Youth

Youth and the future

If you're young and passionate about making the world a better place, this section of the site is FOR you, and in some ways, ABOUT you. This is why...

Poverty often leaves young people in the most disadvantaged and vulnerable situations. Millions of children need rescuing from the threat of kidnap, slavery, forced prostitution and hard labour. Since the onset of the global food crisis 100 million MORE people are going hungry – bringing the world total of people going hungry on a daily basis to almost one billion.

As for school, there’s no doubt it can seem like a pain sometimes, but it’s a privilege many children can’t access. Education helps break the cycle of poverty.

World Vision focuses its support on the youth of developing countries as they too hold the key to their futures. Improving the education, health and environment of young people benefits entire communities.

World Vision and young people

At World Vision, we know that young people can change the lives of less fortunate kids. Your care and concern for the world will help end poverty. Technology has brought people closer together than ever before. We know about inequality of opportunity and we know what we can do to help.

The world’s unfair – everyone sees it – but if they don’t, it’s easy to let them know. Right now, the Global Food Crisis is looming large, and we're wanting to take a closer look at it. You can too. Research the issue, and reach out to your networks on Twitter, Facebook, bebo or myspace. Learn, share, be aware and act to support change through World Vision’s charitable programs and development projects.

The enthusiasm and actions of young people are keys to changing the way industry, governments, educational institutions, society and families think about the world.

Planetshakers

A big thank you to the hundreds of young people who attended the 2009 Planetshaker Conference and responded so generously to the Planetshakers Poverty Challenge. We called on you to 'stand up for child rights' - and you did!

This Christian youth event was held on the April 13-16 at Hisense Arena, Melbourne. Doing the 'Planetshakers Poverty Challenge' meant buying a gift of food for children from our Smiles catalogue. It's just $41 - and it's still not too late to take part. Go on: take on the Planetshakers Poverty Challenge today.

What you can do

Create a groundswell that starts with your small commitment to change. Watch it grow. Kids are often called rebellious; we call them revolutionary, because young people change the present and create the future.

You can spend your money, you can spend your time...

Spend your money

Take on the Planetshakers Challenge by buying food to save young lives
Buy a Smile and help a community with gifts they really need.
Use your purchasing power to send a message to those who WILL listen.
Sponsor a child. You can begin a lasting relationship with a child anywhere in the world. Help their community provide a better future for themselves.

Spend your time

Do the 40 Hour Famine
Funds raised in 2009 will go toward helping victims of the Global Food Crisis – children and their families.
Join our Don’t Trade Lives campaign.
It’s helping Australians understand the dangers of human slavery and trafficking. It’s showing how your choices can improve the situation.
Educate people about the problems faced by the developing world and encourage your friends, teachers and school to get involved. Share your ideas online.
Contribute to the debate. Help us find new ways to solve the problem of poverty – join V-GEN (Vision Generation) or attend a Global Leadership Convention. Collaborative problem solving works efficiently and effectively. It empowers and educates.
Be a better global citizen by being open minded and learning about issues. Subscribe to our newsletters to stay informed on the issues and our campaigns, and lobby your local MP to enact change.
Tell a friend, rally your mates and do what kids do best – STIR the world.