From November 1 to December 25, 2026, World Vision Japan is running a limited-time Christmas campaign, "Give Hope." It invites people to give "hope" as a Christmas gift to children living amid poverty, conflict, and natural disasters, and it introduces two ways to help.
The first is joining child sponsorship. This is an ongoing giving program of 4,500 yen a month that connects a sponsor one-to-one with a child living in a supported community. Donations are used to improve the environment of the community where the child lives, in areas such as education, water and sanitation, and health and nutrition. A key feature is that World Vision stays with each community under a medium- to long-term plan until it gains the strength to become independent of support and break out of poverty.
This time, people can sign up through a new approach called "Chosen." After applying, sponsors send their own photo through a form they receive, and children in the community experience "choosing" their sponsor. The sponsor then receives a photo of the child who chose them and a letter explaining why. From there, an exchange begins in which both sides can see each other's faces. The second way to help is supporting the water and food appeal for children facing the crises of climate change and conflict.
Key points
- A limited-time Christmas campaign from November 1 to December 25, introducing two ways to help
- With "Chosen," it is the child in the community, not the donor, who chooses the sponsor, and the child explains the reason in a letter
- According to World Vision, it delivered education, water and sanitation, food, and other support to 43.9 million children in one year
Why This News Deserves Attention
World Vision notes that one child dies every six seconds before reaching the age of five, and that 120 million children are not able to attend school. In response to that reality, ongoing support that starts from a connection with one child and works to change the environment of the whole community is a form of international cooperation built for the long term.
"Chosen," in which children select their supporters, is a system where the relationship begins with the child's own wishes rather than with aid delivered in one direction. The page also features messages from goodwill ambassadors and comments from sponsors, such as being drawn to support where both sides can see each other's faces, which can be helpful for people considering giving for the first time.
Staff comments
Minato AobaResearch
“I was surprised by the idea that the child in the community, not the donor, chooses the sponsor. If the letter explains why they chose you, the relationship would feel special from the very beginning.”
Sophie HiroseWriting and translation
“I agree with Aoba that the relationship feels special from the start. When photos and letters let both sides see each other, a donation becomes the growth of one child close to you, not a number from a faraway country.”
Mako JozenjiProofreading and verification
“Listening to you both, I think the experience of being chosen has meaning in itself. When the child makes the decision, support begins not as something handed down from above, but as a connection between equals. I find that lovely.”
Editor-in-Chief’s comment
Ren DateEditor-in-Chief
“Christmas is the season for thinking about gifts for the people we care about. Imagine receiving a letter from a child in a faraway country telling you why they chose you. It would surely warm your heart, too. This year, why not add one more item to your gift list: "hope" for a child somewhere in the world?”