Visiting Your Sponsored Child

Meeting your sponsored child is an unforgettable experience for you both. You will see the real and lasting changes that are unfolding for your sponsored child, their family, and the entire community, thanks to generous Sponsors like you.

This one-on-one experience adds to the relationship you have with your child and their family. It can also further deepen your understanding of how World Vision’s programs benefit the development and future of your child and empowers their community.


A woman holding a baby and a group of children.

Experience it

Once the visit has been approved, we will contact the local staff where your sponsored child lives to confirm details of your visit. Then we will share the great news with your sponsored child’s family so they can look forward to seeing you!

 

Once you’re in your sponsored child’s country, notify World Vision’s national office of your arrival. Our staff there will be handling all the arrangements for your visit. Your time spent with your sponsored child is sure to create memories you will cherish forever. Be sure to take lots of photos and keep a journal of your trip to look back on for years to come.

Share it

Be sure to share your life-changing adventure with your friends, family, and colleagues when you return. We want to hear about it as well. Please email your photos and stories to sponsorvisit@worldvision.ca so we can share your visit with other World Vision supporters.

Arrange it

Visiting your sponsored child takes careful planning. We’re here to help. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Apply at least two to three months prior to your preferred visit dates. You only need one application per family. Allow 4-6 weeks for confirmation.

  2. All participants 18 years or older will be required to complete the legal waivers, safeguarding policy forms and Criminal Record Check. (*Criminal Record Check will be accepted provided it is issued within 2-years from date of last visit).

    Submit your forms by email: sponsorvisit@worldvision.ca

  3. Trip request is at your expense. Budget will range based on the country you are enquiring about. Cost will include things like travel, accommodations, meal, translator, transportation (fuel cost or possible rental vehicle to the community), and other World Vision in-country costs associated with the visit.

If you have any questions and would like to connect, please send us a note at sponsorvisit@worldvision.ca or call 1.866.595.5550.

Frequently Asked Questions

A visit to your sponsored child and their community is a rewarding way to see the benefits of your contributions. Please contact us at least two to three months before your intended departure date and before you make any travel arrangements.

Sponsor visits typically take place at a World Vision office, community center or school. It is important to note that in some countries, due to their child protection policy, the visit is held outside of the sponsored child’s community.

Sponsor visits take place on weekdays ONLY and are typically a few hours, not including the travel time to and from the community. It is understandable that you may want to extend your visit, but we ask that you respect the length of time the local World Vision staff has allotted for your visit. Bear in mind that a lengthy visit may disrupt the normal daily routine of your sponsored child, their family, and the community.

No. World Vision Canada will organize the necessary arrangements for you to meet your sponsored child only. For all other travel-related logistics such as flights, hotels, passports, visas and health/vaccines, please contact your local travel agency. For information on country specific travel advice and advisories please go to: https://travel.gc.ca

You are responsible for covering all the expenses related to visiting your sponsored child. Depending on your sponsored child’s location and the site of your visit, expenses may arise such as: transportation, meals and lodging for yourself, your sponsored child, and the local World Vision staff accompanying your visit, acting as your guide or translator. We will be able to give an estimate of these costs when the visit application has been approved.

In consideration of our child protection and safeguarding policies, only sponsors and immediate family members are allowed to visit and would need to go through the same process with documentation. A friend can accompany a sponsor on the visit. Unfortunately, a friend without the sponsor accompanying cannot visit alone.

Although we appreciate your desire to volunteer your skills, knowledge, and time to help those in need, World Vision does not have a program for visiting volunteers. Our development projects are managed and operated in partnership with the local community, and we recruit qualified, local volunteers because they speak the same language and understand the culture of their people. This also provides local volunteers the opportunity to develop skills which will enable the community to become self-sufficient.

Sponsored children and community members celebrate sponsorship visits. This significant event is highly valued in the communities and cancelling a visit should be avoided if possible. If you must cancel your sponsorship visit, please contact World Vision and we can provide you with instructions on how to send a gift packet or special monetary gift to your sponsored child as an alternative.

We welcome you to bring a gift for your sponsored child and their family. Some gift ideas for your sponsored child are school supplies, hygiene items, a soccer ball or volleyball (with air pump), candy or souvenirs. Gifts for the family may include cooking utensils, potholders, local groceries, and other small treats that can be shared with the family. We do ask you to be sensitive to the child’s economic situation and to avoid items that may seem too expensive or lavish. Please refrain from giving monetary funds to your sponsored child, their family or other community members during your visit.

For privacy and child protection reasons, we ask that you do not give your mailing address, email, or phone number to your sponsored child, their family or other community members.

For your own safety, the following countries either do not allow visits from sponsors or have restrictions on visits. We also recommend that sponsors visit https://travel.gc.ca for information.

Jerusalem West Bank Gaza: Visits are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Only sponsors and immediate family members are allowed to visit, no friends, extended family, etc.

Haiti: No visits due to safety/civil unrest concerns.

Lebanon: Visits are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Only sponsors and immediate family members are allowed to visit, no friends, extended family, etc.

Ethiopia: Visits are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Only sponsors and immediate family members are allowed to visit, no friends, extended family, etc.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Visits are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Only sponsors and immediate family members are allowed to visit, no friends, extended family, etc.

Chad: Visits are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Only sponsors and immediate family members are allowed to visit, no friends, extended family, etc.

Mali: Visits are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Only sponsors and immediate family members are allowed to visit, no friends, extended family, etc.

Niger: Visits are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Only sponsors and immediate family members are allowed to visit, no friends, extended family, etc.