something called childhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.What is World Vision?
World Vision is a Christian relief and development agency helping children and their communities towards a wholesome future filled with hope, dignity, justice and peace. Reaching out to the poorest of the poor in India without respect to caste, creed, race or religion, World Vision works through partnerships to bring about lasting change and build our nation.
Internationally, World Vision emerged out of a faithful expression of God's love by Robert Pierce, a war correspondent during the Korean War in 1947.
World Vision's work in India began in the year 1962, in a small way in Calcutta. Today, our staff work in close to 5000 communities, touching the lives of over 24 million people in India. World Vision is a registered society under the Tamilnadu Societies Act 1975, with its National Office in Chennai.
World Vision is an independent entity within our country with a distinctly national identity. An active Indian Board of Directors govern World Vision.
World Vision India is a member of the international partnership of World Vision, which works in around 100 countries. World Vision has consultative status with UNESCO as well as official relations with key UN agencies including UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR and ILO.
2. What does World Vision do?
Children are the focus of World Vision's work. We work together with the communities, families and children in their journey towards development.
We do this by working with the communities to help them reach the basic standards of physical, intellectual, socio-economic and moral well-being. World Vision facilitates the formation and growth of community-based organisations (CBOs), which are able to identify the problems faced by the community, especially children, and work with them to find solutions. This is our strategy for sustainable development.
World Vision also responds to disasters due to natural calamities in the country. World Vision has responded to every major disaster, starting from the cyclone in Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 1977 to the floods in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. World Vision stays in the disaster struck area until the community is back on its feet.
3. Where does World Vision work?
World Vision's work in India is spread over 24 states across the country.Today our staff work in close to 5000 communities, touching the lives of a more than 24 million people, which includes 1,65,000 children directly benefiting through Child Sponsorship. 93 lakh children are benefited through various other programmes of World Vision around the country through the dedicated work of our staff in India.
We work along with the communities, families and children in their journey towards reaching self-sufficiency. Our unique way of doing this is through integrated development programmes that bring about lasting change in the communities. World Vision works in the communities through 106 Area Development Programmes (ADPs). Each ADP touches the lives of over 20,000 to 1,00,000 people.
World Vision India's nine project offices are based in Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Ranchi, Guwahati, Kolkatta, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai and they coordinate the work in these projects.
World Vision International works in around 100 countries across the globe. In 2003, World Vision was active in the following countries:
Africa
Algeria - Angola - Burundi Chad - Democratic Republic of Congo - Ethiopia - Ghana - Kenya - Lesotho - Liberia - Malawi - Mali - Mauritania - Mozambique - Niger - Rwanda - Senegal - Sierra Leone - Somalia - South Africa - Sudan - Swaziland - Tanzania - Uganda - Zambia - Zimbabwe -
Asia
Bangladesh - Cambodia - China - East Timor - India - Indonesia - Japan - Laos - Malaysia - Mongolia - Myanmar - Nepal - North Korea - Philippines - Singapore - South Korea - Sri Lanka - Taiwan - Thailand - Vietnam - Central Asia - fghanistan - Pakistan - Uzbekistan -
Europe
Albania - Armenia - Austria - Azerbaijan - Bosnia-Herzegovina - Denmark - Finland - France - Georgia - Germany - Ireland - Kosovo - Macedonia - Serbia-Montenegro - Netherlands - Romania - Russia (Chechnya/Ingushetia) - Spain - Switzerland - United Kingdom
Latin America
Argentina - Bolivia - Brazil - Chile - Colombia - Costa Rica - Dominican Republic - Ecuador - El Salvador - Guatemala - Haiti - Honduras - Mexico - Nicaragua - Peru
Middle East
UAE (Dubai) - Iran - Iraq - Jerusalem/West Bank/Gaza - Lebanon - Syria - Jordan
North America
Canada - United States of America
Oceania
Australia - New Zealand - Papua New Guinea - Solomon Islands - Vanuatu
4. What is Child Sponsorship?
Child Sponsorship is the commitment you, as a sponsor, make to change the life of a poor and needy child and his or her community through regular contributions. It is a relationship between you, your sponsored child, your sponsored child's family and community. This relationship is aimed at giving a better life not only to the child but also to the whole family and the entire community as well while you have the satisfaction of not only the relationship with the child and his or her family, but also of having invested in building a new India, through our children.
