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Bridges of Hope Newsletter
Welcome to our second issue of the Bridges of Hope newsletter! In this issue, we are trying to demonstrate to you, the loyal reader, how you are helping Bridges of Hope to make a difference in so many ways.
In this issue, we provide some examples of ways that people are helping change the lives of entire communities in some of the poorest nations on earth. Whether it is by being an advocate, as demonstrated by Joshua Reuben Fritz, or volunteering overseas in Africa, like Bridges of Hope volunteer Maria Struk, you are making an important contribution. We also provide the moving account of Becky Barton who gave over a portion of her inheritance to Bridges of Hope and is allowing those funds to be used in extraordinary ways. Her passion for alleviating poverty has created a desire in her to travel to Burkina Faso to help in a more direct way.
There are also ways that you can help that are not as obvious.
As you read this issue and hear some of the inspiring stories of ordinary people, like you, please think of creative ways that you can help out, even in what seems like a very small way, to advance the important work of Bridges of Hope. Through your efforts, we are able to provide disadvantaged communities with the tools to advance themselves.
We hope you enjoy this issue!
Melanie Tomsons and Joseph Quesnel
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The Gift of Sponsorship
Every year, many of our valuable sponsors are unable to sustain the 35 dollars a month gift to our sponsorship program for a short period of time. This presents a significant problem as Bridges of Hope has to continue to sustain the deficit for that period of time as we cannot drop the sponsored children in the middle of the school year.
When an anonymous couple learned about this they offered to cover any lack until the situation can be stabilized through new sponsorship or until the sponsor can resume. This has been a tremendously creative way of helping us financially. With their help, we are able to keep the sponsored children in school, feed and cloth the children, provide for their health, save the lives of children and empower their community. We are seeing similar stories of engagement in communy empowerment repeated in other contexts. |
What Burkina Faso Can Teach Canada
By Maria Struk
I went to Burkina Faso not knowing what to expect. When I arrived on a hot November evening, I was taken aback by the heat, going through customs and how busy a small airport could be. A group of us arrived from a small plane from Paris. As soon as we got off the plane, we were immediately placed in a completely different culture and way of life. We were rushed through customs and through the baggage claim. When we left the building, we were greeted by an old white van and a couple of men who strapped our luggage onto the top. This was definitely different from any other experience I have ever had at an airport. The team of us squeezed into the van and headed off to the school at which we were staying.
My experience of Burkina Faso was a rollercoaster of ups and downs of emotions. I have never witnessed such abject poverty and such generosity from people. The people of Burkina had so little to give, but were willing to give us Canadians, who have so much, all they had to offer. We could learn a lot from the people of Burkina. One of my greatest memories was when we were fed lunch by a family in a small village. The whole family, including children, sacrificed not eating that day so they could feed us. Would us Canadians ever be that giving and so generous? We have so much to offer here, and how much do we do to help out those in need in Canada and other countries? I can see that us Westerners could learn a lot to from the people of Burkina Faso.
Another memory of generosity was when a group of us went to meet sponsored children through Bridges of Hope. One of the families of a sponsored child was so thankful from the help their child is receiving that they gave us a gift to show their thanks. The young child gave us his only chicken. One of the only sources of food this family had. I was astounded by how much these people were willing to give away to those who had so much. That was one of the three chickens that our group received while we were in Burkina. It seemed to be a common thing to give away livestock as a thank you gift to Westerners.
I have learned to be more gracious, thankful for what I have, and more generous since I have been back. I would one day like to go back to Burkina Faso and give more of my help to those who really need it. |
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What have we been up to this summer?
- Sustaining the orphanage
- Putting finishing touches on the malnutrition centre
- Setting up a library and community resource centre
- Engaging with stakeholders about a secondary education centre
- Operating a medical centre
- Sustaining, operating and expanding a women's trade school
- Literacy, numeracy, and social mobility for orphans and vulnerable children
- Public engagement
- Preparing the Bridges of Hope tour featuring Noumoufassa
- Public speaking engagements throughout the country
- Mobilization and training of new volunteers
- Initiating an internship program in Canada starting September 8th
- Engaging in grant writing and fundraising
- International volunteers have been heping abroad
- Creating a Hope Boutique
Bridges of Hope has new network centres:
Karim orphanage centre in Arusha, Tanzania, various projects in South Omo Ethiopia, and sponsorship in Rwanda, Congo and in Burundi. |
| Becky Barton's Amazing Voyage of Discovery
Becky Barton is a volunteer who has decided to give of her heart to give the gift of education. Her dedication to helping the poor has resulted in her efforts to build a school in Burkina Faso and this inspirational testimony.
