Archive for August, 2008
“CFCA brought a smile to me…”
The following letter was written by a sponsored child in CFCA’s Nairobi, Kenya project. She writes about her life experiences, and about how sponsorship allowed her to go to school and change the direction of her life. We hope you’ll take a minute to read her touching words.
My name is Sylvia. I was born on 8th December 1989 in a family of six, two brothers and two sisters. I am from the Maasai community, a pastoralist community in Kenya. Maasai tribe is a very unique community in Kenya. This tribe has preserved its culture and some of the things we do are outdated. There is high preference of early marriages, female genital mutilation, use of traditional dressing, lives in Manyatta (traditional houses), moranism (where young people are trained in the forest to be courageous), less value of education and traditional drinking of raw cows’ blood.
Despite being born in the Maasai community – a tribe which migrates due to its pastoral practices in search of pasture, my dad took me to school at a tender age of 5, which was very rare. At that time, girls of my age were being taught how to manage their own homes. My dad was not educated but he wanted all his children to be educated. He had a vision and he knew education would empower his children. Schooling was exciting but not all that fun because my school was a bit far from home and at times the weather was not conducive for schooling because our place is semi-arid.
One Saturday morning, my dad woke me up so as not to be late for school. Pupils in higher class level (6-8) were expected to go to school on Saturdays but only for six hours. After classes that day we started heading home. A big crowd had formed near our homestead. What is it? What is happening? Many questions lingered in my mind. (more…)
10 comments August 25, 2008
Raksabandhana: An expression of solidarity
You may know that one of our employees, Dan Pearson, is currently living with his family in Hyderabad, India, for 6 months to support CFCA’s work in Asia.
Dan’s family sponsors a little girl in Hyderabad, and she asked them to visit her home during Raksabandhana. She said she wanted to celebrate the day with her American brothers and sister (Dan’s children).
Dan sent us photos of Bindu, his sponsored child (in orange), performing the ceremony with her brother:
First, the sister puts the red bindi paint on her brother
Then she ties a bracelet on his wrist.
Finally, she gives him some kind of cookie or sweet.
Dan wrote to us and said, “Boys and men keep wearing the bracelets for several days, it appears. I took mine off the next morning, but I have seen a lot of men and boys in public who still have their bracelets on.”
Our weekly prayer e-mails began today, featuring Raksabandhana. We recognize that all of humanity, each one of us, are brothers and sisters to one another, bound by the love of one God. It is in that spirit that we offer prayers for our family around the world. May we all grow in our expression of solidarity, just as Bindu showed Dan’s family this past weekend.
7 comments August 18, 2008
Notes from the Field #1 – Kenya
Welcome to the first installment of “Notes from the field” video podcasts featuring Janet Tinsley, CFCA’s project director for the Africa Region. Janet gives an update from her visit to the Nairobi project.
Add comment August 14, 2008
International Youth Day – You can!
Today is International Youth Day – a day designated to draw attention to youth issues worldwide.
Recently, youth from the Kansas City area created this video to share with other teens why it’s important to care about people living in developing countries and why it’s important to help: because teens CAN make a difference.
We hope you enjoy their video!
We can all make a difference. How are you involved in global poverty issues? Let us know!
1 comment August 12, 2008
Bob’s report: Visit to El Salvador
Mission awareness trip
July 12 – 19, 2008
From Guatemala to El Salvador
A team of four of us from Guatemala (Jorge Armas, Israel Itzol, Cristina and myself) had the privilege of spending a couple of days with the mission awareness trip group and the staff in El Salvador. We arrived precisely when all the sponsored children were gathered with the sponsors at Cerro Verde, high above Lake Coatepeque.
On Thursday, we were divided into four groups to visit communities, interact with the sponsored families, organize and document the distribution of benefits. This experience offered the sponsors a close-up view of the personal outreach which characterizes CFCA. I enjoyed being with the mothers and children in the subproject of Bolanos.
CFCA mothers of the Bolanos subproject
In the course of the morning, we took a quick survey. Around 70 percent of these mothers in Bolanos are heads of households, raising their beautiful children on their own. They need and deeply appreciate the CFCA program.
The enthusiasm of this El Salvador trip group is expansive. So far on this mission awareness trip, they have sponsored 20 new children. They have been able to meet each one.
On to Colombia
My wife, Cristina, and I are on our way now to begin the mission awareness trip in Bogotá, Colombia. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to spend this time with the sponsors, together walking with the sponsored families.
God’s blessings.
Bob Hentzen
From El Salvador
2 comments August 8, 2008
Bob’s report: July visit to Guatemala
Mission awareness trip
July 12 – 19, 2008
Alcida and Kevin
Sunday morning in Guatemala City finds us hosting not only the arriving sponsors but a special sponsored family as well. Alcida came to thank the sponsors and especially sponsor Sylvia for all they are doing for her youngest son, Kevin. Alcida has a good husband who works as a stockman in a warehouse.
Alcida and Kevin
This loving family has also been confronted with challenges. Kevin, enthusiastic and likable at 14, was diagnosed at age 10 with a serious kidney problem—serious enough that the doctors are currently considering a transplant, with the mother as donor. During his nine years of sponsorship, Kevin has continued to excel in his studies. His hope and dream is to go on to higher studies. Kevin’s mother expresses that he is an inspiration to her and to the family.
At home in Iximche
At the Mayan Ruins of Iximche, we were blessed with a cool and breezy morning. The children, mothers and staff from the CFCA project in Patzun had prepared folkloric numbers. They seemed to fit naturally in our open-air theater. The outfits, dance numbers and songs demonstrate great love and creativity.
Sponsors were able to visit the ruins and then enjoyed a hot lunch under the high pine trees. We take our leave and make our way through the highlands and on to San Lucas Toliman in time for the 5:00 p.m. Mass. We are fortunate to have Father Greg Shaffer here in San Lucas.
Sponsor Andrea with Martha (far right) and family. Martha sang for us in her native Tzutuhil language.
My estimate is that over 400 sponsored children, youth, aging, staff and sponsors spent this July day with us. The day was as they say…“Alegre” (happy). Every sponsored person was present and accounted for, traveling from many corners of this country. The sponsored shared about their home areas, their families, their hobbies and their studies. Several sponsored children stood before this audience and recited poems they had composed for their sponsors. (more…)
1 comment August 8, 2008
