Witness was widowed some years ago. In her early 60’s, she had to endure the burden of taking care of 7 grandchildren because their parents (her two elderly children) trekked to South Africa in search of greener pastures. As such, she single-handedly took over the responsibility of looking after the grandchildren with little support from their biological parents in South Africa. Her adult children held only menial jobs and sending support back home is difficult due to legal constraints.
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Edgar poses with Sofia, 5, center, and her mother and baby sister after hearing their story of leaving Venezuela and struggling to find stable housing in Colombia. ©2019 World Vision/photo by Chris Huber |
"Growing up there (Venezuela) for most of my childhood, I lived in a country that was united and prosperous and safe. That doesn’t exist anymore.” Edgar Sandoval Sr., president of World Vision U.S..
Venezuela is in crisis. About 4 million Venezuelans — 5,000 per day in 2018 — have left the country seeking food, work, and a better life.
Latin America’s largest migration in recent years is driven by hyperinflation, violence, and food and medicine shortages stemming from recent years of political turmoil. Once-eradicated diseases like cholera and malaria have returned, and children increasingly are dying of causes related to hunger and malnutrition.
We had no sooner pulled into her village compound, when Kathryn rushed out of the vehicle to embrace the four little girls she now calls her sisters. Her aunt dropped a bundle of small sweeping sticks and in her haste to welcome us, she startled the chickens and ducks that were picking up crumbs of food in the compound.
Returning ‘home’, Kathryn's face beamed with joy. She is the proud recipient of an education scholarship from World Vision and now lives in a boarding facility run by World Vision's partner organization, City of Joy.
For Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day 2019, Chris Rowlands, VisionFund International’s Director of Small and Growing Business (SGB) shares how the right financial support and business coaching helps unlock growth opportunities for entrepreneurs and creates critically important jobs for low-income women, men and youth.
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Like children everywhere, Rohingya children in a Bangladesh refugee camp find joy playing together. Of the nearly 1 million refugees living in the camps, 55% are children. Despite difficult conditions, they can come together daily at World Vision’s Child-Friendly Spaces to have fun and learn. (©2019 World Vision/photo by Jon Warren) |
Every day of the year, World Vision works around the world to meet the needs of refugees. On June 20, World Refugee Day, we highlight the plight of the 68.5 million people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes and the innovative ways we help them cope. Running from violence in Syria, Myanmar, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Venezuela, and other countries, refugees seek a new life of safety. More than half of the world’s refugees are children.
Since August 2017, about 700,000 people from the Rohingya ethnic group have fled Myanmar and joined 200,000 Rohingya already taking refuge in Bangladesh, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Through its response to the crisis, World Vision is investing in a better life today and a better future for Myanmar’s refugees, especially children.
It’s exactly 12:00 noon and I can feel the heat wave from the scorching sun as we make our way to Wetaa Primary School in Machakos County.
Our mission is to meet Daniel Katunga Mutuku (13), a grade 7 student, who is the school’s Bible club leader. It took us a short time to find Daniel, who is well known to the teachers and pupils due to his musical and rhythmic aptitude. He found his passion early in life. “I fellowship at Sacred Heart Wetaa Catholic Church and where I attend Sunday school. At school I lead the school Bible club and l love singing and learning how to play a piano. When I grow up I want to be a gospel singer,” shared Daniel.
Sylvester always wondered why his family did not have the basics necessities to raise him and his five siblings, ranging from ages 10 to 23 years. He used to ask a lot of questions of his mother after school, like why he didn’t have shoes, or books and pens for class. His classmates pestered him about his shabbiness and lack of school supplies.
Sylvester, 12, is the second to last child of Vincent and Ansilla. He is a sponsored child in the Mudasomwa Area Program located in southern Rwanda.
The school bell rings, children run outside to the playground. It’s recess time. All of the children are playing and having fun, except for Gabrie, an 8-year-old 3rd grade student who is heading to the principal’s office. “Hi Gabrie, how are you? Here is your lunch…later you can go out and play,” says Mrs. Marta Sauceda (pictured right with two of her students). She gives him a big hug. Mrs. Marta is the principal at the school. Every day she feeds Gabrie. He suffers from malnutrition and his mother cannot afford to give him a proper meal. “Gabrie is one of many students, whose situation at home is not good. That’s why, as a teacher, I try to support all of my students with whatever support I can give them,” she says.
My brother Sabbir and I were staying on the street of a transportation terminal and watching out for passengers carrying heavy bags, rushing to offer them porter service - carrying people’s packages and bags for money. We could hardly earn 80 taka ($1), working about 13 hours a day,” says Babu Matubbar, 12. Babu and Sabbir, 9, live with their single mother and 10-year-old sister Sumaiya in a desperate situation in Mongla, the largest seaport of southwest Bangladesh. Both the boys have been hurt doing their jobs.
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| Irene washing her son's face |
We are greeted by two young mothers, as we inspect a borehole site and it’s imposing solar panel roof. Its size makes it a unique site in the hilly landscape. From here one can see the seasonal Wethanga River just about a quarter mile below. We can even see the homes across the river that have no access to clean and safe water. But the World Vision Area Development Program is planning a pipeline across the seasonal river to serve the other villages. The young mothers, Irene (30) and Janet (31), look relaxed. They are going to pick some pumpkins from Janet’s field. They are relaxed because they are no longer tired from the toils of fetching water from the Wethanga River and hauling it up the hill to their homes, about 3km away.
