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Child labor, as defined by the International Labour Organization, is work that deprives children of their childhood, potential, and dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. Let’s explore this critical issue through impactful photos.

On June 12, World Day Against Child Labour, we reflect on the 160 million children worldwide — nearly 1 in 10 — forced into child labor, depriving them of their rights and future.

Among these children, 79 million worked under hazardous conditions in 2020, further jeopardizing their health, safety, and well-being.

Approximately 70% of child laborers, or 112 million children, work in agriculture, predominately farming and herding.

Child labor is most widespread in impoverished regions, often exacerbated by armed conflict. Sub-Saharan Africa leads with 86.6 million child laborers, followed by Central and Southern Asia with 26.3 million.

Children, especially vulnerable during their early developmental years, face risks of injuries that may not be evident as physical and mental health problems until later stages of life.

Approximately 6.3 million children have been forced into commercial sex exploitation, experiencing severe abuse and violation of their rights.

The negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a rise in child labor, with more children being pushed into work due to economic hardships and school closures.

Child labor prevents children from getting the education they need to break free from the cycle of poverty. One in three children in child labor are out of school.

World Vision places children at the center of all our holistic development work to equip communities to sustainably transform their lives.

Discover more about World Vision’s Bright Futures project aimed at reducing child labor in Honduras.

We help empower children to understand and exercise their rights and equip them with tools to work toward their own well-being.

We collaborate with parents and communities to protect children, helping to safeguard their futures from the injustice of labor exploitation. We work with governments to advocate for the support and enforcement of national child labor laws.

We are dedicated to supporting and nurturing communities’ positive transformation, helping ensure every child can reach a brighter future and live the full lives that God intends for them.

Learn more child labor facts and how you can help.

You can help protect children from child labor.

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The Syrian refugee crisis remains one of the largest refugee and displacement crises of our time. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

Since the conflict in Syria began on March 15, 2011, families have suffered under ongoing brutal conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, torn the nation apart, and set back the standard of living by decades.

The situation worsened as the COVID-19 pandemic drove at least 1.1 million Syrian refugees and displaced people into poverty.

Extreme cold is making life even harder, especially for children.

For many Syrian children, all they have known is war.

We entered the 13th year of the Syrian refugee crisis on March 15, 2024.

Still, about 6.3 million Syrians are refugees.

The majority of Syria’s refugees, about 5.5 million, have fled — by land and sea — across borders to neighboring countries but remain in the Middle East.

Another 7.2 million people are displaced within Syria.

In 2024, an estimated 16.7 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance.

About half of the people affected by the Syrian refugee crisis are children.

June 20 is the United Nations–sanctioned World Refugee Day, a time to show the world that we stand with refugees.

But Syrians deserve to be remembered every day of the year.

World Vision has been working in the Middle East for nearly 40 years.

In 2023, World Vision reached over 2.3 million people as part of our Syria response. World Vision has served in the Middle East region for nearly four decades.

In Syria, we’re providing healthcare, emergency food, shelter repair kits, and clean water, sanitation, and hygiene behavior change support. We’re also operating Child-Friendly Spaces and child protection training.

In Jordan and Lebanon, we’re supporting people with food assistance, clean water and sanitation, education and recreation, Child-Friendly Spaces for children and child protection training for adults, livelihood support, and psychosocial support for women and children.

In Iraq, we’re providing food aid, health services, clean water and sanitation, and livelihood training. Children receive education, recreation, and programs in life skills, peacebuilding, and resilience.

Learn more the Syrian refugee crisis and how you can help refugees!

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With the holidays drawing near, signs of the season are emerging in our neighborhood stores, living rooms, and mailboxes. If you’re a child sponsor, you’ve likely received a Christmas card to send to your sponsored child. We encourage you to take a moment and write them a special message before popping it in the mail. We’ve seen firsthand how encouraging these cards can be.

Christmas manifests in various ways around the world for the children we serve. For some, it’s a joyful celebration full of cherished traditions. For others, the season may pass quietly or bring a painful reminder that life is not all it should be. In this collection of photos, we honor each of these children and their Christmas experiences. We also honor you and your partnership with World Vision, for it is through that commitment that children around the world continue to feel the hope of Jesus this season — and beyond.

