Chosen: Empowering children through sponsorship in Solomon Islands

On a bright morning in Honiara, the doors of Holy Cross Hall opened to something extraordinary. World Vision Solomon Islands (WVSI) was hosting its very first Chosen Event—a moment that would forever change how sponsorship begins. This time, the children would choose.

The air buzzed with anticipation. Rows of photographs pinned up on strings, each one representing a sponsor who had stepped forward in faith, waiting to be chosen. And then, the moment arrived.

A young boy named Francis, no older than seven, stepped forward. Simply dressed, his smile was shy but radiant. He scanned the faces before him—strangers from faraway lands who had offered their hearts. His eyes paused on one photo: two boys with warm smiles from New Zealand. Francis pointed, then nodded. Mitchell and Caleb are now his sponsors.

The room erupted in applause. Mitchell, the visiting sponsor, overwhelmed, approached and came to meet Francis. They embraced—two lives are now intertwined by choice, not chance.

For WVSI, this was more than a milestone. It was a shift in dignity, a celebration of agency. Francis didn’t just receive help; he made a decision. And in doing so, he became the author of his own story.

That day, the Chosen Event became a symbol of empowerment. And Francis’ choice—a simple gesture with profound meaning—marked the beginning of a new chapter for WVSI, for sponsors, and most importantly, for the children.