At only 14-years-old Sara was orphaned, malnourished and living in a small one roomed mud hut with her three siblings and aunt. Her family’s extreme poverty meant that Sara was trapped in a cycle of illiteracy with little hope of receiving an education or chasing her dreams. Without intervention she was at risk of falling into low paid work that wouldn’t cover her basic needs.

Six students in our Bethany Project passed their university remedial programme exam and are now continuing their university education via regular courses. Having succeeded in these recent exams Ashenafi, Elshaddai, Elias, Serkalem, Daniel and Tadesse now have a second chance to pursue their dreams.

Our Denisa Care Centre and House of Hope Director Cami reflects on 25 years of life-changing work in Romania, providing educational support, nutritious meals, medical care, psychological support and hope for some of the poorest children in the country. Read her inspiring message of thanksgiving here. 

‘What is a lesser-known fact about you?’, ‘If someone had the power to grant any wish for you, what would it be?’ and ‘What do you envision achieving by this time next year?’ are the three questioned given to our Denisa Care Centre children during a recent Kids’ Activity Panel. As the 13 children sat with our Romania Director Cami and the centre’s psychologist, they each explored their greatest dreams and aspirations, giving them the chance to express themselves in a safe and nurturing environment.

A welcome celebration marked the entrance of 14 new Grade 1 children into our Emmanuel Care Centre. They are the first cohort of up to 30 Grade 1 children who are enrolled into the centre each year, the excited five- and six- year-olds now receiving a life-changing education through our programme in Colombia.

“We are overjoyed to pursue our passion for dancing, and we hope for more opportunities in the future. Your prayers mean the world to us, and we’re thrilled to be doing what we love” said 16-year-old Ngua, also known as ‘dancer’ amongst his peers. He was one of the seven children at our Agape Home in Myanmar who participated in a recent regional dance competition. During the past few months, the children at the home have been pursuing their hobbies by dancing together, an activity that has been a light amidst dark times.

Angela was abandoned when she just two months old, left alone on the side of a road. Thankfully she was found, taken to hospital and, shortly after, brought to our Open Arms Children’s Village in Kenya where she received the love and care she needed to grow into a bright and wonderful girl.

‘Bright’ and ‘ambitious’ are the two words staff at our Bethany School in Ethiopia use to describe past student Birtukan. Her story serves as an inspiration, an example of “one determined student whose aspirations soared beyond the confines of limited resources.”