We’re beyond excited to share with you the most significant news in our charity’s recent history: We’re expanding our reach to Colombia and Argentina, our first new international partnerships in over 15 years!
This means we now serve in seven countries across three continents, alongside our ongoing work in Uganda, India, Nepal, Myanmar, and two program locations in the Philippines.
A look at the journey we’ve taken together: Starting in India in 1993, spreading onward in Asia & Africa in 2008-2009, entering into our 32nd year of this work, God has now led us to South America…
Cúcuta, Colombia:
During three trips our executive director, Kirby Trapolino, has taken to Colombia with his church, he’s had the honor of building a bond with Pastor Mauricio and his wife, Isabelina, who coordinate several refugee outreach programs in Cúcuta, a city on Venezuela’s border.
Isabelina’s ministry, which Kirby has witnessed firsthand, is a sanctuary for young refugee girls facing immense hardships like teen pregnancy, poverty, and human trafficking risks. Here’s how we’re stepping in to help:
• Safe Haven: Providing rent support for the home in which these girls live and grow.
• Essential Needs: Ensuring they have daily nutritious meals and healthcare.
• Empowerment through Education: Supporting their trade school which teaches skills like crafting hair accessories and tailoring, which can become sources of income.
By alleviating financial pressures, we’re enabling Isabelina to focus more on nurturing these young women, thus significantly reducing their vulnerability to the human trafficking that’s sadly rampant in the region.
Some of Kirby’s photos of Isabelina’s programs from his visits to Cúcuta…
Buenos Aires, Argentina:
After becoming friends with Pastor Marcelo Robles during a holy land tour, our executive director had the honor of visiting his programs in a “shanty town” known as Villa 1-11-14, one of Buenos Aires’ toughest neighborhoods. His work includes:
• Early Education: Supporting a center for 150 young children, allowing parents to work, which Kirby has seen firsthand transforms lives.
• Community Empowerment: Local residents serve as teachers, enhancing community involvement and trafficking awareness.
• Sustainable Funding: We’ll be supporting his innovative educational partnership with a university as he offers affordable coursework to high school graduates while providing financial self-sufficiency for his programs.
Our support will help expand these programs and initiatives, focusing on education as a tool against human trafficking by developing our trafficking awareness curriculum in Spanish to be shared and taught to the “shanty town” residents.
Some of Kirby’s photos from his visit to the Argentina programs…
We’re incredibly grateful for your support which has made this expansion possible. Together, we’re not just changing lives; we’re creating legacies of rebirth and empowerment.
Thank you for being part of this journey of hope. Let’s continue to re-route life paths from despair to dreams, one child at a time!