Hope Notes 32

STORIES OF HOPE FROM AROUND THE WORLD

ISSUE 32 SPRING 2023

FROM THE EDITOR

Hallelujah! That’s an exclamation we don’t hear often, eh? I was reading through a recent testimonial sent to us from Uganda, from a mother and farmer who could not contain her joy over the changes she is seeing in her family and on her farm. It hit me in a new way—what jubilation!

Hope Notes (or rather, Hallelujah Notes?) is a flagship messenger for FH. I’m so proud of what it brings into your home; that is, great positive change for families in partner communities around the world. This issue we’re celebrating communities in East Africa who have met their sustainability goals, communities in Bangladesh and Cambodia who are launching their journeys to thriving; families in Canada who are creating everyday habits of generosity, and more!

As you enjoy this issue, I hope you’ll share these hallelujah moments with your friends and family. Thank you for making them possible!

With Celebration,

Michael Prins Director of Communications

PAGE 3 Welcome to Ukhia, Bangladesh: Every great journey begins with a single step

PAGE 7 Gift Guide: Breaking the Limits

PAGE 8 Joy on the Journey in Uganda & Rwanda

PAGE 14 Recipes from Ethiopia & Bangladesh

PAGE 16 Heroes of Transformation: Reversing the Curse

PAGE 18 How does your garden grow?

PAGE 20 Cambodia: Snapshots of Hope

PAGE 23 From ice cream cones to open homes

ISSUE 32

SPRING 2023

Food for the Hungry (FH) Canada’s seasonal publication, celebrating stories of hope from partnered communities around the world.

Editorial: Eryn Austin-Bergen, Tatum Bergen, Sarah Harrington, and Michael Prins

Design: Mark Stewart

Contributors: Eryn Austin-Bergen, Hayley

Bartsch, Tatum Bergen, Debelo Diriba, Donna Fournier, Sarah Harrington, Samson Kacha, Shawn Plummer, Michael Prins, Mukta Rani, Mark Stewart, Jenny Stoeker, Shelaine Strom and Yosef Tekile

Food for the Hungry (FH) Canada is a Christian, non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating sustainable, community development in order to bring about long-term transformation for those stuck in poverty.

Through project development, Child Sponsorship, and emergency relief, FH Canada strives to relieve all forms of poverty—physical, spiritual, social, and personal.

Our Purpose:

To end poverty—one community at a time.

Our Promise: To graduate communities from poverty in 10 years.

81.6% Partnership with communities for sustainability

11.4% Invested to generate income

7% Administration & running cost

As a Certified Member of the Canadian Council for Christian Charities, FH Canada meets the stringent standards set by the CCCC for accountability and organizational integrity.

CHARITABLE REGISTRATION NUMBER: 132152893RR0001

FH Canada National Office

1-31741 Peardonville Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T 1L2

604 853 4262

1 800 667 0605 info@fhcanada.org fhcanada.org

@foodforthehungrycanada

@fhcanada

@fh-canada

@fhcanada blog.fhcanada.org

Ukhia, Bangladesh! Ukhia, Bangladesh!

EVERY GREAT JOURNEY BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP

Have you ever heard of Ukhia, Bangladesh? Chances are you have, you just might not have realized it at the time. Ukhia is home to Cox’s Bazar, where you’ll find the world’s largest refugee camp. In 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya refugees poured into the region, triggering a humanitarian crisis that continues today. Ukhia is one of the poorest sub-districts in Bangladesh and the sudden influx of refugees placed stress on already strained resources. FH Bangladesh has a medical program in the Rohingya camps, but after seeing the need in the host community, felt called to respond with an additional program. And so, Food for the Hungry’s partnership with four communities in Ukhia was born in late 2021!

Despite hardships, the people of Ukhia remain hopeful for the future as they embark on a journey with FH toward sustainability. What does this journey look like? We’re glad you asked…

Char Borobila Mymensingh District

Written by Sarah Harrington

HEALTHY HABITS

In such an overpopulated region, it’s no surprise that diseases, waterborne illnesses, and malnutrition play a heavy role in Ukhia. When local systems can’t keep up with the demand, sanitation and hygiene are quick to fall by the wayside.

