Et Addis Ababa

Changing Futures in Addis Abada

by AfricaBlogEthiopia

The streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, teem with children. They shine shoes, sell gum, and do whatever they can to survive. Unfortunately, these kids are vulnerable to traffickers.

Child slavery is big business in Ethiopia, where almost 400,000 people, mostly women, and children, are held against their will and forced to work in ways they do not choose, for no pay or extremely low pay. Often children or teens from impoverished rural areas go to the city to find work but end up being tricked or lured into forced labor.

For several years, Amanuel Light & Life Free Methodist Church in Meganagna, a sub-city of Addis, has been supporting 50 orphans and impoverished children in their neighborhood. Many of these kids have lost one or both of their parents to HIV/AIDS. Compassionate church members have volunteered their time every Saturday to run a program with tutoring, games, singing, and lunch. They have done what they could to pay school fees for the children since the greatest safeguard for children is to be in school and be preparing for a better future.

The pastor, Superintendent Mekebib, has asked ICCM for help, as the needs are overwhelming. ICCM’s 2016 Freedom Sunday project will partner with this church. Sponsoring these children will give them the benefit of education, meals, after-school tutoring, child development activities and access to medical care. They and their families and church members will also learn about trafficking and will be empowered against exploiters.

ICCM’s Freedom Sunday offering will provide funds to staff the project and purchase necessary equipment. The ripple effect of this intervention will benefit the children, their families, their church and their community.

We are honored to be a part of the Set Free Movement, joining forces with others to blow the whistle on human trafficking and do all we can to prevent it. We encourage churches to observe Freedom Sunday to expose this evil and join in prayerful community action to combat it in all its forms. ICCM is committed to the holistic development of children, strengthening them and their families and preventing them from being easy prey.

To learn more about this project, watch “The Addis Project” on our website. For a powerful music video, see “Prayer of the Children” on our website.

To sponsor one of these children or receive a Church Action Kit to present this project at your church, please call 800- 342-5531 ext. 502

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Brook Hills FMC – Liberia Connection

by AfricaBlogLiberia

In February, Brooke Hills Free Methodist Church (BHFMC), Wellsburg, WV, took another bold step in their growing partnership with the Free Methodist Church in Liberia, Africa. Pastor Bryce Grieco and two leaders from BHFMC accompanied Africa Area Director, Mike Reynen, and Liberian National Mission District Leader, Rev. Rufus Kahn, to a newly formed school in Grand Bassa County. While at Zuezohn School the team was able to register 30 children for ICCM sponsorship.

Judy Ennis, a recently retired school teacher, taking part in her first ever foreign mission opportunity, explained the local church’s excitement about the Connected Community with Liberia. “There is something both beautiful and practical about being in on the ground floor of ICCM child sponsorship in the nation of Liberia.”

The faith family of BHFMC is committed to sponsoring all 30 children and hope to add more in the future. Zuezohn School was chosen by the Free Methodist Mission District Board of Administration as the school most in need of ICCM sponsorship. All involved believe connecting with ICCM will only strengthen and grow the school and the Free Methodist Church presence in the community by providing funds for teachers, food, supplies and uniforms for the children.

Mike Rice, Global Impact Director at BHFMC, was truly impressed to witness the interest and excitement created within the village of Try and See during the two days of ICCM registration. When given opportunity, many parents shared how they believed this connection between ICCM, Brooke Hills, and the Free Methodist World Mission Church in Liberia would change the lives of their children in addition to raise the overall morale in their remote jungle village.

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Ready, Set, Go!

by AmericasArgentinaBlog

The Gunny Sack Race had begun! Six teams with 75 kids of all ages. Little Andrea didn’t stand a chance—except that she did! For a 3-foot-tall girl, the bag reached up past her shoulders, causing her to fall time after time. Even before tears of frustration could form, 12-year-old Daniela was right there hopping happily alongside Andrea, showing her how to make it to the orange cone and back. Andrea´s initial look of fear and insecurity turned into great joy and a sense of accomplishment!

As I observed this small but significant show of kindness, I realized it tells the story of the big picture in Carmen de Areco. Whether it´s the Gunny Sack Race, the Hoola Hoop Sprint, or life itself, in this beautiful program, everybody counts.

In the course of three days, Dr. Linda Adams and I witnessed and experienced a tremendous outpouring of genuine love, acceptance, helpfulness, and generosity, not just among the pastors and leaders, but among the teens and children themselves.

The reality of Carmen de Areco is not starvation or abject material poverty, but rather an utterly devastating social and spiritual poverty that is desperately waiting to be addressed. Drug addiction among boys and alcoholism among girls begins as early as ages 8-10. Abuse and abandonment are rampant. Fear, insecurity, and hopelessness abound.

Enter Pastors Ricardo Guerrero and María Elena Salas. Twenty years’ worth of tangible, radical, healthy love have transformed one generation and is now transforming the next.

Coming alongside children, teens and their families, “Tata” and “Mama” (as Ricardo and María Elena are affectionately called) are helping individuals and in turn their whole community move from darkness to light. Over the years, they have welcomed many at-risk teens into their home to live. Some of these sponsored kids are now grown, married, and raising healthy families of their own.

The weekend program teaches kids practical skills like how to make empanadas and bread. Every year or two, the group takes a trip far outside the city limits for the first time in kids’ lives, fostering bigger dreams in these young hearts and minds. The program provides healthy activities, celebrations, instruction and practice in the performing arts, sports, and homework help. It encourages children and teens to develop and use their talents and abilities. This holistic approach is being used by God to rescue, heal and empower these young people. It’s beautiful to see!

ICCM sponsors provide financial resources for this authentic, contagious love that is transforming one child at a time, one generation after another. Thank you!

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The Gift that Kept on Giving

by Blog

A highlight of one of my visits to Rwanda was to attend the celebration that accompanied the giving of the 32nd and 33rd cows in Binogo, the “great grand-calves” of some of the original 10 cows ICCM gave that region in 2001. A local committee decides which family will be the next recipient; they spend a year helping to care for the calf, learning animal husbandry. On the big day, families pledge loyalty to one another as they ceremoniously give and receive this life-giving gift. Village children who used to suffer from Kwashiorkor are now healthy—the cows’ milk and the fertilized gardens improve the kids’ diet. A local government official thanked ICCM for our investment, saying that their new program copies ours.

For $400 you can provide a high-quality cow of a breed that will flourish in Rwanda. This program also offers training and annual veterinary checkups. Mark your gift, “GIVE A COW—RWANDA.“

ICCM Animal Projects – Rwanda from Int'l Child Care Ministries on Vimeo.

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“Amizero” Means Hope

by AfricaBlogRwanda

In Rwandan culture, children with mental disabilities are stigmatized. This program for special kids is one of a very few aimed at bringing out the best in mentally challenged children and teens. Their parents are supported and equipped for their care; students learn life skills and vocational skills (the young man pictured below sewed the shirt he is wearing), and all experience the love of God through caring equipped and devoted staff.

In addition to sponsoring the kids, we want to provide physical therapy equipment, beds, and a van. To donate to this unique project in Rwanda, mark your donation “AMIZERO.”