Meet the young people whose lives have been transformed by supporters like you.
The support sponsors give to children has a deep and lasting impact on their lives, and the lives of many others in their communities. Child Sponsorship makes a real, tangible difference to children's education, health and well-being, and transforms their prospects for the future.
Meet some of the young people whose lives have been transformed by supporters like you.
Priscilla’s life was transformed when she was sponsored at just five years old. She still remembers the moment she heard the news: “I ran home shouting, ‘I have a friend from abroad!’”
The letters she received became a huge motivation: “Each letter gave me the encouragement to keep going… every letter from my sponsor reminded me that someone believed in me.”
Growing up in a community where many girls dropped out of education due to early pregnancy and poverty, sponsorship provided Priscilla with school supplies, menstrual hygiene products, and life‑skills training that helped her stay in school and build confidence.
Inspired by the midwives at her local health centre, Priscilla trained in midwifery and now serves in the very place she was born. “I’ve come full circle,” she says. Her work now saves lives, inspires girls, and supports a healthier community.
“Thanks to World Vision and my sponsor, I’m not just a midwife I’m proof that with belief and support, anything is possible."
Mathieu, now 26, grew up facing significant hardship. Raised by his grandmother Aniesse, he remembers that she had no means to send him to school.
Everything changed when he was sponsored. Thanks to this support, Mathieu was able to complete his primary and secondary education, opening the door to opportunities he never thought possible.
Sponsorship didn’t stop at education. He was later selected for an entrepreneurial and financial management training programme, which gave him the skills and confidence to build a future for himself. With additional funding from World Vision, Mathieu launched a small shop selling basic necessities - a turning point in his life.
After noticing a growing local need, Mathieu added mobile money top‑ups to his store, which has increased his sales. He credits sponsorship for everything he has achieved, saying “World Vision’s sponsorship has changed my life.”
Today, Mathieu dreams of expanding his business so he can help and give more to those in need in his community. His sponsor has helped him gain an education, gain self-confidence by feeling valued, and acquire the skills needed to become a young entrepreneur.
Mary's journey shows how sponsorship can open doors a child never imagined. Sponsored at just three years old, she remembers the moment she received her first letter: “It was my first time having a ‘Muzungu’ friend… I stuck her photo next to my bed.” These exchanges kept her focused and motivated.
Growing up, Mary watched peers struggle without basic school supplies, but her experience was different. “There was never a time I lacked school requirements,” she says, “I felt truly blessed.” Having books, a bag, and pens helped her thrive and stay engaged in learning.
Sponsorship changed her home life too, with a gift she never expected: “I couldn’t believe it… but yes, it was a real cow!” she laughs. That cow grew into a small herd that provided milk, income and funds to diversify into pig farming.
These animals helped keep Mary in school. Whenever fees were due, her parents could sell one to cover the costs. After completing secondary school, they used proceeds from the livestock to pay her tuition for teacher training.
Today, 26-year-old Mary pours her energy into shaping young minds with the same hope she once received. Her story shows how one sponsor’s support can empower a child to discover who they were always meant to become.
Htoo, 28, grew up in a tight-knit family in southwest Myanmar. Although his parents worked hard to meet their children’s basic needs, they struggled financially throughout his childhood.
Life changed when Htoo was chosen to be a sponsored child at the age of eight. Over the next eight years, sponsorship provided health education, essentials like mosquito nets, and activities that helped him become “more sociable and confident.”
One moment stayed with him: “Receiving a birthday card from my sponsor… knowing that someone far away cared about me.”
For his family, sponsorship was life‑changing too. With school fees covered, “I could complete my education without worries,” Htoo says. His parents could finally focus on providing nutritious meals, and farming skills training helped them move closer to breaking the cycle of poverty.
This support enabled Htoo to finish university in 2021 and eventually join World Vision, earning a steady income and serving children in his own community.
He credits his sponsor for shaping his future: “Though I may not remember his face, his kindness and support will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
Learn more about how much sponsoring a child costs or how to sponsor a child.
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