World Vision's work with orphans (WV photo)
Bob Zachritz is World Vision's Senior Policy Advisor for Global Development. He says World Vision may be able to utilize some of these funds. "What's really effective is public/private partnerships. And we have one of these programs that's funded by the U.S. government to care for orphans and vulnerable children. We started in Zambia."
They partner with the community and local churches to help fight HIV/AIDS head on with children. They're able to do that because the government dollars are match with private and corporate donations.
Zachritz says taking contributions from the federal government isn't stopping their work. "World Vision is unapologetic that we're a Christian relief and development organization. So we do the work because of our faith in Jesus. You cannot proselytize with federal money. If you get federal money for something, you need to do what you say you're doing. A lot of our Christian impact is done with private resources."
That's the reason World Vision will only accept up to 35-percent of their operational expenses through the federal government. That way they can maintain their Christian character.
The money the U.S. is contributing is less the one-percent of the federal budget, but it is still the largest government contribution. The funding will go toward prevention.
World Vision's work will also focus on that and more, says Zachritz. "There's need for treatment on HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. There's also need for prevention. So our specialty tends to be on the prevention, on the care with the orphans and vulnerable children, and on the advocacy with both private and public donors to address global AIDS."
As more attention is brought to the issue and as the number of HIV/AIDS infections grow, funding is needed to help address these issues. Zackritz says the needs of children is incredible. "6,000 children a day right now are losing a parent because of global AIDS."
As they reach out as the hands and feet of Christ, and as they partner with the local church, pray that many people will turn to Christ before it's too late.
