MALCOLM PINTO, DIRECTOR; PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER Halifax, NS
† MARTIN CURRIE, DIRECTOR; ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS ST. JOHN’S, NL Dartmouth, NS
DONALD A. WISHART, DIRECTOR; PORTFOLIO MANAGER Halifax, NS
BRENDA GRANTHAM, DIRECTOR; FINANCIAL PLANNER Halifax, NS
Executive Summary
As I write this, Christmas is near and the stores are full of people. However, the hardest part of Christmas gift buying is not the crowds, it’s trying to find the right gift for each person. Of course, the better I know the person, the easier it is to know what they may need.
Perhaps this explains the many different ways the sisters, priests, and wonderful Catholic laity see and respond to the various needs of the sponsored families and their community. A critical need arises in this family, while another family is evicted, or another strives to open a micro business, even while another family wants to celebrate a graduation. The gift of sponsorship is a versatile gift indeed because it allows our sponsors, donors, and Chalice to know and respond to each family and community individually with a ‘gift’ chosen and given with only them in mind and heart.
We hope this annual report helps reveal how your sponsorship and donations work together to make a difference in the lives of individual children, families, and communities. Thank you. May the Lord continue to bless us all.
Chalice in 2023 has continued to fulfill its mandate in an increasingly challenging economic, environmental, and political world. The impact of COVID-19 and respiratory viruses such as the RSV virus has meant that flexibility and creativity has been required in meeting the needs of the sponsored and non-sponsored children and seniors that are supported by Chalice.
Despite all these headwinds Chalice has met all the timelines, in consistently delivering benefits to our sponsor sites on time and without any delays. This level of commitment and dedication is made possible by the faith filled leadership and guidance of our founding president, Father Patrick Cosgrove, his senior managers, staff, and volunteers that continue to serve the needs of these less fortunate at all of the Chalice sponsor sites across the world.
I personally would also like to give my thanks and appreciation to the members of the Board and its volunteers that serve faithfully to support our president, as he continues to provide inspiring leadership.
Since it’s foundation many years ago, Chalice has always sought to bring the light of Christ to those who need it most.
I would like to thank the supporters of Chalice who have helped lift up those caught in poverty for a variety of reasons.
As a supporter of Chalice your generosity can be a source of compassion, healing, and hope in a world broken in pain.
The reach of the worldwide work of the Catholic Church is tremendous. When you support Chalice, you contribute to the church’s ceaseless efforts to answer the question put to Jesus- And who is my neighbour?
FR. PATRICK COSGROVE | PRESIDENT
J. RON ROBICHAUD | CHAIRPERSON
† MARTIN W. CURRIE | DIRECTOR ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS - ST. JOHN’S NFLD
Our work around the world
$524,044
$674,070
$897,949
$7,336,550 HAITI
Funds allocated to each region include: • Sponsorship
Special gifts • Nutrition programs
Grants • Catalogue gifts
KAWAMBWA SERENJE
LATIN AMERICA
GUATEMALA
BOLIVIA
PERU
PARAGUAY
CHILE
LUIS AMIGÓ AMANECER ASDC FATIMA
GUADALUPE
LEVANTATE MUJER PENNT YAPACANI
PINIFE CHICLAYO CANETE
AYOLAS CMAVIL
DON BOSCO PUKAVY
ARICA
SANTIAGO
$338,825
$321,265
$841,633
$552,070
$339,484
$293,565
$713,109
$433,078
$582,057
$352,975
$114,864
$558,841
$297,880
$746,003
$297,651
$405,625
$836,989
$8,025,914
$652,978
$210,300
$115,405
$419,301
$257,222
$391,137
$492,197
$474,517
$116,685
$406,497
$402,017
$303,812
$453,004
$874,263
$571,914
$436,656
$328,836
$6,906,740
Community projects • Critical needs
Disaster relief
Human development programs
29,781,792 • Christmas fund
For Neema from Neema, Grace Abounds
Neema has a way of living up to her name.
“My name is Neema Fadhili – in the Swahili language, my name means grace and kindness,” she says.
