Research
This study evaluated Celebrating Families, a faith- and community-based parenting program delivered by trained faith leaders in 12 countries. Results from over…
Faith & Dev
Faith & Development
Harnessing the power of faith and faith communities to improve the lives of children.
In 2025, World Vision U.S. reached 9.1 million people through our Faith & Development initiatives
Highlights
Empowering faith leaders
We have trained over 500,000 faith leaders in over 90 countries in our Channels of Hope methodology, empowering them to influence community attitudes and reduce harmful behaviors across diverse contexts and faith communities.
Transforming mindsets
In 2025, we worked with more than 1.1 million people across 46 countries through our Empowered Worldview program, helping them recognize their worth and potential — a shift in mindset that helps build hope, self-efficacy, and lasting change for their families and communities.
Promoting positive parenting
Celebrating Families, a faith-based positive parenting program implemented in over 60 countries, demonstrates measurable changes in harsh and violent parenting practices, including a 14-country study that showed a 47% incident reduction in parents hitting their children.
About
Harnessing the power of faith to tackle poverty and injustice
With faith shaping the beliefs and daily lives of a growing share of the world’s population — projected to reach 86.8% by 2050 (Pew, 2022) — religious communities play a foundational role in how people understand their ability to overcome poverty and drive change. Equipped with the right information and skills, faith leaders help their communities confront harmful beliefs and take on issues like child marriage, gender-based violence, girls’ education, stigma, racism, and climate crises.
As a faith-based organization, World Vision brings a distinct advantage: trusted relationships with local faith leaders, who are often more trusted than government or other community leaders. That trust matters most in fragile states and hard-to-reach areas, where faith communities are often among the few institutions with lasting presence and influence. We intentionally bring together leaders from diverse faith traditions around a shared commitment to improving children’s lives.
Dive Deeper
Faith & Development Distinctives & Models
Go to Becoming One
Becoming One
Go to Celebrating Families
Celebrating Families
Go to Channels of Hope
Channels of Hope
Go to Empowered Worldview
Empowered Worldview
Go to Faith-Driven Social & Behavior Change
Faith-Driven Social & Behavior Change
Go to Faith Partnerships
Faith Partnerships
Go to Gender Equality, Disability & Social Inclusion
Gender Equality, Disability & Social Inclusion
Go to Peacebuilding
Peacebuilding
Faith & Development Research & Resources
Tools & Resources
This GESI promising practice highlights Becoming One, World Vision’s faith-based approach to preventing intimate partner violence in Uganda. The project streng…
Faith & Dev
GEDSI
Research
Psychosocial factors often contribute to the persistence of poverty, yet they are seldom addressed in poverty reduction programs. A mixed-methods study explore…
Faith & Dev
FSL
Faith & Development News & Insights
Blog09/10/2026
In some of the world’s most dangerous places to be a child, change begins not with policy or programs — but at home, through safe…
Child Protection
Faith & Dev
Blog06/04/2026
World Vision is fundamentally in the business of hope — defined here as the combination of resilience, agency, and a forward-looking belief that change is…
Faith & Dev
Blog12/01/2025
On World AIDS Day, the global community pauses to reflect, recommit, and reimagine the path to ending HIV/AIDS. For World Vision, this day serves not…
Faith & Dev
Health
Impact in Action
Explore evidence-based insights and inspiring stories of change from communities around the world.
Uganda Becoming One
The Becoming One project helps couples rebuild trust, improve communication, and make joint financial decisions through faith-based counseling. One couple in Uganda, once caught in cycles of conflict and mistrust, now prays together, shares decision-making, and enjoys a more respectful relationship and a stable home for their children.
When home became safe again
In Zimbabwe, Shylet and her children once ran for safety when Claudious came home. Through Celebrating Families, he confronted how his children saw him and chose to stop the violence. Together, the couple rebuilt their marriage on respect, communication, and faith.
Do No Harm for Faith Groups training
Do No Harm for Faith Groups equips religious leaders and faith-based staff to be more conflict sensitive in their work. The workshop builds practical skills that help lay the groundwork for peacemaking and long-term peacebuilding.
Faith leaders on the front line of Ebola
In Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo, World Vision trained 400 religious and community leaders across eight health zones in Channels of Hope for Ebola. As trusted voices, they are fighting rumors and stigma and encouraging prevention.
