A brighter future, created for, and by, children.

Education is key to ending poverty. Every child deserves equal access to learning, but not every child can afford or access education.

  • We support the Sisters of Mary to run live-in schools for nearly 20,000 children
  • We provide care and quality education for the most deprived boys and girls
  • We operate in 6 countries worldwide
  • The Sisters of Mary travel to the most remote regions to offer free education to children living in extreme poverty
Girl standing next to a shack
Donation form
Sally Graduate and teacher at Biga Girlstown, Philippines

“The Sisters of Mary is a place to give hope to everyone. You are given opportunities, big and great opportunity in life and that's the gift of education. So the best hope we can give to poor people like our students now, like me, is hope that one day you can better your life.”

Irenea Philippines

“I’m so grateful for all that I’ve learned in this school. May many many more poor children and their families be helped by World Villages for Children and the Sisters of Mary.”

Luis Guatemala

“Honestly, without the excellent education provided for me by World Villages for Children, I would not be where I am now with my job and my ability to help my family live a better life.”

Arturo Mexico

“I shall never have enough words to thank the people who make possible the mission of the Sisters of Mary, as I am the living proof of how their donation can transform lives”

Dora Guatemala

“It is such great joy to know about you dear donors. I don’t want to miss the chance to thank you for all you have done for me and you keep doing for every girl in need.”

Eva Honduras

“I thank the benefactors for their generosity. Like them, I will also be a source of joy to others when I graduate”

David Zona 6, Guatemala

“I owe my success to the Sisters of Mary, they're a great part of my life & I know that without them I wouldn’t be where I am now and I wouldn’t be able to help my family and get them out of poverty.”

Children’s stories
Watch Irmas documentary for free online

Watch a documentary about our work

World Villages for Children is pleased to announce the release of this beautiful full-length documentary created as a gift by supporter and French filmmakers Caroline Duclert and Charles Guillemin, to honour the Sisters of Mary and their life-changing work.

Filmed in Tanzania, Brazil, and the Philippines, IRMAS (which translates to “sisters” in Portuguese) follows the Sisters as they reach out to the poorest children to offer them a place in school where they can be safe, educated, and transform their lives. In this documentary, you can experience life in the programmes, see the desperate poverty children come from, and meet children whose lives have been transformed by hope.

Vote for Irmas in the 2026 Smiley Charity Film Awards

We need your help! World Villages for Children’s “Irmas: The Life of the Sisters of Mary” documentary is officially a finalist in the 2026 Smiley Charity Film Awards! We need to get as many public votes as possible to win. Please help us by voting and encouraging your friends, family, and colleagues to watch the film and vote as well!

Learn more
Our impact

1 in 6

Children across the globe live in extreme poverty

21,089

Children in our schools in 2024

6

Number of countries we operate in worldwide

Where we work
Country

Brazil

Map of Brazil
Country

Guatemala

Map of Guatemala
Country

Tanzania

Map of Tanzania
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Learn how we help children living in poverty

two children sitting in a rubbish dump, honduras

See our villages

boystown boy in the community with his family

How you can bring hope to a desperate child

Girl holding up logo

Donation Impact Calculator

Your donations help us to provide education for the world’s poorest children. They help us to fund school places and the everyday care needed for boys and girls who are without hope. See the difference your monthly or single gift can make to the lives of the children in our care:

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Latest news
24/03/2026

Irmas Screening March 2026

A big thank you to everyone who joined Sr Margie and Sr Gertrudes at the March 2026 screening of “Irmas: The Life of the Sisters of Mary”
A nun holding her hands up in a heart stands with four boys in Dodoma Boystown in front of a baobab tree smiling at the camera
17/03/2026

Sisters of Mary visit London for Irmas Screening

On 20 March 2026, Sister Margie and Sister Gertrudes visit London to meet with World Villages for Children supporters and host a screening of “Irmas: The Life of the Sisters of Mary”.
10/02/2026

2026 New Starters

In January 2026, we welcomed 1730 new children into to our programmes in Tanzania, Honduras, Guatemala, and Brazil.
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