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.

We are excited to announce that IRMAS won gold in the 2026 Smiley Charity Film Awards!

Thank you so much to everyone who voted, we could not do this without you!

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
Show more +

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:

Calculate Impact
Latest news
01/05/2026

Smiley Charity Film Awards

We are excited to announce that IRMAS, the documentary about the Sisters of Mary, has won Gold in the Smiley Charity Film Awards!
28/04/2026

London Marathon 2026 Thank you

A massive thank you to the runners who supported World Villages for Children in the 2026 TCS London Marathon!
a line of four girls stand with a nun all holding a wrapped Easter gift in front of a sign saying "Happy Easter" at Kisarawe Girlstown Tanzania
10/04/2026

Easter News

Easter at the schools is a wonderful time, see how your generosity makes life better for our children.
View all news
Close