Food Brings Happiness to Schoolchildren

“A hungry man is an angry man”, they say, and Ajugboul has seen that firsthand.  

The elderly woman lives in one of the remote villages surrounding our Wa site in Ghana, and used to quarrel with her two grandsons over not having enough food to eat. The boys were abandoned by their parents, and finding them enough to eat was a struggle for Ajugboul. 

They were always stuck at home, not even enrolled in school. For the sake of Ajugboul and her boys, some kind of intervention was needed. 

Around the same time, word of the Chalice Nutrition Program in school was spreading. When the boys caught wind of the news, it was clear a solution was in sight. 

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Photo Friday: Our top 5 ‘Simple Joys’’ photos!

Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world.    

In First Timothy 6:2-12, Timothy famously writes that, “The love of money is the root of all evils.” It’s easy for us to be led astray by pursuit of money and goods, but it’s the simple, small joys that give life its beauty.  

Even without money, we can still appreciate all that God has given us – and indeed, doing this may bring us closer to God. 

This Friday, we’re sharing our top 5 ‘Simple Joys’ photos. When times are hard and money is tight, it can be hard to find joy in the everyday. But with God’s help, we can realize there is so much to rejoice in! 

#5: A Safe Home

Mary is all-smiles! She lives near our Baraka site in Kenya with her eight children, and their home was a small clay building where they cooked and slept. With all the smoke billowing about, she developed troubles with her eyesight.  

With the help of Chalice supporters, she has a new house. We must never underestimate the simple power of a roof over one’s head. 

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Cecilia’s Vision Comes to Fruition

Many of us go through life with 20/20 vision and no need for glasses. But not so for Cecilia.  

The 21-year-old lost her vision at a young age. Raised by her single mother near our Mombasa site in Kenya, things took a turn for the worse when she got into an accident and injured her left eye.  

Though she was treated at the time, the problem came rearing back when she began reading frequently while in school. With watery eyes and difficulty seeing, this was an immense challenge.  

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Photo Friday: Our top 5 ‘Worker’ photos!

Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world.     

This past week in Canada, people across the country celebrated Labour Day. A day of rest and vacation, it’s historically a time to celebrate workers and their achievements.  

Chalice works with hard workers around the globe, many of whom are the only ones supporting their families. This week, our top 5 ‘Worker’ photos celebrate all those working to provide for themselves and others. 

#5: Mending Maladies 

At our Mercy Care site in Kenya, people like Sr. Franclit work at the mobile medical clinic to help children treat infections and other illnesses. 

When it first opened in 2013, the situation was dire.  

“Now, the children are very healthy, they are getting enough food, they are getting enough medicine,” Sr. Franclit writes.  

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High-Fives For Handwashing In Tanzania

At our Mbinga site in Tanzania, life already isn’t easy for many schoolchildren. Rural Tanzanian students often live in poverty, while their parents struggle to afford school fees. Children often drop out, further widening the poverty cycle. Around 70% of schoolchildren ages 14-17 aren’t enrolled in secondary education. 

When COVID-19 swept the world, it certainly hit Tanzania. Handwashing and keeping schools hygienic became more important than ever.  

Enter: the SWASH club. 

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Sending a card or “special money” to your sponsor child or elder

Writing to your sponsored child creates a tangible connection between you and your sponsored child or elder, and they are so excited when they receive your letter directly. This also encourages them to write you back.

In addition, some of our Chalice sponsors like to give extra donations for Christmas, birthdays or other special occasions. We call this “special money”. There are 5 methods for sending a gift of “special money” and we will explain to you what they are in this post.

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The Radiance of Ghanian cuisine: Jollof Rice

If you ask a West African where to find the best Jollof rice (a one-pot dish popular in many West African countries), be prepared for a spirited debate between team Nigeria and team Ghana. In 2015 the introduction of Jollof Rice Day (August 22) only increased the competitive fervour with Nigerian and Ghanian Jollof rice dishes squaring off at various festivals around the world. Make this tasty version from our staff in Ghana and let us know what you think!

Did you know? Chalice ensures children have balanced and nutrient-rich diets by implementing school feeding programs through the support of the Chalice Children Nutrition Program. 

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Helping with Hygiene

A 10 p.m. curfew, quarantining and phases for reopening. Sound familiar? 

There is hardly anywhere in the world COVID-19 hasn’t touched, and our sites in Chile have been hit hard. In fact, one in 10 families involved with Chalice in the country has had contact with the virus. 

Though the pandemic is ongoing, moments of hope continue. Chalice supporters, along with staff at our Santiago site, orchestrated one of them. 

Staff found out this year the site would have access to a COVID money fund, and began figuring out how to distribute the money to those in need. In the end, they chose more than 100 children and their families to receive funding.  

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Photo Friday: Our top 5 Back to School’ photos!

Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world.    

Kids are stuffing their backpacks, parents are whipping up gourmet lunches, and teachers are dusting off their desks. That’s right…it’s back-to-school time. We’ve been hearing those commercials for a month already, and it’s time to face the music.  

Just kidding! Heading back to school is a joyous time for many children, especially at our sponsor sites. Education is key to growing healthy communities and helping kids achieve their dreams. 

This week, we’re celebrating education with our top 5 ‘Back to School’ photos! At Chalice, we believe education is the first step to breaking the cycle of poverty. Back-to-school time might seem like torture for some of us, but going to school is a right everyone deserves.  

#5: School Uniforms

These girls love jewel tones! They’re wearing their school uniforms near our Bangalore site in India. Did you have a school uniform as a child? Some of us did, and trust us, it was a love-hate relationship.  

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Home is Where the Heart is

“Love begins by taking care of the closest ones – the ones at home.” – St. Mother Teresa  

A simple roof over your head can make any place feel like home, with the knowledge you’re protected from the surrounding winds of the world. But for numerous families, like the ones living near our Samar site in the Philippines, that safety isn’t a reality. 

Houses in the area are often made of coconut lumber and woven frond shingles, materials that don’t keep out the regular rain and windstorms. Many families, including sponsored ones, struggle with inadequate space and insufficient finances. A new home isn’t in the cards. 

Andrea and Leanard live in a small home made of light materials, and when not in school, love helping their parents around the house. They’re budding fishers, regularly heading out with their dad Joel to catch a few big ones. Their mother Lucia is a strong-willed and jolly woman, with a penchant for helping others, fishing and carpentry. 

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