Has anyone done anything with World Vision?

Question

Today, my family and I went to "Visions of Africa" by World Vision, which was an exhibit to raise awareness of children affected by AIDS in Africa. My husband is a marathon runner and was so moved, he wants to run his next marathon with Team World Vision to raise money for these children. I am considering training to run a half marathon with the team and would like to sponsor a child. Has anyone worked at all with this organization? If you did, what was the experience like?

Answer 1

Jane couldn't be more wrong nor farther from the truth.  It's evident she's reacting to the fact it's a Christian organization and not what they are really doing.  Without doubt she has definitely not been involved with World Vision nor knows their projects.

I volunteered with them one summer overseas, and then when I was working with other organizations I saw many of their projects - in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and a couple of African countries.

I visited a permaculture project of theirs in Gaza, where 99% of the population is Muslim.  They were growing food with very minimal water since there are water shortages there (the water they have access to is the Mediterranean Sea which is too salty).  Also in Gaza I visited an income-generation project.  A woman knew how to sew and was able to sell her products, so other women in the community wanted her to teach them.  World Vision provided a small one-room building with several sewing machines and supplies.  Now several women were making enough income to provide for their families.

I also saw a school they supported which was half-Christian, half-Muslim (so all children benefited, sponsored or not).  In addition, I've seen other income-generation projects, housing projects, and a peace center.  In Uganda they run a rehabilitation center in the northern area for former child soldiers.  In Zimbabwe they gave every family in a village a goat, whether they had sponsored children or not to be fair and so there were no jealousy issues.  They also supported an orphanage that benefited all the children (such as supplies like a washer and dryer).

They are based on Christian principles but they help ALL people, regardless of their religion.  I've never seen nor heard of a church they've built nor any attempts at converting people to Christianity.

They look at the root of problems and try to work with the communities so they are self-sufficient and can move out of that area.

I've sponsored several children through them for years and would highly recommend them.

Answer 2

I have worked extensively with the UN and with other foreign aid projects....and know, from both personal and professional experience, that this type of program is less effective and often more troublesome than the many programs already in place. World Vision and other like charities donate money for community projects, typically christian in nature. While this is a nice gesture, it often causes community resentment and difficulty for the 'sponsored child'...who is not a certain child at all, but an entire villiage.....where a child must, for the sake of the program, write letters to their 'sponsor' saying how much they thank you and god for sponsoring them....when in reality, they need shoes, food, clean water, and vaccines....not a new church or biblically run schools. It is similar to operation christmas child, which sends toys to kids at christmas....when they don't need toys...they are starving and parasites are living off of the only nutrients they get. I hope you will look into other orgs that give charity based on need, not religious adherance....and that focus on the issues at hand...and that have very low or NO overhead costs. Nothingbutnets.net is a good one. See Poverty.com for others