Finding local solutions for local challenges in countries like Nepal. Before the pandemic, seven-year-old Samir was receiving after-school support at a Learning Space run by Viva’s partner network in Nepal. During those early days, the staff described him as a shy boy with irregular attendance who was at risk of dropping out of school altogether. …
Carmen Alvarez, our Director for Latin America, says: “Our six Education and Family Centres in Costa Rica are having a huge impact for children who are returning to school after two ‘lost years’ because of the Covid pandemic. “Churches in our partner network are opening their buildings, and volunteers are helping children who don’t have …
Viva is using its Children in Emergencies expertise to respond to the needs of children and families who have been displaced and traumatised by the conflict in Ukraine. It is estimated that more than five million Ukrainian children need humanitarian assistance, either inside the country or as refugees. They face significant risks whether in conflict …
As we celebrated Viva’s 25th Anniversary last year, our founder, Patrick McDonald, said something during our Viva Collective Conference, that reminded me about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Maslow was an American psychologist and university professor who believed in focusing on people’s positive qualities, rather than solely attributing conditions to them. As one of the forerunners …
Viva is using its Children in Emergencies expertise to respond to the needs of children and families who have been displaced and traumatised by the conflict in Ukraine. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started two months ago, over two-thirds of children in Ukraine have been uprooted from their homes, and face significant risks whether in …
Last month, at Viva’s live prayer event, our regional directors spoke about all the work being done across the globe. The tangible impact, in the stories they shared, was not only broad but deep, and children’s lives have clearly been transformed, for the better. To transform children’s lives is already a bold claim, yet Viva …
It is heartbreaking to see how children continue to be affected by the war in Ukraine. After one month of the conflict, half of the country’s child population has been displaced, UNICEF said last week. This estimated 4.3 million children includes more than 1.8 million children who have crossed into neighbouring countries as refugees, and …
A statement from Mark Stavers, Viva CEO: All of us at Viva are deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its devastating impact on children. More than one million children have fled the conflict as refugees so far, while those who have stayed within Ukraine remain in grave danger of physical harm, emotional …
As lockdown drags on and deepens, Youth worker Hannah Woods says we all need to create safe spaces for ourselves and our loved ones. As we started Lockdown 3.0, I was filled with so many emotions (I’m sure we all were!) Then school closures were announced. Anxiety, fear, claustrophobia – the thought of home schooling …
BY HANNAH WOODS January – tis’ the season to restart youth groups after the Christmas break! A faithful 15 year-old, now in his third year of the Find Your Fire (FYF) project, and his second year as a young leader, messaged checking a session time. As I replied, I outlined the term plan and asked …