Kigali is currently hosting the World Vision Sponsorship Summit, convening global World Vision sponsorship teams to address realities and chart a course for the future of sponsorship. The summit is centred on revitalising growth, optimising operations, and embracing transformative innovations that will shape the future, aligning with World Vision’s commitment to partnering with others to support 12 million vulnerable children. In a press interview, Komborero Daniel Choga, the Global Director of Child Sponsorship Ministry and Services at World Vision International, expressed solidarity with Rwanda in commemorating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He emphasized World Vision's commitment to standing with the people of Rwanda. Choga outlined the organisation’s threefold vision; prioritising impactful support for children, families, and communities; strengthening connections between sponsored children and their supporters; and leveraging technology to simplify processes to enhance the experience for everyone. “We aim to use technology to enhance communication, giving children a stronger voice, increase participation, and strengthen the digital experience for both children and sponsors across the globe. “We are truly grateful for the sponsors living around the world who are deeply committed to children in Rwanda and their communities. Part of this summit is to explore future opportunities for them and the children we serve through building stronger connections,” he said. Choga expressed eagerness to witness first-hand the transformation in Rwanda, “I’m eager to spend time in the communities where we work this week, witnessing first-hand the impactful work underway through our partnership with the people of Rwanda. I’m excited to see the positive changes in people’s lives and explore ways we can further enhance our support efforts.” Pauline Okumu, the National Director of World Vision Rwanda, reflected on the significance of hosting the summit and commemorating it. “I want to take a moment to honour and stand with Rwanda, especially during this solemn period of remembrance for those who perished during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “Having been selected to host this summit is a valuable opportunity for our leadership team to engage with new ideas and advance our sponsorship work in Rwanda,” Okumu explained. “World Vision has been present in Rwanda for the past 30 years, initially responding to the Genocide against the Tutsi. Over time, our long-term sponsorship programmes have driven significant progress across various sectors, leveraging sponsorship funding to match government contributions.” Okumu highlighted the impact on sponsored children, emphasising World Vision Rwanda’s commitment to an end-to-end approach. “By integrating new innovations such as operational simplification and digitalisation into our funding strategies, we are enhancing our capacity to expand our sponsorship programmes. Our approach extends beyond sponsorships; it aims to foster impact among sponsored children. World Vision Rwanda currently supports nearly 73,000 children all part of this journey. “The outcomes of our initiatives depend on how we apply the innovations discussed at this summit. We are eager to leverage insights from other countries to adapt and improve our practices here in Rwanda. We are also sharing our successful experiences with others to facilitate mutual learning and advancement,” she said. She mentioned that World Vision has been operating in Rwanda for the past 30 years, and they plan to celebrate this milestone in September with a special event. “We have created an alumni network of former sponsored children, and together with local districts, we have been able to track quite a number of them.” These alumni are taking the lead in organising the anniversary celebration. “This highlights the impact and transformation experienced by these individuals, many of whom are now employed in various sectors, including government positions, self-employment, and private partnerships. Their success stories will be a key focus during the upcoming 30-year celebration event,” Okumu said. In a press interview, Lilian Dodzo, World Vision East Africa Regional Leader, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to continuously improving sponsorship programmes to better support children and communities across countries in the wider East Africa region. Dodzo highlighted the importance of refining programme management and enhancing communication between sponsors and sponsored children, ensuring they witness the tangible and sustainable changes they are helping to enable in children’s lives. Addressing the digital divide, Dodzo expressed confidence in leveraging mobile technology, widely accessible even in rural areas across Africa, to enhance sponsorship systems and community engagement. Throughout the week, Dodzo explained, World Vision will examine challenges and opportunities in their sponsorship programmes across nine East African countries, including Rwanda. The goal is to exchange experiences, assess program effectiveness, and identify areas for improvement to fulfil sponsor commitments and ensure holistic child well-being. In East Africa alone, World Vision impacts 26 million people, including 16 million children benefiting from community-wide initiatives such as schools and water systems. “We’re emphasising the broader impact of our sponsorship programmes on entire communities, not just individual children. For instance, constructing a school or a water system like a borehole benefits the entire community. We’re witnessing an increase in the number of people positively affected by our initiatives and this drives us to continually seek improvement,” Dodzo said.