The school is kind of a legacy for my late father Jim Barton. He died very suddenly after a very short 5 week battle with kidney cancer which spread to lung cancer, on November 7, 2007. Since he passed away, I have been trying to get this up and running.
When I received a large portion of my inheritance I didn't really want the money. I would much rather have had my father back, and I didn't know what to do with it all. My father was the most generous man ever and always made sure I had everything I needed, whether that be tuition money or paying to fix my car while I was living in another province. He even went so far as to co-sign his friends mortgages for them so that they could own their own homes. One afternoon, I saw a program that Oprah had on kids in Africa and what they had to do to get drinking water every day. From there I was hooked.
My initial thought was to build a well, but after being introduced to Daniel Zopoula of Bridges of Hope I realized that I could do much more with my efforts. The idea of the school was born. It originally was to be a school and a well but turned into just the school for now. Hopefully, we will be able to raise the funds to build a well in the future.
So the rest is history from there. I am personally going to donate a fifth of the cost from my inheritance and I am trying to fundraise the rest ($20,500). I hope to travel to Burkina Faso in October and hopefully be able to see the school almost completed. I know my father will be there with me throughout this journey and I can't wait to accomplish this legacy for him.
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Creative ways to support Bridges of Hope
How easy it can be to drop a grain of sand in a bucket and feel like it is empty. For some, making a difference towards alleviating poverty can feel just like that. In the months of summer, however, one can see that those small grains of sands in a bucket can construct fantastic sand castles, with the help of some caring hands and water. Small contributions can make a difference. Whether it is making a difference in the lives of entire communities through opportunities such as micro-loans, or profoundly affecting the life of a child and their community through child sponsorship, every little grain of sand helps. Amazing bridges can be built and hope can be instilled by making a commitment to filling that bucket.
Exchange a 'clunker' and help a child!
In Alberta, you can donate your car, truck, RV, boat,quad,motorcycle or even airpline to help benefit Bridges of Hope! It's easy! Just go to www.donatecar.ca to submit your vehicle information and Donate A Car Canada Inc will respond with directions to their nearest processing centre. Donate A Car Canada willthenlook after all the details to sell your vehicle. When the the sale is complete, you will receive a valuable tax receipt for the net sale proceeds! So, be sure to select Bridges of Hope as the charity of your choice at www.donatecar.ca.
Your curiousity and opinions can change a life
Bridges of Hope is now connecting you to a variety of ways to make a difference. By using the iGive Internet search, you can donate to Bridges of Hope every time you search for something on the web. For this option, please go to www.iseach.igive.com. We have also discovered ways that one can write reviews of restaurants and other establishments throughout Canada for one online-based publication. All of the proceeds can then be directed to Bridges of Hope. Simply go to www.n49.ca and you can write your own reviews to help. | |
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Advocation for the poor
By Joshua Reuben Fritz
Part-time volunteer work has been something I have done for the past 16 years. I enjoy the challenge of people, event planning, and pioneering. Child sponsorship is something I have been engaged in since 2003, when I sponsored a child for the first time. I now have 3 sponsored children, and I believe in it all the more!
I was surprised at how people responded to a song that I wrote for my sponsored child Shedeline in 2003. The first time I performed it 14 other children got sponsored! That was the start of my journey of social action and music. I thought, "If I could only make a difference for children in poverty...that would be enough". Whenever I have been disoriented with my spiritual focus, I always return to the basics of my faith. "Pure religion" as St. Paul says: to care for the orphan and widow in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Well 2 out of three ain't bad.
The success of the concert in Lethbridge last year started us on the journey of planning a 5-city tour of World Music, promoting the need and causes that Bridges of Hope so adequately meets and supports. The purpose is to introduce Canadians to the big world out there and get involved with Bridges of Hopes programs in Africa. Opportunity is knocking for so many Albertans this September...and it sounds like an African drum.
I would be thrilled to see you at one of our events this September. This is one way you can make a difference in the lives of children for eternity. Support this tour by attending and bringing your friends. All proceeds will go directly to Bridges of Hope. Find out more by visiting www.bridgesofhope.ca.
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