World Vision social workers visit the child families regularly. It's important to know that someone is concerned about them. The social workers listen and help with any problems, giving advice and answering questions. They focus first on meeting the children's most urgent, basic needs.

· Emergency food supplies - enough for two meals a day. It costs a lot of money to feed everyone so World Vision is careful to help those in most need and help people get into a better situation so they won't need food assistance for long.
· Household items - like cooking equipment so families can prepare meals and look after themselves.
· Adequate shelter - providing sheets of iron for roofing and encouraging the community to help rebuild homes.
· Clothes - replacing worn out clothes with second-hand ones.
· Basic healthcare - social workers teach families about hygiene and help pay for basic treatment.

Other needs are just as important, but less urgent. Addressing these long-term needs is the best way to improve the future for these children. World Vision workers aim to give the children security, help them provide for themselves as soon as possible, and train them in skills which will help them in their later lives. Here are some of the things they do to help child families help themselves:

· Visit regularly to help the children feel valued.
· Provide guidance and offer courses to the eldest child to learn a trade like tailoring, carpentry, metalwork or pottery.
· Discuss social issues relevant for daily life.
· Provide time to meet with others, away from family responsibilities.
· Provide education materials and encourage younger family members to go to school.
· Form cooperatives where everyone helps each other, sharing seeds and tools, and selling produce together.
· Teach gardening techniques - how to improve soil with terracing, irrigation and manure.
· Grow better crops because of agricultural training.
· Breed animals like goats, giving the first-born to another child family and selling the other offspring.
· Advocate for their rights and protect them from all forms of exploitation.
· Help families keep ownership of their house, land and belongings.
· Encourage communities to be aware and protect the rights of these children living amongst them.