: a new idea, method, or device : the introduction of something new
At its root, the word innovate means to make something new. But we’ve come to understand that innovation also means to make something better through that newness. We didn’t need to look far among our partners to find examples of innovation. From supporting partners with our new Resilience Fund, to learning how our partners are changing lives in Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Canada, Alongside Hope celebrates improvements that are both significant and incremental. We also celebrate the generosity of you, our donors, whether it’s through an anonymous gift or a heartfelt fundraiser, you are renewing our hope for a better world. And that is truly an innovation.
Donor matches donations to Resilience Fund up to $250,000
Alongside Hope has launched a new Resilience Fund in response to the devastating cuts to international aid by the U.S. and other governments. The fund will support many of our partners who have lost funding from other sources.
Shortly after the fund was announced, a donor shared some exciting news with Carolyn Cummins, Director of Fundraising and Supporter Relations. The donor offered to anonymously match all donations made to the Resilience Fund by June 30, 2025, up to $250,000.
Driven by drought: Rural Kenyans determined to thrive
As we arrived at the community gathering in a rural village in Kenya, we were greeted by several women, each holding long, narrow sticks. I was with a delegation of Alongside Hope staff and fellow volunteers, visiting partner organizations and learning about the work they do in Kenya.
In other communities, we noted some of the men were holding sticks, but our hosts from Church World Service were especially surprised to see women holding sticks at a community gathering. When asked about this, a village leader noted that the women of this village had recently assumed new roles of leadership and responsibility in the community. It was agreed that a person’s role in the community – not their gender – that entitled them to hold a stick.
This was one of many surprises we would see on our trip. Kenya is a large country with a diverse population and varied climate. Besides Church World Service (CWS), Alongside Hope works with four other partners in Kenya to improve food security, access to clean water, sustainable agriculture, community financial development, gender justice and more. These partners include ECLOF, Anglican Development Services-Eastern, Utooni Development
Organization (UDO) and National Council of Churches Kenya (NCCK).
Most of the time we spent in Kenya was with CWS, an international organization that offers humanitarian and development programs in several communities throughout the country.
CWS took our group to visit several communities in the remote northern county of Marsabit. Access to the villages involved hours of driving on some very rough roads. As we journeyed north, the environment became hotter, drier and less populated. We learned that the region had recently endured a severe multi-year drought resulting in food insecurity for the local population.
CWS worked with the communities to provide food assistance during the drought and, at the invitation of local leadership, continued to work with villages to diversify income and nutrition sources. These communities traditionally obtain most of their livelihood from
the herds of goats and camels they keep. When water is scarce, however, men often leave with the herds to find better grazing conditions, while women and children are left in the village with limited resources. The hope is that by diversifying income and nutrition sources with new and innovative ideas, the communities would be in a better position to adapt to extreme weather events in the future.
Our hosts in each community shared their experiences growing food in the programs that CWS has been implementing. They showed us how they had recently begun raising poultry. We also learned about the Village Savings and Loans Associations they had set up to encourage financial stability and opportunity within the community. Most of these initiatives were led by and participated in by women, hence the sticks.
As we walked through the village and learned more about the work people in Marsabit are doing to improve their communities, I was quite moved to see women holding sticks as they worked, shared, and took pride in their community.
By the Venerable Patrick Stephens, Alongside Hope Representative, Diocese of Ottawa
Mary Obiero, country director for Church World Service, demonstrates how community leaders carry long sticks, regardless of their gender.
Fund will also help prevent malnutrition in Burundi
“I couldn’t believe the timing of the call,” says Cummins, who was about to introduce the fund at the House of Bishops at their meeting in Niagara. “It was very exciting to be able to tell them about our donor’s incredible generosity.”
Although a quarter of a million dollars is a larger gift than most supporters can make, the donor was quick to point out that every gift is important, regardless of size. “If we all give what we can, Jesus multiples it like the loaves and fishes.”
One affected partner is Church World Service, who supports people living at the Nyarugushu Refugee Camp in Tanzania. The fund will support 10 refugee families who had already left the camp to be resettled in the United States, but were turned back when the U.S. suspended its resettlement program. In addition to meeting the immediate needs of these families, the funds will provide mental health support for additional refugees who were planning for resettlement to the U.S., and whose dreams of a new life have now been shattered. Little Trinity Church in Toronto has already raised $12,000 towards this program.
