About Us

World Vision has a long history of taking groundbreaking action that transforms the world. Our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children, in the most difficult places, overcome poverty and experience fullness of life.

We serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God's unconditional love for all people. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

How We Work

World Vision Ireland

We have been active in Ireland since 1983 and are part of World Vision International, the largest privately funded NGO in the world.

From the late 1990s onwards, World Vision Ireland was in a position to respond to long-term humanitarian crises with emergency relief and rehabilitation programming in countries such as Somalia, Sudan and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since then, we have also supported responses to large scale rapid onset emergencies including the 2005 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and the Sulawesi Earthquake that hit Indonesia in late 2018.

Our current work reflects this historical development of our programmes, as World Vision Ireland continues to strategically support communities in emergency, rehabilitation and recovery and in long term sustainable development.

We respond to emergencies, from droughts to civil war

In 2019 alone, we helped more than 20 million people in emergencies

We empower children and communities in extreme poverty

We are in almost 100 countries, working to end poverty

We protect children from abuse and exploitation

We challenge all forms of abuse and exploitation, from child marriage to FGM

African girls getting water from a World Vision branded tap

Our approach

Inspired by our Christian faith, we help children of all backgrounds in the world's most dangerous places. We're dedicated to working with children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We're a community of change-makers - generous donors, community members, valued partners, and staff who mobilise to make a real and lasting difference in lives around the world.

Together, we tackle poverty at its roots, with an integrated approach that includes water, healthcare, education, child protection, and income generation. We're part of a global movement - a Christian humanitarian organisation that has provided short- and long-term assistance to 200 million vulnerable children, in the past five years. Together, we build lasting change.

How we're different

Community-led

We know that communities have the best understanding of their own struggles. Often they also have the best idea of how to achieve their dreams. We simply listen - and give the tools and training for communities to deliver those dreams, transforming the lives of children and their parents.

School girl smiles and raises fist at school in Zambia

Child-focused

We know that changing a child's life can transform a family, a community and an entire area. In all we do, we work towards children’s complete wellbeing, helping them to overcome poverty and get the education they often long for. It is these children who go on to become the doctors, teachers and engineers of the future; they who will stop future generations ending up in poverty.

Faith-based

Inspired by our Christian faith, we help all children - of all faiths and none - even in the most dangerous places. We strive to protect God's creation and demonstrate God's love. We fight to make sure every child reaches their God given potential.

How you can help

It takes ordinary people coming together to make extraordinary impact.

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World Vision's history, from 1950 to today

Bob Pierce, World Vision founder, stands with a large group of young children

1950s: Bob Pierce founds World Vision

Christian Minister, Bob Pierce founded World Vision by helping one young girl with $5 he had in his pocket. Now, thanks to the support of tens of thousands of people worldwide, World Vision has transformed the lives of people in more than 100 countries.

Two refugees on the Seasweep, the smaller child clings to the older child.

1970s: Saving Vietnamese refugees

After the Vietnam War, thousands of refugees were at risk. A World Vision ship became the first international rescue ship to provide food and medical assistance to 93 stranded refugees from Vietnam during Operation Seasweep in 1979. We support refugees all over the world today.

1980s: Ethiopian famine

In the 1980s, millions were at risk of starvation in Ethiopia due to a famine. World Vision were first in and last out in Ethiopia, providing food and water and helping communities to become self sufficient through farming. We still work in Ethiopia today.

1983 : World Vision Ireland was founded

From the late 1990s onwards, World Vision Ireland was in a position to respond to long-term humanitarian crises with emergency relief and rehabilitation programming in countries such as Somalia, Sudan and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since then, we have also supported responses to large scale rapid onset emergencies including the 2005 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and the Sulawesi Earthquake that hit Indonesia in late 2018.

Our current work reflects this historical development of our programmes, as World Vision Ireland continues to strategically support communities in emergency, rehabilitation and recovery and in long term sustainable development.

Relatives walk among the graves near their house.

1990s: Speaking out on the AID's crisis

At a time when AIDS was deeply stigmatised, we spoke out to help millions of children. We helped bring about global action with the HIV and AIDS Hope Initiative. Still today, we help prevent new cases, care for children at risk and speak out to stop the spread of HIV.

Mother, Father and Daughter smile in Thailand

2000s: Rebuilding after the tsunami

The earthquake that hit Indonesia in 2004 triggered a massive tsunami. Nearly 230,000 people lost their lives and many more were injured and left homeless. World Vision initiated its largest-ever relief response across all of the five affected countries, raising US $350 million. We continue to support these communities today.

Young Syrian girl stares at camera in refugee camp

2010: Helping in war-torn Syria

With millions displaced and at risk, we've been responding to the war in Syria since it began in 2011 - helping with healthcare, emergency food, water and sanitation, shelter repair kits, education and recreation. We're also providing child protection training for adults and psychological support for families.

Young boy washes his hands at a makeshift tap with a mask on

Today: Protecting the most vulnerable from Coronavirus

We've mobilised quickly to protect vulnerable children and families from coronavirus - providing them with clean water and sanitiser. We've led training and teaching across the world to empower communities to protect themselves and those they love.