BY MWENYA CHITI
Zambia
Uplifting youth through soccer
program provides a beacon of hope for the youth of Chimanimani Township in Zambia. In a community facing high unemployment rates, poor educational opportunities, and frequent substance abuse, a local coach founded the Bupilo Sports Academy in 2007 seeking to instill discipline and teamwork.
The academy operates on four foundational pillars: education, sports, spiritual growth, and entrepreneurship. Through regular team-building exercises, the academy guides its young people towards healthier lifestyles, personal responsibility, and spiritual growth. The curriculum has fostered a culture of respect and equality among students and leaders alike.
In Zambia, 90 health volunteers were trained to provide care in their communities last year, thanks to generosity like yours.
lifestyles. As the academy's membership grows, enforcing child safeguarding standards and promoting gender equality remain top priorities.
"I joined the academy because it makes me fit and stay away from bad vices in our communi ty," says Eunice Lumpa, a Grade 11 student.
In 2023, World Renew’s local partner, the United Church of Zambia (UCZ), joined forces with the academy to promote gender justice and raise awareness about child safeguarding standards. The UCZ’s involvement provided a moral framework that reinforced the acade my's values. Their efforts have led to significant changes in gender equality.
The academy’s students are now equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves from harmful practices, make informed decisions, and choose responsible
"Gender justice isn't just a women's issue; it's a societal necessity. It taught me that real change starts with challenging my own biases and standing up for others," says 18-year-old Faith Banda.
Looking ahead, Bupilo Sports Academy plans to collaborate with more local and international organizations. In partnership with UCZ, the academy continues to inspire hope and foster a brighter future for the youth in the Chimanimani community. Their story is a testament to dedication, community support, and the transformative power of sports.
Prayer Requests
BY STEVE SYWULKA
• Following a national election in October, Mozambique has experienced violence and unrest. Please pray for peace and healing in the wake of this turmoil.
• Aaron Lewani has recently been hired for the role of country director for World Renew Malawi. Pray for God's guidance for Aaron.
• Please ask God for continued safety, health, and stamina for our staff and partners working in Southern Africa.
Tanzania
BY JOEL MWAMPONDA
The value of one grain of corn
is transforming lives and livelihoods in a farming community in Tanzania. This conservation agriculture initiative, introduced by World Renew’s local partner, goes beyond traditional farming methods by blending food security with livelihood programs. The program has sparked many remarkable success stories, such as that of 45-year-old Mayunga Ndongo.
Mayunga previously struggled to sustain his family of eleven on insufficient harvests. Then he embraced conservation agriculture principles. In the two years since, he went from a yield of just a few sacks of corn to a bountiful harvest of 28 sacks from his two-acre farm.
When he faced a pressing need for effective storage solutions, the Kilimo Hifadhi group— farmers in his community training alongside him—helped Mayunga access collective storage initiatives that safeguarded his produce for future prosperity.
At the heart of Mayunga's success lies a profound understanding of the value inherent in one grain of corn. He learned to optimize seed performance, maximizing crop yields while promoting soil health and biodiversity. This ethos of stewardship not only enhances productivity but also fosters resilience in the face of environmental challenges. "Nowadays, I am not ready to lose even a single grain because I know its importance," Mayunga says. "That one grain brings hundreds of other seeds!"
Thanks to generosity like yours, 2,575 adolescents in Kenya participated in a Youth Running Club this year and received training in income-generating activities.
Looking ahead, Mayunga seeks to explore value-addition opportunities beyond mere sustenance, further enhancing the market value of his produce and bolstering his household's food security.
Mayunga's story is a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of farming communities. By harnessing the potential of each seed, Mayunga says, “I not only secure my family's future but also cultivate a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow for generations to come.”
Prayer Requests
BY BARBARA KAYANJA
• In the face of declining humanitarian support in Uganda, pray that World Renew and our partners will reach more people facing hunger and poverty with Christ’s hope and love.
• In the last quarter of 2024, regions in Kenya grappled with floods that displaced families and filled hearts with despair. Pray for God’s provision and peace for those impacted.
• World Renew East Africa gives thanks to God for the generosity of donors who support our work; pray that God will continue to guide us in extending his hope to the most vulnerable.
Nicaragua
BY
Equipped to lead
CRISTÓBAL PÉREZ GARCÍA, 39, has lived in the community of La Esperanza in Nicaragua for 24 years. Alongside his family, this husband and father cultivates staple grains on rented land, with 0.7 acres for their home, permanent crops, and a family garden.
His journey with World Renew’s local partner, CIEETS, began when a fellow community member told him about the leadership training opportunities available. Intrigued, Cristóbal joined a training session focused on community development and leadership. Eager to grow, he seized the opportunity offered to him by CIEETS staff to join a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) and a Farmer Field School (FFS) in his community.
Reflecting on his experience, Cristóbal says, “The FFS gives me the opportunity to grow, learn new things, and practice agriculture more suited to the times we live in. Analyzing planting calendars is very important; we have received plantain, cassava, and corn seedlings as part of diversification
Despite ongoing gang violence in Haiti, we give thanks that through generosity like yours, a farmer field school, that has benefited 582 farmers, was established in the last year.
practice. Additionally, I have the chance to implement a beekeeping initiative introduced by the project as a revolving fund, which is now in its second phase.”
"Applying biblical principles to social leadership training has been very interesting to me," Cristóbal shares.
“I am in the community and want to support leaders in seeking solutions and managing our needs. The reflections have encouraged us to mobilize others.”
