World Vision's Hope Initiative

The Hope Initiative is World Vision's commitment to address this unprecedented AIDS crisis.

For more than 50 years, World Vision has worked with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. But the hard-won achievements of those 50 years of relief and development work have been jeopardized by HIV and AIDS.

World Vision's response to the disease dates back to at least 1990, when we began programs helping orphans and their caregivers in Uganda, providing care for Romanian children infected through unsterilized needles, and helping young women and girls escape prostitution in Thailand. Over the next decade, World Vision offices around the world addressed the issue on a national and community level, sometimes engaging the local church in its efforts to prevent AIDS and care for those affected by the pandemic.

In light of the enormity and severity of the pandemic in Africa, and the increasing potential for catastrophic prevalence rates in Asia, Latin America/Caribbean and Eastern Europe, World Vision is responding to what could become a devastating epidemic. Through an organization-wide initiative utilizing human, technical, and financial resources, we are adapting our best practices from Africa in our worldwide response.

Through the Hope Initiative, special emphasis is given to creating partnerships with governments, churches, and other faith communities, peer agencies, local communities, families, and children. Everyone’s efforts will be required to turn the tide on AIDS.

World Vision's Comprehensive Response

World Vision is working to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS through innovative and compassionate care, prevention efforts and effective advocacy.

Prevention

Prevention Education—World Vision provides age-appropriate HIV education to children and teens, often through church youth groups that use drama and song to educate their peers about HIV/AIDS prevention.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission—We teach mothers and fathers how to avoid transmitting HIV to unborn or nursing children and support them in accessing antiretroviral drugs.

Work with high-risk groups—World Vision programs reach sex workers, truck drivers and migrant workers to educate, provide counseling and care, and offer alternative income generating opportunities.

Care

Meeting basic needs—In communities hard-hit by HIV/AIDS, we help provide things such as clean water, nutritious food, health care, education, plus vocational training for older children and adults.

Encouraging testing—HIV testing and counseling can help people learn to live with the disease and protect themselves and their children.

Home-based care—In partnership with local churches and community leaders, World Vision staff and volunteers personally visit vulnerable children and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Sharing love and hope—Our compassionate staff and volunteers counsel and pray with children and families, demonstrating God’s unconditional love.

Advocacy

Influence policy—As a voice for children and families, we advocate for public policies that promote effective methods of HIV and AIDS prevention and care.

Support for churches—World Vision works through churches and community groups to overcome silence, stigma and discrimination for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Raise awareness—We seek to increase support for orphans and vulnerable children, families and adults affected by HIV and AIDS as well as share our expertise to benefit as many people as possible.

How you can respond...

Your campus can support World Vision's important work by taking the 6,000 Challenge throughout the Fall. We are asking each college campus to raise $6,000 and collect 6,000 advocacy signatures to represent the 6,000 children who become orphans every day because of AIDS. Our hope is that by World AIDS Day (December 1, 2007), this movement will have raise thousands of dollars for communities most in need and will have recruited thousands of Americans who will actively lend their voices for the millions of people affected by HIV and AIDS.
For more information, please visit our 6000 Challenge web page or e-mail actingonaids@worldvision.org.