Supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Participants in CBM’s 2014 

Guardians of Hope Leadership Conference

Nairobi, Kenya

This past week, we had the joy of facilitating the Guardians of Hope Leadership Conference, commemorating ten years of HIV and AIDs work for Canadian Baptist Ministries and our International Church Partners. It was great to have Faith Holwyn and Brenda Halk join us in introducing the “Groups of Hope” ministry and training GOH leaders, as well as self help group leaders in this powerful approach to spiritual support and growth through times of turmoil, loss and depression.

As the Guardians of Hope, we believe that the best way to support children that are infected or affected by HIV and AIDS is through families. Rather than taking an institutional approach, the GOH encourages families to love and embrace orphans in their communities. The commitment and sacrifice of these caregivers is the backbone of the Guardians of Hope program.

Over the past decade, much of the work of CBM and our partner churches has been to equip and encourage these caregivers through home based care, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, household income strengthening, and food security initiatives. Through local churches, these households also receive pastoral care and support.

SNAP SHOTS

Esperance is the project officer for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) program serving child-headed households in three areas of Rwanda. In each of these communities, volunteer mentors provide emotional support and assistance to the elder siblings who are providing for their young brothers and sisters. 

Please pray for the OVC project which is helping hundreds of children receive education, and to strengthen their household incomes.

Pastor Anne and Pauline work with the Guardians of Hope program of the Africa Brotherhood Church (ABC). Under their leadership, the GOH project within the ABC has increased its care of orphans and children through regular visitation and day programs that bring child beneficiaries together for prayer, support, and fun. “The children share good meals together during our OVC days,” shared Pauline. “They learn about nutrition, hygiene, and many other things. It is an important time of learning, and for emotional support. We play games, laugh and build relationships. It is an important part of this ministry.”

Maureen and Erica are serving as directors for the 2015 Kamp Tumaini summer camp program for orphans and vulnerable children within the Kenyan Guardians of Hope projects. The camps will bring together Canadian and Kenyan youth volunteers as counsellors and mentors for children infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. Please pray for volunteers willing to commit two weeks of their summer to serve with our team in this important ministry.

Phyllis is the newest member of our team. She serves as the Guardians of Hope project officer with the African Christian Church and Schools (ACC&S), in Kenya.

Please pray for Phyllis as she takes on these new responsibilities with the ACC&S. We are very thankful to have her joining the GOH project team with her background in voluntary testing and counselling. 

Ernestine is the project officer for the Guardians of Hope project of the Baptist Association of Rwanda’s (AEBR). Although the GOH program’s primary emphasis has been caring for the caregivers of orphans, her passion for providing emotional and social support has enhanced the ministry of the GOH in Rwanda. 

Please pray for Ernestine as she travels to remote villages in rural Rwanda where she is strengthening groups of guardians and children. We are excited to see Ernestine to begin to incorporate groups of hope training as part of her ministry.