“My story is filled with the grace and kindness of God, which I have experienced through the sponsorship provided me by my generous sponsors and Chalice.”
Neema’s early life did not seem so blessed. Her father had been ill just before she was born and died months after. A year later, her mother died too.
“At the age of four, my grandparents took me to Neema Orphanage where I received care from the Sisters of Visitation Congregation,” she says. The Sisters of Visitation also run Chalice’s Neema sponsor site in Mjimwema, Tanzania. At Neema Orphanage, they provided for all my material, spiritual, and emotional needs; they also offered primary education.
“Despite my many challenges,” Neema says, “I was able to complete my primary and secondary education.” She credits God, the Sisters, and “the unwavering support provided to me by my sponsors through the Chalice sponsorship program.”
“Through my benefactors, I realize that God has always been
with me, and I thank Him for giving me their kindness and generosity.”
When she graduated from high school, “I had the opportunity to attend a college of journalism for two years, and through the grace of God, was able to successfully complete my program.”
“As you can see, my life has truly been filled with grace and kindness, God’s blessings are great, and I have much to be thankful for.”
“I hope to continue to live my life in Grace and Kindness!”
HIGHLIGHTS:
48,727
children and elders sponsored worldwide
45,956
sponsored children enrolled in school or equivalent program
10,013
sponsor letters sent to sponsored children and elders
122,734
cards, letters, and updates sent to sponsors
99.4% of sites use family funding to distribute sponsorship funds
A gift of small business set-up supports the three roses family circle in Guatemala
In our sites worldwide, unemployment or unstable casual job markets drive poverty. Our staff have found a potent solution – help parents, or entire family circles, start their own businesses. Given a little capital funding and some skills training, parents can transform their household budgets, communities and family futures.
That’s why “Small Business Set-Up” is always a popular gift in our gift catalogue – both in Canada and at Chalice’s sites around the world.
The community our Luis Amigó site serves sits on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. They’re surrounded by beaches and mangroves, and fishing is an entrenched way of life for many. On El Chico island, home of the “3 Rosas” (3 Roses) Chalice family circle, it is the obvious way to earn an income for their families. The island lacks basic services, such as electricity, drainage, or clean drinking water.
“The most abundant source of employment is fishing,” site staff say, “but for this very reason the overfishing makes the seasons of fish scarcity more and more frequent.” Fortunately, there’s an abundance of other tasty seafoods, such as crabs. This gave the 3 Rosas an idea.
As a family circle, they launched a crab fishing business. Crab traps are colloquially called lumpes. Lumpes are made of metal rods and woven silk thread.
Thanks to everyone who supported entrepreneurs in our gift catalogue,
HIGHLIGHTS:
$ 1,859,740
total funding provided
the Luis Amigó site staff gave the 3 Rosas the materials they needed to make twenty-five lumpes so that each mother could start crab fishing.
“Thanks to your generosity,” says Reyna, president of Las 3 Rosas, “you supported us to buy manufacturing material for traps. We live on an island surrounded by seawater-- that is our source of income.”
“Using these tools, we have an income. Everything is possible thanks to your generosity.”
her work. She was terrified she would have to stop working, and treatment would generate medical bills beyond her meagre budget. She delayed and delayed. Finally, with support from her neighbours, she went for diagnostic tests. They showed a uterine tumour. She was going to need surgery – an out-of-pocket expense.
“I was doomed,” Ranju says. “I had to look after my family, and I was not well.”
The Assam site staff knew, however, Ranju was not doomed. They would not let financial constraints slow down her treatment any further. Through Chalice’s Critical Needs fund, they arranged for Ranju’s hospitalization, surgery, and aftercare. Her operation was a success.
“Thank you very much Chalice for the utmost help,” Ranju says. “Without this help, I couldn’t imagine what would have happened.”
“I can never repay the favour you have given to me. Thank you very much Chalice.” Ranju’s support prevents the unthinkable
“THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHALICE FOR THE UTMOST HELP,” RANJU SAYS. “WITHOUT THIS HELP, I COULDN’T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.”
