Community Development

World Vision's unique, integrated model of community development has been fine-tuned for nearly 70 years and is the foundation on which our work is built.

Creating futures for children living in extreme poverty.

Communities around the world face complex challenges that threaten children’s wellbeing from the harshness of extreme poverty. Families living in poverty struggle to meet their basic needs like access to food, clothing, healthcare, education, shelter and safety.

We believe development should be transformational, community-based and sustainable, focused especially on the needs of children. 

Our transformational development approach focuses on working alongside families and with local, national and global partners, helping children take an active role to realise fullness of life – in body, mind and spirit.

We adapt our work to fit local contexts, and continually refine and learn to ensure the greatest possible impact for children. 


We, partner, plan and work alongside local community members to help build healthy, sustainable communities for children.

<center><h3>Listen</h3></center>

Listen

We sit down with the communities children, families, and leaders and listen to what their unique challenges and needs are.
 
<center><h3>Develop</h3></center>

Develop

We work with the community to develop a long-term action plan that will address the root causes of their challenges.
 
<center><h3>Act</h3></center>

Act

We make sure immediate needs are met then start the process of sustainable change to address the needs identified.
 
<center><h3>Train</h3></center>

Train

We train and empower local volunteers and groups, and support the community to make changes that will last long into the future.
 


Because of our community-focused solutions, for every child you sponsor 4 more children benefit, too.


Together, we've impacted the lives of over 200 million children by tackling the root causes of poverty.

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Child Protection

We work alongside communities to protect children who are vulnerable to abuse or exploitation like child marriage, child labour and trafficking.
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Clean Water

Reaching 1 new person every 10 seconds, World Vision is the largest non-government provider of safe water in the developing world.
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Education

Every year we provide millions of children with an education so they can reach their full potential and contribute to their communities.
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Nutritious Food

Every year, we provide more than nine million people with life-saving food assistance, including five million children.
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Family Income

Breaking the poverty cycle with economic empowerment, by strengthening families' capacity to provide for their children.
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Healthcare

We ensure the most vulnerable have access to healthcare services to help children and their families live long and healthy lives.
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Emergency Relief

We respond to disasters with life-saving speed and then stay to ensure the lives of disaster-affected families and communities are rebuilt.
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Advocacy

We relentlessly advocate for an end to violence against children and ensure the voices of the world’s most vulnerable children are heard.


Child Sponsorship enables World Vision to work with entire communities to have an even bigger impact and make long-term sustainable change for everyone.

Sponsored children, their families and the wider community have access to better healthcare, education, clean water, nutritious food and economic opportunities.

Because of our community-focused solutions, for every child sponsored, four more children benefit too. It’s pretty incredible to be part of such transformational change!

Learn more about Child Sponsorship