As we step into 2026, Lets take a moment to reflect on the impact made throughout 2025. To our supporters, sponsors, donors, volunteers and community partners, thank you. Your compassion and commitment to the world’s most vulnerable children have been at the heart of everything we’ve achieved.
Together, we worked to bring lasting change, strengthen communities and deliver vital support where it was needed most. We invite you to look back on the highlights of 2025, a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we come together to create a brighter future for children around the world.
2025 was a devastating year for far too many children. Conflict, climate-related disasters and hunger disrupted the lives of millions around the world. Yet, without the compassion and commitment of sponsors and donors like you, the effects would have been more severe.
Because of your generosity, 2025 was also a year marked by resilience, progress and hope. Together, we helped bring clean water to communities, supported children to access education, delivered life-saving assistance in times of crisis, and continued to stand alongside the world’s most vulnerable children when they needed it most.
Take a look at the impact below to see what we achieved together.
In 2025, we executed a range of powerful campaigns and projects aimed at supporting the world’s most vulnerable children. From raising awareness of child sponsorship to providing essential resources and life-saving support, each initiative played an important role in advancing our mission.
Explore the key campaigns and projects that helped create change throughout the year.
Peace Mindanao
In February, Laurène and Morgane from our programmes team visited Cotabato and Marawi in the Philippines to meet the young changemakers of the PEACE Mindanao project. Over 3,000 children, youth, and community members are leading peace initiatives in schools and communities affected by conflict. Students shared how School Peace Clubs have helped them gain confidence, speak out, and develop their own peace action plans. Many showcased their learning through essays, posters, and a vibrant Cotabato dance performance.
Nourish
In May, as part of the Irish Aid–funded NOURISH programme, Maurice from our Programmes team travelled to Vanuatu, spending time with colleagues from World Vision Vanuatu and meeting families taking part in the programme. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to learn from local teams and hear directly from participants about what’s working and how the programme can continue to improve.
Maurice met members of the Savings for Transformation groups, including the formidable grannies Annette, Mercy, and Melka, who shared how the programme has helped them pay off debts, renovate their homes, and support their grandchildren in care. As Mercy explained, beyond the financial benefits, being part of the group has helped her feel more connected to her community. The visit also highlighted how families are strengthening food security through backyard gardening. Ruben and Rebecca have used their savings to build household assets and grow vegetables in every available corner of their garden, while Etienne is learning how to maximise limited space in urban Port Vila to produce food for his household.
100 Girls
In August, we launched our annual 100 Girls campaign, focused on girls living in some of the world’s most dangerous places. The campaign shines a light on the unique challenges girls face, including limited access to education, early marriage, and gender-based violence.
Through child sponsorship, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, the campaign supports girls with access to education, health services, and mentorship. By investing in girls, we help them not only survive but thrive, breaking the cycle of poverty and creating brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
As part of the campaign, we were proud to partner with two inspiring Irish voices who helped amplify the 100 Girls message and reach new audiences. Through their platforms, Aghogho Okpara and Julie Millen highlighted the barriers girls face and the transformative power of sponsorship. Aghogho, an award-winning medical student and advocate for educational equity, shared powerful insights on the importance of access to education. Julie, a mum, yoga teacher and travel creator, encouraged her community to take action through her compassionate, family-centred content.
In May, the team visited Sijo, Bab Al Noor and Alharamin camps in A’zaz, Aleppo Governorate, North-West Syria. Here, EMPOWER! is strengthening protection, wellbeing and economic empowerment for women and girls affected by conflict.
Through the project, two Child Friendly Spaces and two Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces have been established by World Vision, providing safe environments for learning, healing and connection. Women attending the safe spaces developed practical skills, including hairdressing, and our team member, Esperanza, got to experience their hairdressing skills first-hand.
This work is helping to challenge harmful gender norms, improve access to psychosocial support for survivors of gender-based violence, and empower women and girls socially and economically.
Under EMPOWER!, the Fighting Words initiative also brought creativity into classrooms. Alongside the Fighting Words team, we visited Diilin and Cambare National Schools in Puntland to support teachers in running creative writing workshops. Through stories, songs and drama, children found new ways to express themselves, build confidence and amplify their voices.
Together, these visits highlighted the meaningful impact of EMPOWER! and our ongoing commitment to walking alongside communities as they build safer, more empowered futures.
None of this life-changing work we do would be possible without the unwavering support of our supporters. Your generosity and commitment continue to open doors for children, families and entire communities. In 2025, sponsor trips to Tanzania and Uganda brought the impact of our child sponsorship programmes to life.
Tanzania Sponsor Trip
In June, we were delighted to welcome a group of dedicated sponsors to Tanzania, where they saw firsthand the difference a long-term partnership makes and the urgent need that remains in newly supported communities. In Endabash and Lake Eyasi, two Area Programmes supported for over 15 years, sponsors witnessed transformation in action. Children were learning in bright, well-equipped classrooms, families had access to clean water, and communities benefited from safe sanitation facilities that protect health and dignity. These vibrant communities stood as powerful examples of what sustained sponsorship can achieve.
Uganda Sponsor Trip
In September, a group of our child sponsors travelled to Uganda to meet the children they support, an experience that will stay with them for a lifetime. Spending time together in the community, sponsors were able to see their support come to life in meaningful and tangible ways.
During the visit, sponsors met their sponsored children, shared moments of connection and joy, and gained a deeper understanding of daily life in the community. They visited classrooms built and equipped by World Vision, saw pump stations constructed in schools providing clean, safe water, and explored a mock courtroom where students learn about their rights and build confidence through participation and debate.