Ranju is the proud mother of Pronami and Dharitri, who are in grade eight and grade five, respectively. They are studying hard in school, supported by Chalice sponsors and the Assam site in northern India.
Ranju is widowed and is the sole provider for her two children and their 71-year-old grandmother. She earns her income as an artisanal weaver of traditional Assamese towels.
Ranju started having stomach pains but did not think they were much cause for concern. She figured they would pass by themselves. She took some pain relievers and kept working.
But the pain became constant and more intense, interfering with
Tutoring program knocks down barriers to university, even in war
Not even a war with Russia could stop the school year in Ukraine. And the Lviv sponsor site staff remained focused on helping the sponsored children be as successful as possible in school.
Ukrainian students in their final year of high school need special support because they must pass an exam which determines whether they can pursue university or other higher education. Over the years, the subjects of Ukrainian language and literature, and mathematics have kept many students from scoring well on this vital exam. Students’ academic choices and career pursuits are affected and limited because they struggled with these two difficult subjects. Maksym was one of these students.
“During the war and the difficult economic situation, my family was unable to pay for extra lessons so that I could successfully pass the exams and enter university,” Maksym says. “But my dream has
always been to have a higher education in order to become a highly qualified specialist and, later, to find a decent job to be able to help my family.”
In 2021, the Lviv site launched a program called ‘Language and literature tutoring for high school students.’ With Chalice donors’ support, every student passed their exams, and one hundred percent of them went on to either university or college programs.
Following their success, Chalice renewed the program for eleven more high school students. Throughout the whole academic year, dedicated tutors are helping the students become proficient with the curriculum and prepare well for their tests.
“When the educational program organized by the Lviv site began,” Maksym says, “I happily and conscientiously attended all classes, did homework, and studied the necessary material. With God’s help and your support, I was able to enter the national university, and I will study in the specialty “Micro and Nano Systems Engineering”.
“On behalf of everyone in the program, I thank you for your contribution to our future. Thank you for a wonderful project that helped me, and other children, get one step closer to their dreams and get a decent education and a chance for a better future.”
$ 2,604,401
Starting from Seed: The first year in Luhombero, Tanzania
Martha, Chalice’s sponsorship manager for Africa, first set foot in Luhombero village in August 2022.
“We went there. We saw: if we don’t get involved, none of us will go to heaven.”
They saw a rural Tanzanian village, 375 km from Morogoro, Chalice’s closest sponsorship hub, and many challenges. Luhombero village has no roads or electricity, let alone a mobile network or internet. They saw many children struggling with malnutrition.
Their school was dilapidated, attendance was poor, and drop-out rates were high. Most parents had not finished past primary levels. “Children learn in overcrowded classrooms, classrooms that are falling apart,” Martha observed. Some children learned outside. No-one had enough books or learning materials. “Many girls drop out of school in grade two while boys dropped out in grade seven, due to poverty,” she said.
To most, these challenges would be a cause for despair. But for Martha, and Khan, Mbinga’s assistant site director, it was a blank
canvas on which to paint a masterpiece. August’s visit kicked off Chalice’s newest sub-site: Luhombero. Sponsors started supporting children in October, 2022. A year in, there are almost 180 sponsored children.
It’s been a busy year.
The Mbinga team started by organizing eleven new Chalice family circles –grouping parents and preparing them to receive sponsorship funds. “We have the circle groups, working,” Martha says.
“People meet, they save, and they have started small businesses.” The group businesses will likely capitalize on their fecund countryside: rice, maize, onions, and mung beans. Chalice’s agricultural (eRoots) managers can support the circles’ agrobusinesses with supplies and training. “They can move faster than other regions because it’s fertile land, and they’re farmers,” Martha says, emphasizing the last word.
Students from St. Peter Claver School received most needed food supplies.
Next, parents will open bank accounts, many for the first time. “Women who do not even imagine they should have a bank account,” Martha adds. As Chalice staff deliver intensive financial literacy training, parents are already mastering concepts like savings, investment, budgets, and planning. Equipped with this knowledge, they can support their children. Martha imagines a confident parent saying, “I can educate my child from primary, secondary, to college or university, because I have the means.”
