Orphaned Children

Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines and lies in the heart of the Central Visayas. Bohol has experienced widespread poverty due to the combined effects of post-pandemic, increased population, over-exploitation of the land and marine resources, typhoons and natural disasters. Children and families are thus exposed to vulnerabilities including the lack of access to quality education, healthcare and limited livelihood opportunities.

The number one cause of illness among children in Bohol is diarrhea and gastroenteritis due to the lack of access to basic safe water supply. 10% of Bohol households also have no sanitary toilet facilities.

While the main source of income is farming, farmers in Bohol face challenges such as lack of access to credit, inadequate infrastructure, and low prices for their produce. Fishermen also face challenges such as overfishing, competition, and the impact of climate change. Low fish catch, low crop yield, and rising costs make it hard for families to make a living. This leads to children dropping out of school as parents prioritise their children's labour contributions to the household over their education, especially where economic livelihood is in dire need. 

The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled by Typhoon Rai, caused numerous school closings and damages, resulting in more than 50% of learners across Grade 1 to 10 having reading difficulties, aggravating Bohol's issue of learning poverty.

Wazirpur, Bangladesh is a district located in the Southern region of Bangladesh, about 114km away from Dhaka. The majority of the population are limited to labour-intensive and low-income occupations such as farmers, daily labourers or petty traders. As the district is also prone to earthquakes, water logging and arsenic poisoning, economic livelihood opportunities are further restricted. The prevalence of child labour and child marriage also contribute to high drop-out rates in school - limiting the opportunities for future growth and development.

In Mpalo, children and families have limited to no access to clean water, quality education, healthcare, proper nutrition and child protection.

In Funyula, 64% of the population lives in absolute poverty and children are also at severe risk of abuse and exploitation from negligence, inadequate protection and education. 

In Funyula, 64% of the population lives in absolute poverty and children are also at severe risk of abuse and exploitation from negligence, inadequate protection and education. 

World Vision started its operations in Antique province in 1984 through a church partner. Over the years, the scope of work expanded and transited into longer term development programmes. With an established presence in the area, World Vision has been able to bring people together and empower local leaders and partners to make a difference for children in their community.

The Antique province has the highest rate of malnutrition in the entire Western Visayas region. With malnutrition present in the target community, children face an increased risk of wasting, stunted growth, respiratory illnesses and impaired brain development.

26% of the population in Antique live below the national poverty line. In several vulnerable families, men and boys work as sakadas, or sugarcane farmers, which is perilous work and does not generate much income. In order to ensure their families can afford basic necessities, men and boys work in other provinces and young women work as maids.

Low income levels have far reaching implications on children. It can lead to them dropping out of school to work in order to support their family. As parents are focused on finding food for the family, other responsibilities are left behind. The lack of parental guidance often leads to children engaging in delinquent behaviour.

Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines and lies in the heart of the Central Visayas. Bohol has experienced widespread poverty due to the combined effects of post-pandemic, increased population, over-exploitation of the land and marine resources, typhoons and natural disasters. Children and families are thus exposed to vulnerabilities including the lack of access to quality education, healthcare and limited livelihood opportunities.

The number one cause of illness among children in Bohol is diarrhea and gastroenteritis due to the lack of access to basic safe water supply. 10% of Bohol households also have no sanitary toilet facilities.

While the main source of income is farming, farmers in Bohol face challenges such as lack of access to credit, inadequate infrastructure, and low prices for their produce. Fishermen also face challenges such as overfishing, competition, and the impact of climate change. Low fish catch, low crop yield, and rising costs make it hard for families to make a living. This leads to children dropping out of school as parents prioritise their children's labour contributions to the household over their education, especially where economic livelihood is in dire need. 

The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled by Typhoon Rai, caused numerous school closings and damages, resulting in more than 50% of learners across Grade 1 to 10 having reading difficulties, aggravating Bohol's issue of learning poverty.

In Mpalo, children and families have limited to no access to clean water, quality education, healthcare, proper nutrition and child protection.

Sioma is located in the Western Province of Zambia. It is made up of dense woodlands, riparian forests, shallow wetlands, and settlements.

76.7% of the population in Sioma live in poverty with lack of access to basic needs, income and employment opportunities. Majority of the population are small-scale farmers and fishermen. However, the area is often affected by drought and floods resulting in loss of livelihood. However, the area is often affected by drought and floods resulting in loss of livelihood. 

School infrastructure and teaching resources are lacking resulting in low quality education for children. There is overcrowding in classes, high teacher-pupil ratio. Pupils have to learn under trees and sit on the floor in the classrooms. Children have to walk long distances to schools. Thus, about 25% of children between 7 and 9 years are not attending school due to parents’ concerns for their children’s safety.

Healthcare access is another major challenge, as the people in the community often have to travel long distances—up to 29 km—to reach healthcare services, due to insufficient health centers, staff, and equipment.

In Sioma AP, only 49% of households have access to a clean and safe water supply. Many people rely on streams and shallow wells for water. However, these water sources are contaminated. Families are susceptible to water-borne diseases due to contaminated water sources and open defecation.

Kuleaen 2 is located in one of the poorest provinces in the country. Here, children and families have limited or no access to clean water, quality education, healthcare, proper nutrition and child protection.

Sindhuli is one of the poorest and most deprived areas in Nepal, ranking 56 out of 75 districts in the national poverty deprivation list. World Vision began an assessment study into this area in April 2012 and found the needs of the mainly minority ethnic groups here compelling. Hence, the Sindhuli AP began its work in Oct 2013.

The majority of the people in the AP are dalits (untouchables) and indigenous Janajati. These groups are among the poorest people in Nepal. They depend on agriculture, manual labour and seasonal migrant labour for their livelihoods.

In terms of education, the illiteracy rate in the AP is 60%. Parents of poor families do not value the education of their children. Rather, they send their children to work at an early age to supplement the family income, and it is common for children to drop out of school at the primary level.

Children from Dalit and Janajati communities are also more vulnerable to malnutrition and childhood illnesses, which hinder their growth and development.