The Model

Millions of Christians worldwide are responding to the needs of children at risk: large international NGOs, teams of dedicated local people, individual Christians with a passion to change the world. Some possess immense professional training and expertise, and have easy access to funding; some have good local knowledge and strong relationships within the community; others have influential contacts, offering a powerful channel for advocacy and campaigning. So how can we combine and develop those strengths, providing a cohesive and united source of help for struggling children?

Viva’s model fills a significant gap in the strategic response to issues faced by children at risk: it encourages and enables the Christian community to work together for the vulnerable children of the world. Rather than create another body of care, Viva seeks to connect and unite the work already in existence, releasing the enormous potential of a joint response. 

• What does this joint response look like?
  Detailed research in a city or community provides us with key information about the location and capacity of the people working with children at risk in that area. Viva then works to gather those individuals into a local network. Networks consist of between 30-80 similar local projects, incorporating a mix of small grassroots initiatives and bigger international organisations. Each project continues to operate autonomously but their strengths and skills are shared, any duplication of effort is avoided, programme growth is accelerated, and the projects can then collectively address the issues which their communities face.
• What is Viva's role in this joint response?
  Viva helps both to form networks in areas where no such collaboration exists, and also to support and develop already existing networks. Viva partners with the network by providing research and mapping tools, support and guidance on advocacy and lobbying, capacity-building training programmes, network development consultancy, access to funding partners, and church mobilisation resources.
• What can this joint response accomplish?
  Network activities can range from organising events and holding training sessions, right through to government lobbying and new programme formation. When projects work together they widen their sphere of impact, and can begin to proactively meet the needs within their local communities. Partnership of this kind means that a greater number of children can receive a greater measure of support, and it means that a better quality of care and assistance can be offered to children at risk.