Men and women are evenly represented, unusual among Chalice’s mother-led groups worldwide. Staff have seen the group dynamics shift over the year. Men once led the discussions, but now women are speaking up equally. Martha foresees this shift happening in their homes too, and more collaborative partnerships among spouses. “They’ll be able to bring up the whole family, together. Discuss together, share together, and improve the livelihoods of their families together.”
Luhombero’s children have also had a life-changing year. In 2021, local Catholic priest, Fr. Placid Kidata, established St. Peter Claver school. Fr. Kindata started it with the support of Provision Charitable Foundation. Chalice provided grant support for beds and bedding for the boarding section, some mosquito nets, and desks and chairs. Chalice also supported the school’s lunch program for a few months, as well as payment of teachers’ salaries. Provision continues to support the school, and parents contribute school fees. Today there are 165 students, of which 131 are Chalice sponsored children. Their school lunch program has boosted enrollment, attendance, and student performance. It is Mbinga site’s hope that Chalice farms will supply crops such as maize, cassava, and rice to make the feeding program selfsustaining.
“They enjoy [staying] in school, because they get nutritious food there,” Khan says. “They play at the school and get a good education.” The school lunch program has already had visible effects since last year. “The students who attend St. Peter Claver, their health has improved.”
“Education is the key to a brighter future,” Martha says. That thought struck her anew as she saw St. Peter Claver get underway. “I realized, ‘it’s true. Education is key.’ The children having a very nice school, eating a balanced diet for lunch... Parents now feel, ‘I want my child to get to St. Peter Claver.’”
“When you look at the children, they are hopeful. Sometimes I wonder whether they are the same children we recruited, because they look bright and beautiful. They know there’s hope. They know this education will give them a brighter future.”
Today’s primary students are tomorrow’s university graduates. And “those are the people who will develop Luhombero.” She can also see future Chalice field officers among the engaged parents. “You can say that Luhombero, now, is creating the transformative future leaders of the community,” says Khan.
“Luhombero is one region that will make us feel proud to have changed things,” Martha says. “Not changing the culture but making the culture -- and the people, and their lives -- better.”
“We’ve given hope to the children. We’ve given hope to young mothers and helped them to see, though they have not gone to school or they dropped out of school, they can continue. We have given hope to the fathers: ‘you don’t have to remain the way you are. You can do better. You have resources that can help you to grow.”
“We thank God we have touched the lives of the people who live in Luhombero. May God bless our donors, and may God bless our international office and all the staff who work in Chalice. We truly do touch the lives of the people in a positive way. May God bless you all.”
Students during their lunch time in St. Peter Claver School.
Kadogo struts into entrepreneurship
KADOGO GOT INVOLVED WITH HER CHALICE FAMILY CIRCLE AND LEARNED HOW TO BUDGET, SAVE, AND SPEND GIFT’S SPONSORSHIP FUNDS.
Kadogo knew just what her second son was, and so she named him accordingly: Gift.
She and her two boys live in Mombasa, a coastal region in Kenya. Kadogo raised her two boys alone and struggled to serve them nutritious meals and cover their education expenses. Every day, she went out into her neighbourhood to garner laundry jobs. But sometimes, the work just was not there.
In 2019, Kadogo struggled to pay the rent, and their landlord evicted them. Gift was in grade seven and became tempted to drop out of school.
Thankfully, staff from Chalice’s Mombasa site met him just in time. He was sponsored in 2020.
According to site staff, Gift’s sponsors “have stood with Gift’s family since 2020, and the family has seen the hand of God.” Gift stayed in school and thrived. Gift has told them he “wishes to become a doctor after completing his education in order to assist his family and the community.”
Kadogo got involved with her Chalice family circle and learned how to budget, save, and spend Gift’s sponsorship funds. His sponsor also sent gifts of special money – extra funds for Kadogo to use for
HIGHLIGHTS:
2,157 family circles worldwide
what Gift and his family needed most. With determination and patience, she saved for a dream: her own small business.
In 2023, Kadogo made her dream happen. The fashionista opened a shop where she sells clothing, shoes, and accessories.
