Celebrating children’s involvement in World Vision decision-making processes. Absolutely wonderful work. The team has published the first Global Child Participation in World Vision Decision-Making Report. An important step in celebrating the efforts of FOs, and in institutionalizing the participation of boys and girls in the decisions that World Vision makes at local and national levels. The organization has made intentional steps to document how children have shaped their programming and strategic decisions, and in doing so has better defined what meaningful child participation actually is.

Additionally, World Vision is able to understand more about how offices are implementing
the Operational Requirements and the impact that child participation has on local programming decisions, national level strategies, and the personal lives of children. It is important to note that in the midst of the Operational Requirements, meetings with children, and reporting, children and adults are building strong relationships with one another in the pursuit of a greater goal for their communities. Without these positive relationships based on mutual respect and listening, participation can become utilitarian, tokenistic, and extractive.

For children, participating in decision-making has value beyond the act itself. It is not only a fundamental child right, but an essential step in taking action, caring for each other, and serving the most vulnerable among them. This is the direction World Vision is heading with the Operational Requirements – that 100 per cent of APs includes children in local planning meetings and 100 percent of FOs foster intergenerational dialogue between adults and children for strategic decision-making to increase child well-being. The organization is setting the foundation for children’s voices to influence the work – giving them the space to let them know their priorities, what can be improved and how everyone can do better to achieve child well-being for vulnerable children.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

Source: Reliefweb.