I always look forward to World Vision's  Child Sponsor Trips as this means that I would get to meet my sponsored child and his/her family. This is the fifth time I have been on a child sponsors trip and each time I never fail to marvel at how much my small contribution benefits the community and my sponsored child.

“You can't change the world, but you can change the world for one person” – Katie Davis

It felt that way when I first met Maybin, my sponsored child. Perhaps not so much that I changed his world, but that he changed mine.

Being an intern, I did not expect to get the opportunity to go on an overseas work trip. So when my boss offered me the chance to go to Bo Kluea, Thailand with her I was thrilled. Even though I bore the expenses of the trip myself, I was thrilled not just because I love travelling, but also because I would get to learn more about the work World Vision does.

I went to Mongolia, quite glad to escape the haze and all ready to embrace the endless  expanse of blue skies. Some trippers  who had visited before noted that there was much development on the way to Uvurkhangai. There were fewer potholes and now a packed KFC in the middle of the dessert surrounded by camels, horses and sheep dog. It couldn’t have been more exotic.

It was refreshing to have met like-minded individuals who wanted to find out firsthand how World Vision’s sponsorship programme partners with communities in need to benefit the young and at-risk. We started as a group of strangers from different backgrounds embarking on a five-day trip to a foreign place, but through the 5 days, we bonded by experiencing the tangible, positive and powerful impact that the perseverance and support for this sponsorship programme have yielded.

When I knew that I was given the opportunity to lead a group of trippers to Lesotho, I was ecstatic since this would be my first step into the African continent. Then came the news that this would be the last trip that we would be making to Lenkoane community in Lesotho since we were phasing out of the community and that's when I got a little worried.

It has been an enriching and impactful 8 days with World Vision on this sponsors trip to Vietnam. The team comprised of 15 like-minded Singaporeans. 3 of us started the 1st 2 days in Hanoi city and visited Blue Dragon, a World Vision's partner whose primary mission involves arduous work of rescuing street children in Hanoi.

I have always lived a privileged life; I have a loving family, attend a good school and have great friends. I have always known about poverty but have never seen or experienced it first hand; I never felt obliged to help others until recently.

7 days, 8 child sponsors, 1 team of World Vision staff and the whole Dhemaji ADP (Area Development Programme) community. Being there really took my breath away.