Emergency in Pakistan will get worse before it gets better

Updated September 1, 2010

More than one month after the flooding in Pakistan began, World Vision staff members say the emergency will get worse before it gets better. Up to half of the affected population still hasn't been reached. Unsanitary conditions and a lack of clean water are causing outbreaks of diarrhea and concerns about cholera.

Children, wearing the same muddy clothes for days, are developing skin diseases like scabies, and many families are unable to begin the grieving process and bury their dead because there is no dry land on which to do this.

"What we hear from the people living in the camps is that they are hanging on, surviving on what little food and water they receive, wearing the clothes they escaped the floods in, and trying to keep their children and livestock alive," said Mike Bailey, World Vision's regional advocacy manager. "The truth is, despite the amount of aid that has already been provided in some places, many people are in worse shape now than they were two weeks ago."

Access to the hardest-hit areas remains one of the biggest challenges in this disaster. Some towns are still inaccessible more than four weeks after the flooding began. The floods have significantly damaged roads and bridges. Communication is difficult due to damaged telephone lines; mobile phone networks are still not functioning in many of the worst-affected areas.

"It's still difficult to assess the full extent of the damage, but we know that children and families are still in desperate need of the most basic things like food, clean water, and shelter," said Bailey. "Even when we focus on providing the most urgently needed relief supplies, we've still been able to reach just one-tenth of the people we're trying to help in the next three months."

Food and water

Many markets have been destroyed, and food is generally not available. Nearly 8 million acres of agricultural land have been flooded. The need is greater than available resources. The main water sources in the area are dug wells, hand pumps, and a few tube wells.

However, wells have become contaminated, and the water is no longer safe to drink. People can live on small amounts of food, but they can't survive without potable water.

Shelter

Many displaced families are without shelter. Others have found temporary shelter with friends and relatives, but overcrowding is making water, food, and sanitation even more inaccessible. Many schools, both private and public, are now serving as temporary shelters.

Health and sanitation

Some clinics in the area have been washed away, and medical staff and medicine are scarce. Children and families are suffering from diarrhea, vomiting, malaria, and acute respiratory infections. There is risk of cholera outbreaks and spread of other waterborne diseases.

Even before the flooding, families generally did not have proper toilets in their homes. Since the flooding, human waste has been mixed with drinking water. In addition, water is sitting stagnant in many places, increasing the risk of disease.

Infrastructure

The road networks in the area need to be rebuilt. Many isolated communities are depending on items ferried in by helicopter to survive.  Power is out in some areas.

Livelihoods

Most people are farmers, earning a living from crops and livestock. Now, millions of acres of crops have been damaged, as have irrigation systems.

Help now

Please pray for flood survivors in Pakistan, especially those who have been displaced and have lost loved ones. Pray during this critical time that the resources needed to deliver life-saving assistance would come quickly.

Donate now to World Vision's Pakistan Flood Relief Fund. Your gift today will help us deliver life-saving relief and support to survivors of this disaster, including basics like food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, and more.

Give a child the tools she needs for success

You can help bridge the education gap for a child in need, just like one sponsor did for 13-year-old Alleluia Promise, an orphaned girl in Uganda.

Learning was a constant struggle for Alleluia. She lived with her grandma, who couldn't afford to buy her school supplies. Alleluia's half-finished classroom had mud walls and a grass roof. When it rained, she got drenched. And because there weren't enough seats, she often had to sit on the ground.

But thanks to her sponsor, Alleluia was given books, pens, and a school uniform. Even better, "World Vision built us classrooms and gave us desks," she says. The new brick buildings have solid roofs and access to clean water for drinking and washing. "I no longer worry about getting wet in the classroom when it rains, or struggle to write from the floor."

Alleluia's studies will give her the opportunity to earn better wages, raise healthier, educated children, and have a voice in her community -- opening the door to a brighter future.

Give the gift of education -- and hope -- to another child like Alleluia. Sponsor a child, and you'll help provide him or her with access to basics like educational opportunities, clean water, nutritious food, healthcare, and more. Please help change a life today.

Back to school...without the right tools

Third grader Ledell Martin has been on the honor roll for three years in a row at Henson Elementary School in Chicago's economically challenged North Lawndale community. He also carries a World Vision-donated backpack.