The Resilience Fund is also supporting a project with Village Health Works (VHW), a longtime partner of Alongside Hope working in Burundi. The USAID cuts resulted in a nearly $1 million shortfall in medication for HIV, tuberculous and malaria, including a $677,000 gap in treatments to prevent malnutrition in children. In 2024, 56% of children under five suffered from chronic malnutrition, 6% experienced acute malnutrition and 29% were underweight.
VHW treats more than 1,300 children with an imported Readyto-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a dense peanut butter-like product, made from peanuts, soy and dairy, and enriched with critical nutrients. But importing is costly and vulnerable to supply chain issues. The solution? VHW is launching local production of an RUTF called Magara Meza, which translates roughly to “living well.”
“Our goal is to build a community-owned, scalable production model that not only meets VHW’s internal demand but also creates jobs, supports local farmers, and lays the groundwork for national provision of RUTF,” VHW said in their project submission.
“This initiative will replace our current reliance on imported RUTF for the 1,354 children we treated for malnutrition in 2024 – a number we expect to increase by at least 25% in 2025 due to growing food insecurity and increased patient volume from the ongoing refugee crisis.”
–Janice Biehn
Music students raise their voices, and funds, for Kenya
By Jacqueline Tingle, Communications and Marketing Officer
When Shawn Wiseman heard about communities in Kenya working to improve access to clean water, he knew he wanted to get on board.
At 63, Wiseman has dedicated his life to music. Since the age of 15 he has performed with his brother, played at weddings, conventions and festivals, and recorded solo music. His passion for music led him to open his own teaching studio and become the leader of a youth choir at St. Martin’s Cathedral in Gander, Newfoundland.
Wiseman hosts two annual concerts at the cathedral featuring choristers and students: a Christmas show and a spring concert. The Christmas performance features traditional hymns, classic carols and festive favourites like “Frosty the Snowman.” The spring concert offers a broader selection, incorporating pop and country hits, as well as traditional Newfoundland music. Both events draw a wide audience and provide students with the opportunity to experience performing in a professional setting while contributing to a meaningful cause.
A few years ago, Wiseman heard about Alongside Hope (then PWRDF) and its partner, Utooni Development Organization, through conversations with Sheila Boutcher, the Alongside Hope representative for the Diocese of Central Newfoundland. As someone rooted in faith and service, the mission of Alongside Hope resonated with him. He saw the value in giving back and felt compelled to support the effort to provide clean water to those in need. Through ticket sales and donations, Wiseman and his students have raised an
impressive $22,500 towards the project, enough to build nine wells. Knowing that his concerts contribute to such a life-changing cause has strengthened his commitment to fundraising efforts.
For Wiseman, the concerts are about more than just raising funds; they are about instilling a spirit of generosity in his students. He wants them to
understand the true joy of giving and to see the difference they can make in the world. “The reward of seeing students and audience members engaged in something meaningful makes it all worthwhile,” he says.
Wiseman has no plans to stop hosting these concerts. Currently, he is preparing for the spring concert in June. Most of his students are between the ages of 6 and 18, and he takes pride in offering them a platform to showcase their talents while contributing to an important cause. His goal is to leave behind a legacy of generosity and community service, demonstrating that even small local efforts can create a global impact.
He extends a heartfelt thank-you to all the students who have participated in the concerts over the past 12 years, as well as to St. Martin’s Cathedral for providing the space to hold these events. His mission is not only to raise funds but to inspire young people to appreciate the power of giving back.
About UDO and water accessibility
Alongside Hope partner Utooni Development Organization (UDO), is a Kenyan NGO whose mission is to address water scarcity, soil erosion, land degradation and hunger. Their work includes constructing shallow wells, sand dams which filter the water, and implementing conservation agriculture.
The shallow wells project, supported by Alongside Hope and Shawn Wiseman’s students, is crucial in improving water access in Makueni and Machakos Counties. These wells, constructed beside sand dams, ensure a sustainable water supply, significantly reducing waterborne diseases. The project also includes the installation of water storage tanks to reduce travel time to access clean water, as well as the distribution of donkeys to help families carry more water. The wells are equipped with hand pumps as well as solar-powered pumps. UDO has provided clean and safe drinking water to over 44,760 direct beneficiaries and nearly a million indirect beneficiaries. They also provide training on hygiene, sanitation and sustainable agricultural practices to improve community resilience.
