In Latin America and the Caribbean, World Vision has
been working for over 30 years alongside children living in
conditions of poverty. During this time, the region as a whole
has experienced significant development progress. In the last
decade, net enrolment of children in primary education has
grown from 86 to 96%.[1] In the last five years, mortality rates
for children under five have decreased from 54 to 32 deaths
per 1000 live births,[2] and nutrition has also improved, with the prevalence of underweight children declining from 11 to 7%.[3]

Yet while there is much to celebrate in these achievements,
the Latin American and Caribbean region is characterised by
the greatest socio-economic inequity in the world. Over 56
million children still live in poverty and do not benefit from
the wider improvements seen in health and education.[4] Less
than 50% of the poorest children living in Guatemala, Honduras
and El Salvador ever finish their primary education.[5] In Bolivia, infant mortality in the poorest segment of the population is above 100 per 1000 live births, while for the richest 20 % it is less than 30 per 1000.[6] Regional statistics tend to mask these socio-economic inequities, making the true plight of children invisible. Social exclusion is a reality faced by all too many children among us.

By children, for children
Motivated by our vision of life in all its fullness for every child, World Vision in Latin America and the Caribbean has decided to join with more than 700,000 sponsored children to advocate a wholistic development agenda that gives priority to children. At the core of our strategic plan for the next decade is our overall goal:
Contribute to the development and empowerment of a network of five million boys and girls, adolescents and youth, to achieve life in all its fullness; and together with them, seek to engage in the transformation of Latin America and the Caribbean.

World Vision recognises that fullness of life is a gift from God. It is God who provides children with dignity and identity, and inspires them to share their gifts and capabilities in the context of their families, communities and wider society.

We see our contribution to children as promoting their holistic
development through their empowerment, being-well and well-being in the context of their families and communities.

Empowered children are able to freely express their views on the decisions and actions that affect their individual and collective lives. We seek to empower children on two levels:
--being-well – a human quality in a child’s own personal life, which in turn generates just, strong and transformed relationships. It can be characterised as being in harmony with God’s will.
--the child’s well-being – the socio-economic, political, cultural, religious and ecological conditions and environment that promote the best interests of children.

This integrated development model for children is articulated
succinctly in a passage from Luke: And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.[7] The holistic child development that we seek has its foundation on the life of Jesus as a child. He grew to bring the good news of hope, justice and deliverance for all those who were marginalised by the economic, political and religious power structures. We believe Jesus is paradigmatic for the children we serve. Wisdom, stature and grace, or favour, guide us in developing four dimensions of our work with children in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Wisdom
This dimension refers to the capabilities the children have to
apply their knowledge and ethical principles to their lives and
their relationships to others. Wisdom is therefore applied
in not only in the education sector, but also in all arenas that
children influence: families, churches, recreation organisations
and community youth groups, among others.

Though wisdom is an individual capability, it requires an
environment that promotes and nurtures it. We promote the
being-well of children when we create the conditions for them
to apply the knowledge and ethical principles they learn to their
personal and socio-economic development. Identity, values,
ethics, skills and capacities are intrinsic to children’s being-well.

As acquiring wisdom and learning happens in and out of
school, World Vision works with children and their families
in a life cycle approach to enhance inquiry in age-appropriate
levels, to develop critical thinking and life skills, and to facilitate
children’s access to quality education. Our holistic approach
also means encouraging an environment where it is not just safe to go to school, but also to explore ideas and learning. Health and nutrition, intellectual capacity, economic and entrepreneurial opportunities and environment all link together
to encourage the development of wisdom in children.

Stature
This second dimension is related to holistic health, as the condition of physical and emotional development. Luke, the gospel author and physician, captures in a single phrase
– “grew in stature” – the breadth of physical well-being of children. A healthy child does grow in stature, showing God’s incredible design of the human body, a body “wonderfully
made”.[8] We promote, together with families and the communities, children’s equitable access to quality health systems and to nourishing food to strengthen the growth and
development of their bodies and minds.

Favour with God
The third dimension, spiritual development of children, is fostered together with their families, religious organisations and faith-based communities. World Vision recognises that
all people are spiritual beings; therefore, we strive to promote an environment where it is safe for children to live out their spirituality and relationship with God.

Favour with the community
When a family and community favour children, they promote the best interests of children. World Vision works in association with communities and local governments to develop an enabling environment for this favour to flourish. In a social landscape, fullness of life for children requires integrated efforts and multi-sector public and private initiatives that seek the best interests of children. Children, as agents of change,
participate in their local, national and regional networks, to promote their agenda of development and social justice.

The overall goal provides a platform of regional integration – embracing every Latin American and Caribbean child and adult around the promotion of the being-well, wellbeing and empowerment of children. We invite your prayers for the Latin America and Caribbean Network of Children, as they journey in becoming agents of transformation in our continent.

Contributed by Dr Anna Christine Grellert, Children in Development Adviser for World Vision’s Latin America & Caribbean Regional Office, with input from other World Vision colleagues.

1. United Nations, Objetivos de desarrollo del milenio. Informe de 2005, New York, 2005
2. ibid.
3. ibid.
4. UNICEF, Los Objetivos de desarrollo del milenio tienen que ver con la infancia, Avances y desafíos en América Latina y el Caribe, 2005
5. CEPAL, Objetivos de desarrollo del milenio: Una mirada desde América Latina y el Caribe, p 95
6. ibid. p 147
7. The Holy Bible, New International Version , Luke 2:52: "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men." (paraphrased)
8. The Holy Bible, New International Version , Psalm 139:14