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Bucaramanga? 

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

Highlighting Resilience: ADRA’s Emergency Response Efforts in 2023

It’s been reported that global fatalities have increased in 2023 by 30% compared to the previous year due to floods, wildfires, cyclones, storms, landslides, and other disasters. ADRA has been on the frontlines helping communities worldwide who are grappling with the aftermath of disasters and emergencies.  In 2023, ADRA responded

Lighting up Kusi’s Life for MLK

Martin Luther King, Jr. described poverty as a monstrous octopus that “projects its nagging, prehensile tentacles in lands and villages all over the world.” This is the beast ADRA Connections volunteers are fighting. ADRA Connections volunteers are partnering with communities to fight this monster. Just ask Kusi. Kusi is part

A Garden Better Than Gold

Standing in the middle of an endless field of vegetables, Maro Jeanine recalls how her village was years ago.

Safyatu’s Bakery

Located in the heart of Mugamba village, Madame Safyatu Mwamba Tchibola’s small bakery plays a vital role in supplying bread to local residents.

Improving Production Through Good Practices

We didn’t have access to good seeds and didn’t know how to sow in order, so we sowed in disorder and production was very low; in a 0.5-hectare field of maize and cowpea seedlings after long and arduous work.

Madam Tshibi Tshitambala’s Journey to Literacy

In the heart of Mungamba, a vibrant health area in a rural part of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kasai Province, Kamonia Territory, lives Madam Tshibi Tshitambala Josephine, a 65-year-old woman with nine children whose story is a testament to the transformative power of education.

A New Skill in Soap-Making

Thanks to ADRA, I have been taught a new skill in soap-making. It keeps me busy and helps cater to my families immediate needs.

A young woman with curly hair and a blue shirt is standing a booth, talking to 4 other young women about ADRA

ADRA Joins Adventist Young Professionals for Spiritual Growth and Service 

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) participated in this year’s Young Professionals Conference, held in Houston, Texas, this past summer. This marks the fourth consecutive year of ADRA’s active involvement, showcasing its unwavering commitment to empowering young professionals and fostering awareness of positive change worldwide.   The purpose of the

Poverty in Paradise

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

Schools Out, Funs In, Summer Rules!

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

Empowering Refugees: Ahmed’s Journey of Learning Against All Odds

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

The flight of Ahmed Mohamed 

(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

The Good Hygiene Jingle

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’s journey of Survival by Resiliency

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