"I need school supplies for school and to use in class," he says. "If you don't have school supplies, you can't do the work. If you don't do the work, you won't get good grades. If you don't get your education, you won't get the knowledge you need for the world."

Recession hits schools and families

More than 50 million students will return in the coming weeks to U.S. schools reeling from recession-fueled budget cuts. As the faltering economy takes a chomp out of education, families also are straining to make ends meet.

Parents on limited incomes often face difficult choices between paying the rent and feeding their families. They don't have extra funds for things like backpacks, notebooks, or even pencils. So many students arrive in the classroom without the tools they need to learn.

Free school supplies offer tangible hope

Teachers in the North Lawndale area school district are allocated $100 annually for school supplies, but that amount doesn't begin to see them through the year. Free supplies from World Vision help that money stretch a little further.

A bright spot for the school administrators and teachers is their access to World Vision's teacher resource center. There, they find such essential supplies as pencils, notebooks, and backpacks.

By working with schools in areas that are hurting economically, World Vision hopes to lift some of the burden from educators and create a better future for students like Ledell.

'The need is huge this year'

Thanks to generous donors, World Vision school and classroom supplies benefited more than 370,000 children in need last year. This year, we are working tirelessly to help even more vulnerable children nationwide return to school with the learning tools to succeed in the classroom. Yet this year's need is outstripping school supply stocks.

"The need is huge this year," says Reed Slattery, warehouse coordinator for World Vision's Pacific Northwest field site. "It's heartbreaking to see so many families that want their children to do well in school, but can't afford the supplies. Without supplies, students whose families can't make ends meet begin the year at a significant disadvantage."

Help now

Please pray for the families who struggle to provide their children with the resources necessary to succeed in school. Many children right here in the United States are ready and eager to learn, but lack basic supplies to do so. Pray that these children and families would acquire the school supplies they need to kick off a successful school year.

Make a donation now to help provide school supplies to children in need right here in the United States. Thanks to corporate product donations, gift of just $25 will help deliver $150 worth of essential supplies to students who need them the most.

Donated medicine arrives just in time

By Kari Costanza, World Vision U.S.

At the Kizi Health Center in Gasorwe, Burundi, a World Vision truck has just arrived with a two-month supply of medicines provided by generous donors in the United States -- items from pharmaceutical companies.

"We need it very urgently," says Felicitie, 26, who runs the health center. She is delighted with the arrival of these life-saving supplies.

"There was no [oral rehydration solution] before World Vision came today," she says, holding packets of the precious mixture. "We ran out four months ago."

Her only surviving child

Joselyn Genzahayo, 25, waits patiently on a bench with a line of other mothers. She needs medicine for her 20-month-old son, Iranyitse, who has had diarrhea for three days.

He also has a terrible cough and has been having trouble breathing. It took three hours for Joselyn to carry her son to the clinic.

Joselyn has already lost three children -- two sons and a daughter -- all of whom died at 8 months of age. "I brought them all to the health center, but they could do nothing," she says. Iranyitse is her only surviving child.

'Water for life'

Joselyn and her baby are invited to the examining room. Nurse Simon Ntibatingeso, 22, diagnoses Iranyitse with severe diarrhea.

Simon picks up a packet of oral rehydration solution and gives Joselyn directions on how to administer it to her son over the next 24 hours.

"We call [the oral rehydration solution] 'water for life' because it can stop diarrhea, and that means it can save lives," Simon explains.

He also gives Joselyn deworming medicine and amoxicillin for Iranyitse.

No longer empty-handed

Joselyn straps little Iranyitse to her back. It's now 1:00 p.m., and she'll be home by 4:00 p.m. Getting medicine has taken 10 hours.

Thankfully, because she was here when World Vision delivered a shipment of medicine, she didn't go home empty-handed, and her only surviving child has a second chance.

Two ways you can help

Thank God for the companies that donate life-saving medicines and supplies, and for World Vision's distribution network. Pray that God would encourage health workers like Felicitie and Simon, who work tirelessly to help children like Iranyitse.

Donate now to help provide basic medicines and supplies. When coupled with government grants, your gift multiplies 15 times in impact to help provide basic items that can save children's lives.

Emergency in Pakistan will get worse before it gets better

Updated September 1, 2010

More than one month after the flooding in Pakistan began, World Vision staff members say the emergency will get worse before it gets better. Up to half of the affected population still hasn't been reached. Unsanitary conditions and a lack of clean water are causing outbreaks of diarrhea and concerns about cholera.

