2 Billion Without Access to Sanitary Toilet According to the CDC, diarrhea kills more than 800,000 children under the age of five every year. Of those deaths, 88 percent are the result of unsafe drinking water, inadequate availability of water for hygiene, and lack of access to sanitation. One man
Zana is an 87-year-old grandmother. She lives in the dry, southern, grasslands of Madagascar. There hasn’t been consistent rain to water her small village’s crops in over two years. “Our crops have slowly gotten worse over time.” Zana explains. “If I had enough crops, I would have sold them to
Chepsanak’s eyes are empty. And the plates she and her five children hold are empty too. They haven’t eaten in days. Earlier this year, Chepsanak’s husband died from hunger. He was a hardworking father, spending long days making and selling charcoal to put food on the table and keep his
Venancia doesn’t know when the violence began. “There has been war ever since I was born,” said the 18-year-old who grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC.) Even with unrest around her, she was an eager student who loved to study and play soccer with her friends. By
A dry spell in the place of a rainy season is rarely good for the farmers and communities who depend on agriculture for their food and livelihoods. When expected rain doesn’t arrive, a lean season is sure to follow with limited produce to eat and sell for income. This is
When Cyclone Fani tore through the village of Danapada in India, Manju knew her home and family wouldn’t be safe. She sent her children to stay with relatives and took shelter with her neighbors until she was able to return to her house. When the family returned, there was nothing
Before 2015, Emilienne was always frowning. The mother of four in Madagascar had good reason: her husband had left her, her children were hungry, and she could not afford any school fees. “I used to be so worried all the time,” the single mother said. “When people would talk to
A mother is not just a noun. As a verb, to mother can mean many things: to love, to teach, to provide, to heal, to listen, to sacrifice, to inspire. The list goes on. Additionally, a mother is not just biological. In my travels with ADRA, I’ve met countless mothers—those
“The winds started in the evening.” Glorimar recalls the horrors of Hurricane Maria like it was yesterday. The powerful storm all but destroyed her community in Puerto Rico—the place she’d called home her entire life. “The sound of the wind across the roofing sheets was horrible. My daughter wanted to
Venezuelan Migrant Beneficiary Turned ADRA Employee Carlos is truly a renaissance man. In his native Venezuela, Carlos studied and graduated from university with a degree in communication, worked as a tailor, volunteered as a sign language interpreter, and formed part of a cultural dance group. Carlos led an active life alongside
Abed Odeh, a 65-year-old resident of Beit Lahia in the north of Gaza, once led a peaceful life surrounded by his large family of 25. A father of eight, Abed saw all his children graduate from university with high honors. “Education has always been important to our family,” he says
In a small village in the region of El Paraiso nestled among the mountains of Honduras, lives a woman named Santos Victorina Tomás Flores. Santos is the mother of four children—three boys and one girl. Her days are filled with love for her children, but also with the harsh reality
Hear ye, hear ye, the most anticipated time of the year has finally arrived, and no, I’m not talking about Christmas. I’ll give you a few clues: it’s a season where the bright yellow sun casts fun shadows for us to chase after; the local pools begin to sparkle with
Meet Ahmed, an 11-year-old refugee who fled the war in Syria with his family a decade ago, seeking safety in Lebanon. Ahmed and his family now live in a makeshift tent made of tarpaulins and various scraps, near a cashew nut farm owned by their landlord. During school breaks, Ahmed
(May 21, 2024) Pastor Ahmed Mohamed knelt by the side of the dusty road where he, his wife and three children had paused to rest. “God save us!” he prayed. “How can I preach Your word, if I am dead?” He looked at his family huddled under a lone tree
SILVER SPRING, MD (May 1, 2024) – On the morning of February 7, Trinidad and Tobago’s fishermen set out under the usual azure skies, their boats slicing through the tranquil waters. But this day would mark a profound shift in the island’s serenity. Instead of the familiar blue expanse, they encountered
Before eating Before cooking Before giving food to the child Wash your hands! It is not uncommon for Balilo Pedro Papy to hear those lyrics on the air while working in communities in the Kitangua health zone of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After going to the latrine, Mom
Ingrid Flores is a single woman living with her mother and young son in the dry corridor of Honduras where more than half of the population is living in substandard conditions. For years she lived with an abusive husband until one day he beat her and left her lying on
SILVER SPRING, MD (March 8, 2024) – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is honoring International Women’s Day (March 8) and National Women’s History Month by spotlighting the amazing stories of the mission’s female leaders. The United Nations designated the 2024 Women’s theme, as the year to inspire inclusion and
By James Standish “Bucaramanga?”, my friend Mike chuckles1, “nope, never heard of it – but I’m amused to learn that a place called Boo·kaa·ruh·maang·guh even exists!” Mike sounds it out one syllable at a time as we’re sitting in a bagel shop in midtown Manhattan, not too far from the
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