Ambassador Spotlight
We were delighted to hear our ambassador, Fiona Looney, on the radio during the Christmas period as part of our Christmas of Firsts campaign. Fiona shared why child sponsorship matters and how it can create life-changing “firsts” for children living in some of the world’s toughest places.
Speaking from her own experience of visiting her sponsored child in Uganda, Fiona highlighted the real and lasting impact sponsorship has on a child’s education and wellbeing. A long-time supporter of World Vision Ireland, we are deeply grateful to Fiona for continuing to use her voice to champion children and inspire others to take action.
We are a proud member of the Irish Emergency Alliance, a union of leading humanitarian agencies working together to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies around the world. Active in 93 of the world’s poorest countries, the Alliance enables faster responses in some of the most complex and challenging contexts, thanks to the generosity of supporters across Ireland.
Myanmar Earthquake Appeal
In March 2025, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, devastating communities and impacting millions of children and families across the region. Homes, schools and essential infrastructure were destroyed, leaving families displaced and children facing the frightening aftermath of the disaster with nowhere safe to turn. Children were left exposed to heightened risks, sleeping outdoors, injured, traumatised, and without access to clean water, food or safe shelter.
With over 30 years of experience working in Myanmar, World Vision’s local teams were among the first to respond, assessing needs and delivering urgent assistance. Through the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal, support focused on providing life-saving essentials, including emergency food supplies, clean water, temporary shelter and hygiene kits for children and families. This response helped bring hope and protection to children during an unimaginably frightening time, reminding them that even in the midst of disaster, they were not alone.
Behind every programme, response, and campaign is our dedicated team. Last year, we came together to deliver meaningful impact for children while continuing to learn, adapt and grow. These team highlights capture some of the moments that defined the year.
Charity Excellence Awards
We were honoured to be named a finalist in the Charity Excellence Awards 2025 in the Best Supporter Experience category. This recognition reflects the dedication and care of our incredible team, as well as the commitment of our supporters who walk alongside us in our mission to transform the lives of children in the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Beach Clean Up
As part of our staff day, the World Vision Ireland team headed to Bull Island for a beach clean-up, stepping outside the office to give back to the environment. The day was filled with teamwork, fresh air and a shared sense of purpose, reminding us of the impact we can make when we come together.
COP30
COP30 took place in Belém, Brazil, this year, and World Vision was there to ensure children’s voices were heard where decisions about their future are made.
Maurice Sadlier, our Programmes and Policy Director, attended to advocate for children’s right to a safe, healthy and sustainable future. He moderated an intergenerational side event co-hosted with the Government of the Solomon Islands, bringing together youth advocates, government leaders and partners to explore how to protect forests, oceans and biodiversity.
A highlight of the event was Lynthia from Makira, Solomon Islands, who joined the panel as World Vision’s youngest child delegate at COP30 at age 12. Through her stories and drawings, Lynthia shared her perspective during the session “Natural Resource Management: Intergenerational Dialogue,” engaging leaders and advocates from around the world. Her presence powerfully demonstrated why child participation matters. Children bring creativity and insight to climate discussions, reminding us that they should be considered in the decisions made that will shape their future.
N4G Summit
In March, World Vision was honoured to take part in the Nutrition for Growth Summit in France, including a powerful roundtable discussion co-hosted with the Government of Ireland and Irish Aid at the Irish Embassy in France. The event brought together government representatives, partners and advocates to address the urgent global challenge of child hunger and malnutrition.
At the heart of the discussion were two inspiring young delegates, Williams from Sierra Leone and Sunischita from Nepal, who shared their lived experiences of hunger with confidence and courage. Williams spoke movingly about the daily realities faced by children in his community, from struggling to concentrate in school to skipping meals and living with constant fatigue. Sunischita highlighted the role leaders play in supporting young people, emphasising that with the right opportunities, children can be powerful agents of change in the fight against malnutrition.
Our CEO, Gillian Barnett, reinforced the importance of child participation, highlighting how children’s perspectives are essential in shaping effective responses to hunger and malnutrition. The roundtable underscored the critical importance of the Global Nutrition Targets and the need for collective action to end malnutrition in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Key Meetings & Partnerships
Throughout 2025, we engaged with key partners, policymakers and institutions to help shape a stronger, more effective global response for children and communities most at risk. From meetings with Minister Neale Richmond and Irish Aid to discussions on Ireland’s upcoming Council of the EU Presidency this year, these engagements reinforced the importance of leadership on child hunger, gender equality and humanitarian action.
We were proud to contribute to high-level consultations with the Irish Emergency Alliance, participate in the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence’s 20-year milestone event, and join conversations on the Humanitarian Reset alongside global and national leaders, advocating for a system that puts communities at the centre. Our continued partnership with organisations such as the Bank of Ireland Staff Charitable Fund also highlighted the power of long-term collaboration in delivering life-changing impact across multiple countries. Together, these moments reflect our commitment to influencing policy and strengthening partnerships.
As we look ahead to 2026, our focus remains clear: standing with the world’s most vulnerable children as they overcome poverty and experience fullness of life, now and into the future. Guided by our faith, we serve children regardless of their background, beliefs, or location, ensuring that no child is left behind.
Building on the momentum of 2025, we remain committed to more than doubling the number of vulnerable children we reach by 2027, deepening our impact, strengthening partnerships and continuing to amplify children’s voices in the spaces where decisions are made. Our team enters the year ahead with renewed purpose and determination. The progress achieved so far gives us confidence, and we are motivated by the meaningful change still to come.
None of this would be possible without the generosity and trust of our sponsors, donors and supporters. Together, we are creating lasting change for children, families and communities around the world. Thank you for walking alongside us.