“Through her daily efforts and sacrifice, she has managed to support her family in a very big way,” staff say. Gift and Peter eat two balanced meals every day, Peter can pursue his university studies, and Kadogo contributes to her family circle’s group savings.
“The family is doing well since both of her sons are in school and doing very well. She is a happy mother.”
Kadogo appreciates Chalice sponsors for the steps her family has made through sponsorship.
Sowing hope in ravaged soil
“INDEED, WE WERE VERY HAPPY AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS PRICELESS GESTURE BECAUSE WE DIDN’T HAVE ANY FINANCIAL MEANS TO ACCOMPANY THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY EATING DAILY,” SAYS A PARENT ON BEHALF OF THE 35 FAMILIES.
Even before the 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti in August 2021, families in our Haiti South site were struggling with food insecurity. Then the earthquake devastated the only bridge allowing transport trucks. On top of that, throughout Haiti, gang activity started staunching shipments of food and essentials from Port-au-Prince. Most families were on the brink of famine.
“The situation getting worse every day,” says Sr. Thérèse, a leader in the site. “A terrible drought has raged for several months.” Crops burned. “With this drought it is impossible to sow. Then there is no hope of harvesting.”
Sr. Thérèse’s congregation, Missionnaires de l’Annonciation -
Semeurs d’Espoir, runs the Haiti South sponsor site. The congregation raises funds for itself by selling religious articles, but sales dropped so far, they could no longer sustain their regular ministry, which includes helping to feed 35 families of children and adults who come for catechesis.
Through Chalice’s Disaster Fund, generous supporters donated to provide food relief for six months for these 35 families to prepare at home. Each month, the 35 families received a grocery hamper containing staples like rice, flour, pasta, tomato paste, meat, eggs, corn, wheat, milk, and cereal. Each hamper had an average value of $70 CAD.
“Indeed, we were very happy and grateful for this priceless gesture because we didn’t have any financial means to accompany these people who have great difficulty eating daily,” says a parent on behalf of the 35 families.
“We thank you warmly for your compassion and humanitarian gesture,” Sr. Thérèse says. Increasingly, Haiti is seeing organizations pull away, or place heavier restrictions on charitable support, while Haitian families “still go more deeply into misery.”
But “despite the political, economic, and social crises of the country, and the problem of the pandemic in the world that dominates us, you supported us anyway,” the parents say.
Chalice supporters, and their generosity, “give us strength and hope,” Sr. Thérèse says. “Thank you to each and every one of you.”
$ 1,097,791
A place that is more than just eating: “Casa Chalice”
The highlight of Maria Isabel’s day is coming to the Santa Ana dining hall, or as she calls it, “Casa Chalice.”
“I feel very happy to be at Casa Chalice,” says the sponsored elder. “I am very happy to be in the company of others, who I call brothers. And I feel very thankful for the kind of food I receive because the food is healthy.”
Maria Isabel is one of the 140 daily diners at Casa Chalice. By 9:00 am every weekday, the dining hall kitchen is bustling with volunteer cooks, ready to prepare the day’s nutritionist-designed lunch.
The daily meal program is supported through Chalice’s nutrition fund and carried out by our Cañete sponsor site in Peru. The 92 children and teen-aged diners come for their midday meal either before or after their classes.
The 47 elder diners often trickle in earlier in the morning, because they can eat breakfast and get to the real business of the day: board games. The strategy game called Ludo is a favourite, as is chess. Even though some matches between
HIGHLIGHTS:
$512,282
25 14,188 3,936,827 sites provided nutrition programs beneficiaries fed meals served total funding provided
old friends can get a little heated at times, the air in the dining hall is filled with laughter. This is a place of friendship and connection as much as – or more – than it’s a place for eating.
“We love and care for each other, we appreciate each other, we esteem each other here,” Maria Isabel says. “The atmosphere is very cheerful.”
“At home I feel lonely; I feel like I’m in a cemetery,” she says. “But here, I meet my brothers, and the sweet Sisters. From the moment I arrive at Casa Chalice, we talk, we give thanks to God, and then we all sit at the table to eat, and everyone is content. I’m alone at home, but I have my friends here.”
