Helping Children Worldwide

Where could you go?

Go on mission.

We send up to 6 teams to Sierra Leone to work side-by-side with local professionals and build capacity of the programs serving people in West Africa.

Can’t travel right now?

You can still be on mission. Join a professional collaboration or a remote team working in with allies in your field across the globe.

Travel next time, never travel or travel with a team at a future date.

Either way – You become a vital part of the ongoing mission of helping children worldwide by strengthening and empowering families and children!

Requirements

  • Age: Must be 18 years or older and a high school graduate at the time of travel.
  • Passport: Must possess a valid passport.
  • Training: Attend at least 3 United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) training sessions (held via Zoom). Total training time is typically 4–10 hours.
  • Fundraising: Each member must raise a minimum of $3500*. We calculate that is the base amount for travel, lodging, food, local transportation, and project expenses when divided between all team members on a given team. All donations are tax-deductible. Fundraising deadlines are set at the first training session.

*The $3500 covers travelers departing from Dulles Airport (VA). Travelers from other locations must factor in the cost of getting to Dulles.

Please note that this is our general experience from sending 120 travel teams to Africa, but costs can rise abruptly due to circumstances beyond our control. The is international travel for mission, and it is subject to the changing global landscape.Your particular mission trip could be more expensive, depending on the team goals, destination, and circumstances.

Your Commitment is Our Priority: We take the work of mission teams seriously. We provide robust preparation and support to ensure your mission experience is transformative, inspirational, and worthwhile.

Deadlines and Dates*

*dates might shift slightly due to flight availability and project activities 

All deadlines have passed for 2026 mission travel. However, you may send us a request to be included in future communications. We are already planning for 2027 mission travel.

Application Process

The deadline to sign up is generally four to five months before departure–see table below for specific team deadlines.

  1. Get Information: Email mission@helpingchildrenworldwide.org or register to attend an interest meeting  below.
  2. Submit Application: Create an account on our online platform, Managed Missions, and submit your application. Both new and returning missioners must use this platform.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR FAQ SHEET

Mission Team Application
​MANAGED MISSION REGISTRATION

Managed Missions Registration is required to complete the application process. After you have created a Managed Missions account and profile, and we will connect you to the correct team to finish the application process. 

MANAGED MISSIONS APPLICATION

Applying for a Team using Managed Missions:

1. Click the link above to go to Managed Missions
​2. Select “I don’t have a Managed Mission Login”
3. Enter your email address and click “Send Email”
4. Check your email and click the link that says “Set my Password” to create an account and password
5. On the Managed Missions website, create a password. 
6. Fill in your information on the application.

Once your application has been submitted, you will be contacted regarding next steps. If you have any questions or issues with completing your application, please email mission@helpingchildrenworldwide.org

Virtual Mission

HCW is looking at alternate ways that people can stay connected to our allies. If you are interested in learning more about virtual mission opportunities, please contact Yasmine Vaughan at mission@helpingchildrenworldwide.org.  ​

DONATE TO SUPPORT A MISSION TEAM:

JANUARY 2027MARCH 2027JULY 2026OCTOBER 2026

If you are donating to a trip:

  1. Click on the team they are participating in above
  2. Scroll until you find their name, then click on their name.
  3. Enter the amount you would like to donate and click NEXT
  4. Fill in your contact information and click NEXT
  5. Click NEXT and fill in your payment information
  6. You will receive a tax receipt in your email shortly after payment