Children, wearing the same muddy clothes for days, are developing skin diseases like scabies, and many families are unable to begin the grieving process and bury their dead because there is no dry land on which to do this.

"What we hear from the people living in the camps is that they are hanging on, surviving on what little food and water they receive, wearing the clothes they escaped the floods in, and trying to keep their children and livestock alive," said Mike Bailey, World Vision's regional advocacy manager. "The truth is, despite the amount of aid that has already been provided in some places, many people are in worse shape now than they were two weeks ago."

Access to the hardest-hit areas remains one of the biggest challenges in this disaster. Some towns are still inaccessible more than four weeks after the flooding began. The floods have significantly damaged roads and bridges. Communication is difficult due to damaged telephone lines; mobile phone networks are still not functioning in many of the worst-affected areas.

"It's still difficult to assess the full extent of the damage, but we know that children and families are still in desperate need of the most basic things like food, clean water, and shelter," said Bailey. "Even when we focus on providing the most urgently needed relief supplies, we've still been able to reach just one-tenth of the people we're trying to help in the next three months."

Food and water

Many markets have been destroyed, and food is generally not available. Nearly 8 million acres of agricultural land have been flooded. The need is greater than available resources. The main water sources in the area are dug wells, hand pumps, and a few tube wells.

However, wells have become contaminated, and the water is no longer safe to drink. People can live on small amounts of food, but they can't survive without potable water.

Shelter

Many displaced families are without shelter. Others have found temporary shelter with friends and relatives, but overcrowding is making water, food, and sanitation even more inaccessible. Many schools, both private and public, are now serving as temporary shelters.

Health and sanitation

Some clinics in the area have been washed away, and medical staff and medicine are scarce. Children and families are suffering from diarrhea, vomiting, malaria, and acute respiratory infections. There is risk of cholera outbreaks and spread of other waterborne diseases.

Even before the flooding, families generally did not have proper toilets in their homes. Since the flooding, human waste has been mixed with drinking water. In addition, water is sitting stagnant in many places, increasing the risk of disease.

Infrastructure

The road networks in the area need to be rebuilt. Many isolated communities are depending on items ferried in by helicopter to survive.  Power is out in some areas.

Livelihoods

Most people are farmers, earning a living from crops and livestock. Now, millions of acres of crops have been damaged, as have irrigation systems.

Help now

Please pray for flood survivors in Pakistan, especially those who have been displaced and have lost loved ones. Pray during this critical time that the resources needed to deliver life-saving assistance would come quickly.

Donate now to World Vision's Pakistan Flood Relief Fund. Your gift today will help us deliver life-saving relief and support to survivors of this disaster, including basics like food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, and more.

World Vision deploys assessment team to China landslide zone as death toll doubles

August 11, 2010

As rescuers race against time to search for more than 1,000 people buried in a massive landslide in northwest China, World Vision deployed an assessment team to Zhouqu County in Gansu province to identify the immediate needs of survivors.

The five-person team says reaching the disaster area will be a big challenge as some roads are obstructed with mud and debris and others are under tight travel restrictions for emergency personnel. The team expects the trip to take up to seven hours.

Local reports estimate the death toll at just over 700 people, while more than 1,000 remain missing and over 1,200 people have been rescued from the mudslides. Survivors have now begun the difficult task of identifying the bodies of their loved ones in the makeshift morgue.

Responding to a desperate scene

"Walls of mud buried many homes, giving survivors no chance to bring out belongings as they raced to safety," said Victor Kan, humanitarian and emergency affairs director for World Vision in China. "The mudslides also destroyed most of the water sources for families here; water is one of the most urgent needs for survivors right now."

While the relief team conducts its assessment of the disaster, World Vision will also be distributing bottles of drinking water and toys for the children. More than 1,000 quilts are also on their way to the disaster area.

"We will continue to work with our local counterparts to ensure smooth coordination as we mount a relief response in Gansu," said Kan.

Ongoing relief efforts after June floods

As part of its ongoing relief efforts in China, World Vision is also working to provide food and non-food items to 55,000 survivors of the floods that hit the country in June, some of the worst flooding there in decades.

