Samira* was 14 years old when everything changed. From a simple and idyllic life in rural West Bengal, the young girl travelled to Mumbai to find work as a domestic helper and support her family. Her brother-in-law was supposed to find her a job, but he had other plans. Instead of finding work as a help, he sold Samira into the sex trade.

Imagine if you were the reason a young family could go to bed with full stomachs and not worry about their next meal? Lebanon’s economic crisis is one of the worst in decades. The currency has collapsed and businesses have shut.

Saira*, 15, don’t have school or evening play time with friends to look forward to. What she has is her 10-month-old baby boy to look after. “I used to go to school where we learned how to read, write and count,” recalls the young mother.

Today we’d like to introduce you to two groups of people under our Community Development Programmes in Sabah who despite the challenges of the pandemic, have remained committed to the adage and are creating safe environments where their children can feel protected, supported and loved.

The world is reeling from COVID-19 and its devastating impact on nations and individuals alike. Amid such turbulent times, how do we cope with anxiety, despair and uncertainty? For Francissca Peter, renowned singer and World Vision Malaysia Child Sponsorship Ambassador, the answer lies in a four-letter word: hope.

“If you do not have the time and energy to volunteer in person, volunteer your voice.” This has been my mantra throughout the years. When I first started volunteering in college, I did not have the money to donate, so I donated my time and energy.