CRIN - Child Rights Information Network - Organisations - World Vision International

Associated Resources

Organisation aims and activities: World Vision is an international Christian relief
and development organisation working to
promote the well-being of all people -
especially children. World Vision seeks to
serve people who are poor worldwide,
regardless of race, religion, or ethnic origin.

Further details:

Established in 1950 to care for orphans in Asia, World Vision has grown to embrace the larger issues of community development and advocacy for the poor in its mission to help children and their families build sustainable futures. Working on six continents, World Vision is one of the largest Christian relief and development organisations in the world. The heart of World Vision's work is in helping communities build stronger and healthier relationships. The absence of such relationships impoverishes communities. World Vision focuses on children because they are the best indicator of a community's social health. When children are fed, sheltered, schooled, protected, valued, and loved a community thrives. World Vision's mission is pursued through integrated, holistic commitment to: Transformational development that is sustainable and community-based, focused especially on the needs of children. Emergency Relief that assists people afflicted by conflict or disaster. Promotion of Justice that seeks to change unjust structures affecting the poor among whom we work. Strategic Initiatives that serve the church in the fulfillment of its mission. Public Awareness that leads to informed understanding, giving, involvement and prayer. Witness to Jesus Christ, by life, deed, word and sign. Core Values The World Vision Partnership shares a common understanding bound together by six core values. These core values are the fundamental and guiding principles that determine World Vision's actions.The core values are our aim, a challenge that we seek to live and work to. We are Christian. We are committed to the poor. We value people. We are stewards. We are partners. We are responsive. We are Christian We acknowledge one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In Jesus the love, mercy and grace of God are made known to us and all people. We seek to follow Jesus - in his idenitification with the poor, the powerless, the afflicted, the oppressed, and the marginalised; in his special concern for children; in his respect for the dignity bestowed equally on women and men; in his challenge to unjust attitudes and systems; in his call to share resources with each other; in his love for all people without discrimination or conditions; in his offer of new life through faith in him. We hear his call to servanthood, and to humility. We maintain our Christian identity while being sensitive to the diverse contexts in which we express that identity. We are committed to the poor We are called to serve the neediest people of the earth; to relieve their suffering and to promote the transfomation of their wellbeing. We stand in solidarity in a common search for justice. We seek to understand the situation of the poor and work alongside them. We seek to facilitate an engagement between the poor and the affluent that opens both to transformation We respect the poor as activie participants, not passive recipients, in this relationship. They are people from whom others may learn and receive, as well as give. The need for transformation is common to all. Together we share a quest for justice, peace, reconciliation, and healing in a broken world. We value people. We regard all people as created and loved by God. We give priority to people before money, structures, systems and other institutional machinery. We act in ways that respect the dignity, uniqueness and intrinsic worth of every person - the poor, the donors, our staff and their families, boards, and volunteers. We celebrate the richness of diversity in human personality, culture and contribution. We are stewards The resources at our disposal are not our own. They are a trust from God through donors on behalf of the poor. We speak and act honestly. We are open and factual in our dealings with donors, project communities, governments and the public at large. We demand of ourselves high standards of professional competence and financial accountability. We are stewards of God's creation. We care for the earth and act in ways that will restore and protect the environment. We ensure that our development activities are ecologically sound. We are partners We are partners with the poor and with donors in a shared ministry. We are members of an international World Vision partnership that transcends legal, structural, and cultural boundaries. We pursue relationships with all churches and desire mutual participation in ministry. We maintain a cooperative stance and a spirit of openness towards other humanitarian organisations. We are responsive We are responsive to life-threatening emergencies wehre our involvement is needed and appropriate. We are willing to take intelligent risks and act quickly. We do this from a foundation of experience and sensitivity to what the situation requires. We also recognise that even in the midst of crisis the destitute have a contribution to make. We are responsive in a different sense where deep seated and often complex economic and social deprivation calls for sustainable, long- term development. The World Vision Partnership World Vision functions as a partnership of interdependent national entities, which have their own boards or advisory councils to oversee their operations. A common mission statement and shared core values bind the Parntership. By signing the Covenant of Partnership, each partner agrees to abide by common policies and standards. Partners hold each other accountable through an ongoing system of peer review. The Partnership Offices, located in Geneva, Bangkok, Nairobi, Vienna, Los Angeles, Melbourne, and San Jose, co-ordinate the strategic and global operations of the organisation and represent World Vision in the international arena. Each national office, regardless of how big its programmes are, enjoys equal voice in the Partnership, erasing the usual distinctions between the developed and developing world. Where World Vision works: Africa Angola, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liveria, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Asia Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. Europe Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Kosovo, Macedonia, Netherlands, Romania, Russia (Chechnya), Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom. Latin America Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela. Middle East Cyprus, Jerusalem/West Bank/Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey. North America Canada, United States Of America Oceania Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu. International Board An international board of directors overseas the World Vision Partnership. The full board, which meets twice a year, appoints the Parnership's senior officers, approves strategic plans and budgets, and determines international policy. The 24 board members are from 19 different nationas. The chairperson of the international board is Dr. Valdir Steuernagel, of Brazil. The international president and chief executive officer is Dr. Dean R. Hirsch. National Boards As much as possible, operational decisions are made at the local or national level. National directors approve more than 90 percent of all projects within previously approved budgets. National boards, comprised of business, church, and social service leaders exercise responsibility for governance at the national level.

Operational level: International

Organisation type: NGO - non governmental organisation

Organisation mandate: Lobby governments and the United Nations, Provide training or education on child rights, Research child rights, Work directly with children, Work in partnership with organisations, Work with media and press

Areas of expertise: Armed conflict, Child participation, Children living with HIV/AIDS, Children with disabilities, Children working and living on the street, Economic rights, Education and cultural rights, Emergency relief, Family and alternative care, Gender and girls, Health and welfare, Minority or indigenous children, Refugee and unaccompanied children, Reporting to and monitoring the CRC, Sexual exploitation and abuse

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Last updated 26/10/2011 07:38:21

CRIN does not accredit or validate any of the organisations listed in our directory. The views and activities of the listed organisations do not necessarily reflect the views or activities of CRIN's coordination team.

World Vision International - International Liaison Office (WVI)