Viva intro leaflet (UK)

Working together for children Viva was founded in 1996 by Patrick McDonald.

As a volunteer in Bolivia he found different churches in an area of a city providing food for street children but all on a Monday. Children feasted once a week but starved the rest of the time. This simple act of connecting churches ensured that more children were fed more often.

So began Viva’s vision to bring lasting change to vulnerable children by growing locally-led networks of churches and organisations.

Four ways you can join us in helping vulnerable children

1

Do something fun and raise money Run a 10K. Have a party. Host a cake sale. We’ve got loads of ideas – just ask!

2 3

Pray regularly Ask if you want to get our emails.

4

Promote Viva where you live We can give you details and resource you.

Make a regular gift Sign up at www.viva.org/give

We help people achieve more together than they can alone – allowing us to dream big dreams for whole cities!

How much does it cost?

All of Viva’s programmes unlock local resources and inspire churches to serve children and families, in partnership with others.

•

We are lean, creative and efficient, making our work highly cost-effective. We prioritise quality improvement through training in areas such as child protection.

Viva reaches 1.2 million children in 22 countries

•

•

£20 kits out a girl in Uganda with stationery and uniform so she can return to school £70 enables a child-friendly space to hold activities in a disaster-hit area for one month £100 practically helps to resettle a child back into the family or extended family home

Unit 8,The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1LF 01865 811660 | info@viva.org | www.viva.org Registered charity no. 1053389

Front page image: Patricia Andrews

PASSIONATE ABOUT RELEASING CHILDREN FROM POVERTY AND ABUSE WORLDWIDE

Unlocking the potential of girls

Transforming children through

education

In some cultures, girls experience extreme prejudice.

Education is a low priority; harassment is common.

Investing in education is crucial to reducing infant mortality, combatting poverty and preventing disease.

In Uganda, 20 Creative Learning Centres are re-educating 4,000 marginalised girls who had dropped out of school and training teachers to ensure learning is increasingly child-focused.

Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where children are in school – learning, thriving and able to contribute to society.

Keeping children safe Fear of violence, abuse and exploitation has become a normal way of life for children in Central America, even in the home.

We’ve launched a programme across the region to keep 35,000 children safe, to bring about a fundamental change of attitude and to influence government.

Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where children are free from violence and domestic abuse.

Making child trafficking history Parents in Asia are vulnerable to trafficking recruiters who promise to give their children a better life.

In Nepal, we’re mobilising thousands of church volunteers to keep children safe by providing homework clubs, assisting women’s businesses and spreading the antitrafficking message.

Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where children are free from exploitation and trafficking.

Resettling children into families A child with a family has people to support them – but a child in an institution is significantly less likely to thrive.

In Uganda, network members have already resettled 650 abandoned children into natural and foster families, saving them from a life on the streets.

Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where children grow up in safe and loving families.

In India, Viva is training and supporting churches to challenge discrimination, report abuse and help girls to know the positive role they can play.

Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where girls are valued, safe from exploitation and able to thrive.

Protecting children when disaster strikes Today’s world is volatile, with conflict and natural disaster happening all too often, affecting children the most.

The Philippines is regularly hit by typhoons. We respond by providing practical relief and psychological support for children and families, and setting up child-friendly spaces.

Leaders are trained to know what to do when disaster strikes again.

Viva’s big dream is to see whole cities where children are resilient and able to recover from natural disaster.