Target reached; let’s go for 3,000!

The response to the Africa food shortage appeal has been amazing, says World Vision’s CEO Helen Green.

“We’ve now reached our target of 2000 new child sponsorships in southern Africa,” says Mrs Green, “and we at World Vision are absolutely thrilled with the response from New Zealanders.”

However, she says there are still plenty of children in desperate need of sponsorship, and she’d like to set a new target of 3,000.

“We have more children available for sponsorship in southern Africa, and also thousands more available for sponsorship in other countries in Africa and Asia, and we would really love to see 3,000 new child sponsorships taken up before the end of September.”

Mrs Green says she’s not just going for numbers. “It’s about the children and their families, and the communities they live in, and the difference sponsorship makes not just to one child, but to the whole community. The child benefits with healthcare and education, and the whole community is helped to stand on its feet and become self-sufficient. Child sponsorship is a long term solution, and it usually takes 12 to 15 years, but it’s the best way we’ve found of achieving long term development for needy communities.”

In addition to the 2,000 new child sponsorships, World Vision’s Africa appeal has raised $200,000 in donations from generous New Zealanders.