WWO helps transform the lives of vulnerable children, families, and communities through trauma-informed, evidence-based programming.
Over the past 26 years, we have changed the lives of more than 200,000 children, families and communities, and worked in a total of nineteen countries. We strive to continue to be responsive, innovative and impactful as we all work towards eliminating developmental delays in young children worldwide.
In 2022, WWO served 11,000 children and adults in Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Haiti and Vietnam through our early childhood education, skills development, and camp programs.
Element of Play® and Element of Play® at Home Programs
WWO works with communities to ensure children are protected and engaged. Through our trauma informed, evidence based Element of Play® program, children are introduced to safe and structured learning through play methodology that builds their social and executive function skills. WWO ensures children are seen, connected to the community, and therefore can be protected. When children have access to quality early learning activities and feel safe and connected, these activities have the power to mitigate the negative effects of poverty, toxic stress, and trauma on their early childhood development.
Positive Youth Development Programs
Science tells us it is never too late to help youth and young adults build up their capabilities. When they have opportunities to build the core skills needed to be productive participants in their communities, the next generation of citizens, workers, and parents will thrive. Our Positive Youth Development training sessions address self-care and daily activities, community, housing and personal budgeting, education, career orientation, and vocational training, communications and social relations, job search training, and family building.
Camp Programs for Children Living with Serious Illness
In partnership with SeriousFun Children’s Network, WWO runs camp programs in Ethiopia, Haiti, and Vietnam for children with serious illnesses. Our local teams conduct camps in collaboration with health care providers in local hospitals. WWO’s professional staff adheres to the stringent guidelines of SeriousFun. In addition to residential programs, WWO conducts regular follow-up appointments throughout the year, as well as family weekends to increase the long-term impact of the camp experience. In 2020, we created a virtual camp program and distributed hundreds of Camp at Home program kits to youth through local hospitals, thus strengthening the relationship between healthcare providers and campers while leveraging the positive health messages from camp.
