend at World Vision, he confessed, “Since I’m just a business person, I really don’t have skills to help the poor. But I’d like to become involved internationally.”

That phone call began a journey for the Grubb family that continues today.

On the International Day of Families, the United Nations highlights the importance of caregivers in the family — parents, grandparents, and siblings — and of educating and empowering them to protect and invest in their children.

World Vision is committed to preserving families worldwide — helping them not just to survive, but to thrive in some of the world’s most broken places.

About 10 percent of the world’s workers live below the extreme poverty line of $1.90 per day. In emerging and developing countries, 30 percent live under the moderate poverty line of $3.10 per day. For these families, shocks like ruined crops or armed conflict can have a severe impact on their ability to meet daily needs.

Two World Vision program models — THRIVE and Empowered Worldview — are proving invaluable in delivering lasting impact in helping families out of poverty. Paired together, they can create a stabilizing effect in communities that have historically struggled with food insecurity and a lack of economic opportunities.