But community leaders are hard at work to find solutions to build a healthier Ukhia. We’re going to support them as they build new water pumps, educate families on healthy habits—like handwashing, drinking clean water, and eating delicious and nutritious meals—and establish Cascade Health Groups to empower mothers to pass these life-saving messages along to their neighbours!

13%

FAMILIES HAVE PIPED TAP WATER AT HOME

CHILDREN ARE SEVERELY UNDERWEIGHT 41%

LEANING INTO LEARNING

When it’s a struggle to put food on the table, it’s understandable that parents in Ukhia might not see the value of their kids learning fractions when they could be helping around the house or in the fields. But without education, the cycle of poverty spins on.

FH will walk with families to help them discover the joy and opportunities of education. Preschools will help shape the minds and motor skills of young children with fun activities that build confidence and encourage learning. Children’s clubs will help older kids discover new passions, focus on their academics, and gain a deeper understanding of their rights. Canadians will also come alongside families to ease the burden of education through child sponsorship support.

39%

UKHIA LITERACY RATE

Now I realize it is the responsibility of every guardian to educate their children properly. There is no alternative without education for community and personal development.

“

59%

GIRLS IN BANGLADESH ARE MARRIED BEFORE THEIR 18TH BIRTHDAY

MAKING A LIVING

With men often acting as the sole breadwinners and job opportunities in short supply, it’s no surprise that many families are struggling to get by. The labour market in Ukhia hasn’t been able to cope with the strain put on it by the influx of Rohingya refugees, making unemployment one of the biggest stressors for families. With your partnership, we’re going to come alongside families to help diversify their income, offering skills-based training like tailoring and animal rearing. These new skills will go along perfectly with small business workshops that equip them to become budding entrepreneurs. All this will lead to increased and reliable income, which will help families reduce stress in their daily lives and feed their children.

GIRL POWER

After spending a morning in Ukhia, seeing men at work while boys head off to secondary school, you might ask, “Where are all the women?” If you look a little closer, you’ll find women in fields, doing chores, or collecting water, but a not-so-hidden truth lies behind their place in society.

In Ukhia, cultural barriers and traditions prevent girls and women from thriving. Men are seen as the sole decision makers of the household, and many women have to ask for permission to go out. The influx of Rohingya refugees put economic pressure on the community, triggering a rise in child marriage rates as families marry off their young daughters because they can’t afford to keep feeding everyone.

While this may paint a bleak picture, this story is anything but hopeless. FH’s first year of listening and learning has shown that women in Ukhia are keen to earn an income and better the lives of their families and communities. We’ll take learnings from other FH programs in Bangladesh (which have seen success in this area!) and apply those to fit Ukhia. We’ll work with community leaders to establish a framework that lifts up women, educates men in the community, and raises awareness about the harmful nature of child marriage so that girls and women can become the changemakers they were born to be!

44%

HOUSEHOLDS CAN ONLY AFFORD TO EAT 1-2 MEALS PER DAY

I benefited from the opportunity of tailoring training from FH. Now I can work and support my daughter’s education and I can help my husband to support my family.

— Rukshana

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Cyclones, landslides, drought—being a coastal region, these are all disasters that the people of Ukhia deal with on a distressingly regular basis.

Strong leadership is not only one of the best methods for disaster prevention, but it’s also crucial for the sustainability of long-term development. Local leaders know their people and their communities far better than anyone else. So, we’re excited to come alongside these established leaders to create new Community Development Committees that will empower leaders, including women!

Community assessments help key actors in the community–—think farmers, parents, teachers, political leaders, and everyone in between—to identify their unique strengths while also determining areas for growth. This type of activity fosters trust and helps everyone take ownership of building a brighter future, together.

HIGH RISK 6 ISSUE 32

Ukhia,

Ukhia, Bangladesh is on the path toward sustainability!

GIFT GUIDE IMPACT

COMMUNITY

SAVINGS KICKSTART

Break the Limits

2,149 CANADIANS BOUGHT GIFTS

10,902 GIFTS GIVEN

Mandela and Sandra are Batwa, an Indigenous minority in Burundi deeply discriminated against. Thankfully, your generous giving made it possible for FH Burundi to intervene in Mandela’s community with rights awareness workshops and practical development activities. As Mandela’s understanding of his identity as a Batwa man transformed, so did his life. And the Gifts for Change Gift Guide played a key role!

