Photo Friday: Our top 5 refreshing photos

Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world.

Here in Canada, we’re all in the need of a little refreshment from the summer heat! This week, we’re sharing the top 5 refreshing photos from our sites. Kids, parents, and staff all over the world deserve to to take a minute to relax, cool off, and treat themselves after a hard, hot, or long day. Refresh yourself by taking a look at these refreshing shots!

#5: Watermelon bites

Children who attend daycare at our Fatima site in Bolivia receive a healthy mid-morning snack every day. Watermelon is so cool and refreshing after a hard morning of learning and playing! Donations to our nutrition program make it possible for these children to receive such fresh and tasty treats.
Continue reading →

Solar lights essential in rural Tanzania

Less than 20 percent of people living in rural Tanzania have access to electricity. Expanding the electrical grid to remote rural areas would require significant funding, which would conflict with other much-needed services such as education, health, and road infrastructure. While it’s recognized that access to electricity is a major barrier to economic expansion, there are currently no plans to increase the electrical grid.

Families at our sites use candles and kerosene lamps for light and wood stoves for cooking. These families are often poor, so these costly light sources are used sparingly so homework and any other tasks not finished before sundown are left undone. Thanks to generous donations to our gift catalogue, families from our Neema site were thrilled to be given the gift of solar lights, which in essence, is a gift of extra time as they can do more after dark than they could before!

Continue reading →

Photo Friday: Our top 5 “friendship” photos

Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world.

Yesterday was International Day of Friendship, a day to celebrate bonds of love and laughter. In honour of this special occasion, we’re sharing our top 5 friendship photos we’ve collected from our sites. These photos are sure to have you thinking of all of the special friendships in your life, too!

#5: Twinning!

These little guys from our Mbinga site in Tanzania could be mistaken for twins in their matching school uniforms and big, boisterous smiles! We can tell how happy they make each other just by looking at this joyful photo.  Continue reading →

The gift of hearing aids opens up a new world for Alina

Thirteen-year-old Alina is an outgoing, happy girl who lives with her parents near our Ternopil site in Ukraine. When she was very little, Alina was diagnosed with double-sided deafness. She’s unable to hear any sounds on her own, and must use sign language to communicate with her friends and family.

With the help of hearing aids, Alina is able to hear some faint sounds, which helps keep her safe and alert in public. Despite her disability, Alina is an accomplished student, and a talented swimmer. She’s earned many awards in her endeavors!

Every year, Alina’s parents take her for a hearing checkup at the local hospital. After her last examination, doctors recommended that she wear a better quality hearing aid that will allow her to hear high definition sounds. Her last hearing aid was purchased over six years ago, making the technology obsolete.

Continue reading →

Photo Friday: Our top 5 “big smile” photos!

Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world.

You know what they say; smiling’s contagious, so get ready to grin! This week, we’re sharing our top five “big smile” photos we’ve collected from our sites. We had a hard time picking just five photos, as every child’s smile is such a beautiful thing.

#5: Not your garden variety smile 

This student from our Kawambwa site in Zambia has her hands full helping out in her school’s garden. Her radiant smile stands out like a sunflower, and brightens up the entire field! 

Continue reading →

COVID RELIEF HELPS VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

The vulnerable have been the most affected by the current COVID-19 global pandemic. We have been working hard with our staff on the ground to ensure that families and communities in need have the essential resources needed to survive this unprecedented disaster.

To date, nearly $613,000 CAD has been distributed to 44 of our sites in 14 countries, helping thousands of families in dire need of support. We’ve used funds generously entrusted to us through our disaster relief fund, gift catalogue program, and our COVID disaster fund (totaling $400,000 CAD to date). Thanks to these thoughtful contributions, extra family funds, food baskets, and essential items have been distributed to those in most need.

Continue reading →

Photo Friday: Our top 5 “food sharing” photos!

Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world.

It’s currently mid-summer, the season of BBQ’s, potlucks, and picnics! (albeit, with a little social distancing this year.) All around the world, families and communities love sharing food and experiences with one another to express friendship, love, and affection. This week, we’re sharing our top 5 food sharing photos we’ve gathered from our sites. We hope you enjoy this fun food collection!

#5: Bunches of bananas 

In Mkongo, Tanzania, mothers from Chalice family circles were excited to hear that our founder, Fr. Pat, would be their guest for the afternoon. Many mothers offered him samples of goodies from their farms such as nuts, eggs, and of course, bananas!

Continue reading →

Photo Friday: Our top 5 summer photos!

Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world.

Here in Canada, summer’s now in full swing. Here’s to warm weather and fun times with friends and family! This week, we’re featuring our top 5 summer photos we’ve collected at our sites. Depending on global location, our site’s summers may not be at the same time as ours. All summers, however, all have one thing in common; lots of sunny weather!

#5: Smart sun protection 

For children with albinism, sun protection is an absolute necessity. Many children at our Kawambwa site in Zambia must wear sun hats and sunscreen during the summer months to protect their sensitive skin and eyes. This protective gear helps them enjoy warm days without worry.

Continue reading →

Healthy, happy Anhelina sets new goals

The beautiful gift of sponsorship can change a child’s life in countless ways. This essential support doesn’t just provide food, medicine, clothing, and shelter; it deeply encourages children to open their eyes to a hopeful future, and focus on their innate potential as a child of God.

Nine-year-old Anhelina lives with her older sister, Anastasiya, and her mom, Olha, near our Ternopil site in Ukraine. Anhelina was born with Down syndrome, while her mom has suffered with a joint disability for many years. Since Anhelina’s birth, the family has struggled financially due to her diagnosis, as her developmental issues require expensive treatment and therapies.

Continue reading →

Photo Friday: Our top 5 “international dress” photos!

Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world.

This past week, many Canadians across the country celebrated Canada Day in bold red and white outfits. Each of the 15 countries where we work have their own traditional colours and customs for celebrating, too! This week, we’re showcasing our top 5 “international dress” photos that we’ve collected during our travels. Whether it be a celebration, holiday, or daily expression of culture, we hope you’ll love learning about the significance of different clothing styles around the world.

#5: Lovely lacework

Women and girls in Paraguay wear an a’o poi top with their formal attire, bearing the famous Parguayan lacework sleeves. These girls are also modeling the custom of wearing their hair in a braid or a bun. You can also spot a flower tucked in there, too!

Continue reading →