World Vision's Role in the Development of the World

World Vision's Role in the Development of the World

World Vision is one of the world’s leading aid and development

charities. It was founded in 1947 by the American missionary Bob

Pierce after he took a life changing trip to China and Korea in 1947.

In its core values it states that it is a Christian organization that

acknowledges one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The organization

maintains its Christian identity but is sensitive to the diverse

contexts in which it works. It is committed to the poor and to working

with the poor towards fullness of life. In 2003 its total income was

£42,223 of which £ 23,941 was from voluntary sources and £ 7,518 came

from government grants.

World Vision runs both long term programmes (area development

programmes) and emergency programmes. Area development programmes

(ADPs) cover large areas which involve several villages and

communities. These projects last up to 15 years. The funding for ADPs

mainly comes from child sponsorship which enables World Vision to help

the whole community. World Vision’s main aim is to help communities to

develop their skills and confidence so they are able to manage their

own development long after World Vision has finished it work in that

particular area.

An example of one of World Vision’s ADPs is World Vision’s new

sponsorship program in Sacaca in the county of Ibañez, in the province

of Potosi in Bolivia. Sacaca is a mountainous area with a cold

climate. There are 15,000 inhabitants of Sacaca who are among the most

disadvantaged people in Bolivia. The main way of making a living is

subsistence farming; they grow potatoes, cereal crops, beans and peas

and lower down the mountains pear trees and prickly cacti. They also

rear livestock including sheep, goats and llamas. The farms do not

make enough and there is desperate need for clean water, sanitation,

more awareness of hygiene and more local health care. This project

began in October 2002 and is now helping to address the issues above

over the next 13 years.