As parents, we pour so much energy into ensuring our children have everything they need to grow up healthy, strong and capable of making their own way in the world. Imagine if you were doing that while also trying to escape war, manage a debilitating injury, or find an income source after losing your spouse.  

Around the world, parents know that their children can’t thrive without a stable environment, but it’s not always easy to provide that. Here’s three incredible parents who transformed family life so their children could have the opportunity to live free from poverty.

Amina’s Story

After experiencing the instability of war and harassment from ISIS, Amina and her family fled from Syria to Lebanon so their four young boys could grow up in peace. But life as refugees was hard—their new home in an informal settlement was poorly equipped, and work was difficult to find. As a result, the family was cold and hungry with few options to improve their lives. 
 
But then they met our local Christian Partner who works closely with families experiencing challenges like Amina’s. Our Partner helped with immediate needs like heaters, mattresses and warm clothes, but also came alongside the family and provided help for their long-term wellbeing. Our local Partner welcomed the boys into their education centre where trained staff also attended to the boys’ physical and mental health.  

Amina was offered training in sewing and in time, she earned a fair wage at our Partner’s sewing collective. Five years later, she’s a talented seamstress, and her children are continuing their education. Her eldest son has now graduated from school and has started training to become a chef.  

 ‘It’s been five years since I started working here and it’s changed my life in more ways than I could have imagined. People say my face shines and I smile more often.’ Amina said.

I dream of a bright future for my children where they can complete their education and flourish. I’ve seen the worst, but with support, I now believe in the best for my family’s future.

Tito’s Story 

Tito is a farmer in Kenya with his wife Nzembi; together they have five children. Sadly, in 2008, he completely lost his sight after a block of wood struck his face, causing injury to his eyes.

Without sight, Tito faced difficulty providing for his five children with the small farm his family owned. His children were in and out of school due to the inability to pay school levies on time, and their tattered clothes embarrassed them among their peers.

In 2018, our local Christian Partner learned of Tito’s situation and set him up with a white cane so he could walk unassisted and regain his independence. They also helped him obtain a disability card which opened doors to government support, including a large water tank for his farm.

Our Partner also supported the couple with agricultural and business training so they could work more effectively, and make their farm profitable. With this support, Tito learned to farm without his sight and the couple now earn enough to ensure their children don’t miss out on opportunities.

‘I sold one of the goats and purchased one school desk and uniform for my child to join junior secondary school,’ said Tito.

I feel that I have been given hope of living again because I can move on my own and participate in projects which are beneficial to my family.

Khadija’s Story

When Khadija’s husband passed away from COVID, she was left bereft with two primary school aged children to care for in her Kenyan village. Her husband had been a farmer, but the land Khadija inherited from him wasn’t in good shape, and she didn’t have the skills to turn it into a source of food and income. As a now single woman, she didn’t have many other options for income generation, so she struggled to provide for herself and the children.   

When Khadija first met our local Christian Partners and was invited to join their agricultural training program, she was sceptical about farming’s potential. But her perception changed as she gained skills and knowledge. With determination, she began cultivating her husband’s farm and even explored new opportunities like sweet melon cultivation. 

‘I sold 1,000 kilograms of sweet melon, earning a profit of Kes. 10,000 ($120 AUD),’ she shared. This income allowed her to buy food for her children and secure seeds for the next planting season. 

Khadija’s confidence soared and her involvement in the program brought about a shift in her community’s perception of women’s roles.

Women too have a place and a key role to play in the development of the community. 

Each of these projects—helping parents transform their lives and the lives of their children— receives support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

You can help support this work with a gift to our Matching Grant Appeal. Your gift will be combined with funding from the Australian Government so our local Christian Partners can help more people turn impossible situations into a world of possibilities.