World Vision is a worldwide community development organisation that provides short-term and long-term assistance to 100 million people worldwide (including 2.4 million children). World Vision works in more than 90 countries, employs 22,500 staff, and has an annual budget in excess of US$1.5 billion.
For six decades, World Vision has been engaging people to work towards eliminating poverty and its causes. World Vision is committed to the poor because we are Christian. We work with people of all cultures, faiths and genders to achieve transformation. We do this through relief and development, policy advocacy and change, collaboration, education about poverty, and emphasis on personal growth, social justice and spiritual values.
The action World Vision is committed to includes:
- transformational development, which is the phrase we use to describe a holistic approach to improving the lives of the poor by recognising people's physical, social, spiritual, economic and political needs.
- emergency relief – following the International Code of Conduct for disaster relief organisations
- promotion of justice – we advocate for victims of injustice and poverty
- strategic initiatives such as programs promoting community leadership
- public awareness
- Christian engagement by example – we oppose proselytism, conversion and coercion of any kind.
World Vision seeks to make known God's offer of renewal and reconciliation through Jesus Christ, and to encourage people to respond. This part of our holistic approach is just as important as the physical, social, economic and political aspects of our work.
Our projects emphasise:
- the needs of children
- long-term viability and sustainability
- education (including literacy) and skills training
- gender equality
- HIV and AIDS education and prevention
- affordable technology solutions.
We're committed to best-practice corporate governance processes, to efficiency and effectiveness, to preventing the exploitation of the people we serve, and to engaging the corporate sector as well as the public.
Our work is project-based. Relief work can be short-term, while rehabilitation and development may last up to ten years. While we might initiate a project or be invited, our work is always dependent on the consent of the communities involved.
For some years, our approach has been to undertake projects involving clusters of communities, empowering people to become self-reliant through a range of activities that may include health improvements, agricultural training, small business workshops and leadership development. In consultation with the community, priorities are identified, a project designed and a budget prepared.
World Vision is only a partner in this process: we provide a safety net, technical support and finance. It is people themselves working towards their own development.
For the abridged version, read our fast facts about World Vision.