As of August 6, World Vision has already distributed relief goods to about 25,000 people. A total of 280 tons of rice, 3,000 quilts, and hundreds of toys were provided to survivors in Jiangxi province. Other relief items will be distributed in Hunan province, another area hard-hit during the flooding.

Help now

Please pray for children and families affected by the recent deadly landslide in China. Pray also for World Vision's ongoing relief efforts in China in the aftermath of this landslide and the disastrous flooding that struck areas of the country in June.

Make a donation to World Vision's Flood Relief Fund. Your gift will help us to respond quickly and effectively to flood-related emergencies around the world, like the recent landslide in China.

Party with World Vision -- host a House Party!

August 5, 2010

This will be one day that changes a child's life forever. On Saturday, September 25, you are invited to host a My World Vision House Party, and be one of 1,000 lucky people sharing the joy of sponsoring a child with your family and friends.

Join with 1,000 other party hosts across the country, and be a part of changing children's lives. As a party host, you will receive a special host gift, including:

• Your own personal World Vision tote bag
• The latest edition of 'The Hole in our Gospel' by Rich Stearns, president of World Vision U.S.
• Downloadable recipes from around the world for an "international potluck"
• Pictures of children waiting for sponsors
• An exclusive DVD to share with your guests about World Vision's work and the importance of sponsoring a child
• A chance to earn a trip to visit another country and see World Vision's work in action

In addition to these gifts you'll receive as a host, we'll also include goodies for all your guests, such as World Vision charm bracelets. And when someone sponsors a child at your party, you can celebrate the moment by giving them a special "child charm." Plus, your guests can take home all their World Vision goodies and information in the World Vision reusable shopping bag we are including in your party pack.

Join us today! Apply now to become a party host.

Congress takes important step to make laptops and cell phones 'conflict-free'

July 29, 2010

By Shawna Templeton, World Vision U.S.

To help ensure that Americans' electronic purchases don't fund violence in the DRC -- a country wracked with war between competing armed factions -- Congress included conflict minerals provisions in the financial reform bill passed on July 15.

A key step

"This is a key step toward dismantling an illegitimate trade in conflict minerals that has been funding one of the world's worst humanitarian crises," says Rory Anderson, World Vision's deputy director for advocacy.

The provisions included in the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 will require companies to file documentation with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), demonstrating that minerals purchased from the DRC or adjoining countries are not from a conflict zone. These filings will be subject to independent audits to ensure their accuracy and legitimacy.

Next step: implementation

Since 1997, widespread campaigns of rape, child soldiering, and mass displacement have led to more than 5 million deaths in the eastern DRC, with about 1,200 people dying daily.

The "three Ts" used in electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops -- tin ore, tantalite, and tungsten, as well as gold -- are a major source of funding for armed groups that commit atrocities against civilians. Anderson says the lack of regulations continues to incentivize conflict and abuses of women and children.

While the inclusion of the conflict minerals trade provisions marks progress, regulations only do so much. "Enacting this legislation is the first step, [but] the next and most important step will be implementation, including strong SEC regulations to ensure that corporations are complying with the law,"  explains Anderson.

Continued advocacy is crucial

Legislative victories such as this do not come quickly. The acceptance of the conflict minerals provisions by Congress is the culmination of more than three years of advocacy by World Vision, citizens, and several other humanitarian and human rights organizations.

Of course, this legislation alone will not end the conflict in eastern Congo. Continued advocacy for sustained peace is crucial.

Learn more

For more information about the new legislation, read the Washington Post article, "U.S. financial reform bill also targets 'conflict minerals' from Congo."

Learn more about the conflict in the DRC.

Three ways you can help

Pray for children and families in the eastern DRC who are impacted daily by a vicious war. In particular, pray for women and girls who are the most violated by continued conflict. Pray that this new legislation would help curb the violence.

Speak out. Advocate for sustained peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Give monthly to help provide assistance for children affected by war. Your monthly contribution will help us deliver critical support such as food, clean water, healthcare, safe shelter, trauma counseling, and more.

Congress takes a bite out of malaria funding

July 22, 2010

By Craig Jaggers, World Vision health policy advisor.

For most children in Africa, mosquito bites that pass on malaria are a lethal threat. And now, programs to combat this killer disease are at risk as a House appropriations subcommittee just bit off nearly 70 percent of the increase in the president's request for malaria programs -- an amount already short of the $1 billion a year commitment the United States made in 2008.