When partners like you gave toward Community Savings Kickstart, you helped Mandela start a Savings and Loans Group. “I learned that the development of a whole group is better than one individual,” Mandela shares. Through his group, he got a loan to buy a pig that gave manure for his maize crop. By intensifying his farming, Mandela now gets much more from the small plot of land he got from the government.

When Mandela was empowered to provide for his family, he stopped drinking and turned away from violence. He now advocates for his wife and cares for his children with the love and strength of the father he always wanted to be.

Give families the resources they need to transform their lives. Shop the Gift Guide!

BEST

BANG FOR

1,465 donations RAISED $36,625

Water Well $113,265 CLEAN WATER solutions

Fluffle of Rabbits

By shopping the FH Canada Gift Guide, you sent resources to families all over the world. With the seeds, books, kickstarts, and more that you gave, communities are building a stronger future for their children. MOST

“

7 FHCANADA.ORG

Nashisa, and Busekera celebrate!

JOURNEYS JOURNEYS JOURNEYS

MARARE & NASHISA, UGANDA MARARE & NASHISA, UGANDA

After a fruitful decade of partnership with Food for the Hungry (FH), three communities in East Africa were ready to party! Marare and Nashisa in Uganda and Busekera in Rwanda organized epic celebrations to remember how far they’ve come and tell the story of their journey through speeches, songs, dances, poems, and skits. They invited regional leaders, representatives from the Ministries of Health and Education, FH partners, and Canadian partners and child sponsors (like you!) to witness their triumph and share in their joy.

These communities have worked with Food for the Hungry to design and create sustainable solutions to their particular challenges. By working together— strengthening leadership and establishing community groups to build financial stability, improving health, raising the level of education—they have woven a strong fabric of resilience that supports their communities from the inside out.

Students celebrated their communities’ enthusiasm for education with special songs and dances.

JOURNEYS OF JOY JOURNEYS OF JOY JOURNEYS OF JOY

DURING THE 10-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH MARARE AND NASHISA IN MBALE, UGANDA

12 COMMUNITY VISITS BY CANADIAN PARTNERS

86 CANADIAN SUPPORTERS VISITED FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITIES

1,172 CHILDREN SPONSORED BY CANADIANS

2 CHURCHES, NORTHGATE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH AND CAP CHURCH, WALKED ALONGSIDE THESE COMMUNITIES

Today, Marare and Nashisa thrive because of your support!

MEETING MERCY, AT LAST

SHAWN PLUMMER, FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO

I’m so grateful that after 12 years of writing letters and sending pictures, my whole family was able to meet Mercy! Our family has had the privilege to journey with this remarkable young woman and share in her progress over the years. Mercy is excelling in high school and playing competitive soccer! So fun to spend some time in her home with her mom and siblings and experience how families in Marare are being transformed through community partnership. This visit happened in August 2022 when I and 18 Canadian FH staff and partners—plus some children and spouses!—travelled to Uganda to experience Marare and Nashisa’s stories of transformation over the past 10 years. It was an incredible opportunity that I wish every FH supporter could have. I’m also grateful for the added specialness of showing my kids “what Dad’s been doing” for the past 22 years. While there, we witnessed the devastating impact COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions had on families and school-age children. We also saw how, in spite of this unprecedented challenge, the communities pulled together, pressed ahead, and were ready to celebrate their incredible successes. Over 1,000 families, friends, local leaders, and district dignitaries attended the event! There were speeches, presentations, and of course, dancing. I was proud of my kids and their willingness to get out there and shake their hips like they never have before!

MERCY SPONSOR CHILD PARTNERED WITH THE PLUMMER FAMILY

“Hello Shawn and Linsday, Greetings to you from my family in Jesus’ name! This is a sad moment to say goodbye to you. [But], I know God will provide for me to achieve my vision. Thank you for [supporting] my school fees, providing me with scholastic materials, and to see Marare school shining with the school garden, clean water for drinking. I pray to Almighty God to bless your family.”

