Placidia holds a new pair of shoes in her hands. Her shy smile has grown, and today the 6-year-old is practically beaming as she clutches the simple, black canvas slip-ons. These are the first shoes she has ever called her own. Placidia is the youngest of seven daughters. Her mother
Snezana’s marriage began as something out of a fairy tale. She was young and beautiful; he was older, hardworking, and devoted. Her family disapproved of the union, but the two were in love. She gave birth to two children and stayed home to raise them. He worked even harder to
Danilo is a fisherman from Panay Island in the Philippines. Growing up impoverished, he had no chance to get an education and began fishing for a living at 12 years old. Fishing is the only livelihood he’s known, so he was devastated when Typhoon Haiyan destroyed his boat as it
Rita is an elderly woman who never imagined having to leave her home behind at this stage in life. But when violence and unrest in Syria threatened the safety of her and her family, there was no choice. Rita fled her home with her remaining family members and was unable
At the age of 10, James went to school for the first time. He was ecstatic. He had no idea that in less than three months he would be fleeing for his life from his home in South Sudan, across the border to Uganda. In January of 2014, tribal war
Ekua was barely able to provide for her loved ones. Living in Gambia with her husband, who was out of work, she became the sole provider. She was selling dried fish at the market and earning paltry profits, so the little food she could afford was not nearly enough to
Maria, age 73, is the matriarch of a full house. Within her home are two sons, three daughters, and two grandchildren. Like many subsistence farmers in the rural Alto community, Maria planted corn on her modest parcel of land to feed her household. That year, the rains came too late.
Raniza lives in a village of Tharu, a population of forest dwellers indigenous to the Himalayan foothills of southern Nepal. A few years ago, she was unable to read or write, and her only source of income was cutting and selling firewood Like so many women of her village, Raniza
Santhash, a 13-year-old living in Chennai, India, used to skip school every day to pick fights and roam the streets of his native Anna Nagar slum with his friends. His mother, Vellin, was resigned to a life of poverty for herself and her son. ADRA’s childhood development project in India
Suleiman, a 10-year-old living in Jordan, misses his home in Syria. Forced to flee during the conflict in his country, Suleiman missed a year of school as he and his family made their way to Jordan to start a new life. Suleiman is just one of the thousands of Syrian
On World Migrant Day, we pause to reflect on the resilience and courage of millions of migrants worldwide and honor the organizations that tirelessly work to support them. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is at the forefront of this humanitarian effort, providing critical assistance to migrants and refugees
In 2024, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) reaffirmed its role as a global leader in disaster response and humanitarian aid, addressing more than 114 emergencies across the globe. From natural disasters to conflict zones, ADRA’s tireless efforts have brought relief and hope to countless communities. This year’s record-breaking floods
What inspires a young chiropractor to leave the comfort of Southern California, step away from modern-day conveniences, and travel to Peru in the middle of their winter to build homes for those in need? For Angelene Rivera, the answer lay in a divine calling she couldn’t ignore. When Angelene first heard
“Helping others isn’t a job you apply for, it’s something that’s in your heart”, says Miranda Christina Jobe, aged 9. Miranda has found joy in finding ways to help others around the world and sharing a message of service with others. When Miranda, a 4th grader from Danville, Virginia, found the
“Nearly 20%—that’s one in five children— ages 3-17 in the U.S. have a mental, developmental, or behavioral disorder, like ADHD, anxiety, behavior issues, or depression,” says ADRA International’s Mental Health Specialist, Weanne Estrada-Magbunua, MPH, during the upcoming “Let’s Talk Mental Health: How Can I Help My Child” webinar. To start conversations
By James Standish It’s called “survival sex” and that we have a term for it lets you know just how common it is. Survival sex occurs when hungry women and girls are forced to exchange sex for the food they need to survive.[1] Survival sex is only one of forms of
Worldwide, 1 in 20,000 people are born with albinism. In Tanzania, the number is closer to 1 in 14,000. With a population of 66.46 million, this means there are more than 40,000 people living with albinism in Tanzania, one of the highest rates of albinism in the world. People with
As we stop to recognize World Literacy Day on September 8, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to reaffirm its commitment to literacy as a foundational tool for achieving equality, individual empowerment and sustainable development. Michael Kruger, president of ADRA International, emphasizes the importance of literacy in ADRA’s
On World Humanitarian Day, August 19, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) recognizes the dedication and compassion of the many professionals whose tireless efforts drive meaningful humanitarian work. This year, ADRA spotlights Annette Parris, the inspiring Country Director for ADRA Curacao and ADRA Bonaire, whose work exemplifies the profound
As the world observes International Youth Day in August, ADRA is proud to spotlight remarkable young people like Alejandro Flores from La Victoria, Honduras. This small rural village, known for its vibrant greenery and industrious farmers, has faced significant challenges recently. Climate change has severely impacted their financial stability, with
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