If action isn't taken, malaria funding could be limited to $615 million in fiscal year 2011, $70 million below the president's request and far short of the congressional promise to provide $1 billion a year.

These cuts are not merely for the sake of fiscal austerity, as the committee provided increases above the president's request in other accounts.

This is a critical moment, and for those of us who care about protecting children from this lethal disease, a time for action. It's not too late to provide more funding for malaria, but Congress needs to hear that people care. The full House of Representatives will need to vote on the appropriations bill, and the Senate has not yet taken action on the appropriations bill affecting global health. Action now could make all the difference.

Help us show Congress that there is a chorus of people who find it unacceptable to take a bite out of the resources that are literally saving lives. Take action now.

Five years after Hurricane Katrina

August 2010

By Nathalie Moberg, World Vision U.S.

"Everything is in place for an incredibly active year," Weather Services International Chief Meteorologist Todd Crawford recently told Reuters news service.

Even as hurricane season arrives, the battered Gulf Coast is reeling from high unemployment triggered by simultaneous blows: the struggling economy and the oil spill. Last month, Northrop Grumman Corp. announced it will close its shipyard just outside New Orleans, eliminating 5,000 jobs. Many jobs from various industries also have been cut due to the effects of the oil spill.

Meanwhile, the area still struggles to fully recover from Hurricane Katrina. World Vision has been there through hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike, and now we are assisting families in the aftermath of the oil spill.

Remembering Katrina

Five years ago, few families were prepared when Katrina unleashed its wrath on the Gulf Coast. Within hours, more than 800,000 residents were displaced as hundreds of thousands of homes were severely damaged or destroyed.

"My mind was not prepared for what I saw," says Brock Elementary Principal Rose Smith, whose school in Slidell, La., was destroyed. "There was nothing left unturned."

World Vision not only responded immediately to care for Hurricane Katrina survivors; we also stayed to help rebuild lives and homes. To serve fatigued families struggling to recover, World Vision opened a 40,000-square-foot distribution center where some $8.2 million in goods was distributed to more than 318,000 people in need.

Among those we served was Brock Elementary, which received school and classroom supplies so students could continue learning in modular facilities.

Just on the edge of New Orleans, World Vision also provided life's basics and funding so that Lovetouch Ministries could shelter homeless families. Emergency goods -- food, water, toiletries, clothing, and portable toilets -- were followed by school supplies, cleaning products, and building materials.

"A lot of organizations said they would help, but nobody came through like World Vision," says Bishop Joan Powell, director of Lovetouch Ministries.

Ready to respond

As coastal areas brace for severe hurricanes again this year, World Vision is ready to care for those least able to care for themselves -- often families in poverty. Emergency and rebuilding supplies are prepositioned at 10 sites nationwide, response plans are in place, and expert responders stand ready for deployment.

Phyllis Freeman, World Vision's domestic disaster director, says, "Our North Texas facility in Dallas is on alert. If disaster strikes in the Gulf Coast, we are ready to quickly provide personal hygiene items, clothing, cleaning supplies, blankets, and building materials to children and families in the most vulnerable communities."

Learn more

Visit World Vision's U.S. programs site to read more about our work with communities in need right here in the United States.

Two ways you can help

Please pray for families and communities along the Gulf Coast that are still struggling to recover five years after Hurricane Katrina. Many have also been affected by the economic downturn and the recent oil spill. Pray for those who are unemployed and those who are still trying to rebuild their lives.

Donate now to World Vision's U.S. Disaster Response Fund. Your gift will help us respond quickly and effectively to emergencies right here in the United States, like Hurricane Katrina.

Devastated family in Pakistan laments losses, but thankful for aid

August 2010

By Muhammad Ali, World Vision Pakistan.

Just last month, Nasreen, her husband Rasi, and their children lived in a mud house near the river in Mohib Banda, a village in the town of Pabbi, Pakistan. Razi worked as a laborer, and the family owned two cows.

Then, monsoon rains of epic proportions started to fall, and the river began flooding. At 6 a.m. one morning as the water rose toward the roof of their home, Nasreen and her family decided to make a dash for the tallest building in their neighborhood: the local school.

For three days, they crammed together on the rooftop of the school with more than 100 people from houses close to the river, exposed to the elements and waiting to be rescued -- or at least for something to eat.

