Global Link Fall 2023

GLOBALLINK

COMING TOGETHER IN EL SALVADOR

Inmyroleastheinternationalproject supportco-ordinatorintheinternationaldevelopmentdepartment,Iwas privilegedtovisitElSalvador,partofThe SalvationArmy’sLatinAmericaNorth Territory,whereIlearnedthedeeper meaningoftheterm“communitydevelopment”

AftersteppingofftheplaneinSan Salvadorandmeetingtheregionalofficers, CaptainsMarioandLoyda,thesenseof prideandthelovetheyhavefortheir communitywereimmediatelyapparent ThattrendcontinuedaswetravelledtoThe SalvationArmy’sministriesinUsulután.

TheofficersexplainedthatinEl Salvador,crime,traffickingandrecruitment forgangsaremajorconcernsforfamiliesin ElSalvador,especiallyinmajorurbanareas.

By Robyn Goodyear

TheSalvationArmy’scorpsinUsulután providesprogrammingforchildrenages514,includingeducationalsupportand specialactivitiessuchasartsandcrafts, physicaleducation,danceanddrama.The educationalassistancesupportschildren’s learningandreducesearlydropoutrates

Thechildrenreceivenutritiousmeals andsnacksatthecorps,whichareoftenthe onlymealtheyhaveinaday.Theprogram providesasafespaceforchildrenduring thedaywhennotinschool,reducingthe likelihoodofgangsrecruitingthem

Robyn Goodyear looks over children kept busy by Captains Loyda and Mario in Usulatán, El Salvador.

TERRITORIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN CANADA AND BERMUDA

Itisthattimeofyearwhenwestart

toseeback-to-schoolsales The coolerdaysarereturningandour thoughtstransitionfromsummertofall Memoriesofhotdayssittingbyalakeor undertheshadeofatreefadeandour focusshiftstothecoolerdaysoffall.

Iremembertheexcitementofthe firstdayofschool,havingpickedout somethingspecialtowearandproudly displayingmynewbookbagandschool materialsasIlefthome,wavingtomy mom.Oh,thosearesuchgreatmemories Andwewanttogivethesememoriestochildrenaroundtheworld.

Inthiseditionof Global Link,you willreadaboutsomeoftheSalvation Armychildren’shomesinIndiaandhow generousCanadianshaveprovided infrastructureandessentialschool resources.YouwillalsolearnhowThe SalvationArmyinCongo(Brazzaville) helpschildrenexperiencethejoyof Christmasthankstoyoursupportofthe BrighterFuturesChildren’sSponsorship program.

Wehopethatasyoureadthestories andtestimonialscontainedinthis newsletteryouwilltakejoyinknowing youhavemadeasignificantdifferencein thelivesofmany.

WinstonChurchilloncesaid,“We makealivingbywhatweget,butwe makealifebywhatwegive.”Maythatbe trueforusall.

Sincerely,

Director of International Development

Continued from cover

Sincethecorpsbuildingisa20-minutedriveawayfromthecommunityandthere isnopublictransportationavailable,soldiersandmembersofthechurchopentheir homeseverydayforthechildren’sactivitiestotakeplaceclosertohome.Eachday, thecorpsofficerswalkthroughtheneighbourhoodtopickupthechildrenandsafely accompanythemtotheprogram Volunteerspreparethefood,planlessonsand organizespecialactivities

Thoughtherewerelanguagebarriersbetweenus,thesenseofcommunityand prideinUsulutánneedednotranslation.

ThankstothegenerosityofsponsorstotheBrighterFuturesChildren’s Sponsorshipprogram,TheSalvationArmycansupporthundredsofchildrenin urbancommunitiesinCentralandSouthAmerica

STORY OF CHANGE

By Charley Mbotani

MynameisCharleyMbotaniandI’m19yearsold Iwouldliketopresent mysinceregratitudetoTheSalvationArmywhohasenabledmeto changemylifetoday.Indeed,thedeathofmyparentsduringthecivilwar thatbrokeoutin1998hasnegativelyaffectedmylife.

Icouldn’timaginethislifeofmisery,loneliness,deepdistress,andIdidn’teven haveenoughtofeedmyself

Oneofmyfriends,whocompletedhertraininginhairdressingatTheSalvation Army’sBacongoVocationalCentre(inCongo-Brazzaville),stronglyadvisedand invitedmetoparticipateinthegraduationceremonyoffinalists.ThatdayIfeltthe joyofmyheartwhenIsawothervulnerablegirlswhowereinmysituationbecome independentthroughtraininginvocationalskills

Idecidedthatdaytochangemysadlifeintothelifeofawoman,fullofhope,who willbringchangetoothersthroughmytestimony.Today,BacongoVocationalCentre hasnotonlytrainedmeinsewingbutIhavealsobenefitedfromthespirituallife,how tobecomeaworthywomanaccordingtotheWordofGod

IthankGodforthechangeofmylife Idecidedtobefaithfultohiminall circumstancesoflifeandIwouldbeungratefulifIforgettheblessingsthatThe SalvationArmyhasgivenme.MaytheLordblessmylifeandTheSalvationArmy.

Lt-ColonelBrendaMurray

TO BUILD A HOME

Thecareofchildrenandyouthisanintegralpart oftheinternationalworkofTheSalvationArmy asshownthroughthehundredsofchildren’s homesitoperatesaroundtheworld Withoutthese homes,manyofthechildrenentrustedtotheArmy’s carewouldbehomelessorlivingunderduress,withlittle tonoopportunityforaqualityeducation.

Thisiswhyit’ssoimportantthatthesehomesare supported,andwhypartnershipissuchacriticalfactor forthesecentrestothrive

ThroughourpartnershipwithTheSalvationArmy inIndia,we’reworkingtogethertoensurethreechildren’shomesinwesternIndiacanflourish

ThankstoourBrighterFutureschildren’ssponsors, wehaveprovidednewcomputers,desks,chairs,beds, kitchenappliances,toysandsportingequipmenttothe HopeHouseBoy’sHome,theJeevanAshaBoy’sHome andtheArunaGirl’sHome

Thiswouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthe partnershipofyou,oursponsors,whoenableustowork togetherwiththeinternationalSalvationArmyto provideholisticandpracticalcareforvulnerable children

Becauseyoucare,morethan70childrenwholivein thesehomeswillbenefitfromthehousing,educational andrecreationalsupport.

Thankyou!

By Kathy Nguyen

For more information on the Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship program, visit salvationist.ca/brighterfutures

CHRISTMAS IN THE CONGO

Christmascanbeanexcitingtimeforchildren astheirthoughtsarefilledwiththepromise ofSanta,presentsandcelebrations. Recognizingthatnoteverychildgetstoexperience thesethings,TheSalvationArmyinCongoBrazzavillelaunchedaspecialmissiontobringthe joyofChristmastochildrenallaroundtheircountry.

Forthepasttwoyears,theBrighterFutures Children’sSponsorshipprogramhassupportedthis initiative,enablingmorethan500childrentogather infourdifferentlocationstoenjoyadayofgames, foodandevenavisitfromSantahimself!Someofthe mostvulnerablechildreninthesecommunities somelivingonthestreet,othersfromlowincomefamilies,andorphans haveallbeengiven theopportunitytocreatespecialmemoriesand experiencethejoyofChristmasintheCongo.

By Major Heather Matondo