Updated Media Advisory Regarding Mothership’s Report on Hong Kong Sponsor and Sponsored Child

2 Feb 2021, Singapore — On 1 February, Mothership Facebook carried a post on a sponsor in Hong Kong receiving the same photo in consecutive Child Annual Progress Reports and also another photo which does not look like the sponsored child in 2019.

After speaking to our Hong Kong office, we understand that it was due to a human error, and when alerted, the office immediately investigated, and the latest photo of the child, who is currently studying accountancy, has been sent and shared with the Hong Kong child sponsor. Our Hong Kong office has since reviewed and strengthened their existing processes to ensure more accurate and timely progress reports in the future. 

World Vision takes donor accountability very seriously and our transparency is evident in our financial and impact reports. To find out more about our commitment to accountability and how it impacts our work, you can view our Annual Reports and Financial Statements here:  https://www.worldvision.org.sg/en/about-us/financial-accountability  

Due to a large number of children supported in our different Area Programmes and child monitoring across a huge geographical region, there have been isolated instances where unfortunately technical or human error arises. However, we take all these cases seriously and to further enhance timely and accurate progress reports and updates, we have been upgrading and digitizing our systems in the field. Should you notice any irregularities in the letters or photos, please do not hesitate to inform us so that we can review with our field team immediately. We thank our sponsors for clarifying with us. 

2020 has also been an extremely difficult year for many of our communities battling with COVID-19, and some of the photo-taking activities were not able to take place in time for the Annual Progress Report. In our email update to sponsors in mid-December 2020, we alerted our donors that a small percentage of the sponsors may not have an updated photo for the 2020 Annual Progress Report. We seek your understanding.   

World Vision’s work through child sponsorship is focused on improving the lives of the most vulnerable children. World Vision has a history of strong financial accountability and program performance. For over 70 years we have been helping the world’s most vulnerable in some 100 countries without compromising our beliefs nor our commitment to integrity as we work with partners and sponsors throughout the world.

于2月1日，8视界新闻新加坡报道一名香港网民指自己在周年进度报告中所收到的照片与其助养儿童存在差异。

经过调查与沟通后，我们从香港世界宣明得知这是人为因素所造成的。当香港世界宣明会接到网民的反馈后，立即进行了调查，并且已将助养儿童的最新照片发送给该名助养者。 

对此事件，香港世界宣明会已覆核并加强了现有流程，以确保将来能更准确、及时地向助养者提供助养儿童的进度。 

世界宣明会肩负着对捐款人的责任，我们的财务报告与评估报告透明化便是一个证明。欲知世界宣明会如何履行我们对捐款人的承诺，以及这一责任对我们的影响，请参阅我们的年度报告与财务报告：https://www.worldvision.org.sg/en/about-us/financial-accountability 

世界宣明会的每个地区计划都支援着许多助养儿童以及他们广大的社区。因此在准备大量的周年进度报告时，曾不幸发生过技术或人为错误。我们非常认真地对待每次的失误，也不断地提升系统并进行数字化，以增强周年进度报告的准确与及时性。您若发现所收到的信件或照片当中有任何问题，请立即通知我们，以便与海外办事处的团队进行复核。我们感谢助养者给予的及时反馈。 

2019新冠状病毒的出现给不少社区带来了巨大的影响和打击。在全力配合抗疫措施的情况下，有些海外同工无法为每一位孩童照相，因此未能及时完成年度进展报告。我们也在12月份通过电子邮件发出通告说明有少数助养者将无法在2020年周年进度报告里收到助养孩童的最新照片。对于此情况，我们希望能获得各位助养者的谅解。 

世界宣明会的儿童赞助工作致力于改善最弱势儿童的生活。世界宣明会历来都有着强健的财务问责制与发展项目成果。70多年来，我们同世界各地的伙伴和助养者合作，帮助约100个国家中最弱势的群体。世界宣明会将一直谨守诚信，并坚守着我们的信念， 帮助贫困孩子成长，为他们的社区带来改善。