Written by Sarah Harrington, Shawn Plummer, and Shelaine Strom

BUSEKERA, RWANDA BUSEKERA, RWANDA

DURING THE 10-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH BUSEKERA

566 CHILDREN SPONSORED BY CANADIANS

99.5%HOUSEHOLDS NOW OWN A FARM ANIMAL

50 ACTIVE SAVINGS AND LOANS GROUPS WITH 1,064 MEMBERS EACH SAVING AROUND $915 CAD EVERY YEAR!

Today, Busekera thrives because of your support!

WE DID THIS TOGETHER!

SHELAINE STROM, NATIONAL EDUCATION LEAD

I had the privilege of bringing a group of Canadians with me to participate in the Busekera community graduation. We arrived with curiosity and anticipation for what the day would bring.

On the day of the great celebration, we were warmly welcomed as one of many supporting partners in this community’s transformation. On my left sat Rwandan government officials and to my right, Alice Kamau, the FH Rwanda Country Director. FH staff surrounded us and the gallery teamed with young and old. The feeling of collaboration was strong— “We did this together!”

One pastor praised the efforts and leadership of Concessa, an agriculture specialist who trained fellow villagers on sustainable growing practices like crop rotation, organic farming, and planting methods. Harvests sky rocketed, profits increased.

Concessa walks with godly swagger. She takes healthy pride in the outcome of her efforts and is now expanding her mentoring to neighbouring communities.

A personal highlight came from a young girl whose spoken verse recounted where Busekera began their walk with FH and the hardwork and perseverance it took from everyone to arrive at graduation. Her dramatic flair and presentation skills were delightful but how she represented the next generation’s ownership and understanding of the work done— and to be carried on—overwhelmed and thrilled.

Meeting such incredible children in Busekera provided a helpful backdrop for the team members who visited their new sponsor children in Bwira, the new community FH is now able to walk with.

Michelle, whose family has been sponsoring children since 2002, commented, “The contrast [between Bwira and] Busekera was shocking. The kids running around in Bwira [were] in clothes that were ripped and hanging off their bodies. I could see the hopelessness in them compared to Busekera. They knew in their heads that there was hope but they were still in such a hard place.”

Seeing that contrast is actually what brought visitors like Michelle hope! They left knowing that a good journey had begun in Bwira that would bring flourishing, and they were 100 per cent committed to walking it with the community!

Wendy, an Ending Poverty Together workshop facilitator on the trip, remarked, “FH really does what we say we do. When I teach Canadians about this approach and then I go to the communities, I see how much this works. I am so convinced that this is the way poverty alleviation needs to be.”

Augustin made the most of his agricultural training and gifts from FH. He now grows enough to feed his entire family as well as two cows, four chickens, and seven pigs! “You have helped my family to grow up, especially my children…For me, even when FH leaves Busekera, I will continue to make a positive difference because I know how to do better,” says Augustin

A couple of days before the graduation celebration, Canadian supporters Sam and Donna (Abbotsford, BC) met Steven and his family (Busekera), the youth they had written to and sponsored since 2017. They exchanged stories and rejoiced together in the bittersweet marking of this transition time. And while they experienced the sadness of an ending, they all knew this special day represented the promise of a healthy future.

CELEBRATING CELEBRATING MORE IMPACT!

IN 2011, FAMILIES ONLY ATE ONE MEAL A DAY. TODAY, FAMILIES EAT AT LEAST TWO MEALS A DAY IN BUSEKERA!

98%

OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE CONNECTED TO A SAVINGS AND LOANS GROUP IN MARARE AND NASHISA

97.8%

OF CHILDREN ARE ENROLLED IN PRIMARY SCHOOL BY AGE 7 IN BUSEKERA!

Since FH started partnering with us in Marare things have greatly improved and continue to improve. We have a dairy cow from FH that has encouraged us to make milk, save with our weekly saving group, and improve our earnings… God has used his people from Canada to touch many lives in our community; I can’t imagine what this community would be looking like without them. — Esther, Marare, Uganda

NEXT? WHAT’S NEXT?

COMMUNITIES NEARING THEIR GOALS!

I thank FH for supporting my community, for the ideas they have shared with the mothers, families, children and young students, and for the training sessions developed with the leaders, they have been a great blessing for the families, now they are putting into practice what they have learned.