4.1 Is Child Sponsorship an effective way to help?
Yes. The best way to change the life of a child is to change the world in which he or she lives. By sponsoring a child, you will help to bring about a lasting change in the child's community and enable the child to grow up in a much happier and healthier environment.
Your sponsorship helps fund areas such as healthcare, agriculture, and education—whatever the community needs most. We do this in partnership with the local people. The most vulnerable children are selected by the community to be a part of the Child Sponsorship programme.
When you become a child sponsor, you can see for yourself the progress of your sponsored child's development and also that of the community.
4.2 How can I be sure that the money I send is managed correctly? Who audits World Vision's accounts?
World Vision is committed to the highest levels of stewardship of all its resources. Through systematic monitoring and evaluation of all its programmes, World Vision seeks ongoing improvement of the quality of its programmes. In addition, World Vision has systematic financial audits (internal and external) each year of all its programmes. Deloitte Haskinas & Sells are our current external auditors.
In addition to these annual reviews and audits, World Vision maintains a high level of accountability to its key stakeholders starting from the communities that we work in, the government and our sponsors and donors. Total transparency in transactions with the government and our supporters is the norm.
Further, any sponsor is free to visit the child or children that he or she sponsors to see the impact sponsorship is making in the lives of these children.
Our annual report contains the audited financial statement and is available on request. Reports are sent to the Home ministry / Income tax office.
Many sponsors have visited World Vision projects to see for themselves that the money they donate gets there and is used wisely. Our sponsors receive a community newsletter each year, which reports on how sponsors' money is helping to change people's lives.
4.3 How does my sponsored child benefit?
World Vision aims to promote lasting change in the life of the sponsored child and our aim is to benefit and encourage every person in the child's community to become a strong and productive member, thus moving the whole community towards self-reliance. Your support will provide a child with supplementary nutrition, education and health care, and also help the family as well as the community that your sponsored child lives in. This gives a chance for children to experience a normal, healthy and happy childhood.
4.4 Why should I help a child who lives with his/her parents?
World Vision is about building sustainable communities for children so that they have a better and different future. World Vision assists children living with parents because such assistance enables them to remain as a family unit. In many families, either the father or mother is dead or disabled or one of the parents has abandoned the family. In other instances the parents are very poor and the income is too little for survival.
Therefore World Vision helps to keep the family together and the children have one or both parents with whom they can share their love.
5. Child Sponsorship in operation
5.1 How long can I sponsor a child?
Child Sponsorship is generally a long-term commitment, up to 10 years or more. You can sponsor the same child for as long as the project continues or as long as the child remains in the sponsorship programme (often well into their teens).
Once the sponsorship project meets its objectives, it is time to celebrate the many achievements—healthier children and better living conditions, educational programmes that work and a community with greater confidence for a more positive future.
On occasion, there may be a change in the circumstances of either your sponsored child or you, which may reduce the period of sponsorship.
5.2 Is there a specific age for a child to be sponsored?
Not really. Normally school-going children are sponsored. However, you are free to request a younger child. However, if there are specific requests from the sponsors we try our best to comply with their wishes.
5.3 What are Partner ID and Child ID? Do I need to mention this whenever I correspond?
When you become a Sponsor, we will send you a reference number, which is called the Partner ID. This is useful for processing transactions quickly. In the same way, when a child becomes a part of the Child Sponsorship programme, he or she is assigned a reference number, which is called the Child ID. We will send you these when you become a sponsor.
It is necessary that you mention your Partner ID and Child ID in all correspondence. It helps us to sort and process correspondences quickly, especially when you send your contribution.
5.4 Do I get a progress report on my sponsored child and his or her community?
When you become a sponsor, you will receive a pack containing a photo along with the personal details of the child and his or her family and also information about the community where he/she lives.
A year later, you will receive your sponsored child's annual progress report. The community newsletter and a greeting card will also be sent to you during the year. The child will also write back to you if you write to him or her.
