With whistles blowing, cheers echoing, and footballs flying, over 500 children across Melut County in Upper Nile State kicked off celebrations for the Day of the African Child and World Refugee Day in a spirited sports festival aimed at promoting peace, resilience, and hope for a better future.

Hayat*, a 34-year-old mother of six from Mosul, was forced into marriage at 16 through an exchange arrangement that cut short her education and childhood. Transitioning from city life to a village, she endured a difficult marriage, family pressure, and poverty. After a suicide attempt, she resolved to change her life and built a mud house with her husband. Despite harsh conditions, she found peace. Support from World Vision and caseworker Eileen provided both emotional and financial relief — allowing her to install plumbing and buy essentials like a water heater and oven. Through resilience and determination, Hayat began to rebuild her life and dignity. She sewed clothes during the 2014 conflict to support her children, who survived on minimal food. Hayat regrets her early marriage and is determined to give her daughter a better future. “If a woman isn’t strong, she can’t survive,” she says. Her dream is to one day build a real home — and a life of lasting peac

Asia, 21, gained confidence through advocacy training to speak up for Sinjar’s needs—uniting voices for water, equality, and peaceful coexistence.

In the remote town of Ba’aj, Ninewa, 25-year-old Shakir grew up facing daily hardship, with limited access to water, electricity, and jobs. Like many others, he worked as a labourer, struggling to meet basic needs. When World Vision Iraq introduced an advocacy training through the Nexus Accelerator Fund, Shakir was initially sceptical, but the sessions empowered him and other youth to speak up about community issues. They raised awareness via local media and social platforms, resulting in small but meaningful changes, such as a reduction in water tanker costs. The training not only built knowledge but also sparked confidence and leadership. Today, Shakir is a vocal advocate, inspiring others to act. Through this initiative, 159 youth from Ba’aj and Sinjar have been trained in advocacy and peace-building. The project equips young people to raise their voices, organise around shared concerns, and contribute to long-term solutions in conflict-affected areas, fostering hope and resilience in marginalised communities.

World Vision Iraq, a child-focused humanitarian organization, continued its mission in FY24 by addressing critical needs across health, education, livelihoods, protection, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). Operating under a sustained humanitarian response framework since 2014, the organization has transitioned toward long-term recovery and resilience-building efforts. In FY24, it impacted the lives of 156, 976 million vulnerable children and community members across Iraq, especially in conflict-affected areas. Emphasizing community empowerment, World Vision Iraq collaborated with local partners and stakeholders to enhance service delivery and promote sustainable development, while integrating peacebuilding and climate resilience strategies within its humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach.

This article recounts an initiative led by World Vision and the Protection Cluster on the occasion of the Day of the African Child 2025 in North Kivu. The event brought together local authorities and humanitarian actors under the theme of planning and budgeting for children’s rights, within the context of a prolonged crisis. Discussions centred on emergency education, the fight against child exploitation, support for reintegration centres, and the need for reliable data to inform decisions. A powerful testimony from a young former street child strengthened the call for concrete action. World Vision concluded by emphasising that protecting childhood is an investment in peace and the future of the country.

On World Refugee Day, World Vision Kenya stands in solidarity with refugees, highlighting the urgent need to honour their stories and uphold their rights amid a growing global displacement crisis.

Joining Forces East and Southern Africa stands in solidarity with the children of Sudan and South Sudan as we commemorate World Refugee Day.