Sent home to die by the first doctors she encountered, Hamida Khatun is only alive today thanks to the World Vision-funded heart surgery she received as a sponsored child, the gift of life allowing her to have a daughter of her own.

2 pairs of brothers, Alvin and Rnolance, and Henokh and Erwin, set off before 6am every school day. They ride their horses across rivers and through a forest before reaching school. It’s a long journey to school but through World Vision’s child forum, the boys learn that education is important. Going to school will help them to reach their dream, to get a better future.

In India, a former sponsored child was the first in his village to graduate from college—an accomplishment he credits to his World Vision sponsor.

Phally Pheng likes getting kids’ hands up in the air. A former sponsored child who now teaches in northeast Cambodia, she works hard to teach in ways that engage her students. She wants her students to participate — for their hands to spring up in excitement when she asks a question.

8-year-old Xiaohua lives with his parents and 3-year-old younger brother in the deep mountains of Yongsheng county, Yunnan province. Xiaohua’s father does part-time jobs in places near the village, while his mother works in the fields and takes care of the family. In spit of this, life has always been difficult. They can barely make ends meet.

A fried egg and sticky rice for lunch puts a smile on the faces of Ning, 11, and her brother Tony. Chicken and ducks raising is not only a source of nutritious food for their family, but also a good source of income.