Working together for children Viva was founded in 1996 by Patrick McDonald. As a volunteer in Bolivia he found different churches in an area of a city providing food for street children but all on a Monday. Children feasted once a week but starved the rest of the time. This simple act of connecting churches ensured that more children were fed more often. So began Viva’s vision to bring lasting change to vulnerable children by growing locally-led networks of churches and organizations.
Four ways you can join us in helping vulnerable children
1 2 3 4
Do something fun and raise money Run a 10K. Have a party. Host a bake sale. We’ve got loads of ideas – just ask! Pray regularly Ask if you want to get our emails. Promote Viva where you live We can give you details and resource you. Make a regular gift Sign up at www.viva.org/give
We help people achieve more together than they can alone – allowing us to dream big dreams for whole cities!
How much does it cost?
All of Viva’s programs unlock local resources and inspire churches to serve children and families, in partnership with others.
•
We are lean, creative and efficient, making our work highly cost-effective. We prioritize quality improvement through training in areas such as child protection.
Viva reaches 1.2 million children in 22 countries
•
• •
$10 provides temporary housing and rehabilitation for a street child in Guatemala $25 sets up a girl in Uganda with stationery and uniform so she can return to school $75 enables a church to train a team of mentors in Nepal working with families to prevent trafficking $100 practically helps to resettle a child back into the family or extended family home
601 Union Street, Suite 3010, Seattle, WA 98101 +206-382-0790 | na@viva.org | www.viva.org A registered 501(c)3 organization, registered under employer identification number 84-1541857 Front page image: Patricia Andrews
PASSIONATE ABOUT RELEASING CHILDREN FROM POVERTY AND ABUSE WORLDWIDE
Unlocking the potential of girls
Transforming children through
education
In some cultures, girls experience extreme prejudice. Education is a low priority; harassment is common.
Investing in education is crucial to reducing infant mortality, combatting poverty and preventing disease. In Uganda, 20 Creative Learning Centers are re-educating 4,000 marginalized girls who had dropped out of school and training teachers to ensure learning is increasingly child-focussed.
Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where children are in school – learning, thriving and able to contribute to society.
Keeping children safe Fear of violence, abuse and exploitation has become a normal way of life for children in Central America, even in the home. We’ve launched a program across the region to keep 35,000 children safe, to bring about a fundamental change of attitude and to influence government.
Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where children are free from violence and domestic abuse.
Making child trafficking history Parents in Asia are vulnerable to trafficking recruiters who promise to give their children a better life. In Nepal, we’re mobilizing thousands of church volunteers to keep children safe by providing homework clubs, assisting women’s businesses and spreading the antitrafficking message.
Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where children are free from exploitation and trafficking.
Resettling children into families A child with a family has people to support them – but a child in an institution is significantly less likely to thrive. In Uganda, network members have already resettled 650 abandoned children into natural and foster families, saving them from a life on the streets.
Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where children grow up in safe and loving families.
In India, Viva is training and supporting churches to challenge discrimination, report abuse and help girls to know the positive role they can play.
Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where girls are valued, safe from exploitation and able to thrive.
Protecting children when disaster strikes Today’s world is volatile, with conflict and natural disaster happening all too often, affecting children the most. The Philippines is regularly hit by typhoons. We respond by providing practical relief and psychological support for children and families, and setting up child-friendly spaces. Leaders are trained to know what to do when disaster strikes again.
Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where children are resilient and able to recover from natural disaster.