Children who are orphans or from the very poorest and disadvantaged families in the communities and neighbourhoods of the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras and Tanzania.
Young boys and girls who work long hours on the streets and in the slums of these regions to earn money, who risk disease, early marriage, or a life of crime.
These children lack the basic conditions for survival like adequate shelter, regular nutrition, healthcare, and water for drinking and sanitation. These children lack vital access to a good education – without which they have no hope of a better future.
We offer girls and boys equal opportunity to receive a good education, to overcome poverty and their difficult start in life. Equipped with the right skills children from the Sisters of Mary programmes are able to secure local jobs when they finish school. They become productive and independent members of society able to help their parents and generations of their families.
Working for over sixty years, the Sisters have so far taken care of over 170,000 children in 13 schools in these countries. Each year we accommodate nearly 20,000 desperate children and the Sisters use their dedication and compassion for the poor and in country education expertise to ensure that, together, we deliver a truly excellent education for the most vulnerable children in our care, at a fraction of the cost.
We focus on raising funds and providing support for the Sisters’ work, including engaging with the donors who make our work possible, measuring and reporting impact, and helping to develop and monitor safeguarding policy and implementation. It’s a warm and profoundly collaborative partnership based on mutual trust and respect that has worked well since 1998.
The results of our work extend far beyond the individual child. Our children finish school and find work. They are driven and able to nurture their families, supporting their parents and siblings financially.
They provide access for them to healthcare and education and break the cycle of poverty that has often persisted for generations. The children are also a source of inspiration and hope – showing that a different kind of life is possible.
They help to shape the futures of their countries, showing by their success what is possible when you believe and invest in children.
Helena is the third of six children based in Tabora, Tanzania. With no access to healthcare, her mother died suddenly and her alcoholic father was left in charge of the children. He has no education and no work.
Read about Helena's storyWe work hard to use your money in the most efficient way and to focus on those in greatest need. When you donate to World Villages for Children, the money goes to the Sisters of Mary programmes to maintain support to the children in school and to fund new places for those who need it the most.
Our financesThe Sisters of Mary’s formalised child protection policy supports their practices to ensure that all children are protected from any form of violence, exploitation, discrimination, bullying and any other form of abuse prejudicial to their development.
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The programmes are run on a modest and sustainable basis. The schools are moving towards clean energy provision with solar panels installed in the Philippines and Honduras for responsible consumption and to reduce electricity cost. The facilities at the schools are conscientiously used not just for the children at school but where possible to meet the additional care needs of the wider community.
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Arturo’s Story
Arturo’s early life in Monte Blanco, Mexico, was very hard. With no money for food, the family was always hungry and from the age of seven, Arturo was expected to work every day in the fields harvesting coffee and sugar to earn a few pesos to support the family.
Graziela’s Story
Playing with friends, eating nutritious food, and being loved by my parents. None of these things were experienced by me.
Luis’s Story
After graduating Luis went on to study Business Administration and from there, started a master’s degree in Formulation and Evaluation.
