RELIGION-RELATED INTERNATIONAL NGOs

World Vision International
PO Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063
http://www.wvi.org/Partnership/wviweb.nsf

Founded as an independent, private Christian organization in 1950 and currently headed by President Dean Hirsch, World Vision International is  “not formally affiliated with any government, denomination, foundation or corporation,” and is “...dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.” WVI seeks to fulfill this goal by pursuing projects of both short-term emergency relief and long-term sustainable community development. In both instances families and individuals share in project leadership and activities- this responsible community participation is “integral to transformational development.” With a working budget of over $2.6 billion and around 26,000 employees, (nearly half of which came from private donors,) WVI assisted some 100 million people in 97 countries in 2007, with particular emphasis on Africa and Asia.

Board Members: 19
Full-Time Employees: 501-1000
Part-Time Employees: 21-100
Volunteers: > 1000

Programs/Projects:
Every year, World Vision and its partners serve tens of millions of people in nearly 100 countries, including over one million people in the United States. World Vision's assistance extends to all people, regardless of religious beliefs, gender, race or ethnic background.

World Vision provides emergency relief efforts to bring assistance to victims of both war and natural disasters. Depending on the situation, aid may include food, clothing, and shelter to health care, potable water, and construction of sanitation facilities. Additional projects deal with reducing barriers to progress through improvements to agricultural and nutrition practices, micro enterprise loans, and initiation of literacy, vocational training, and other educational programs. In addition, World Vision is working in Africa, Asia and The Caribbean to help address the needs of widows and orphans in response to the AIDS pandemic through its Hope Initiative.

Adapting to the individual needs of the areas where it works, World Vision coordinates programs for its sponsored children that - along core services, such as medical and dental care, supplemental food and vitamins, and grants and scholarships for school fees and other educational expenses are designed over many years to help make families and communities self-sustaining. According to World Vision, the total number of children being sponsored by U.S. donors is over 700,000.

In the United States, World Vision teams with churches, community organizations, and other volunteer groups. Projects target issues in such areas as tutoring youth, mentoring youth-at-risk, affordable housing, job training and placement, and small business development. Food commodities, medicines, clothing, and other gift-in-kind items (received from governmental sources and private donors) are distributed both through World Vision run projects and ministries affiliated with other organizations. Outside partner ministries receiving gifts from World Vision share similar ideals as overall guiding principles. To educate Americans about the needs of the poor, World Vision produces magazines and other broadcast and print resources, and annually organizes the 30 Hour Famine program for youth to increase their understanding of life in developing countries.

Budget: 800 million

back to listing