Jay Robinson, from the Melbourne suburb of Glenn Waverly, is one of over 350,000 Australians who sponsor a child through the country's largest overseas aid and humanitarian organisation—World Vision Australia.
"They look at the basic structure of food and education," Mrs Robinson said of the World Vision approach. "They help the families become self-sustainable. I think this is probably the biggest thing I like about World Vision. The work they do doesn't mean they are there forever and a day handing out charity. Their work is to assist the people they help become self-sufficient."
Mrs Robinson told The Epoch Times: "Becoming a sponsor was a family decision. We decided that this was a way we could help other children around the world in places that are not as lucky as we are here.
"For us as a family it has been a great way to become interested in other countries and cultures, and to give those children all the opportunities in life we can." Founded in the 1950s by Bob Pierce, a missionary from the US, World Vision Australia today helps an estimated 10 million people annually.
Over 80 per cent of World Vision's funds are directed towards international projects to provide direct aid to those in need. The remaining funds are distributed for administrative expenses, such as funding, project management and advocacy costs.
Team leader for World Vision Allen Jennings told The Epoch Times: "Sponsorship is used to fund development work in the child's community, such as assisting their parents get jobs, raise their incomes, provide clean water sources or training nurses in health centres.
"There are enough resources in the world for everyone to live free of poverty. With the support of enough people and the political will, poverty could be eliminated," Mr Jennings said. "We also have programmes with Aboriginal communities here in Australia."
Mr Jennings, who oversees projects in the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, said his main concern is that World Vision's efforts have the desired impact and from that people's lives are improved. He says that a large part of this is that the right people are sent to help out.
"Project staff who come from Australia are people with experience in specific areas, like water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, health and those who have considerable experience working with communities in developing countries.
"The hardest thing about my role would not be a particular occurrence or event, but the ubiquitous presence of inequality. It is hard to visit families who live in dire and even dangerous conditions, while knowing these circumstances can be very different."
Last year he spent two months in East Timor where the highlight for him was the completion of a World Vision-funded water pump. "A lady spoke about the end to the back-breaking work of carrying water, no water to wash their clothes and their children," remembered Mr Jennings.
"The men enthused about the fact they could now grow crops all year round and the kids just played in the water. Something as simple as this pump changed their lives significantly.
"This is what I describe as a good experience."
To find out more about World Vision Australia and its work or to make a donation, visit www.worldvision.com.au.
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