— José, Acul, Guatemala

CHAR BOROBILA, BANGLADESH

When Char Borobila began their partnership with FH Bangladesh in 2012, they set a 10-year goal of “Improved quality of life and wellbeing of the most vulnerable, specifically women.” In Bangladesh, where men are seen as the head of the household and women are discouraged from earning an income, this was an ambitious goal!

But Char Borobila has seen incredible growth as community members learned about the benefits of including women in leadership and entrepreneurship. Now, women are rising up as community leaders and even training other women in Savings and Loans Groups!

ACUL, GUATEMALA

In Guatemala, Acul began their journey with FH in 2016, with nutrition and education posing key challenges. Community members have attended cooking classes, learned how to grow their own veggies, and raised animals like rabbits to boost family nutrition.

Early childhood education kits have raised young children’s confidence in the classroom, while school supplies distributions and family visits by FH staff have helped to reduce dropout rates. All of these efforts are helping children stay in school and get the education they deserve!

WANT TO HEAR AND SHARE MORE JOURNEYS OF JOY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR? FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Coorossaa Coorossaa

Ethiopian Savoury Flatbread

In Oromo culture, the sounds of weddings and celebrations often conjure memories of spiced cheese and savoury flatbread. A favourite for many, especially those who enjoy traditional food, Coorossaa is eaten at lunch or dinner as a main meal, but often served with milk, coffee, or tea. This recipe, while requiring some time investment, serves a savoury flatbread that can be eaten on its own, or alongside other spreads.

INGREDIENTS

CHUMBOO (FLATBREAD)

• 1 tsp sugar

• 4 tsp active dry yeast

• 2 cups + 3 Tbsp warm water

• 1 1/3 cups teff flour*

• 2/3 cup all-purpose wheat flour

• dash of salt

AYIB CHEESE (HOMEMADE)

• 2 litres whole milk

• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (2 lemons)

• 1 cheesecloth

TOPPING

• 2 cups Ayib Cheese

• 2 tsp plain yoghurt

• 1/2 cup butter, melted

• 1 tsp berbere spice blend

• 1/2 tsp cardamom

• salt to taste

*often found at local import stores, bulk-bin grocery outlets, or with the gluten free flours at your local supermarket

INSTRUCTIONS

CHUMBOO

Serves 3-4 flatbreads

1. In a medium bowl, mix 3 tbsp warm water with sugar and yeast.

2. After the yeast bubbles, mix in teff and all-purpose flour. Gradually adding 1 1/2 cups of water until fully mixed.

3. Cover dough with a towel and let it rest for 7 to 8 hrs at room temperature.

4. When dough has risen, add 1/2 cup warm water and mix with your hands until thoroughly combined. Consistency should be a thin, pourable batter.

5. Heat a large, nonstick saucepan or griddle over medium heat. Slowly pour about 2/3 cup batter in a circular pattern, moving from inside to outside. Use a ladle to spread the batter out evenly.

6. Cover the pan and cook for 2-4 mins until bubbles form and the batter sets. Flip and cook for another 4-5 mins until cooked through.

AYIB CHEESE

1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring milk to a slow simmer, stirring gently, until the milk foams. Don’t let it boil!

2. Slowly pour in lemon juice, stir briefly, and remove from heat. Let rest for 15 mins while curds form.

3. Moisten cheesecloth, wring out, and line a large colander.

4. Ladle curdling milk into the cheesecloth. Set aside to drain and cool for 30 mins, or until dried to your preference. Transfer curds to a bowl and set aside while you prepare the toppings.

TOPPING

1. In a medium bowl, add berbere spice, cardamom, yoghurt, ¼ cup melted butter, and salt to Ayib cheese and mix well. Spread topping evenly over the flatbread.

2. Finish by sprinkling berbere spice into the remaining melted butter and drizzle over the cheese topping. Slice into triangles (like a pizza) and serve as an appy!

