I went to Mongolia, quite glad to escape the haze and all ready to embrace the endless  expanse of blue skies. Some trippers  who had visited before noted that there was much development on the way to Uvurkhangai. There were fewer potholes and now a packed KFC in the middle of the dessert surrounded by camels, horses and sheep dog. It couldn’t have been more exotic.

It was refreshing to have met like-minded individuals who wanted to find out firsthand how World Vision’s sponsorship programme partners with communities in need to benefit the young and at-risk. We started as a group of strangers from different backgrounds embarking on a five-day trip to a foreign place, but through the 5 days, we bonded by experiencing the tangible, positive and powerful impact that the perseverance and support for this sponsorship programme have yielded.

When I knew that I was given the opportunity to lead a group of trippers to Lesotho, I was ecstatic since this would be my first step into the African continent. Then came the news that this would be the last trip that we would be making to Lenkoane community in Lesotho since we were phasing out of the community and that's when I got a little worried.

It has been an enriching and impactful 8 days with World Vision on this sponsors trip to Vietnam. The team comprised of 15 like-minded Singaporeans. 3 of us started the 1st 2 days in Hanoi city and visited Blue Dragon, a World Vision's partner whose primary mission involves arduous work of rescuing street children in Hanoi.

I have always lived a privileged life; I have a loving family, attend a good school and have great friends. I have always known about poverty but have never seen or experienced it first hand; I never felt obliged to help others until recently.

7 days, 8 child sponsors, 1 team of World Vision staff and the whole Dhemaji ADP (Area Development Programme) community. Being there really took my breath away.

After the orientation and briefing at World Vision's office, I started racking my brain for gifts for my dear little brother (my sponsored child). What size should I get for him? How tall is he? Will he enjoy some eduational toys?

Mongolia – an exotic and faraway land; a country that I knew very little about. So when our Human Resources department presented World Vision’s list of children up for sponsorship*, I chose to sponsor a child from Mongolia; out of curiosity more than anything else. That was 4 years ago. Little did I know then that this decision would lead to an eventual trip (company sponsored!) to that very country to meet with my sponsored child.

A group of 13 strangers embarked on a journey to Tien Lu earlier this year in April. They met with different stories but ended with a shared inspiration – that it is not so much about what they can give to the poor but what being among them can do to enrich their lives.