The Need: Improving Health

Despite their access to natural food sources such as fruit and fish, many children in Himaya are malnourished and affected by preventable diseases due to:

• Lack of knowledge about proper sanitation and hygiene practices.
• Inadequate preventative health measures.
• Insufficient training about food preparation and nutrition.
• Inadequate medical facilities.

The Response

• World Vision works with local government and health facilitators to increase general knowledge about care for children and preventative measures to improve health.
• Community members receive training about health, hygiene, and nutrition.
• Children receive medical check ups and dental exams.
• Malnourished children are rehabilitated through improved nutrition.
• Access to water is improved, increasing the ability of families to establish kitchen and herbal gardens and improve nutrition.

The Need: Education

• Although primary school enrollment is typical, it is a constant challenge to maintain enrollment and attendance as economic pressure and educational demands increase as children grow.
• Many older children give up school—either temporarily or permanently—to help support their families with additional income and allow their younger siblings to begin their own education.
• Schools often exist in substandard facilities and provide a low quality of instruction.

The Response

World Vision responds to these needs through educational assistance to students and schools managed by the area’s community organization:

• Children receive tuition assistance and supplies, enabling them to continue their education.
• Improving school facilities and education equipment enhances the quality of instruction and the learning environment.
• Children’s clubs enable them to engage in extra-curricular activities, improve their leadership and social skills, understand their rights, and participate in making decisions that affect their lives.

The Need: Economic Development

Traditionally, Himaya has been an agriculture-based economy. A high unemployment rate is mainly due to:

• The absence of job opportunities in agriculture due to land conversion that has reduced rice production.
• Inadequate financial capital for new investment.
• Lack of necessary education and skills to find alternative employment.

The Response

Working with the community, World Vision is helping to develop alternative income sources for poor families:

• Families receive loans to begin income-generating activities. With improved income, families are better able to build or expand their small home-based businesses.
• Families are able to establish a network to access financial resources and purchase alternative income sources, such as livestock.
• World Vision works with the local community organization to build their capacity to sustain economic development, thus creating progress and potential that will last beyond World Vision’s presence in the area.