History

In 1950 Dr Bob Pierce, an American serviceman during the Korean War, founded World Vision to provide emergency care for war orphans in Korea.

The public response was overwhelming and World Vision grew from that small beginning. In the fly-leaf of his Bible Dr Pierce had written: "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God." These words brought World Vision into being and continue to inspire World Vision workers and supporters around the world.

Today World Vision is an international Christian partnership focusing on the long term self-sufficiency of communities, as well as responding to emergency relief situations. Through our focus on entire communities we touch the lives of 85 million people worldwide.

World Vision New Zealand

World Vision New Zealand commenced operations in 1971.

It is now the largest aid and development organisation in New Zealand with a reported annual income in 2004 of $39 million. Average allocation to overseas ministry over the last three years was 76.7 per cent. The organisation employs around 80 staff and has a strong management and board structure.

World Vision New Zealand currently supports more than 70 projects in 18 of these countries.

Emergency relief

World Vision is known for its rapid response to the victims of war and natural disaster.

Our national staff are often among the first to respond and bring life-saving action. World Vision’s Rapid Response Teams can be on the ground of a disaster area within hours, and in 2004 World Vision responded to major disasters in 43 countries.

On Boxing Day in 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean saw a devastating tsunami sweep over Asia. More than 250,000 people were killed and a million left homeless and desperate.

World Vision kicked into action quickly. Within ten days, World Vision had organised eight emergency airlifts to disaster sites, an essential step in helping those directly affected by the tsunami who found themselves cut off from most aid.

First priorities were food and clean water for those affected, and ready-cooked food distribution was soon underway. Families were also given family packs, already compiled for such disasters, and including soap, utensils, tarpaulin for shelter, water containers – everything a family would need to survive for the next few days. Next priority is shelter, and a safe haven for children and World Vision has built temporary and permanent housing for thousands of displaced people, and established child-friendly areas for children in relief camps and villages.

New Zealanders donated more than $4 million to World Vision’s tsunami campaign which, as well as being used in initial disaster relief, has been put into long-term health and livelihood programmes – ensuring that long after the initial horror and disaster, people in the affected areas will not be forgotten.

Rehabilitation

World Vision works with people long after the cameras stop rolling, providing medium-term aid after a disaster.

In the months following the devastation wreaked by the Boxing Day tsunami, World Vision was implementing livelihood recovery projects throughout affected areas. In Banda Aceh, Sri Lanka and Thailand World Vision helped fishermen whose boats – for many, their only source of livelihood - had been swept away, by providing them with new ones.

In tsunami-affected areas, World Vision is helping to train young people with new skills to assist them in getting a job in post-tsunami Asia. These classes included computer skills, driving and automotive repairs. Financial grants have been offered for small businesses and community-based initiatives, and Child-Friendly Spaces have been set up for children affected by the tragedy.

World Vision-headed “cash for work” schemes have given those who witnessed the tragedy first-hand a chance to help in the clean-up, by clearing and building roads, and clearing land for building and cropping.

Community development

World Vision believes the best way to help and bring about lasting change is through tackling the causes of poverty - not just dealing with the effects of poverty.

We have found the best way to help a community to become self-reliant is to set in place Area Development Projects (ADPs), which are funded through Child Sponsorship.

World Vision national staff will approach a community which is poor and needs help, and empower the people to solve their own problems with World Vision's support. They prioritise their needs in well building, water pumping, soil cultivation and agricultural techniques - all critical to the self-reliance of a community. New Zealanders sponsor children in the ADP, creating a link through the child with the whole community. The ADP programme will last for 12 to 15 years, and immediately addresses problems of food, health, and housing, with the long term goals of economic stability, environmental improvement and education for the whole community.

The sponsored children are the window into the community. They are the most vulnerable in undeveloped countries, yet they are the future leaders of their community. Through Child Sponsorship, the whole community is strengthened and empowered to become self-sufficient, building a better future for the children.