Shawn Wiseman, above leading a recital of his students, is passionate about teaching his students how to make a global impact.
Program lights a spark for Indigenous youth and mental health
By Janice Biehn, Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Alongside Hope is partnering with Indigenous Ministries of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Diocese of Brandon to provide critical access to mental health training for Indigenous youth. Youth who have participated in Sacred Beginnings and other First Nations youth have shared with elders the need to identify and maintain good mental health practices.
Fire Talk is engaging 12 youth from across the country in a mental health program created by Future Learn. Participants met online with an orientation session, followed by five two-hour virtual sessions. The course is typically self-led, explains Alongside Hope Youth Coordinator Su McLeod. But in Fire Talk, McLeod, the Rev. Dixie Bird and the Venerable Cheryl Kukurudz worked through the course material as a group. Bird is a youth suicide prevention worker with Indigenous Ministries and the Venerable Cheryl Kukurudz is Archdeacon of the Diocese of Brandon.
Through personal stories, quizzes and short assignments, participants will develop the techniques to help manage and improve their mental health. On completion of the online program, participants will earn an accreditation from the University of Groningen (the Netherlands) and Cambridge University (U.K.). The participants will also learn about traditional ways to take care of their mental wellbeing with Story Tellers and Knowledge Keepers connecting with local Elders. There will also be traditional crafts such as soapstone carving and drum making, as well as journeying in a canoe.
“We will continue to meet with participants monthly to go over some specifics, putting into practice the things that they learned, but also adding a richer Indigenous perspective,” explains McLeod.
In August, participants will gather for five days at Camp Harding in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle. They will evaluate what they have learned, how they have been able to share with their peers, and to listen to what else they would like to learn and do next to continue on the journey.
The total budget for the project is $54,000. Alongside Hope has contributed $15,000 through the Indigenous Response Program, along with $10,000 from the Anglican Foundation of Canada’s “Say Yes to Kids” program, the Dioceses of Brandon and Qu’Appelle, Indigenous Ministries and the New England Company.
Access to mental health resources is not consistent across Turtle Island, writes the Rev. Dixie Bird in the grant application. By supporting young people on their journey to good mental wellbeing, claiming their Indigenous Identity, and affirming them in who they are, we expect to see the beginning of a movement that will be led by the participants, writes Bird.
“What I especially like about this program is the follow-through,” says Kukurudz. “So often we attend a one-off seminar and go home with the best of intentions of using that information. It isn’t long before most of it is lost. With a program such as Fire Talk, there’s a community that is created and carries on. It is our hope that the knowledge and skills learned will carry the Indigenous youth through their own challenges, and allow them to come alongside others in their communities, sharing the resources they’ve learned.”
Sink the raindrop where it falls
PREPARING FOR RAINY SEASON IN ZIMBABWE
SWALES TRAP
RAIN WATER
A lifeline for kids in Ukraine
By Jacqueline Tingle
According to a study published in The Lancet in 2023, 62% of Ukrainian refugee children met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Countless children and families
By Jacqueline Tingle
In Zimbabwe’s Chimanimani mountains, TSURO Trust, a partner of Alongside Hope, is working with local farmers to adapt to climate change through innovative techniques of “sinking the raindrop where it falls.” One method is the construction of swales, mesh gabions, and infiltration pits to manage stormwater runoff and promote water infiltration into the ground. This approach helps to reduce erosion, retain slopes, and control water flow.
The top photo shows the swale prepared in August 2024, during the worst drought in 40 years. The bottom photo shows a swale in the rainy season (January 2025) doing exactly what it is designed to do – slow, sink, spread, store and share water throughout the soil profile so that plants like this intercropping of maize and cowpeas can flourish.
In Zimbabwe, it’s common for 80-90% of rainwater to run off farmers’ fields into rivers and eventually the Indian Ocean unutilized. With techniques like swales, it is now more likely that 80-90% of the rainwater will be stored within the soil profile which lessens evaporation but facilitates transpiration of plants. Taking care of the fields goes a long way to reducing conflict in communities, which have seen harvests destroyed by runoff from neighbouring farmers.
