Shubath, aged 12, is one of the 1.5 million people that have fled their homes to escape violence in South Sudan. For over a year her family has sheltered at a UN protection base.
Shubath’s hula hoop of hope in South Sudan Supporter Newsletter March 2015
Living conditions are dreadful, with a severe lack of food, toilets and drainage systems. Shubath has no bed to sleep on, so she lies on the ground. When it rains the dirt turns to mud. Shubath misses home. She misses playing with her toys. She has no school to go to. But thanks to donations from generous supporters like you, World Vision is creating safe spaces for children, so kids like Shubath have a place to learn, play and receive support. Shubath enjoys the chance to learn, keeping alive her dream of becoming a teacher. She also likes to lead the children in traditional song and dance. And she loves to play with the hula hoop. In this safe space Shubath can renew her hope for a better future. Your support is also helping World Vision provide displaced families with food, water and hygiene services to prevent disease, and relief items including mosquito nets, plastic sheets, blankets and cooking pots. To learn more about World Vision’s South Sudan response visit worldvision.com.au/southsudan Shubath loves to play with the hula hoop. Photo: Ilana Rose/World Vision
An ethical Easter to end exploitation Did you know that when you buy your Easter eggs this year you can also help protect children from exploitation? Much of the world’s cocoa is harvested in West Africa where many children are forced to work in dangerous and degrading conditions, for little or no pay. And we may be unwittingly buying the products of their labour. You can use your buying power to purchase ethically certified chocolate. But it doesn’t stop there. Visit worldvision.com.au/buyethical for the facts about everyday purchases, like your morning coffee or cotton t-shirt, that may be tainted by forced and child labour and tips on how to make sure the products you buy are free from exploitation. Shopping more ethically is a simple, but powerful step you can take to keep children everywhere safe from harm. Look for these ethical certification logos when you’re shopping.
Where do World Vision funds go? Our Financial Statements for 2014 can be viewed at worldvision.com.au/ annualreports If you wish to unsubscribe from World Vision News, please email service@worldvision.com.au If you wish to receive World Vision News Online, please subscribe at worldvision.com.au/news/newsonline © World Vision Australia. World Vision Australia ABN 28 004 778 081 is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Ref # 7671 Send all correspondence to World Vision News, GPO Box 399, Melbourne 3001 © 2015 All material contained in this newsletter is subject to copyright owned by or licensed to World Vision Australia. All rights reserved.
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Dam has clean water, thanks to sponsors like you! Eight-year-old Dam used to get sick from dirty water and poor sanitation. His family live in a small village in Laos where there was no clean drinking water or hygienic toilets. The threat of disease, particularly diarrhoea, was always near. “Sometimes our children had stomach pains,” said Khongma, Dam’s father. Dam used to go to the toilet out in the open in the forest surrounding his village. Dam often felt distressed going to the toilet, especially during the rainy season. “I often got wet from going to the toilet in the wild because my house had no toilet,” said Dam. “Many times, I felt so afraid insects would bite me, but I had no choice.” Now that Dam is sponsored by a generous supporter like you, he doesn’t have to be sick or afraid anymore. World Vision Australia helped Dam’s family build a hygienic toilet, and provided a water filter to help prevent disease. World Vision also constructed five boreholes to provide Dam’s community with a clean water supply.
Dam has clean drinking water thanks to supporters like you. Photo: Ammala Thomisith/ World Vision
“I’m happy that I don’t need to go in the wild anymore, now we have our own toilet. It’s more comfortable for me to use and safe from insects. I can use it any time I want. I also have clean drinking water in the house,” said Dam. Dam is also glad that he doesn’t suffer from diseases like diarrhoea anymore. “I feel very happy that we have clean water supplies and new toilets, my family members are healthy and stronger than before,” Khongma said. “Our village is small,” said village leader Vantha. “Now I can say that families are healthy, have fewer fevers and stomach pain. They have enough clean water for drinking and using in each household. I would like to thank those who support our village, especially for our children’s future.”
To learn more about child sponsorship visit worldvision.com.au/ howsponsorshipworks
Helping prevent Syria’s lost generation of children The Syrian conflict has taken a devastating toll on children – so many have lost their homes, friends, family members and the chance to go to school. As the conflict reaches its fifth year, Syria’s children are at risk of becoming a “lost generation”. Samer *, aged 14, and his mother and brother fled violence in Syria two years ago and now live in a refugee camp in Lebanon. “All I want is for my mother to be happy,” said Samer. “She is always sick and I will not accept that she begs on the streets,” he said.
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Samer is missing out on school while he tries to support his family by selling vegetables. “I display them on the street to sell them. Whatever I make is better than nothing,” he said.