Submitted by Samson Kacha, FH Ethiopia

GAJOR ALU VAJI

Bangladeshi Potato & Carrot Fry

Submitted

by Mukta Rani, FH Bangladesh

Gajor Alu Vaji makes for a delicious, savoury side dish, and a great way to add more flavour to your everyday vegetable servings. Easy and quick, this dish can be jazzed up with red bell peppers or other vegetables and served alongside tandoori chicken, or stand alone as a main vegetarian meal. This Bangladeshi dish is commonly served in winter in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar, when carrots are plentiful in the market at low prices. It can be eaten at breakfast with roti/paratha, but is usually served with rice at lunch or dinner. However you choose to eat it, this flavour-packed spice mix will transform your vegetable experience!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb baby potatoes, cubed

• 1 lb carrots, cubed

• ¼ cup soybean oil (substitute with vegetable oil)

• 1 cup red or yellow onion, diced

• 1 tsp garlic, minced

• 3-4 green chili peppers, sliced

• 1 tsp cumin powder

• 2 tsp coriander powder

• 1 tsp turmeric powder

• 2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

• Roti or naan for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

Serves 3-4

1. Peel and cube carrots and potatoes; set aside. Peel and dice onion, garlic, and chilis.

2. Add ¼ cup oil into a hot frying pan.

3. When oil is hot, add green onion, garlic, and chili peppers. Sauté on medium heat until browned.

4. In a separate bowl, mix cumin, coriander, turmeric, salt, and a dash of water. Mix into a thick paste and stir into the frying vegetables.

5. Add potatoes and carrots. Cook through over medium heat, for about 15 mins. Stir occasionally to avoid burning.

6. Drain excess oil from pan and continue cooking for 1-2 mins to make potatoes crispy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

7. Plate the hash. Garnish with cilantro.

8. Serve with heated roti, paratha, or naan. (To make the most of the flavours, consider heating or dipping in the same spicy pan!)

Food is a tasty way to celebrate the people you walk with alongside FH Canada. Enjoy these and more recipes at fhcanada.org/recipes.

HEROES OF TRANSFORMATION

ETHIOPIA REVERSING THE CURSE

Written by Eryn Austin-Bergen and Yosef Tekile

Photos by Debelo Diriba

When I noticed my first menstrual cycle at school, it made me feel ashamed, and the schoolboys teased me by looking at the blood on my clothes.”

Timkate is a sixteen-year-old girl living in the rural, Ethiopian community of Feyine Terano. Sadly, her experience is typical for girls across the Sasiga MidHighlands. Due to cultural taboos, families don’t talk about women’s menstrual cycles. “Some people saw menstrual blood flow as a curse rather than as a regular healthy process,” Timkate explains.

As a result, young girls are in the dark on the practical aspects of managing their period. Further pressure is put on them by poverty—girls (and women!) living in rural communities don’t have access to sanitary products, clean water, and private spaces. “I saw the menstrual cycle and I was put in tension as I did not know how to control it. When I am [having my period], I prefer to be absent from school…I feel the need to hide.”

Understandably, Timkate felt embarrassed and a deeper sense of shame crept over her because she wasn’t equipped to embrace this fundamental piece of her identity.

Teen girls in rural Ethiopia miss multiple days of school every month, putting their learning at risk. Many girls drop out altogether. To make things even more difficult for Timkate, she didn’t find support

at home. “My family [members] are also…always frustrated by my being absent [from school]. Thus, as a girl student, I am a victim.”

To help “reverse the curse”, FH Ethiopia conducted health education to help teenage girls navigate their menstrual cycles and distributed menstrual hygiene kits. These kits provide girls with practical resources including washable pads and soap. Life began to change for Timkate.

Gathered in the safe space of a girls-only school club, Timkate and her friends had the opportunity to learn how to care for their bodies and minds, ask sensitive questions, and feel “normal” again. Empowered with resources to manage their periods, Timkate and her peers are heading back to school full-time.

“After working with FH, I’ve observed several changes in my life, including a decline in school dropout and absenteeism, an improvement in self-confidence, and an awareness that [my period] is a natural process that happens on its own…[My menstrual] concerns, my health, and my academic achievement were all significantly improved over what they were before.”

It takes brave, intelligent girls like Timkate to choose not to just “go with the flow” when it comes to their periods and education, to change the future. They’re willing to try something new and risk the taunts if it doesn’t work everytime. For Timkate, it’s worth it. “My hope is God,” she confidently declares, “and my future dreams are working to change my life more than the current [situation].”

Because of Timkate’s perseverance, her younger sister, Milion, won’t have to face this stigma when her time comes. Instead, she’ll walk into school confidently, never having known a reason to be ashamed at “that time of the month”.