5.5 How are children chosen for sponsorship?
As a norm, World Vision works with the communities forming a group of community members that make collective decisions for the community. The most vulnerable children in the project area are selected by the community group to take part in the Child Sponsorship programme.
Families are also asked if they want to be part of the sponsorship programme, with the understanding that all the children and families in the community will share the benefits across the community.
5.6 Am I the only sponsor for my sponsored child?
Yes. World Vision assigns only one sponsor per sponsored child.
5.7 Can I sponsor more than one child?
Yes. You can sponsor as many children as you wish to. There are many children waiting for sponsorship.
5.8 Can I sponsor an orphaned or handicapped child?
World Vision does not run orphanages. However, if there are orphaned or handicapped children within a community, you can sponsor them if you wish to.
6. Payment
6.1 How do I send my contribution (sponsorship gift) to World Vision?
The sponsorship gift amount is payable monthly, quarterly, biannually or annually; whichever is most convenient to you. You can send it by money order, demand draft, cheque or credit card (even through the Internet).
You can send post-dated cheques or authorize monthly deductions from your credit card until further written notice from you. Please do not send Postal Orders and also avoid sending cash through mail. Always make your cheques / DDs favouring “World Vision India”.
To make it more convenient for you, you can make your payments through our new payment gateway online.
6.2 How can I be sure my payment through the Internet is safe?
You can be assured that all transactions on our site are safe. Online security is a primary concern and that is why the World Vision India site is certified as a VeriSign secure site.
6.3 Can I send money to the child directly or to the local World Vision office where I live?
Receipts for all contributions are issued only by the department for Donor Relations at the National Office in Chennai. To avoid unnecessary delays, please send your contributions directly to the Donor Relations department at the Chennai office for quick receipting.
6.4 How do I update my payment details or change payment method?
If you wish to change your payment method to credit card or update your credit card details, please contact our Donor Relations department at the National office in Chennai.
You can call us on 044-24807070 or fax us at 044-24807242 or you can write to Donor Relations, World Vision of India, 16 V.O.C. Main Road, Kodambakkam, Chennai - 600 024. You can also e-mail us at indiasponsors@wvi.org.
For further details you can always get in touch with us through our Toll Free Number 1600-425-4550 (during business hours between 9:00am and 5:00 pm
6.5 Do I need to inform you about my credit card expiry date?
Yes, this would help us to process transactions quickly and avoid unnecessary delays. For any change in the credit card details, you have to fill a new authorization form.
6.6 How much of the contribution I send is tax exempted?
All donations to World Vision are tax exempted under section 80G of the Income Tax Act. Our receipt carries this message and the receipt will suffice for claiming tax exemption. The tax rebate is 50% of your contribution to World Vision.
6.7 How do I update my contact details?
If you have changed your postal address, contact phone number, email address or your name, please contact our Donor Relations department at the National office in Chennai.
V.O.C. Main Road, Kodambakkam, Chennai - 600 024
You can also e-mail us at indiasponsors@wvi.org
Phone: 91-44-2480 7070 or Fax: 91-44-2480 7242
6.8 What if I cannot continue my sponsorship payments? What will happen to the child?
We understand that financial and personal situations change. If you need to cancel, just let us know and we will find another sponsor for your child. Your child will not be neglected. World Vision will ensure that the funding commitment to the project is maintained. The benefits as planned for the children in the community will be carried out.
7. Child Sponsorship - Letters, Gifts & Visits
7.1 Can I write to my sponsored child?
You can certainly write to your sponsored child. In fact, we encourage our sponsors to write to their children so as to get to know them and their family better. Your sponsored child can also write to you. Many sponsors and sponsored children find this a rewarding experience. If the child is very young or does not know how to write, someone will probably help him/her to write or the project staff will write on their behalf.
7.2 To whom should I address the letters and cards I send to my sponsored child?
Any communication to your child should be addressed to Donor Relations, World Vision India, at the Chennai Office.
Our address is:16, V.O.C. Main Road,Kodambakkam,Chennai-600 024.
For quick reference and easy processing it is also important that you write your full name, Sponsor Reference Number, the child's name and ID Number either on the envelope or in the correspondence.
