When World Vision ambassador Cheryl Pitchford travelled to Tanzania a few years ago, she met a group of 10 women who had formed their own food-processing group. The women sell flour in their community and use the proceeds to support local orphans and fund their education. She was moved to see firsthand how when given opportunities, young women can not only succeed but also create meaningful impact within their communities.

This was all possible because of World Vision’s sponsorship program. “Everywhere we went, we saw hope and change in the community, [which were creating] a better quality of life,” says Pitchford. “The people in Tanzania showed pride in their accomplishments and a wish to be self-sustaining in their endeavours. I loved how community-minded they were.”

According to World Vision, at least 120 million girls have been subjected to sexual violence and exploitation at some point in their lives; one in five young girls have been forced into marriage; and 168 million children are involved in child labour. This needs to change—now.

Sponsoring a girl is the most effective way to ensure her well-being. It helps protect her from violence and child labour, and it provides her with access to education, so she can grow and become independent, and healthcare, so that medical issues won’t go unchecked. Above all, sponsorship gives her agency and empowers her to thrive in the future. It’s also the most sustainable way to create long-term impact because it also addresses systemic gender inequality by working to put an end to long-held discriminatory practices and give girls and young women actual economic power.

That’s why sisters Amanda, Alicia and Alanna Ault, an acclaimed Canadian vocal trio, got involved. “Sponsoring a girl through World Vision opens up so many doors for them,” says Alicia. “It helps create change at the community level and give girls a voice, [allowing them to] become more vocal and defend their rights.”

World Vision’s supporters have impacted the lives of over 200 million vulnerable children by tackling the root causes of poverty. When you sponsor a girl, that money goes directly toward making her life better. And she’s not the only one who benefits. World Vision is committed to solutions that improve the entire community, so for every child you help, four more children benefit too. “By sponsoring a girl, you become an agent of change and help young women create a brighter future for themselves and those who come after,” says Alicia.

Visit worldvision.ca to learn more about how you can make a lasting difference in a girl’s life.