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The following is a list of the most commonly asked questions about
World Vision and the work World Vision does. Answers to questions about
Child Sponsorship can be found here.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you
aren't able to find the answers to your questions.
What is World Vision and what does it do?
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities living in poverty.
Inspired by Christian values, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. We provide help on the basis of need and serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
Over a billion people in poor countries around the world live in poverty and struggle
every day simply to survive. World Vision's work helps improve the lives of those
children, families and communities living in poverty.
World Vision is Australia's largest charitable group. More Australians entrust more
money to World Vision than any other charity in the country. With the support of more
than 400,000 Australians, World Vision helps over 12.4 million people every year. As well
as providing relief in emergency situations, we work on long-term community development
projects that address the causes of poverty and help people move towards
self-sufficiency.
We depend on the support of the Australian public for funding, with the majority of
income coming from child sponsorship. Other avenues include emergency relief appeals,
Government grants, cash donations and the 40 Hour Famine Appeal.
Does aid really get
through?
World Vision accounts for every dollar received. External audits are conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers
in addition to our own internal audits. We are accredited by the Australian
government and work under the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of
Conduct, as well as regulations set out by the Australian Agency for International
Development (AusAID). The Code sets out standards on how organisations are managed,
how they communicate with the public, and most importantly, how they spend the funds
they raise.
Our financial audit processes are strict and stringent to ensure that donations are not
lost or wasted. World Vision staff, both here in Australia and overseas, monitor and
visit projects to make certain that all funds are properly used.
Many Australian supporters have visited World Vision projects to see for themselves
that the money donated gets there and is used wisely. World Vision supporters receive
the World Vision News magazine, which reports on how supporters' money is helping to
change people's lives.
For full financial and audit details, please read our annual report.
How much gets to the cause?
In 2007, the generous gifts of our supporters helped us to create a better future for over 20.4 million people living in poverty:
In the last financial year (2007) World Vision Australia's revenue was spent in the following way:
Program related expenses
International projects (73.3%)
We diligently manage all financial contributions to provide the maximum funding possible to our programs in community development, emergency relief and policy change.
Global management and expertise (3.8%)
World Vision Australia is part of the World Vision International Partnership which operates in 97 countries. By sharing our experiences through the World Vision International Partnership we improve efficiency and maximise economies of scale. Our technical experts, strategists and global leaders in the international partnership office help with global strategy and specialty expertise. The World Vision International Partnership also engages in international advocacy activities on issues such as debt relief, HIV and AIDS and child rights.
International field offices (3.5%)
Staff in the national offices of the countries where we work help to implement development and relief programs working alongside local communities.
Project management in Australia (1.6%)
Quality advisors and sector specialists in areas such as health and economic development are employed here in Australia to provide support to program staff both in Australia and overseas ensuring our programs achieve the best outcomes.
Domestic projects (0.3%)
Our program work here in Australia.
Community education (0.8%)
Community education includes the costs associated with public awareness campaigns conducted here in Australia, as well as advocacy activities which seek to bring about change in government and institutional policies.
Operational expenses
Fundraising (7.8%)
Fundraising campaigns are conducted to attract new supporters for our poverty alleviation activities. Included are the costs of marketing, creative services and publishing.
Administration (6.9%)
Administration includes the costs of computer technology, finance and accounting functions, human resources, legal and risk management services and managerial oversight.
Other disbursements (2.0%)
This includes the costs of our consulting and Indigenous art operations and amounts retained in surplus to fund future activities.
For full financial and audit details, please read our annual report and our annual statement & accounts.
Shouldn't we fix our own backyard first?
As well as working overseas, World Vision funds development projects, such as health and education programs, for disadvantaged indigenous people living in remote areas in Australia through our Linking Hands program.
As a nation, we need to become an active global citizen by engaging in the biggest issue facing our world - global poverty.
Being one of the most economically developed nations in a substantially under-developed region - the Asia Pacific is home to two-thirds of the world's 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty - Australia can afford to help. This is our backyard.
I pay my taxes to help - is the government not doing enough?
The Australian government has budgeted 0.30% of gross national income (GNI) for aid in 2006-07. In addition, The Prime Minister has announced an increase to around A$4000 million in 2010. This is likely to be 0.36% of GNI. Whilst this is an important step forward, it falls considerably short of the internationally agreed target of 0.5% of GNI by 2010 and 0.70% by 2015. It also places Australia's level of aid at a lowly 19th out of the 22 OECD donor nations. Much more is still required if Australia is to do its fair share to help address the causes and effects of global poverty.