Sharing a rience e p x e g n i g life-chaonr, Alanta Daley p on s
ey ding jour n n a r ewa r o e he m s t k a o N met ision to ia. W hen I g World V d n o es ti b r v m o li a p t p C a u “S lay. N child in ed me to p it y s p on s or v rk m o in it w n is o ts o v to a r en but s hile her p me shyly, w d s e g h n c . li a y o ib il r s app fam er a nd me to their randmoth m on e y h o g w ith her g in d n e s y e fields, com mu n it in Thai r ic ssisted in a ly n o t n o a rs n ool, rsh ip dolla attend sch Nat cou ld My sponso d re su n e nt but tu n ity. developme ible oppor ss o p p a loca l im e n had set u other w is io is V d rl o a ny where W a d b e en m a hospita l nd there h a , blocks, rs t We v isited e e th il o to a s ne w ecta nt m p h c . x e su r ls fo o o ic sch cli n hy hyg iene w ith in the ra ge hea lt u ts o c n e n e m e to v s impro prog ra m u rces a nd I ca n’t hold roads, reso n in World Visio rd for a g re h ig her ey do. the work th n the I have see they e c n d if fere g in the in k a re ma ild ren lives of ch li fe a to bor n in .” ty r of pove
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Samer can continue learning, thanks to your support. Photo: Patricia Mouamar/World Vision
A certified future for Maya’s children Maya wants to do all she can to give her two daughters every opportunity in life. But she didn’t know that a simple thing like a birth certificate could mean so much. Only 34 percent of births are registered in Nepal. However, birth certificates are required for school enrolment, meaning many children cannot go to school. Birth registration also helps to protect children from early marriage and child labour, as children are at greater risk of trafficking and exploitation without proof of age or nationality. World Vision recently visited Maya and other parents in her community to help them understand the importance of birth certificates. Maya immediately registered her six-year-old daughter Rebika. “I feel very happy because her future is secure,” Maya said. Now Rebika is eligible to start primary school and can realise her own dreams. “I want to be a doctor to check people’s eyes,” Rebika said. To help her achieve this dream, Maya has started saving for her future. “I’ve used my daughter’s birth certificate to open a (bank) account in her name,” she said.
But thanks to generous supporters like you, World Vision is able to help Samer and over 1.2 million people in Lebanon. It means that Samer doesn’t have to become part of Syria’s lost generation of children. Children and youth like Samer are receiving an education and learning social skills. Leadership training is helping to grow confidence, so children are empowered to create a brighter future. “I know it’s not a school, but I learned so much,” Samer said. “I love learning.” Across the region, supporters like you are helping to provide Syrian children and families with food, clean water, healthcare, education, clothing and blankets. To learn more about the Syrian Refugee Crisis response visit worldvision.com.au/syria
Melinda and her husban d Todd with their four boys: (lef t to right) Luke, Tyler, Ethan and Jack . Photo courtesy of Melind a McDonald.
* Name changed to protect identity.
Rebika can now go to school because she has a birth certificate. Photo: World Vision
Melinda’s 30 for30 Fit ness Challenge for child he alth
Each year almost th ree mi llion childre n die within the first 30 days of life – mostly from pr eventable causes. This Januar y over 600 inspiring Aussies took part in World Vision’s 30for30 Fi tness Challenge, dedicatin g their first 30 days of 2015 to help children surv ive past 30 days.
Melinda McDona ld too k up the challen ge to ru n and/or ride 300k m and comp lete 300 ch in-ups in 30 days. “I decided I would do it because I love exercise, I love a challenge and I lov e the work World Vi sion do,” she sa id. Her amazing effor t ra ised over $2,000 to help World Vision prov ide essential mater na l, ne wbor n and ch ild health serv ice s arou nd the world. It’s an issue that’s close to home for Melinda. “I have fou r gorgeous sons, and when ou r Lu ke wa s born prematu rely, we rece ived great ca re from ou r local hospita l in Ta mwor th , and were even flown to Newcastle for fu rther ca re. Lu ke wa s born six weeks ea rly but wa s healthy and home by the end of the th ird week,” she sa id. “We (are) so gratefu l that we live in Austr alia, and are pr ivi leged to receive the ca re we need,” sh e sa id. “I believe World Visio n’s work ca n ma ke a dif ference.” Than ks to Melinda and all our amazin g suppor ters who took part in Wo rld Vision’s 30for30 Fitness Challenge we’ve ra ised over $130,000 which can help prov ide more th an 100,000 women with access to essential mater na l, newbor n and child health se rv ices.