The 2012 Visayas-wide Children's Congress kicks-off today at the Eon Centennial Resort and Convention Center, Alta Tierra, Jaro, Iloilo City.

The World Vision-sponsored event dubbed "Batang taga-Visayas: Hawak natin ang pagbabago, magkaisa tayo!" will run for five days to coincide with World Vision's celebration of its 55 years of sharing the joy of hope through relief, advocacy, and development initiatives in the Philippines.

It was learned that more than 100 future child leaders aged 10-15 years old in the whole of Visayas from World Vision assisted communities will congregate in Iloilo City.

In a news release, the World Vision said they will continue to put emphasis and special attention to children as the organization ensures their protection and sound participation.

Moreover, the World Vision said it will continue to serve the poorest of the poor through its relief, advocacy and development initiatives in the country.

The group's advocacy ensures that children enjoy good health; educated for life; cared for, protected and participating and experience the love of God and their neighbors.

The children will commit to actively participate to the call to end preventable child deaths, to exercise their right to be taken cared of during the children's congress.

According to WV, 34 out of 1,000 Filipino children born would die before reaching their 5th birthday due to preventable causes, which the underlying cause is undernutrition.

World Vision Development Foundation assists over 90,000 children nationwide as of May this year. Working in partnership with government agencies and community partners for 55 years, World Vision continues to open education opportunities for children, sustainable livelihood for the parents, health programs, child protection, and youth employment in the Philippines as it operates in 29 provinces and over 1,000 barangays.

There are 59 World Vision assisted communities in the country.

In line with the foundation's vision for fullness of life, children mostly from the poorest areas of the country will make their voices heard in their very own congress. They will tackle issues on how children will enjoy good health, how they will be educated for life, experience love of God and their neighbors, are cared for and protected.*