Your Sponsor Reference Number is always found on the right portion of your receipt, after your name, e.g. 1000318 or 994536. You can find your Sponsored Child's ID number in the Picture Folder.eg. DODAPPA, Lakshmi - ID. No: 167760-0025
We do not encourage sponsors to write directly to their sponsored children as the address of sponsors may fall into wrong hands and be misused.
7.3. How can I help you process receipts faster?
It is sufficient if you mention your full name and Sponsor Reference Number on the reverse side of the Cheque or DD. Please mention the address and pin code of the bank for outstation cheques.
When we receive Cheques or DDs without names or addresses they are put into an Anonymous Account. We correct the receipt to the sponsor's name only when the sponsor asks for the receipt. Therefore, please write your full name and address on the envelope or in your letter.
7.4 Can I send extra gift money to my sponsored child?
Extra gift money either for the child's education, medical needs or project needs is always welcome.
But, extra money for a particular child or family is not encouraged as it can cause jealousy among other members of a community. If it is meant for the needs of a project, the benefit extends to the whole community and this is acceptable.
If the gift amount is too small, the administrative cost for sending the money is very high, therefore we suggest that your gift money be a minimum of Rs. 500/-. You can include this amount along with your regular monthly sponsorship gift.
7.5. Why do you waste money on glossy and frequent mailers and appeals?
People lead such fast paced lives these days and have very little time to spare. Bearing this in mind our materials are designed to attract the attention of the recipient. Also, much of our printing costs are subsidised by our printers, who charge the lowest that is possible for them—sometimes even at the cost of losing out on their profits.
We try to average about eight mailers a year. This includes the appeals that are sent during a calamity.
In fact, if you could share these appeals with your friends and relatives, it would cut our costs even further.
7.6 Can I visit my sponsored child?
Yes. You are most welcome to visit the child you sponsor and meet the whole family.
A visit means you can also see how much the people have been able to accomplish with your sponsorship support. A visit also makes your sponsorship more meaningful for you as well as your sponsored child.
Kindly write to The Manager, Donor Relations, at National office in Chennai, well in advance so that we can arrange for the visit. In some cases, when the project is too inaccessible, or you have time constraints because of which the child is to be brought from the project to meet you, then you will have to meet the travel cost, boarding and food for the child and escort.
We request all our child sponsors to go through our Child Protection Policy before visiting the child.
7.7 Can I adopt my sponsored child?
No. World Vision does not organize adoption. All our children live with their families in the community and the goal of sponsorship is to build up their community around them rather than relocating the children.
8. World Vision's work
8.1 World Vision receives foreign money, why are you asking Indians to contribute?
Sponsorship is more than making a monthly gift to a child. It is investing in a different future for our nation through these children. We believe that this is an opportunity for all Indians to partner with us in this nation-building process.
Further, your regular gifts not only bring lasting change to a community, but also give you the joy and satisfaction of having made the difference. We want to give Indians a chance to make a meaningful gift that will change the life of a child. Today World Vision has 26 ADPs - supported exclusively by Indians.
- ADPs (Area Development Programmes)- Each ADP touches over 20,000 to 1,00,000 lives which includes children
8.2 World Vision calls itself a Christian organization, what does this mean? Is World Vision involved in conversions?
No. World Vision is not involved in conversions. World Vision works to serve the poor because of our faith. By policy and practice, we extend help to all deserving people regardless of caste, creed, sex, religion or community. We know that as important as it is for us to maintain our own identity as Christians, it is also necessary to recognize and respect the cultural identities of the people and communities with whom we work. World Vision does not engage in offering inducements or pressures to change faith. Our policy forbids this.
8.3 Do only Christians receive help from World Vision?
No. World Vision serves the poorest of the poor without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or religion.
The living conditions in these slums are deplorable. The roads are unsafe. There is no potable water. Schools lack safe drinking water; toilets are unhygienic; there is shortage of desks, benches and other needed infrastructure. There are high incidences of malnourishment among children.
The project endeavours to provide quality education to children. School dropouts are educated through bridge school and then mainstreamed into formal education. We strive towards fullness of life for all boys and girls, with harmony, dignity, justice, equality, peace and hope.
Your sponsorship support will improve the standards of education and health among children. The child's family and community will also benefit through development initiatives.