After three days on the roof, a Pakistani military helicopter dropped food supplies. Later that day, a helicopter began airlifting people to higher ground, out of the reach of the swirling torrent of mud and water.

'You are the first people who have approached us'

Though safer, the conditions at the camp where they have taken refuge are hardly ideal. Nasreen and her children share a classroom at the Pabbi Government High School with about 50 people. Severe overcrowding contributes to the stifling, suffocating heat and stench in each of its rooms.

On August 5, they were provided at least some relief. World Vision began an emergency food distribution in the area, giving out food parcels containing milk, bread, snacks, biscuits, and water to 1,000 families at that school and others nearby -- including Nasreen and her family. The parcels are benefiting around 7,000 people.

"We have been living on the charity of the locals and the surrounding villages for now," said Nasreen. "You are the first people who have approached us, and you've given us the food and water with dignity."

As relief efforts continue, support urgently needed

In the coming days, World Vision plans to scale up its distributions to reach more families with food parcels (including wheat flour, sugar, tea, cooking oil, salt, rice, lentils, and dates), cooking sets, hygiene kits, and shelter kits. We have also opened an emergency health clinic to help address concerns over outbreaks of waterborne illness.

"People don't need one thing; they need literally everything. And the number of people in need is so massive," said Shaharyar Bangash, World Vision's program manager in Pakistan. "Thousands of homes are destroyed, and the ones still standing are full of mud and will need to be cleaned before families can return."

Bangash's assessment reflects a scene that is increasingly dire, with millions affected in a country where more rain is forecast and resources are critically low. As World Vision continues rushing assistance to survivors of these devastating floods, we ask for the help of our supporters to fund this full-scale relief response.

Learn more

Read the latest updates on our response to the deadly flooding in Pakistan.

Three ways you can help

Please pray for the children, families, and communities left devastated by the deadly flooding in Pakistan, and pray that the efforts of aid organizations like World Vision would bring life-saving assistance to those in greatest need.

Donate now to World Vision's Pakistan Flood Relief Fund. Your gift today will help us deliver life-saving relief and support to survivors of this disaster, including basics like food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, and more.

Give monthly to help support children affected by disasters. As an Emergency Response Partner, you'll help deliver life-saving assistance like food, clean water, temporary shelter, medical care, and more in the wake of disasters like the flooding in Pakistan.

Small loans build a "place of peace"

Photos by Jon Warren. Story by Kari Costanza, World Vision U.S.

Like millions in Rwanda, Jacqueline Makamusoni's life was forever changed by the 1994 genocide. Her husband was killed in the slaughter that took nearly a million lives in just three months.

Jacqueline was left widowed and alone to raise three children, all under 5. "People could not trust each other," says Jacqueline. "Those who had lost people wondered if you had any hand in this."

Her family began to disintegrate.

"My older children dropped out of school," she remembers. "They became street children. We had nothing. That's when I met World Vision, and my oldest girl was sponsored."

A turning point

Things began to change for the better. "[In the genocide] they had destroyed the schools, and World Vision was constructing them," says Jacqueline. Her children were given educational materials and went back to school.

"From World Vision we got food," she explains, "and had our basic needs met. They built us a house. We also got cows and a goat."

Jacqueline began to put her life back together, remarrying and having twins, Yve and Yvette, now 10.

Grief and loss return

And then the bottom dropped out. Again.

Jacqueline's husband, a soldier, was killed in fighting in Congo. When asked how she coped as a widow again, now with five children to raise, she smiles ruefully. "It's really God; it's not me who raised the children," she says.

She needed a way to become the breadwinner for her children. She had hopes and dreams for them that seemed out of reach.

Micro loans and hard work make the difference

World Vision's microfinance program, VisionFund, is helping her to achieve her dreams for her children.

She joined with two other widows to receive a loan and training in how to use the funds effectively. "VisionFund lent us money to start a small restaurant," she explains. They started with a small loan of $250 split three ways. "We had no collateral except a small plot with trees. We said, 'If we fail to pay you back...you can have our trees.'

"This is a very good thing that World Vision did: trusting me when I am a woman and I don't have a husband," says Jacqueline. "Some might say, 'A woman can't pay this back.'"