TRANSFORMING THEIR COMMUNITIES

Recently, 500 teenage girls in Cotzal, Guatemala received sustainable girls’ hygiene kits that included a carry bag, a bar of soap, one washcloth, three sanitary pads, eight panty liners, one discrete carry pouch, and a set of instructions on how to use the kit. They learned about personal care and the correct use of sanitary accessories.

These kits are a powerful tool that equip girls to manage their periods with dignity and comfort. They enable girls to go to school without the stress associated with menstruating. Through initiatives like these, girls and women are empowered to move through their communities with greater equality and freedom.

GUATEMALA UGANDA

In Bukiende, Uganda, parents couldn’t afford to buy their girls expensive disposable pads. “This greatly affected them academically as they lagged behind,” Deputy Headteacher Nambuya Rebecca explains the impact of girls missing school due to their period.

So, they launched a program teaching girls to make reusable pads at school; and it worked! “With reusable pads made available, our children will attend all lessons, have more time to read, and for sure our performance is going to be better!” Rebecca beams. Bushira, a student who participates in the program, says, “I no longer fear periods because I know it’s a normal process of growth. I now make my own reusable pads from the materials given to the school by FH.” The program now runs in seven schools!

SOME PEOPLE SAW MENSTRUAL BLOOD FLOW AS A CURSE RATHER THAN AS A REGULAR, HEALTHY PROCESS.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Budding Artists Show You Their Gardens

With bluebells and cockle shells? Or cashew trees and colourful flowers all in a row?

Gardening is a huge part of Food for the Hungry’s work with families who benefit from child sponsorship— it’s a critical way to help families improve their nutrition, grow extra for more income, and teach their children life-skills while getting their hands dirty! Meanwhile, showing their gardens and artistic talents to their friends in Canada brings everyone that much closer together!

“What does everyone in your family like to eat? … I like to eat with my family!”

— Meem, 14, Char Borobila, Bangladesh

“The drawing is a cashew tree… The tree has a stem and its seed is attached to the fruit. It turns red when it is ripe.”

— Seng Heang, 12, Tuol Tasek, Cambodia

“Thank you for your letter with a nice photo of you and your friend together with beautiful flowers. In Uganda, we celebrate Easter Day [to] remember the death of Christ… and also [with] nice flowers because they have a nice smell and are brightly coloured.”

— Racheal, 15, Bukiende, Uganda

“I also have a garden [at] my house, and I take care of it!”

— Juana, 12, Acul, Guatemala

Growing Relationships

You’ve perhaps not met her, but there’s a good chance you’ve spoken with her! If you’ve been a donor or child sponsor with FH Canada for any amount of time over the past 19 years, it’s likely you’ve interacted with Donna—our charismatic and caring team member who’s worked in Child Sponsorship for nearly two decades. Now entering retirement, she has some encouragement to share!

“Child sponsorship is an amazing vehicle to see communities go ‘from stuck to thriving’! Being able to travel to two graduation ceremonies during my years is something I will never forget. FH’s work and staff worldwide are truly amazing. And I was always impressed by how kids were able to draw such amazing pictures and write such letters to sponsors!”

“Getting to know our sponsors well—updating info, sending child mail, calling—has been the highlight of my career. They are so faithful, even through a pandemic. Connecting with donors gave me such purpose. And everyone has a story and I loved asking them why they sponsor. So, thank you; you are a huge blessing!”

The Supporter Services team at FH Canada is here to help!

Others like Donna help keep you connected to your sponsor child, assist with your online account, update your information, or add you to our prayer list! Reach out to Hayley or Jessica at sponsorship@fhcanada.org or 1-800-667-0605.

Cambodia

THE PATH TO HEALING AND HARMONY

THE PATH TO HEALING AND HARMONY

HEALED, THRIVING, AND ABUNDANT COMMUNITIES LIVING IN HARMONY.

