Jan 29 2013

Mother makes environmentally friendly charcoal in Madagascar

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA)

Marie, mother of a CFCA sponsored child in Madagascar.

Meet Marie, mother of three children in Madagascar, who found a creative way to help her family through selling environmentally friendly charcoal made from soil, grass and charcoal powder!

One of her children, 11-year-old Safidison, is sponsored through CFCA.

My husband works in rice fields. I am a housewife.

Before our son was sponsored, we sometimes went hungry because we could not afford to buy food, especially when my husband could not find a job.

Paying school fees for all three children was really a challenge.

Life was not easy. Money was hard to come by since my husband does seasonal work, and the money he made was not enough for our needs. Read more of Marie’s story

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Jan 17 2013

Project coordinator in Uganda: ‘I am a true believer of change’

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA)

Teddy Naluwu, Kampala project coordinator in Uganda and former CFCA sponsored child.

I hope to transform others’ lives through my work with CFCA.

My name is Teddy Naluwu, and I am 31 years old. I have been a part of the CFCA family for more than 20 years, first as a sponsored child and later as an employee.

I have been working for CFCA for the past seven years, and I currently serve as Kampala project coordinator for Uganda, Africa.

Personally, I am a true believer of change. I have seen myself transform from a humble “country girl” to project coordinator of a sizeable project.

Because of CFCA sponsorship and the education I received, I am able to help break through the lines of poverty within my family.

The CFCA-Kampala project believes that we can make the world a better place through our collective efforts.

Engaging with the families in CFCA project activities is an important aspect of my work that shapes my attitude and performance, and boosts my self-worth. Read more

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Nov 13 2012

Uganda: ‘Pearl of Africa’

Posted on November 13, 2012 by admin

Join us as we celebrate Geography Awareness Week with National Geographic and friends. This year’s theme is “Geography: Declare Your Interdependence.”

Did you know that Winston Churchill once called Uganda the “Pearl of Africa?”

CFCA began working in this East African country, with an area slightly smaller than the state of Oregon, in 1993. Today Uganda’s population is estimated at more than 30 million people.

Our Hope for a Family sponsorship program is based in the capital city of Kampala, with outreach to families in Masaka, Busunju and Ssekanyonyi.

About 15 percent of the under-18 population in Uganda, or 2.7 million children, are orphans, according to a UNICEF report.

Most of these children were orphaned because of AIDS, the report explains, but deaths caused by armed conflict and war have added to the problem. Read more

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Oct 26 2012

CFCA scholars open academic club for sponsored children

Posted on October 26, 2012 by admin

Students listen attentively to the CFCA scholars during a tutoring session.

By Regina Muburu, CFCA communications correspondent for Africa

It is a hot Tuesday afternoon and sponsored children are gathered at a local CFCA office in Kenya, with their books and pens, keenly following what they are being taught.

The teachers of the day are Vincent, who is pursuing a degree in business administration and accounting, and his colleague, Kevin, who is enrolled at a local university studying for a bachelor of commerce degree.

The two students are both 23 years old and part of the CFCA Scholarship Program.

“As scholars we volunteer hours of community service to the CFCA office helping out in various duties. It is during this period that we noticed that the children in our area were not performing well [in school],” Vincent said. “Looking at the report cards as scholarship students, we felt there was a need to step in and help.”

The two scholars decided to create an academic club for sponsored children who needed extra help with their studies.

The club is facilitated by 17 scholars who choose different subjects, in which they excel, to tutor the sponsored children. These subjects include mathematics, business education, science and geography. Read more

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Oct 23 2012

Never give up: Kenyan mother starts her own business

Posted on October 23, 2012 by admin

When Collins, a young boy in Kenya, joined the Hope for a Family sponsorship program, his mother Roseline embraced the CFCA mothers group and took steps to transform her family’s life.

Roseline, mother of a CFCA sponsored child

Roseline holds a scoop of millet, the grain she sells to earn additional income.

“In our group we share ideas on business ventures and we also encourage each other on personal matters. Ö Our slogan is ‘Jikaze,’ which means ‘do not give up,’” Roseline said.

Through the Hope for a Family sponsorship program, CFCA offers opportunities for families to achieve economic self-sufficiency through mothers groups and other activities.

Roseline is the secretary for her mothers group. She takes the minutes at each meeting and is also the signatory.

Through the mothers group, Roseline has been able to start her own business, something that would not have been possible without the loan she received from her mothers group last September.

Roseline used the loan to purchase 23 tins of millet, which is a type of grain grown widely around the world for cereal. Roseline re-sells the millet to earn additional income for her family.

She has since opened a bank account to save the profits she earns because she is planning to expand her business in the future.

“I would like to encourage my fellow mothers to work hard and make use of the help that CFCA gives them through the CFCA support groups,” Roseline said. “My wish is to see my children succeed in life and help the needy in society.”

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Oct 18 2012

A ‘bee-utiful’ career

Posted on October 18, 2012 by admin

Busy as a bee! The phrase fits Wanjiru, mother of three children in the Hope for a Family sponsorship program, since she started harvesting honey to provide for her family.

CFCA helped Wanjiru with the protective gear she needed, and she now feels much more confident when working with the bees.

Wanjiru sells her honey locally and in different quantities so it is affordable for everyone.

Watch the video to learn more about how Wanjiru harvests honey.

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Oct 11 2012

Trip to Africa: ‘Celebrate the unity of our CFCA family’

Posted on October 11, 2012 by admin

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

“Bob’s notes” are reports from CFCA President Bob Hentzen, who regularly accompanies mission awareness trip participants. You can see Bobís full update on his Facebook page.

Photo credits for Kenya and Uganda go to Regina Muburu, CFCA communications liaison for Africa. Photo credits for Madagascar go to Paul Pearce, CFCA director of global strategy.

It’s always a joy to be in touch with you, this time from Africa. Together with Paul Pearce, CFCA director of global strategy, and Karen Allemang, CFCA trips and international volunteer manager.

I had the privilege of accompanying a wonderful group of CFCA sponsors on this September 2012 journey to Kenya and Uganda.

Paul and I also visited the CFCA project in Antsirabe, Madagascar. Read more

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