World Vision Saskatchewan Campaign for Children

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, World Vision launches the 60-day Saskatchewan Campaign for Children, with the goal of inspiring 1,500 Saskatchewan residents to join their generous friends and neighbours to help the world's most vulnerable children, families and communities.  Over 17,000 people in Saskatchewan already sponsor more than 20,000 children through international development organization World Vision Canada. But the need is great, and tens of thousands of children around the world still need sponsors.   

Saskatchewanians have seen their share of adversity this year.  But millions of families around the world face unimaginable challenges every day, not just as a result of natural disasters but due to political strife, illness and a basic lack of necessities. Right now, two billion people are living in poverty.

But there is great hope, thanks to individuals, groups and businesses all over Saskatchewan who sponsor children through World Vision. From Aberdeen to Zeon Park, Buena Vista to Yorkton, Saskatchewanians have reached out a helping hand to a child in need. Like Barry and Stacey Lang, a father-daughter sponsorship team from Estevan, who recently travelled to Tanzania to meet their sponsored child. Or Christy and Colin Zacharias from Martensville, who sponsor five children and have travelled to Zambia and Malawi to experience first-hand the difference they are making. Or 22-year-old Anson Liski, whose family business, Modular Storage in Saskatoon, sponsors 40 children.

World Vision Sponsorship gives a child the chance to go to school, drink clean water, eat healthy food, access medical care and live in a safe environment. The Saskatchewan Campaign for Children runs October 1 through November 30. To sponsor a child, visit worldvision.ca.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Visit our News Centre and sponsor a child at worldvision.ca

resources

World Vision Canada website

Video resources on World Vision Canada Youtube channel

Information about sponsor visits

frequently-asked questions

How do sponsors know that their donation is really making a difference?

• Sponsors receive regular updates about their child and their child's community and can write to their child and receive responses. Beyond paper reports, World Vision offers sponsors inspiring, socially-sharable video and photo communications to enhance their relationship with their sponsored child and his or her community.
  
  
• Sponsors can see for themselves. World Vision can help arrange for Canadian sponsors to travel overseas to visit their sponsored child or children. Between September, 2012 and October, 2013, over 275 Canadian sponsors travelled to meet their sponsored children all around the world.

How exactly does World Vision Canada distribute the donation?

• Funds are sent to the community and used for local programs that improve the well-being of children, like education, water, sustainable food and medical access. 81% is spent on programs, 13.8% on fundraising efforts, and 5.2% on administration.

What do sponsors say about the experience?

• Sponsors enjoy knowing that their sponsorship is having a very real impact on a child's life.  The relationships that they build with their sponsored children are meaningful and very rewarding.

What else does World Vision do?

• World Vision works in three areas: sponsorship; emergency relief; and advocacy. In addition to sponsorship programs, World Vision also protects vulnerable people during natural disasters and other emergencies, providing emergency relief in the form of food, water, shelter, medicine and clothing. World Vision also advocates for national and international policies that will ensure the rights of children and respect the rights of all.

SOURCE: World Vision Canada

Media contact: Solange Nicholson, AJC Media Group, [email protected], 403.801.3259