“I am scared to die from hunger,” Marie-Julina said. “I have eight children and four grandchildren living with me,” she said. “I am responsible for their survival. We haven’t had enough to eat for eight years. We would plant, but nothing would grow. “Some of my children have never had more than
Penna sits on a fallen tree holding her head in her hands. Tears roll down her face as she shares her story: “My children cry when they are hungry. And they are always hungry because I have so little to feed them. This drought has stolen our lives.” A mother of
Anwara has lived a nightmare. Her village was burned to the ground and her husband brutally murdered, forcing her to flee through the night to find safety for her children. “When the army attacked our village, they arrested all the men,” she said. “My husband was among them. “I had heard
All over the world mothers like Mao live in fear of losing yet another child because of dirty water.
It seems as if Adia and Endana have always led a difficult life. In 2013, when the sisters were only 6 and 7 years old, their mother died, and soon afterward their older brothers left to find food and work. To this day, they haven’t returned. With a tear in her eye, Adia added, “Then the
Tembwe* has 10 children and every day he has felt the pain of only being able to feed them one small meal of nshima, a dish made with maize flour, a day. Like any parent, he dreamed of a bright future for each of them—but instead, he was simply hoping they’d
Samira and her grandson arrived in Bangladesh from the Rakhine state in Myanmar. Her four daughters were killed by militants with machetes, leaving her to flee with the young baby to save both of their lives. They are two of the more than 436,000 Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh in just
Nineteen-year-old Janet is the third of nine children born to peasant farmers in Kenya. Since she was seven years old, Janet dreamed of going to school so she could become a productive member of her community. She asked her parents to let her enroll, even though none of her other
Beryl Hartmann had just begun an internship with ADRA in Nepal when she encountered a woman who changed the course of her career. Beryl shared with us the story of a teacher and community leader in one of Nepal’s many disadvantaged, rural communities who is empowering people to change their
We met Jennifer and her family just a few months ago. They are in the middle of a food crisis in Kenya. When we heard her story our hearts went out to her. Jennifer lives in West Pokot, right in the middle of a severe famine. There is hunger everywhere
This story was originally published by ADRA Japan and has been adapted for ADRA International. Around the world, thousands of runners lace up their shoes not only to test their limits, but also to support causes that create meaningful change. The Tokyo Marathon Charity Program is one of the ways athletes transform
Faith, Family, and the Journey to Safety When the war reached their hometown of Novomoskovsk, Dmytro Trebushkovand his wife faced an impossible choice: stay in the home they had built with their foster children or flee with nothing but faith. “We never imagined we would have to pack up and leave,”
Every person deserves the dignity of a safe toilet. Yet, in 2025, nearly half the world’s population still lives without one. This year’s World Toilet Day theme, “Sanitation in a Changing World,” reminds us that sanitation systems must be future-ready and accessible to all, resilient to floods and droughts, and supported by strong investments that protect
It is wonderful to connect about something so close to our hearts: the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. When we talk about our Church, we often think about spreading the good news, sharing our beliefs and looking forward to Jesus’ return. However, there has been a perception that the
In classrooms across Baalbek and Mount Lebanon, children who have fled war and hardship sit side by side with their Lebanese peers, opening books, reciting lessons, and rediscovering what it means to dream again. Behind every one of those hopeful faces stands a teacher — a steady, compassionate guide shaping
On the third Sabbath of every month, Terrina Williams tells the Children’s Story at Meadowbridge Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mechanicsville, Virginia. This year, Sabbath, June 21st, happened to be a special day—World Refugee Day. To mark the occasion, Terrina chose the hymn “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” For months, the children had
With the sun blazing on the tin roof, I heard her tell about how she fled for her life. In the refugee settlement she came to, she saw no other options than to sell her body. The woman in front of me spoke about how life had been a couple
Across the world, millions of children are preparing to return to school—some carrying brand-new backpacks and pencils, others simply carrying the hope of a better future. At ADRA, we believe that education changes everything. Whether in bustling cities or remote refugee camps, our mission is to give every child the chance
This Father’s Day, ADRA celebrates dignity, resilience, and the right to provide In the Middle East, where winter’s chill bites deeper for those who are displaced or living in poverty, one father’s quiet determination tells a powerful story about love, dignity, and survival. Ibrahim is a devoted father of 19
The Fort Scott Adventist church in Kansas is a small church of just 25 members. Yet a big dream took root in the heart of one little boy—and transformed an entire community. Each year, Shelly Bradley’s Sabbath School class would flip through ADRA’s Gift Catalog, choosing a project to fund
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