HOTLINE - week of April 14, 2008

"Let the world know that we are here for each other, supporting and getting strength from each other," says Otieno, 12, of his Giving Hope working group in Kenya. "Our working group is our new family. There is no way our family can be broken," says Anita, 17, in Tanzania, of her involvement in the Church World Service-supported program.

Through Giving Hope, some 30,000 orphans and vulnerable children--kids who have lost parents to AIDS or continue to care for HIV-AIDS affected parents--are becoming empowered to improve their lives.

Since its inception in 2004, Giving Hope has reached more than 100,000 children in the East African countries of Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Mozambique, helping them rebuild their lives and begin a generation that is HIV-free, says CWS East Africa program coordinator Lilian Odundo.

Children who have lost parents to AIDS are often stigmatized and feel isolated from the community, and even from other children, explains Odundo. Through Giving Hope, they find other children who have had similar experiences. They share their experiences and their dreams with each other, and are encouraged to reach for and achieve their dreams. Mentors--older people in the community--help them gain the information and training they need to get started, and the program provides seed money for micro-loans.

The kids have simple dreams, says Odundo. Some simply want to own a cow; others want a sewing machine so they can make clothing and other items to sell; still others want to become businesspeople and to engage in trade.

"Giving Hope, though, is a methodology, a process, not simply a program," explains Odundo. "The children come with capabilities, gifts, and talents," says CWS staffer Carol Thon. Together, they can put their interests and talents to work and sustain their families under their own initiative. Through Giving Hope, they are thriving, she says.

In Uganda, Mahdi, 15, lives in a house with 9 other siblings and their 73-year-old grandmother, who is unable to support the entire family. Mahdi joined a Giving Hope working group and has set up a shop in Kampala where he sells tortillas from 5-8 p.m. each evening--after going to school. From what he earns, he pays the rent, buys books, and supports his siblings’ education. If Mahdi didn't run his own business, he would probably work as a laborer and have to leave school, explains Odundo. The empowerment process helps Mahdi provide for his family and go to school.

In the wake of post-election violence in Kenya, Odundo says that 12-year-old Otieno, who lives in the Mathare area of Nairobi, is an inspiration to her. "Otieno has been able to cope with some hard stuff," she says. "His brother was killed in the violence, but Otieno was able to carry on and keep himself on track with Giving Hope."

Odundo notes that Church World Service and its partners were first on the scene in Nairobi to assist people affected by the violence.

In the midst of violence, the Giving Hope members stood together, says Odundo. "They didn't run with the crowds to vandalize or destroy the community. Some of them lost property to the violence, but they protected one another and are even promoting peacebuilding among the adults in their communities."

As people in some parts of Haiti riot because of lack of access to affordable food, a Church World Service-supported project in central and northwest Haiti is helping farm families to recover their agricultural livelihoods following natural disasters.

Weather often affects agricultural production--and food security--of the most vulnerable farmers. More than 1,700 farm families who are members of 14 cooperatives in central and northwest Haiti are working to improve their agricultural production following the loss of crops, farming implements, and animals to tropical storms of recent years. With the help of Church World Service and local partner Christian Center for Integrated Development, the participating cooperatives are improving their services to members and non-members in the community, and families are gaining access to affordable credit to increase their production.

Through the project, the families are growing rice and vegetables, and raising cows and chickens, both for their own needs and for sale in the market. With the money they earn, they can cover other family needs such as healthcare and school fees. They are also taking part in literacy classes, gaining organizational skills, and learning about soil and water use and conservation, animal management, and conflict resolution.

Your prayers and support - and your participation in CROP WALKS and the TOOLS & BLANKETS Program - make possible these and other life sustaining programs. For information on how to get involved, please call your Church World Service/CROP Regional Office toll-free at 1-888-CWS-CROP, that's 1-888-297-2767.

For information about free loan videos, please call 1-800-297-1516, ext. 338, or e-mail us at: videos@churchworldservice.org.

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