In addition to water management, TSURO is also promoting agroecology and planned grazing practices. By combining small herds of cattle into larger community herds, local communities have benefited from reduced child labour, increased women’s empowerment, and more efficient grazing practices. This approach also helps to maintain healthy grasslands while reducing the need for burning.
have experienced pain, trauma and displacement as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Voices of Children, a partner of Alongside Hope, provides a lifeline despite the destruction. For children and their caregivers, its 21-day program offers a secure refuge where they can recover, while participating in camp-like activities, and regain part of their childhood they lost due to the war.
Located in the Carpathian mountains, the program provides a peaceful respite from the chaos
of the conflict. Skilled therapists provide personalized art and verbal therapy to the children. They are given the space to talk about their feelings and experiences, to begin the healing process in this safe setting.
The program’s strategy addresses the children’s varied emotional and psychological needs. Children and caregivers can more effectively handle the difficulties of war and displacement by learning and using coping mechanisms and stress management techniques.
Children and caregivers get a break from the trauma of war at a Voices of Children mountain retreat.
By Abdi Ali, Supporter Relations Program Officer
Butter tarts with a big heart
As part of their festive fundraising efforts, a group from St. Mary’s Church in East Kelowna, B.C. and friends came together just before Christmas to bake an incredible 43 dozen butter tarts in support of Alongside Hope’s World of Gifts. This sweet initiative raised $332, which was used to support clean water projects, farming training, newborn essentials and food security.
Alongside Hope wants to hear from you! Please share your fundraising success stories to inspire others and to spread the word about the good work you have done! Email info@alongsidehope.org and tell us all about it. Many thanks to all of our donors.
Hitting the right note
Kick a$$ idea
At St. George’s in Fort Langley, B.C., Lent came with a unique celebration – donkeys! Through a creative almsgiving project humourously named Kick-A$$, the Outreach Team purchased two donkeys for farming families in Kenya through Alongside Hope’s World of Gifts and encouraged the congregation to keep the momentum going. They quickly surpassed their goal, raising enough funds for eight donkeys –and counting! With many Alongside Hope partners affected by the loss of USAID funding, St. George’s is encouraging others to step up in support.
Singing for food security
The sounds of Christmas filled the air at Sing and Ring, the much-loved annual musical celebration at St. John’s York Mills in North Toronto. With weeks of preparation behind them, musicians, choirs, and even two festive penguins took to the stage on December 8, leading an audience eager to join in. Beyond the music, Sing and Ring struck a powerful chord of generosity, raising $2,000 in support of Alongside Hope’s World of Gifts campaign. These funds will bring meaningful change to communities in Canada, Mexico, Peru, Lesotho, Kenya, Zambia, and Colombia. For example, in Kenya, families struggling with food insecurity will receive Galla goats –a resilient breed that thrives in drought conditions and provides both nutrition and income.
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OR c I would like to make a monthly gift of $ by credit card (info at left)
c I would like to make a monthly gift of $ by pre-authorized chequing to be withdrawn on c 1st of month c 16th of month Please enclose a personal cheque marked “Void.”
At St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in North Sydney, N.S., the sounds of generosity rang just as loud as the melodies at a recent musical fundraiser. The event brought people together for an evening of song and purpose, raising $605 in support of Alongside Hope. Thanks to the musical talents of Drift Away and the dedication of parish representative Lisa Richards, the event was a resounding success. Funds will support projects like TSURO Trust in Zimbabwe, where communities are tackling food insecurity through sustainable farming and water conservation. As TSURO’s Roseline Mukonoweshuro shared, “Work with nature rather than against it. As we find a way to heal the landscape, the landscape will heal us.”
Twisting dough into hope At St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Dartmouth, N.S., Sunday School students put their hands to work –and their hearts into action – by baking pretzels to support Alongside Hope’s World of Gifts campaign. In exchange for the warm treats, parishioners donated $380 to fund baby kits, fishponds, bikes for educators, clean water, and camps for children in Ukraine. The event was not just about fundraising but also about learning. The children explored the impact of their efforts, seeing how something as simple as a pretzel could provide essential support to communities in need. With every twist of dough, they proved that even small hands can make a big impact!
Alongside Hope Annual Resources are now ready to order!
Bookmarks, place mats, bulletin covers, offering envelopes... your favourite resources – plus lots of new ones! – are now ready for your parish.
Scan the QR code or go to alongsidehope. org/annual-resources to order yours today!