Thank you for your gifts that help World Renew and our Christian partners to equip people like Cristóbal with the skills, knowledge, and faith-based principles they need to help their families and communities to thrive.
Prayer Requests
BY CORSTIAAN VAN AALSBURG
• In November, at least 110,000 people across Latin America were impacted by flooding caused by Tropical Storm Sara. Pray for God’s provision for all who are still feeling the effects.
• Pray for an end to the gang violence that has plagued Haiti; pray that God’s peace will reign, and that those who despair will know the joy of his comfort and hope.
• Pray that God provides World Renew Latin America and our partners with an unceasing well of energy, optimism, hope, and faith, as we work to extend his love and mercy.
XIMENA MEDRANO
Cristóbal in his garden
West Africa
Overcoming challenges through agricultural training
BY WORLD RENEW AFRICA
KECHE, A FARMER living in West Africa*, struggled to grow enough crops to provide for his family. Despite his hard work, the challenges posed by inconsistent rains and the traditional farming methods that Keche used did not produce good harvests. “My produc tion only covered our needs for four months,” says Keche, who went into debt to pay for his children’s school fees.
In West Africa, World Renew provides training in agriculture, health, and income genera tion to adult students at Bible schools. Through this holistic discipleship program, students are equipped with practical skills to help improve their livelihoods and communities while receiving their theological training.
Keche is taking courses to become a pastor and lives at the school with his wife and children. As a student at the Bible school, he has access to a field to tend and help support his family. He participated in the agricultural training and learned how to make liquid fertilizer and dig holes that help keep organic matter and water close to the plant, doing this at proper distances for planting.
Soon, Keche began to see his efforts pay off. “Thanks to the work I've done in my field, my harvest seems to be abundant and will cover our needs for seven months,” says Keche. “Today, even if I must borrow money, it won't be much. Agricultural training has helped
Thanks to gifts like yours, 265 adolescents in Senegal were enrolled in health groups in the last year.
me to overcome certain challenges, such as having enough food and paying for my children's education.”
Thank you for supporting World Renew’s mission. Your gifts help equip farmers like Keche with the training needed to journey away from poverty. Pray for adequate rains to support their efforts, and pray that farmers who receive agricultural training will help guide others to produce bountiful harvests.
*Exact location and pictures of participants are withheld to protect identities
Prayer Requests
BY HAROUNA ISSAKA
• World Renew Nigeria has been working to support victims of heavy flooding caused by a bursting dam in Maiduguri in late 2024. Please pray for these recovery efforts and for relief for the people of northern Nigeria.
• We praise God that over 1,000 people in Sierra Leone improved their food security in the last year thanks to World Renew programs. Pray for this work to continue and for more families to achieve food security.
• In some places where World Renew works in West Africa, believers face religious persecution. Please pray for peace, stability, and perseverance.
BY KOHIMA DARING
The difference ducks can make
HALIMA, 27, her husband, Najrul, and their two sons, live in West Sohilati, a densely populated village in Bangladesh. The couple have a small plot of land where they grow rice and vegetables, but they did not produce enough to meet their family’s basic needs.
In September 2021, Halima joined a Village Savings and Loan group facilitated by World Renew’s local partner. The all-female group has 20 members who meet regularly to save money. The group’s savings pool has grown enough that members can take out low-interest loans which they use to address various needs, including investing in their farms, paying off debt, paying school fees, and more.
This year, thanks to gifts like yours, 1,722 farmers in India received training in sustainable farming practices, pest management, soil health, and climate-resilient agriculture.
In December 2022, as a group member, Halima also had the opportunity to participate in poultry rearing training organized by World Renew’s partner. Halima shared all that she learned with her husband, and they decided to start rearing ducks. With a loan from her savings group, Halima purchased 300 ducks.
Through World Renew, Halima also learned about bookkeeping–knowledge that she once again shared with Najrul, and together they are wisely stewarding the profits from the duck rearing business. In fact, Halima has already repaid her loan!
The duck rearing business not only helps the couple generate extra income, but duck eggs are also a good source of nutrition for their growing children. Where they once felt hopeless to improve their family’s situation, Halima and Najrul now look to the future with hope. “I will increase my duck farm in the near future and hire someone to help me in this business,” Halima says. “I am earning a lot from this duck rearing, and this is possible because of the initiative of World Renew and their partner. I thank them and I appreciate their activities and contribution to my family and life.”
Prayer Requests
BY WARREN CLIMENHAGA
• Pray for God’s provision for farming families across the region who have lost their crops to floods.
• Pray that as they step in during a time of uncertainty, the interim government in Bangladesh will lead wisely.
• I praise God for the people who support the work of World Renew and pray for God’s guidance as I step into the role of Regional Director for World Renew Asia.
It’s not too
to give a gift of hope
FROM GIFTS THAT HELP improve a family’s health to those that help them to journey to income stability, like training in income-generating activities or tools for farming, to the ones that help them to embrace God’s Word, the Gift Catalogue allows the giver and the receiver to share in God’s love and hope. Your gift of chickens to a family grappling with hunger can help them to start a poultry rearing business, and provides them with nutritious eggs to eat, renewing their hope for the future. For the mother who worries about her child struggling with malnutrition, a nutrition kit can help restore her faith in God’s goodness. Every item in World Renew’s Gift Catalogue can help a family struggling with hunger, poverty, or injustice become a witness to God’s love and mercy. If you missed giving a gift of hope during the holiday season, remember you can shop World Renew’s Gift Catalogue year-round. To shop, visit: worldrenew.net/gifts
