Mae Joy overcomes adversity through faith and support

Eighteen-year-old Mae Joy has had an exceptionally difficult young life. Growing up, she experienced a deeply troubled home life with a father who was unwilling to support her and her five siblings. In addition to this difficult situation, living in the Tondo slum neighbourhood in the Philippines has been a constant struggle. A few years ago, Mae Joy fell ill with severe pneumonia. Her frail health caused her to succumb to a deep depression.

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Photo Friday: Our top 5 “kitchen party” photos!

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

Food and cuisine is an essential part of every culture around the world. At our sites, rising food prices from disasters, pandemics, inflation, and underemployment can make it difficult for families and schools to prepare filling, healthy meals. Thanks to donations from supporters like you, families at our sites are able to access essential nutrition, and partake in one of the most basic joys of life- cooking and eating together.

This week, we’re sharing our top 5 “kitchen party” photos from our sites. In these pictures, families, children, site staff and volunteers are having a blast preparing delicious meals. We hope you enjoy this tantalizing collection!

#5: Pizza prep in Paraguay

Many sponsored children attend the Open Center at our CMAVIL site in Paraguay after school for homework help, meals, and supervision. Sr. Miguelina and her young assistant, Brahio, are sifting flour in preparation to make pizza dough, a special treat!
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Photo Friday: Our top 5 site worker adventure photos!

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

In rain or shine, and through thick and thin, our site workers are dedicated to ensuring that the children and families at our sites receive what they need to stay safe, strong, and supported. This week, we’re sharing our top 5 site worker adventure photos we’ve gathered from our sites! Though their work brings them many unique experiences, our site workers face each day with a brave smile and giving heart.

#5: Dancing duds

In Tanzania, it’s custom to have a kitenge wrapped around your waist and your hair wrapped before you let loose on the dance floor. Our International Manager for Africa, Emily, is helping East Africa Coordinator Martha get ready for a celebration. She’ll perform a welcoming dance with mothers from a Chalice family circle from our Mbinga site!
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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!

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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 “Photo Friday: Our top 5 “friendship” photos”

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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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