Written by Jenny Stoecker and Mark Stewart

Photographs by Jenny Stoecker

Cambodia is situated in Southeast Asia and has a rich culture that dates back thousands of years. Cambodia gained its independence from France in 1953, and for nearly 20 years, the country thrived. From the late 1960s to the early 1990s, Cambodia suffered political upheaval, an extended period of civil war, and genocide. While the past two decades of economic development have resulted in a significant reduction in poverty, there is still much to be healed, especially in the rural areas. FH Canada partners with FH Cambodia in 35 communities in the northern provinces of Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey. Together, they cast an ambitious vision for their future—“Healed, thriving, and abundant communities living in harmony.”

I’ve grown more crops for my family’s daily consumption and that has made my family healthier and is no longer getting sick.

— Chhom, farmer

Chhom’s wife, Eng, is a joyful partner in all of their farming ventures. Together, they are growing a new future for their children.

Thrive for Good

During the pandemic, the FH Cambodia team had to get creative to train community members in climate smart agriculture. FH decided to partner with Thrive for Good, a Canadian-based organization, to pilot an online training for increasing a garden’s impact. Kim, the matriarch of the family, and her children stepped forward to learn how they could get higher yields and more nutrition. The family now grows cucumbers, eggplants, chilis, long beans, and more! They even have a frog farm! They’re able to eat their produce and sell the excess, increasing their food security and income.

Child Clubs

When FH Cambodia begins working in a community they meet with leaders to talk about the benefits of Child Clubs—a space for primary students to receive extra classes and support. Ultimately, the decision is up to the community leaders who, if they find value in the idea, find the land, create a building, and include the community in making the space feel beautiful and welcoming. The clubs are run by FH-trained volunteer teachers and youth who are encouraged to be positive role models for younger children. There are now 39 Child Clubs in the 35 communities where FH Cambodia works!

Join FH Cambodia as they continue this transformational work! Help them build a strong community by sponsoring a child.

FHCANADA.ORG/SPONSORSHIP

I believe that our future hope is within our next generation who will be able to finish their studies and have a good job to support their family.

— Tun, Education Volunteer

From ice cream cones to open homes

Creating everyday habits of generosity

Written by Tatum Bergen

When Ali and David, a young couple with two daughters under two, received an early inheritance from his grandparents, they began thinking about the legacy they wanted to leave. Ali had seen generosity exemplified in the lives of her family and in-laws in many forms—like welcoming homes and ice cream cones—and she realized there is no better time than the present to create habits of generosity.

For Ali, these habits looked like learning about poverty alleviation and teaching her daughters to bless others, including giving the community librarian a giftcard at Christmastime.

“We’re called to be generous in all seasons of our life,” Ali shares. “Often, we think, ‘I just have to wait until I’m middle-aged and have a house, etc., and then I can afford to give.’ But then people get to a stage in their life where they think, ‘I wasn’t as generous as I’d thought I’d be.’”

That’s why Ali and her husband decided they wanted to leave a legacy of generosity in their finances as well as their lifestyle. “It’s twofold,” she smiles, “where you’re enabling your kids to learn generosity and to be generous. Long-term, we really want to teach our daughters that everything we have is a gift from God. It’s not to be hoarded or kept, it’s to be shared.”

Often we think, ‘I just have to wait until I’m middle-aged and have a house, and then I can afford to give.’ But I believe that having a generosity mindset changes your life.

So, Ali met with Advisors with Purpose, to learn about and make an estate plan that aligned with their values, helping them maximize that early inheritance and lessen the tax implications. “It’s really helpful to see the financial benefits, too,” she explains. “I could give less money away in taxes and instead give it to a charity.”

Ultimately, Ali shares that generosity in all its forms, “is helping to see people’s lives transformed by the love of Christ. And that is His love, right? Abundant and lavish.”

“But I believe that having a generosity mindset changes your life,” she continues. “I think [God] will change the way you think about money and the way that you think about your fellow human beings.” Learning from the legacy of their families, Ali saw how to incorporate generosity into her daily life, from her career as a palliative nurse to opening her home to those in need. Generosity became more than just financial.

Over time, generosity helps us become more mindful of others, and a little less focused on ourselves—even when we feel we don’t have much to give.

As a thank you for your generosity, FH Canada has a special partnership with Advisors with Purpose (AWP) so our donors can access estate planning services—free of charge!

Start a conversation with an AWP specialist today–the fee is on us!

1.866.336.3315

fhcanada.org/legacy plan@advisorswithpurpose.ca

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