Ukrainian refugees in Moldova

Natalia placed new shoes on the feet of her 3-year-old son, Macar, during a World Vision distribution for Ukrainian refugees in Moldova in December 2022. Despite being far from home and loved ones, Natalia was determined to make Christmas a celebration for her child. “We will buy a gift for the child … We will definitely put up a Christmas tree,” she says. “At home we bought a goose, but this year [we’ll have] a little chicken.” She continues, “I hope that the war will be over very soon, but a child should still have memories of the fact that there were these little traditions, which in my family have been passed down to me since childhood.” (©2022 World Vision/photo by Eugene Combo)

Myanmar

Thirteen-year-old Zar in Myanmar was elated to receive a Christmas card from her sponsor in the United Kingdom. She said that receiving these cards make her feel very special. “There are hearts, stars, Christmas ornaments, birds, bells, and snow on this Christmas card. It is so beautiful! I like it very much.” Despite limitations from the pandemic, disasters, and conflict in various regions, World Vision staff will still deliver Christmas cards like this one to sponsored children around the world. (©2018 World Vision/photo by Khaing Min Htoo)

Malawi

Singing songs, lighting candles, and gathering with family and friends — this is how the family of Leon, a 12-year-old girl in Malawi, celebrates Christmas. After back-to-back years of devastating natural disasters, causing food shortages and cholera outbreaks, is no small miracle. Leon and her family don’t face their challenges alone. She is sponsored, and it’s a lifeline for her family and the whole community.

Leon’s family now has four goats to breed and sell thanks to the World Vision animal program in their community. Sponsorship has also helped fund agricultural training and seeds to boost food harvests in the area, as well as nutrition training to improve children’s diets and overall health. (©2023 World Vision/photo by Ben Adams)

South Sudan

In South Sudan, Christmas is a season of coming together to share God’s love and good food with family and friends. Here, 9-year-old Kobong (left), 11-year-old Maring (center), and 10-year-old Moses (right) don Santa hats in preparation for the festivities. Maring says, “As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, may He grant us peace and love, the joy to love Him back, and for our parents to be blessed so they can send us to school next year.” (©2020 World Vision/photo by Scovia Charles)

United States

A little girl grins after selecting her Christmas present at the Al Davies Boys and Girls Club in Tacoma, Washington. The club held a toy distribution in partnership with World Vision and NBA player Isaiah Thomas on December 12, 2022. For 12 years, Isaiah Thomas has partnered with World Vision to support the Al Davies Boys and Girls Club with coat drives, backpacks, Christmas presents, and Thanksgiving distributions. (©2022 World Vision/photo by Amy Van Drunen)

Romania

A choir of children — many sponsored through World Vision, others registered for sponsorship — sing Christmas carols during evening services at a Romanian Orthodox Church. Through World Vision’s community-based model, both sponsored and unsponsored children benefit from community improvements and programs funded through sponsorship. In fact, for every child sponsored, another four will also benefit. (©2019 World Vision/photo by World Vision staff)

Brazil

Through a program called “Christmas of Hope,” World Vision and local churches invited Brazilian and Venezuelan children to write each other Christmas cards. The goal of the program was to inspire intercultural unity between two peoples who are learning to coexist as Venezuelans migrate to Brazil.

Pedro, a 10-year-old Brazilian boy, said, “When I made the card, it was an incredible feeling knowing that the child had to leave their country and come to ours. I can’t explain the feeling. At the moment it is sad, but at the same time happy to be making the card. I think he will feel special like I felt doing it.” (©2022 World Vision/photo by Tiago Orihuela)

Ethiopia

Eleven-year-old Kalkidan in Ethiopia holds the Christmas card he received last year from his sponsor in the United Kingdom. His favorite part of the card was the stickers that came inside of it. When asked how he and his family celebrate Christmas, he said, “On ‘Gena’ Christmas holiday, I wear special clothes and celebrate the day with my family.” They play musical instruments, and he likes to play “a drum that is made from animal skin.” (©2019 World Vision/photo by Meron Belay)

Cambodia

“I am very pleased that I received a Christmas card from my sponsor,” says Sinil, 11, in Cambodia. She and her friends got together to turn their cards — which doubled as festive crafts — into 3D Christmas trees. (©2023 World Vision/photo by Vanndeth Um)

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