Since 2009, the Calgary Chapter of It’s My Very Own – Bags of Love (IMVO BOL) has been supporting children facing some of the most difficult moments in their young lives. When a child is removed from their home due to neglect, abuse, or other crisis situations, they often leave with little to nothing. IMVO BOL volunteers work to ensure that these children receive something comforting during that transition. Each handmade bag contains items such as a quilt, teddy bear, toys, personal hygiene products, and other thoughtful essentials.
In the village of Kanamkemer, Kenya, beadmaking is a growing opportunity for families seeking stable sources of income thanks to the support of generous donors like yourself. Three active beadmaking groups now operate in the community, bringing together more than 60 members who are working collectively to strengthen their skills and build small enterprises.
In Kosti, a city in Sudan’s White Nile region, one small trauma center has become a lifeline for people carrying the invisible wounds of conflict and displacement. “It is the only specialized trauma and mental health facility serving the entire White Nile region,” explains Dr. Eman Beshir, who leads the trauma center.
In 2018, a powerful earthquake and soil liquefaction devastated Central Sulawesi, in Indonesia, destroying the home and farmland of Arif and his family. Their village was later declared a red zone, uninhabitable, forcing them to relocate to the Sigi Regency.
In the semi-arid fields of Kanyongonyo, Kenya, farming has long been shaped by unreliable rainfall and depleted soils. For Janet, these challenges once meant low yields and constant uncertainty about whether her crops would survive the season.
In Kenya, Polina Kamula is not just improving her own livelihood, she is transforming her community.
Through ADRA’s aid, facilitated through people like you, Polina was trained as a poultry champion, equipping her with technical skills in improved chicken rearing and small-scale farm management. Since then, she has shared that knowledge widely. She currently supports 35 members across two organized groups and provides ongoing technical guidance to an additional 60 people in the broader community.
Fred arrived in Canada with his wife and two children after fleeing escalating violence in Haiti. Originally from Port-au-Prince, he is a married professional with years of experience in finance. But insecurity forced the family to leave everything behind.
Now in Canada for five months, the family is navigating the difficult transition that many newcomers face: rebuilding stability from the ground up. While they wait for their work permits to be processed—a delay that can take several months—their savings have steadily diminished.
“And David danced before the Lord” (2 Samuel 6:14). Dancing has been a deeply human ritual for thousands of years, an act to foster community, express emotion, and manifest joy. When the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the City of David, Scripture tells us that David’s jubilation was so overwhelming that words were not enough; only movement could contain his gratitude.
On March 8, 1917, Russian women took to the streets in Petrograd, engulfing the city as they chanted “Bread and Peace” over and over again. Their protest against the ongoing war and the conditions they faced sparked the second phase of the Russian Revolution. Only seven days later, Russian women received the right to vote.
During the Christmas season, ADRA brought warmth and dignity to families in Winnipeg, Manitoba, through the distribution of Christmas hampers from a local community center. Working in partnership with several churches, ADRA supported over 60 families, reminding them that they were seen, valued, and not alone during the holidays.
