International development is a global effort to create equal opportunities, strengthen communities, and build sustainable solutions, ensuring a better future for all. It showcases the contributions we make together to address global challenges and empower individuals, fostering resilience and long-term progress.
Child sponsorship provides life-changing opportunities. In the next four stories, you’ll see how World Vision’s sponsorship program is transforming the lives of sponsored children, creating new opportunities for a better future.
Discover how Yosef and Januka have become leaders in their communities, how Mylove has embraced her potential through children's clubs, and how Ali's family has renewed hope through the healthcare support he and his siblings have received.
1.
Empowering Yosef’s community with water for a sustainable future (Ethiopia)
2.
Januka’s path to education, leadership, and community change (Nepal)
3.
From shyness to shine: How children's clubs changed Mylove (Haiti)
4.
Transforming the lives of sponsored children through the Preventative Healthcare package (Lebanon)
Thanks to the training in sustainable farming and irrigation systems, Yosef's family is thriving. “We now have enough clothing and eat three meals a day,” Yosef says.
Yosef still remembers how he spent many nights lying awake with an empty stomach in his family's small, one-room mud house. At just 14 years old, missing meals wasn’t occasional—it was a daily reality.
With only one harvest a year, food often ran out before the next season. When the rains failed, the family’s situation became desperate. Gemechu, Yosef’s father, recalls having to search harvested fields for any leftover roots or vegetables, hoping to bring something to the table.
But things changed once World Vision stepped in and built irrigation systems within the community. Families that once relied on a single harvest could instead grow crops three times a year, ensuring food security and financial stability.
“World Vision enrolled me and my older sister in the sponsorship project,” Yosef shares. “It provided my father with training and improved seeds for carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, papayas, and maize. It built an irrigation canal so that my father and other community members could produce three times a year, which has greatly improved our life.”
Beyond irrigation, families also received training in sustainable farming, poultry raising, and beekeeping to generate income. “Sponsors have totally changed our lives,” Yosef says.
With a steady source of income from farming and new skills to sustain their progress, their community is no longer at the mercy of unpredictable rainfall. Now, instead of worrying about their next meal, they can focus on building a brighter future.
“If we are properly able to speak up about the problem, the greatest power we have is in our voices. So, in any sector—whether health, nutrition, or violence—our voices can fight for our rights,” affirms Januka.
Januka grew up in a rural community in Nepal. Her family relied on subsistence farming, but putting food on the table was a daily struggle. Education was never guaranteed—some days, she had to help at home, and other times, her parents simply couldn’t afford to send her to school.
At the age of 8, Januka was sponsored through World Vision, and her life took a new direction. With her sponsor's support, she began attending school, received school supplies, and proper nutrition. Januka became focused on learning and excelled in her studies, becoming the top student in her class. Years later, she was the first in her family to graduate and attend university.
Today, Januka is a nutrition advocate dedicated to uplifting her community. Through World Vision’s initiatives, she trained as a peer educator in nutrition, equipping youth to advocate for their health and well-being. She also leads a health and nutrition program for pregnant women and new mothers, she set up a vegetable garden for the community, which helps create local supply at a cheaper price than imported produce and she leads a Savings for Transformation group (S4T).
Through these S4T groups, women in poor communities can put aside money together and then take turns lending to each other when needs arise. The focus of the group is to provide loans to transform nutrition, which means women can receive financial support when growing vegetables or setting up a local food business.
Reflecting on her journey, Januka shares, “Because I was sponsored, I had the chance to go to school and be the first one in my family to go to university. Because I was sponsored, I had a voice. Because I was sponsored, I was determined to change the world.”
From shyness to shine: how children's clubs changed Mylove
“The club helped me do public readings in front of the other kids and believe in myself. Now, I’ve put aside my shyness,” declared Mylove.
13-year-old Mylove is a sponsored child living in Haiti. Her community didn't always have safe spaces to play or hang out with friends.
Her shyness kept her from speaking to others and interacting at school. Her mother, Elianise, recalls, “She did not like to talk to anyone. She was always quiet and hesitant to participate in anything.”
But a new chapter began when Mylove joined a children's club in her community. “I love my club so much,” she says. “I participate because I like the programs, and it’s where I’ve found my best friends.” Now, she enjoys socializing and engaging in various activities. “It is fantastic to participate in the club,” she adds.
The children's club provides a safe, nurturing space and teaches children about hygiene and disease prevention, including protection against diseases like cholera and malaria. The club also promotes reading, problem-solving, and teamwork.
For Mylove, the children's club was transformative, giving her confidence to find her voice and build lasting friendships. With seven children's clubs established in the community, more children now have a space to play with friends, discover new skills, build confidence, and continue to learn and grow.
“I was very happy with the help I received because I couldn’t afford healthcare myself,” Sonia acknowledges.
Amid Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis, families struggle to meet basic needs like healthcare. For Sonia, a mother of three, the situation was particularly devastating. Her children had been out of school for three years and accessing healthcare was beyond reach due to severe financial hardship.
Relief came when her children were enrolled in the Preventative Healthcare Package program, specifically designed for children enrolled in sponsorship, and their siblings. This initiative ensures children receive essential healthcare through regular medical checkups, follow-up care, and insurance. The support proved essential when Sonia's son, Ali, injured his foot after stepping on glass and received prompt medical attention.
Sonia is deeply grateful for this life-changing programme, which has renewed hope for her family and many others that now rely on these services to protect their children's well-being, securing their right to healthcare.
Yosef, Januka, Mylove, and Ali’s lives have been forever changed through sponsorship. They have gained confidence, opportunities, and, for some, the ability to uplift their communities and inspire other children to dream big. Their stories are proof that investing in a child’s journey doesn’t just change one life. It empowers families, strengthens communities, and creates a future where children can thrive.
Written by Gianina Li Pimentel and Christina Cook, with files from Chelsea Maclachlan, Dominique Moussignac, and Elissa Webster.