Established in 1950 to care for orphans in Asia, World Vision has grown to embrace the larger issues of community development and advocacy for the poor in its mission to help children and their families build sustainable futures.

The heart of World Vision's work is in helping communities build stronger and healthier relationships. The absence of such relationships impoverishes communities.

World Vision focuses on children because they are the best indicator of a community's social health. When children are fed, sheltered, schooled, protected, valued, and loved a community thrives.

In May 1975 the South Vietnamese city of Saigon fell to Communist forces. This led to a flood of refugees into Thailand by land and by May 1977 triggered the flight of people by sea. People started landing in neighbouring Southeast Asian countries by boats. Many perished in stormy seas and attacks by unfriendly forces.

The plight of the "Boat People" prompted World Vision to begin Operation Seasweep in May 1978. A 345-tonne converted landing craft was chartered and it sailed in the South China Sea aiding the boat people.

This was replaced by a 1,500-tonne freighter with facilities for a medical crew, mechanics and interpreters in July 1979.This operation was gradually wound up in mid-1982 when the number of boat people began to dwindle and the vessel was sold.

The efforts of World Vision to save the Vietnamese boat people led to the establishment of a field operation through Singapore in the late 1970s. This task expanded in 1980 when World Vision began to assist the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in running a medical clinic at the Hawkins Road Refugee Camp in Sembawang.

Towards the end of 1983, World Vision decide to run a full national office in Singapore. Personnel were recruited and in March 1984, the administration of World Vision's Child Sponsorship Programme linking supporters in Singapore and Malaysia was transferred from Hong Kong to the Singapore Office.