Category Archives: Child Sponsorship

BOLIVIA BLOGGERS: Exploring sponsorship

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Lindsey Talerico-Hedren in Child Sponsorship

In Bolivia, Arminda, age 6, whose family's fortunes were dramatically changed by the gift of two pigs from World Vision's Gift Catalog. ©2011 Jon Warren/World Vision

You’ve probably read stories — on this blog or elsewhere — of how extreme poverty can create a vicious cycle of hardship and despair for families and communities. And maybe you’ve even heard of how World Vision child sponsorship helps break that cycle — by providing essentials that empower families, like nutritious food, clean water, healthcare, education, training, and more. But where does sponsorship become more than just a simple explanation? Here at World Vision, we’re constantly asking ourselves: How do we make sponsorship a personal experience, where poverty and its remedies are embodied in the stories of real people and real places? And how can we connect our supporters with that?...

Prayers for Japan from around the world

Posted on June 10, 2011 by World Vision field communicators in Child Sponsorship, Disaster Relief

Sponsored children in Bangladesh express love for their sponsors in Japan. ©2011 World Vision

Three months ago on Saturday, a deadly earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan killed more than 14,700 people, leaving the country’s northeastern coastline devastated. Our colleagues in Japan have spent the weeks and months following the disaster organizing and implementing a full response plan, supported by the World Vision global partnership. As part of an international initiative to encourage quake survivors and those involved in relief efforts, children around the world who are supported by World Vision sponsors in Japan send their love and prayers. Children and sponsors in Japan’s tsunami zone have since received drawings, cards, and origami art messages from sponsored children in El Salvador, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Mongolia, Kenya, China, and Ethiopia. This post is a collection...

A radio star’s humble beginnings

Posted on June 7, 2011 by James Addis in Child Sponsorship

Former sponsored child, Lloyd is a broadcast journalist with MIJ Radio in Malawi, Africa. © Wezzie Banda/World Vision

Editor’s note: You may remember reading about Lloyd Phiri, former sponsored child, in the summer 2011 issue of World Vision Magazine. Because June marks the anniversary of the official patenting of the radio back in 1896, we’re again featuring this story of a sponsored-child-turned-radio-announcer. Turn on the radio in the city of Blantyre — the major commercial center of the southern African country of Malawi — and you may hear the melodious voice of Lloyd Phiri reading the news. Lloyd is the announcer and controller of news and current affairs for MIJ Radio. MIJ (Malawi Institute of Journalism) Radio is a non-governmental station that hones the skills of the country’s best up-and-coming journalists. Lloyd joined MIJ Radio after serving as...

6 reasons to tune into Comrades

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Michael Chitwood, national director, Team World Vision in Child Sponsorship

Runners during the 2010 Comrades ultra-marathon near the 60-kilometer mark. ©2010 Andrea Peer/World Vision

Fifty-six viciously long miles of uphill and downhill, racing a 12-hour ticking clock that could result in either one of the most rewarding or disappointing experiences of your life. Complete the track in time and cross the finish line — but one second too late, and your name won’t even be recorded. That’s the challenge seven Team World Vision runners are up against this weekend at the Comrades Marathon in South Africa. After running the race last year, we’re returning to take up the ultimate cause once again — 56 miles for 56 sponsored children; one sponsored child for every mile of the race. That may be the only reason we need to be at Comrades this year. But here’s...

A gazillion steps away

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Guest blogger in Child Sponsorship, Stories

An illustration from inside "African Heartbeat". ©2011 World Vision

Though my children are getting old for picture books, I can still talk them into snuggling with me on the couch every now and again to read with me. And if I’m really lucky, the kids will ask me to read them a bedtime story. When I got African Heartbeat from World Vision by Barb Christing, I made sure that I gathered up the kids and sat down for......