World Vision President visits India

World Vision International President Kevin Jenkins is in India to see World Vision's work in India through its various projects. He visited the Snehadeep project in Kolkata, which focuses on rehabilitation of children living in the streets, and spent time with the children

Kevin Jenkins is the seventh President and Chief Executive Officer of World Vision International.

Following a successful career in business, Jenkins felt called to devote his talents and experience to a humanitarian organisation. His goal in taking on the role is to achieve meaningful, lasting change for the world’s most-vulnerable children.

Kevin Jenkins visited the Snehadeep Project to understand world Vision's work among children living on the streets. Snehadeep Street Children Project was started in the year 1996. From then the project has been working to bring lasting change in the lives of the street children and their families. Currently the Project works with 500 children and their families living on the streets. The project reaches out to the children through formal and non-formal education, health services, skill training and short-term shelter facilities.

The project is running three Non formal Education Centres wherein the children are imparted with the basic education of writing and reading and are guided by the teachers and volunteers in enrolling their names in Formal schools. The project also conducts coaching classes for the formal school going children and helps them in their studies.

All the children are assisted with Educational Materials and receive nutrition five days a week. The children are imparted with Moral Education classes through a faith based curriculum. The children those who have interest in the area of Computers are enrolled in reputed computer Institutes to pursue their interest.

The project conducts weekly short stay residential Life skill education program for the girls of two age groups ie.6-14 years and 14-18 years. The teaching method is based on Child Friendly exercises and interactive activities, which encourages the children in increasing the level of participation.

“It truly is a world-class organisation, focused on the world’s poorest children and their families. Many of World Vision’s 40,000 staff live in the communities where they work.

"For six decades World Vision has engaged directly in field-based humanitarian work. Today, working in nearly 100 countries, World Vision is a respected and trusted partner of governments, foundations, multi-lateral organisations and others striving to eradicate the causes of poverty."