Despite the important contributions made by governments around the world to address global poverty, more than 1.2 billion people struggle to survive on less than US$1 a day. That is why it is necessary for all elements of society (government, business and individuals) to contribute towards the fight against global poverty.
Can I make a difference?
Every person who supports World Vision's work is making a difference in someone's life.
Whether it's helping to provide the essentials to meet the basic needs of a child,
their family and community through sponsorship, helping rescue children from
exploitation, funding vital development work, helping people in emergency situations or
participating in advocacy campaigns.
Around 400,000 Australians now contribute to World Vision's work around the world. As a
part of a broader movement against global poverty, this is creating changes on a much
larger scale to the living standards of those living in desperate poverty, examples
include:
- Improved healthcare, for instance, has resulted in lower child mortality
- down from 15 million in 1980 to 11 million today for children under five
- An extensive immunisation campaign has freed more than 175 countries of polio
- Child deaths due to diarrhoea, which is largely caused by drinking unsafe water,
have dropped from 3 million in 1990 to 1.5 million in 2000.
How can I undertake a fundraising event?
World Vision has in place fundraising guidelines to help groups, individuals and organisations who wish to
undertake a fundraising event. If you have determined to undertake a fundraising event with the intention
that proceeds are to go to World Vision then the following requirements are essential to ensure accountability
to the donating public.
Please read the World Vision Fundraising Guidelines (PDF: 60KB) which will answer your questions about raising funds for World Vision.
Does World Vision use food and seeds from genetically modified grains?
Where possible, World Vision does not distribute genetically modified food however it is extremely difficult to verify GM content of donated grains.
Although the long-term effects of planting modified seeds are not yet known, the World Health Organisation has certified that genetically modified food can be eaten safely. World Vision believes that starvation is a more immediate risk to human health than eating genetically modified food.
When it comes to seeds, World Vision does not use genetically modified seeds for planting. The policy is always to mill the grain before distribution as food, so as to prevent planting of the seeds. We prefer to distribute conventionally bred seeds.
WV strives to take the most appropriate appproaches towards food security and poverty alleviation and this includes building robust and diverse agricultural environments. This approach is resulting in moderate to high, but stable yields each year, amidst the constantly changing, multiple environmental, social and economic challenges faced in developing countries.
WV places high emphasis on capacity building, enabling farmers to analyze their problems, understand root causes, collaborate with stakeholders such as government departments, researchers and NGOs and as conditions change, adjust their practices. Results in the field have borne out the wisdom of this approach.
Does World Vision provide hybrid seeds?
Most seed World Vision supplies is from open pollinated crop varieties, as opposed to seeds of varieties conventionally termed as Hybrid. This gives farmers living in complex, high risk contexts, the flexibility to save their own seed and use it year after year. It is critical for survival in the context of vulnerable and resource poor farmers to have this flexibility.
Also shaping our approach is the fact that most communities World Vision works in do not have access to inputs such as fertilisers or improved seed. There is little government technical support, loans for inputs are often not available at reasonable interest rates, and markets are poorly developed. In such settings World Vision’s aim is to build the resilience and self-sufficiency of vulnerable communities. In some situations, where there is no conflict with this goal, World Vision does supply Hybrid seed.
Does World Vision support the use of contraceptives?
World Vision programs support modern contraceptive methods as part of an integrated approach to effective family planning. World Vision’s family planning guidelines encourage both men and women to take equal responsibility for their children’s birth and development. With both maternal and child mortality rates at alarming levels in many developing countries, individuals and couples are provided with the knowledge and the means to determine the number and spacing of their children to ensure the survival and wellbeing of both mother and child. These objectives are consistent with the UN Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, which are reduce child mortality and improve maternal health respectively.
All contraceptive methods promoted by World Vision are reviewed with respect to ethical, medical and development standards. World Vision programs are also designed and implemented in partnership with communities, and in collaboration with national health policy, the local health system, local faith-based organisations and other non-government organisations implementing programs of a similar nature.
In recognition that contraceptive needs and preferences may vary depending on the cultural context, programs providing integrated voluntary family planning services offer a range of natural and artificial methods. Given the high risk for sexually transmitted infections (including HIV), dual protection methods are encouraged. Examples of protection methods include abstinence, consistent and correct use of condoms, use of a contraception method, and mutual monogamy.
Does World Vision support women to have abortions?
World Vision defines family planning as the provision of information and services to assist individuals and couples to responsibly determine the number, timing and spacing of their children. From World Vision’s perspective, family planning does not include abortion services and World Vision does not provide, recommend or support abortion.
World Vision Australia
GPO Box 399C
Melbourne VIC 3001
Phone: 1300 303 287 (local call cost)
World Vision Australia: ABN 28 004 778 081
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