FAQs

Through sponsorship of any kind with World Vision, as a child sponsor you contribute to empowering children and their communities to overcome poverty.

In the new Chosen invitation, you send your photo to a community where a child chooses you to be their sponsor. 

If you want to sponsor a child based on particular attributes – such as a child’s birthday, or a particular interest in country, gender, age, etc. then, the traditional selection will work best for you. 

Yes! Sponsored Children love to hear from you and love the opportunity to learn about New Zealand. In turn, you will receive a letter from your Sponsored Child or, if they are too young, written on behalf of them by their parents or a local World Vision staff member.

If you’re not sure what to write, why not tell them about your life in New Zealand, your family and what you like to do for fun. Remember to keep your letters short and simple as in many of the countries where we work English is not the first language of the World Vision staff translators.

Please include your sponsored child's ID and name on your letter and the back of the envelope. Do not write your address on the letter as it could fall into the wrong hands. Address the envelope to the World Vision address shown on your sponsored child's information sheet. 

Alternatively, sending an email to your Sponsored Child works just like sending them a letter through the post, only you don't need to go to the post box. Login to your My World Vision account to send an email your Sponsored Child. 

Yes, visiting your Sponsored Child offers a unique opportunity to see first-hand the difference your sponsorship has made. 

If you are planning to visit your child, please contact World Vision New Zealand at least three months before you plan to leave so we can make arrangements with World Vision in the country you will be visiting. 

Because we work with children, it is our policy that all visitors to World Vision programmes must undergo a Police Check before the visit can take place. If you are considering a visit to your sponsored child Please contact us on 0800 800 776 or email us at email@worldvision.org.nz.

When disaster strikes, World Vision adopts a “first-in, last-out” approach: We first respond with life-saving emergency aid, and then we stay for the long term to help families recover and rebuild. Within the first couple of hours after a disaster, World Vision staff members closest to the disaster respond with reports on the level of severity and need. 

• Within 24 to 72 hours of the disaster, our global rapid response team is on the ground, making assessments and beginning to provide emergency relief. 
• Within 72 hours of the disaster, our pre-positioned relief supplies are loaded up, transported, and distributed from local and international warehouses. 

We then work to continuously distribute emergency aid and relief to residents affected by the disaster. 
Over the following months, we work to help families stabilise by providing assistance with shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection activities, healthcare, and economic opportunities. 
Once communities are back on their feet, we work with them to help ensure that they are better prepared should another disaster strike.