Each month, a nutritionist designs the weeks’ menus. Each robust meal has a protein, grain, vegetables, a drink and little dessert. Unlike popular street foods and restaurant fare, the meals don’t involve frying or rich condiments like mayonnaise. Maria’s Isabel appreciates the difference. “The quinoa, the stew, the soup, the fish soup, and the beans. They’re all favorites.”
Roberto, a 15-year-old diner, doesn’t share her palette. “We have learned to eat certain foods that we did not like, with the perseverance of the Sisters,” he says. Roberto says, “I have learned many things,” at the dining hall, such as “hygiene habits, the foods that are healthy for me and my brothers.”
For Roberto, the best part of coming to the Santa Ana ‘Casa’ each day is its support for his family.
“My mother has the opportunity to work full-time thanks to the lunch we receive from the dining room,” he says. She can work and “be able to contribute financially and co ver the basic needs of the home.”
On top of the weekday meals and games, the Cañete site staff run two nutritional evaluations for all diners, every six months. For the children, they check for nutritional status, anemia, and parasites. For the elders, they also take blood pressure and glucose readings. A doctor comes in to review their results, and its an opportunity to discuss other health concerns for older adults, such as mobility and balance.
“The Casa Chalice [team] cares about my health, and about my life at home,” Maria Isabel says. “I feel very grateful that they give us healthy food, and care for us, providing doctors who care about everything.”
The staff involve the young diners’ parents in their child’s nutrition. They run group workshops about food preparation and nutrition. They also offer one-on-one nutrition counseling during the children’s biannual check-ups. This way, the Cañete site’s program improves nutrition at the family level.
Maria Isabel extends her gratitude to her sponsor, who she calls her ‘godfather,’ and everyone who supports the Casa she holds so dear.
“I would like to thank my godfather. I am very grateful for my sponsor, God bless him. ‘Thank you!’ from me, with a strong hug and a strong, calm, kind, affection.”
Sponsorship
Grants to sites
Gift Catalogue
Community projects
General donations
Special gifts
Planned gifts
Urgency fund donations
Christmas contributions
Chalice Nutrition Program
Endowment
Investment Income and other
Fundraising
Program
Report of the Independent Auditor on the Summary NonConsolidated Financial Statements
To the Board of Chalice (Canada):
Opinion
The summary non-consolidated financial statements, which comprise the summary non-consolidated statement of financial position as at June 30, 2023, and the summary non-consolidated statements of operations and changes in fund balances for the year then ended, and related notes, are derived from the audited non-consolidated financial statements of Chalice (Canada) (the "Organization") for the year ended June 30, 2023
In our opinion, the accompanying summary non-consolidated financial statements are a fair summary of the audited non-consolidated financial statements, in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.
Summary Non-Consolidated Financial Statements
The summary non-consolidated financial statements do not contain all the disclosures required by Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations in the preparation of the audited financial statements of the client. Reading the summary non-consolidated financial statements and the auditor's report thereon, therefore, is not a substitute for reading the audited non-consolidated financial statements and the auditor's report thereon. The summary non-consolidated financial statements and the audited non-consolidated financial statements do not reflect the effects of events that occurred subsequent to the date of our report on the audited non-consolidated financial statements.
The Audited Non-Consolidated Financial Statements and Our Report Thereon
We expressed an unmodified audit opinion on the audited non-consolidated financial statements in our report dated November 21, 2023
Management’s Responsibility for the Summary Non-Consolidated Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation of the summary non-consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.
Auditor’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on whether the summary non-consolidated financial statements are a fair summary of the audited non-consolidated financial statements based on our procedures, which were conducted in accordance with Canadian Auditing Standards (CAS) 810, Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements.
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
December 19, 2023
Chalice (Canada)
Chalice (Canada)
Chalice (Canada)
OUR PURPOSE
Christ to the Poor and the Poor to Christ
CHALICE (CANADA)
Chalice is a Catholic international aid charity focused on child, family, and community development. We work closely with lay people, religious missionaries, and local communities to serve children and families living in extreme poverty.
