In the rural communities of Namwala District, early marriage remains a significant barrier to education for many girls. However, through the Empowering Vulnerable Children with Education (EVE) project, supported by World Vision, the Education Above All Foundation’s Educate A Child program, and FAWEZA, change is happening.

This press release highlights the alarming increase in violence against children in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where they are being forcibly recruited, armed, and killed. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified reports of children being summarily executed by M23 forces after they entered Bukavu last week. The UNHRC also reports that children are being used as combatants, a serious breach of international humanitarian and human rights law. World Vision condemns these heinous acts in the strongest terms and urges immediate international intervention to safeguard the lives and rights of children.

This press release updates the consequences of the ongoing clashes between loyal DRC forces and the M23 rebels. With this press release, World Vision would like to draw attention to the plight of women and children who are once again affected and are in dire need of assistance. They need water, food and shelter. Children and women also need protection from all forms of violence. This statement is also an appeal to the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to these people, to whom the humanitarian actors do not yet have access.

At World Vision, we believe every child has the right to live free from harm. Yet, across East Asia, nearly 60% of children experience violence before they reach adulthood, and millions face the threat of trafficking, exploitation, and neglect. These realities demand urgent action.

This article illustrates the Chosen event organized by World Vision in Karawa, North-Ubangi province. Unlike the usual practices where sponsors select children, here, the children themselves had the opportunity to choose their sponsor from a photo exhibition. The event took place in a festive atmosphere, where the children took their time to select their sponsor based on the inspiration they felt from the photos. Children and their families shared this joyful and communal moment, with dancing, singing, and a communal meal at the end of the day. The impact of this activity was emphasized by the community, notably by the neighborhood chief, who expressed that this project gave more dignity to the children, positioning them not just as beneficiaries, but also as actors of their future.

Follow Bosima, fleeing Sudan with her seven children, as World Vision and others provide critical medical aid and hope amidst their desperate journey to South Sudan.

On January 29, 2025, a group of sponsors from the congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Columbia in the United States of America visited the children they sponsor as part of World Vision Senegal's programs.

In Misengo Village, Annie Bwalya Kapasa is a source of hope for expectant mothers. As a dedicated member of the Safe Motherhood Action Group (SMAG), Annie has been transforming maternal and child health in her community since she joined in 2015. Her journey took a significant turn in 2019 when World Vision Zambia provided her with specialized training, equipping her with the skills to support pregnant women and young mothers.