The ladies put their heads together, rolled up their sleeves, and went to work. "We didn't have plates. We borrowed from the neighbors. We also borrowed saucepans from the neighbors," recalls Jacqueline. "We saved a portion of the loan, and with the rest we bought food. We paid it off in six months. When you pay well, you have the chance to get another loan."

They used the second loan for $175 to buy cooking equipment.

A place of peace -- and the best food

Soon they had the best restaurant in town -- serving 50 customers a day and even catering events.

It is only fitting that she would name the restaurant Ituze, or "A Place of Peace."

"Because of the loan, my children have food to eat," she says. "They have clothes. They go to school. Our community is really happy. They love the restaurant. We serve good meat and chips. We can make our own mayonnaise. If there are any guests, any big person who comes to this area, they have somewhere to take the person.

"And how have things changed for me? I have a good life," says Jacqueline.

Learn more

Check out World Vision Micro -- World Vision’s new microfinance site that allows users to connect one-on-one with an entrepreneur of their choice, whom they can provide with a small loan for starting or expanding a business, creating jobs, and alleviating poverty.

Read another story about a father in Mexico who was able to improve and expand his carpentry business with a micro loan provided through World Vision.

Three ways you can help

Pray that God would encourage micro loan recipients like Jacqueline, who work tirelessly to provide for their children.

Fund a loan now for a hardworking entrepreneur of your choice. He or she will build a business whose progress you can follow, and once your loan is repaid, it will be recycled to help more families and grow entire communities!

Sponsor a child in Rwanda. Your love and support for a child will help provide basics like food, clean water, healthcare, and education — all building blocks for a future of hope.

Orphaned children in Albania receive gifts

By Bardha Prendi, World Vision Albania. Edited by Meghan Bardwell, World Vision U.S.

July 2010

Sometimes small gifts can change a child's life. For 15-year-old Mbaresa, new clothes and a book she received through Grace Church of Tirana and World Vision reminded her of her family's love, a love that she misses daily.

"I felt a family hug," she says as tears fill her eyes.

Mbaresa was one of 37 orphaned children who received new clothes, hygiene kits, and Christian books as part of World Vision's gifts-in-kind program, which aims to meet the basic needs of children through partnerships with corporations that donate products.

A changed life

Mbaresa and her two siblings came to Zyber Hallulli, the oldest children's institution in Albania's capital of Tirana, nine years ago after their mother's death and their father's imprisonment.

Even though Mbaresa has had a very difficult life, she is full of hopes and dreams.

"I really want to be a psychologist because I have many questions about life and I want to explore them for myself and others," she says. "I want to understand 'why' for so many things."

One year ago, her life changed forever when she became a Christian at a summer camp conducted by Grace Church.

"For the first time in my life, I felt unexplained joy in my heart," says Mbaresa, choking back tears. "At this camp, I really understood the love of Jesus. My life has changed greatly since I accepted Jesus in my heart."

Gifts of encouragement

Watching the improvement in the lives of children like Mbaresa brings joy to church members partnering with World Vision. "I'm deeply encouraged from Mbaresa's life after she accepted Jesus in her heart," says Gentiana Belilaj, one of the members of Grace Church. "I think Jesus is the greatest need for these children to give them a new hope after the horrible life they have experienced."

"We partnered with World Vision to support these children," she added.

The clothes and books given out that day fulfilled some of the children's basic needs, while providing them with the support that they miss.

"The gifts made these children feel important and loved, and that's worth a lot," says Drita Mandreja, the director of the children's institution. More than 30 employees also received much-needed clothing and books for the first time from donors. "It was such an encouragement to us," says Drita.

Donations to help orphaned children worldwide

Although clothes, books, and hygiene kits are small items, the joy these gifts bring the children will have a lasting impact on their lives.

"I'm very happy to receive the gifts," says 6-year-old Kristiana Ismajli, smiling shyly. Her blue eyes shine as she opens her box. "The gifts that I like most are the books."

The donated items will not only help these orphaned children, but also other children and their families in Tirana.

"We have planned to deliver [the gifts from World Vision to] Preze and Babrru," says Gentiana. "These villages have probably some of the poorest families in Tirana."

To bring hope to more children like Mbaresa, World Vision accepts corporate donations of high-quality books, clothing, and hygiene products. We distribute these items through a network of community partners like Grace Church of Tirana.

"I really enjoyed the new clothes; they were beautiful [and] I like them," says Mbaresa. "Through these gifts I could see the love of Jesus," she concludes with tears in her eyes.

