Category: Asia

A fresh way of thinking

Last year, Viva India ran child protection training in 119 schools, reaching around 850 adults and almost 11,000 children in six cities. The programme, which ensures schools fully comply with the Indian government’s child protection guidelines, has gained Viva a reputation for delivering high quality training. Two teachers at schools in Patna, in Bihar state, …

Growing trust

From an initial fear of the task ahead of them, Peace Team Cambodia’s volunteer mentors have grown into their roles, and are helping to turn children’s broken hearts into hopeful ones, as Khun Sokhem explains. When we started our anti-trafficking programme in 2017, there were many challenges facing our volunteers. They were afraid that no-one …

Learning to listen to children

Last year, over 200,000 adults in 14 countries were reached with positive messages about treating children in their care better through Viva’s Good Treatment Campaign – more than double the number of the previous year. A total of 900 churches and organisations from 22 of Viva’s partner networks worked together to reach people in their …

Local saints: Sister Veena’s story

Sister Veena draws her inspiration from Jesus, who walked from village to village proclaiming good news to the poor, the outcast, and the neglected. She leads an organisation in Patna, India that protects children in vulnerable situations, particularly those of travelling migrant workers, many of whom have drug and gambling addictions. Becoming part of Viva’s …

Running for a reason

Last month, 12 runners completed their runs in the 渣打香港馬拉松 Standard Chartered HK Marathon in Hong Kong – drumming up more than HKD 100,000 for Viva’s work with vulnerable children. We’re really grateful for those who took part and those who supported with sponsorship and in other ways too. Here, two of the runners share …

Creative blessings

A simple gesture can make the world of difference! Children at a school in Marawi City in the Philippines who were displaced by conflict hold beautifully decorated notebooks produced by children in Hong Kong. The Filipino children have received the notebooks as gifts from Fe Foronda, National Director of PCMN – Viva’s partner network in …

Life off the highway

Intrepid fundraising cyclist Gary Kamaal – who, by day, is Viva’s Senior Network Consultant in India – reflects on how he was spurred on by what he saw whilst riding for over 1,000 km from Delhi to Kathmandu in support of Viva’s girls’ anti-trafficking programme. As we left the hustle and bustle of Agra and …

Christmas Parties: come as you are

BY ANDREW DUBOCK There were no exclusive, red-carpet gatherings. Or invitation-only events with strict dress codes. They weren’t about celebrating celebrities or those at the top of the social ladder. No, these parties were much more special than that. They welcomed those usually forgotten about, left behind and pushed away from the spotlight. They were …

Beauty for ashes

Named after an inspirational women’s leader from the past, a slum in the Indian city of Patna is home today to a new band of girls who are being empowered by Viva to change their futures, as Fran Hall writes. Dalit Noun: A member of the lowest caste in the traditional Indian caste system. Literal …

World champion fights to protect children in the Philippines

BY ANDREW DUBOCK Newly-crowned Ju-Jitsu world champion Meggie Ochoa is lending her support to the programme run by Viva’s partner network PCMN to eliminate online sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines. Meggie is the first-ever Filipino – and Asian – to win a gold medal at the Ju-Jitsu International Federation World Championships. She also …