World News & Stories

17-year-old Shames and her mother lost everything when they fled civil war in Syria. Now they live as refugees in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. She worries about her mother's health, and how they will make ends meet from day to day. One day she hopes to return to Syria and complete her education, but for now it's out of reach. 

Jehovanise, Rebecca and Diane fled conflict, malaria and flooding in Burundi. They lived in Tanzania for three years, but life in the refugee camp is hard. They've returned to Burundi seeking hope for a better future, but is it too soon? 

It’s getting cold in Canada, but on Universal Children's Day, I haven’t forgotten the scorching heat in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh.

Every day, thousands of refugees are driven from their homes by conflict and persecution. Learn more about who refugees are, where they're going and how you can help.

In the midst of the biggest refugee crisis in history, Canadians can’t lose faith in international aid.

Even before armed groups came crashing into her town in the Kurdish region of Iraq, Tabarak’s education was pulled to an abrupt halt.

When rebels attacked and burned their village in Central African Republic, 15 year-old Angela and 11 year-old Innes escaped with their mothers during the night, carrying nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Now they are in a safer place, but at the same time, they’re facing a different kind of danger. One that lasts much longer. The prospect of no education and a difficult road ahead. 

When civil war first erupted in Nyamal’s village, four years ago, she became one of the four million people who were forced to flee their homes. At Nyamal’s school in the camp, students learn to read and write, tackle math equations, learn about science and how to be good leaders in the future.
 

For the first time, adolescent girls will contribute to the G7 leadership conversation. And with their voices front and centre, we all stand to benefit.

Jipara and her family were forced to flee their home in Myanmar when their village was burned down by the military, and it was no longer safe to stay. She attends a Child Friendly Space at the refugee camp where she tries hard to continue to learn and teach the other children.

Education took Sunday from child refugee to agricultural scientist. Now she is improving the lives of women and families in her community, by teaching them how to be food secure. 

Sixteen year old Tabarak is determined to be a journalist, despite the setbacks she's facing as a Syrian refugee. And education is helping her get there.

A partnership between Sesame Workshop and World Vision is teaching young Syrian refugee children about safe drinking water, the importance of using latrines and good handwashing. 

Check out this year's seasonal snapshots: World Vision Canada's highlight reel!

Lindsay Gladding, World Vision Canada's Director of Humanitarian Emergencies and Affairs, reflects on spending Universal Children's Day with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

The plight of Rohingya refugees has been at the forefront of international news here in Canada, but you may still have questions about the Myanmar and Rohingya crisis. Here are some fast facts to help you better understand what is happening in Myanmar and neighbouring Bangladesh.
 

Razia is one of the 900,000 refugees who have fled across the border from Myanmar to Bangladesh. As a member of the Rohingya group, she has been a target for violence in her home country. Many of the refugees are living in the same conditions as Razia – no food, water, healthcare or proper shelter.   

I'm travelling along a jagged road in Puntaland, Somalia in a land cruiser. My companion is a nutritionist from World Vision Somalia. His name is Mohammud.

More than a million South Sudanese refugees have poured into Uganda in the last year, forming one of the biggest refugee settlements in the world.

I've never seen a place so dry. “You have places like this in the U.S.?” asks Mohammud, a nutritionist with the Somali team. “Kind of,” I say. “There’s a place they call Death Valley.”