Nine-year-old Dariel has been a sponsored child in the Vuelta Larga project for five years. She lives in north-western Ecuador near the sea, in a small community full of lush green vegetation.
By Melanie Houston, Child Sponsorship
Between reed and cement houses, in a dusty, wide street, Dariel lives with her two younger siblings; three-year-old Camilo and five-month-old Dara, and her parents Dorian and Tanya.
Unfortunately for rural communities like Dariel’s, violence, whether in the home or on the street is common.
So how do you tackle a big problem like this and work to keep children in Dariel’s community safe? World Vision works in prevention activities that help transform communities for the future.
Life as a sponsored child
World Vision’s Child Sponsorship program is designed so all children and families receive World Vision’s support, regardless of whether they are sponsored or not. Sponsored children provide a way for Australian sponsors to experience the changes and successes they have achieved within the community in a real and tangible way.
Dariel entered the sponsorship program as a shy three-year-old. Even though she didn’t have a sponsor until she was four, Dariel and the family still benefited from World Vision’s support.
As well as regular health monitoring and family visits, over the years, Dariel started learning about child rights. She participated in World Vision’s group activities that taught her how she should be treated and how to stand up for herself. She learned about her rights to an education and rights to a safe home and community environment.
World Vision has also been working with Dariel’s parents through activities and training that help to build their understanding of a healthy family and to respect their children’s rights.