A group of our longest-serving World Vision Advocates visited D.C. last week for a special event to recognize their 5+ years of volunteer advocacy and two days of in-depth learning opportunities with World Vision leaders.
“These top Advocates form the core of our Advocate Community can now more actively recruit, train, and lead other Advocates in their home states, and are even more excited about doing so as a result of this unique opportunity” said Megan Pratt, Senior Manager of Grassroots Organizing. “They’re not just giving us their time: they’re stewarding their voices and influence in heart-felt and strategic ways.”
An Itinerary Built to Dive Deeper
The trip was jammed packed with visits, conversation, and chances to better understand World Vision’s work, the legislative landscape, and how to multiply our advocacy impact.
To name just a few opportunities, Advocates:
- Visited the D.C. office for discussions with World Vision’s Leadership.
- Learned how their constituent advocacy empowers World Vision’s work on Capitol Hill.
- Met with congressional staffers on the Hill to discuss current advocacy issues.
- Met with the State Department Office of Women’s Global Issues to learn more about challenges women and girls face.
- Toured the United States Institute of Peace.
- Were briefed on the political landscape of humanitarian aid and foreign assistance.
“I think a lot of people don’t understand advocacy and underestimate its impact. Advocacy protects and promotes the proven resources and solutions that are making a life-saving difference for children and multiply the impact of our work around the world.”
Hannah Chargin, World Vision’s senior policy advisor for food security
3 Recent Advocacy Wins
The visit to D.C. comes on the heels of three big wins on Capitol Hill for our Advocacy Team.
- Congress authorized vital supplemental humanitarian aid to meet growing global needs, especially in conflict zones.
- The President signed the REPORT Act into law. The legislation strengthens safeguards for children on social media, updates the law to address growing online child exploitation, and requires websites and social media platforms to report abuse.
- PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) has been reauthorized for another year. A foundational part of the U.S.’ foreign assistance policy, PEPFAR invest critical resources into disease prevention and development programming. In its 21-year history, PEPFAR has become arguably the most impactful health program in history!
