16 April 2005
BEIRUT: World Vision International, a privately funded Christian humanitarian organization working for the well-being of poor and vulnerable people around the world, especially children, recently celebrated 30 years since its establishment in Lebanon. Beginning its work in the country in 1975, World Vision focused on supporting children's education projects and providing emergency relief during the Lebanese civil war.
"In recent years, to enhance our program's impact on children, families and communities, we have gradually moved to participatory community development projects," said the national director of World Vision Lebanon, Bruce Menser.
"Such projects have a long-term, sustainable effect on the community whereby individuals are able to attend to their own social and spiritual needs once World Vision (WV) has left the community," Menser said, adding that children were the focus of World Vision Lebanon's program.
"Children's centers with activities providing educational and recreational support have been established and integrated into communities where WV Lebanon is operating," he said.
"World Vision also works closely with community youth leaders, providing them with training that enables them to organize and implement children's activities in accordance with the principles of the children's rights convention," Menser said.
WV's community development project includes programs focusing on education, agriculture, and vocational and skills training that aim to develop the capacities of children, parents and communities alike.
"Attained through a participatory approach, these activities provide better living conditions for children, parents and the community as well as ensuring the sustainability of the community projects," Menser said.
WV was founded in 1950 by Reverend Bob Pierce, an American evangelist who was profoundly moved by the poverty and hunger he encountered in Asia.
In partnership with disadvantaged communities, WV provides assistance to the poorer members of Lebanese society by enhancing their education systems, improving their health care, increasing agricultural output, creating jobs, fostering self-development, and nurturing their youth.
In the 1970s, World Vision embraced a broader community development model and established an emergency relief division. It attempted to address the causes of poverty by focusing on community needs such as water, sanitation, education, healthcare, and management training.
By 1985, World Vision had development projects in 84 nations and was responding to some of the world's worst humanitarian disasters.
With the collapse of communism in the 1990s, World Vision began operations in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. It provided small loans for poor entrepreneurs, and found homes for disabled and institutionalized children.
"We aim to raise public awareness and promote justice by helping people understand the roots of poverty. World Vision first and foremost promotes people's involvement in the improvement of their own communities, and government policies that alleviate poverty," Menser said.
