World Vision’s Girls Can: Empowering girls to dream, learn and lead through child sponsorship

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MANILA, Philippines — Every girl has the right to dream, discover her passions and explore her full potential. However, for many girls, reality tells a different story: one in three women and girls will experience violence in their lifetime.

Every three seconds, a girl is forced into early marriage, and each year, the number of young girls giving birth continues to rise.

In the Philippines, these global challenges are reflected in urgent local realities. Many adolescent girls continue to face a higher risk of teenage pregnancy, which often leads to interrupted education and limited opportunities.

A significant number also become part of the out-of-school youth population, limiting their ability to complete their studies and achieve their full potential. These interconnected challenges continue to affect the life trajectory of young girls across the country.

But together, we can help change these numbers. With Girls Can, a World Vision campaign, we can help rewrite every girl’s story through child sponsorship.

The Girls Can campaign of World Vision will officially launch in August 2026. In the lead-up to the launch, and as part of World Vision’s ongoing commitment to child sponsorship, the organization continues to support girls in various parts of the world, including the Philippines, all year round.

With just P30 a day or P900 a month, you can empower a girl by providing access to health care and education, while also supporting her immediate needs during emergencies.

Child sponsorship also allows you to connect with your sponsored child through letters or even meet her in person someday. Everyone is invited to join the movement to sponsor 1,000 girls by October 11 in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl.

Joining the movement are celebrities and World Vision ambassadors who continue to use their platforms to empower and inspire young girls.

Among them is actress Belle Mariano, who shared her hopes for a brighter future for every girl, “I've been blessed with opportunities that allowed me to grow, dream and believe in myself. Because of that, I want to see a better world for girls—one where every girl is given the chance to learn, lead and reach her full potential. When girls are supported, they can shape a future filled with hope, courage and change.”

Likewise, content creator Ayn Bernos emphasized the importance of encouragement and representation for young girls, “I've faced challenges because of my skin color and my weight, but those things never defined who I am. What truly shaped me was being supported by the right people—those who believed in me even when I doubted myself. Now, I want to be that kind of support for the younger generation, reminding girls that they are enough and that their differences are their strength.”

Also lending her voice to the campaign is digital influencer Janina Vela, who hopes to inspire girls to stand up for themselves and speak their truth, “Using my platform means speaking up, even when it's uncomfortable and even when not everyone agrees with me. Despite the bashers and the noise online, I choose to stand by my beliefs and continue using my voice. I hope to encourage girls to speak their truth, stand their ground and know that their voices matter.”

Every girl can thrive when she is seen, supported, and empowered to use her voice—regardless of her background, appearance or beliefs. That is why World Vision Philippines national director Dr. Herbert Carpio hopes everyone can come together to give girls a better future.

He shared: “We’re grateful to have role models like Belle, Ayn, and Janina who have consistently shown their support for young girls. We hope many more can join them in the Girls Can movement, because girls and women are truly unstoppable when they are seen and heard.”

Help World Vision Philippines reach 1,000 sponsorships for girls by October 11. Visit https://www.worldvision.org.ph/sponsor-child/ to become a child sponsor and empower a girl today.

Editor’s Note: This press release from World Vision is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.