Learn more

Read another story about how World Vision helped save a child's life in rural Burundi with the gift of medicine donated by another generous corporate partner.

Three ways you can help

Thank God for the churches that partner with World Vision to help children in their own communities. Pray that the items that companies donate to World Vision will encourage the children who receive them, letting them know that they are cared for and loved.

Donate now to help provide clothing for children in need like Mbaresa. Thanks to generous donations from corporations like Reebok, your gift will help ship and distribute brand-new shirts, coats, and more to children around the world.

Sponsor a child in Albania. By showing your love and support for a child in need, you'll help provide for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, building the foundation for a future of hope.

Water project in Vietnam promises healthier lives for villagers

July 2010

By Ngan Kim Nguyen, World Vision Vietnam. Edited by Meghan Bardwell, World Vision U.S.

Little Ho Thi The and her siblings don't need to walk hours to fetch water. They can take the water for their family's daily cooking and drinking from a big stream near their house. Before carrying four plastic cans of water home, the 11-year-old girl can wash clothes and have a bath there.

The's family, as well as the other families of Cheng village, live along the stream because they are able to gain access to the water, a resource especially precious during dry season. But now, the stream is being polluted by local coffee processing companies, threatening the health of The and the other villagers.

Villagers suffer from sickness

"The companies, which are located in the upper reach, directly discharge their wastewater to the stream, which is our only water source," explains Ho Van Chin, leader of the village.

Despite no official study, waterborne diseases from the contaminated stream can be found in nearly every home.

"My children often have stomachache[s], and my whole family has scabies," says The's mother, 29-year-old Ho Thi Do.

Her neighbor suffers from the same circumstances.

"My family, with five members, has itchy sores on our skin. My 2-year-old daughter suffers the most," says Ho Thi Co, 27. "The disease makes her feel uncomfortable from 7 p.m. until early morning every day. She sometimes scratches the itch on her head until it bleeds. She cries all night, so we often don't have a good sleep."

The two women buy medicine for their children at a local health station, but the diseases continue to return.

"Scabies occurs at our village every year and a stomachache is common, especially for our children," village leader Chin reveals. "The whole village was infected with sore eyes last year."

Poverty limits access to clean water

A World Vision survey found that the local stream is the main source of water for 16.3 percent of the population in the Huong Phung Commune of Vietnam, where Cheng is located. However, despite the recurring diseases from using unclean water, residents of that small village have no other choices for a water supply, due to financial difficulties.

Along with unclean water, unhygienic living conditions face local people. The survey showed that 85 percent of interviewed people in the commune haven't had a latrine -- or their hand-made latrines are considered to be dirty.

Villagers in Cheng are no exception.

"None of [the] villagers have a latrine at their house because we're all poor," says leader Chin.

A vision for clean water

Responding to the needs of Cheng and other villages in Huong Phung Commune, World Vision will launch a water and sanitation project to improve villagers' living conditions.

"To be implemented between 2010 and 2011, the project will support the local community and schools to drill wells or install water supply systems so that they can gain access to safe water...[and] upgrade or construct their own latrines," says Tran Xuan Thuy, who is in charge of the initiative.

Needy villagers in Cheng look forward to healthier lives with the World Vision-funded project -- one of many across the globe aimed at improving communities' access to this basic, critical resource.

"I hope there is a big tank of clean water at my village," The's mother says. "Though the road is not too far, fetching water isn't an easy job, especially during hot weather. I don't want my daughter to be tired of carrying water so she can take a rest after school."

"I wish for safe water because it's the most urgent. Having the water, the villagers are able to keep their health well," says leader Chin. "After water, I hope my village will be supported to build hygienic latrine[s]."

Learn more

Read another story about a village in Niger that was transformed by a World Vision project that brought clean water to its residents.

Three ways you can help

Thank God that the villagers of Cheng will receive the help they need through World Vision's water project. Pray for help for other villages in Vietnam and around the world that suffer from similar illnesses because of unclean water.

Donate now to help support World Vision's water and sanitation projects around the world. The gift of clean water can dramatically improve people's lives, reducing illness and combating the cycle of poverty.

Give monthly to help World Vision provide clean water and sanitation to children and communities around the world where the need is great. These simple resources can mean the difference between despair and hope.

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