It all started with two who cared!
|
|
| Child sponsorship in Abengourou, Ivory Coast, officially began through CMF this past March, but the seeds were planted six years ago when a pair of Christian employees at CMF’s pediatric HIV/AIDS clinic saw a dire need and began meeting it out of their own pockets, according to Juli Jones, CMF’s West Africa Partnership Facilitator and a former missionary to Ivory Coast.
“Pasquier Tro is the head of the Community Health Evangelism program at the clinic, and Emmanuel Douti is head of the clinic laboratory and a church leader,” said Juli. “HIV-positive parents would come to them and ask how they could care for their kids while they were sick and ostracized from their families. So Pasquier and Emmanuel decided to help the neediest kids out of their own pockets.” |
|
The chicken farm
As the HIV program grew, so did the need. The two men started a chicken farm to raise funds, and it worked well for a while, Juli says, “until the chickens died and the overseer ran off with the profits. At this point they asked the CMF mission for assistance, and we helped with school fees, backpacks, uniforms, and books.”
There are now 100 Abengourou children enrolled in CMF’s program, with many more in need, said Juli.
“The program there is called ‘Coeur Ouvert’ (Open Heart) and currently employs two social workers,” she said. “The kids attend public schools. They are typically in overcrowded rooms with two to three kids to a desk, and about 100 kids in each class with one teacher. Most primary schools are free, except for the enrollment fee, uniforms, books and supplies. Secondary school is much more expensive.”
The team hopes to start a Christian school for children in the program in the next few years. |
|
How sponsors help
Sponsored children in Coeur Ouvert now receive uniforms, backpacks, books, school supplies, and a health screening every three months. Each child also receives a monthly visit by a social worker to determine his physical, social and emotional needs, and all are required to attend a kids’ Bible Club each month. Parents also attend mandatory monthly meetings to learn parenting and life skills, CHE lessons, and Bible training.
Even in this short amount of time, Juli can see a difference in the sponsored children.
“The kids are more confident knowing they have a support system in place and people who are committed to seeing them succeed,” she said. “They have opportunities they never would otherwise, like library memberships. They are also learning about health and hygiene and God’s Word through the Bible club meeting every month. The kids are genuinely excited about what they are learning!”
Child sponsorship saves lives! If you’re interested in sponsoring a child in Ivory Coast, go here. |
CMF staff member Juli Jones, left, delivers a doll to Rosine, center, from her U.S. sponsor on a recent trip to Abengourou, Ivory Coast, while Rosine’s mom looks on.
Rosine, a sponsored child in Abengourou, Ivory Coast, is happy to receive a new doll from her U.S. sponsor. |
|
Child with malaria rescued by social worker
|
|
| François Kouadio, a social worker with the child sponsorship program in Abengourou, Ivory Coast, learned that Moussa Samake, a sponsored child, was very ill when he visited him after Moussa missed school for a few days. However, his parents were treating him with herbal medicine and said they couldn’t afford the small fee to take him to the CMF clinic.
François was very concerned, so he returned a week later and found that the parents had sent the child to school even though they admitted he was still sick. He went to the school and talked to Moussa’s teacher and, with the teacher’s permission, took Moussa to the pediatric clinic where he was diagnosed with malaria and received treatment.
When François took Moussa home to his family, his parents were extremely touched and grateful that a social worker cared so much about their child to go above and beyond to see that he was cared for.
Thanks to your sponsorship funds and donations to the CMF clinic, Moussa and other children like him are receiving special loving care and medical attention in Jesus’ name in Abengourou, Ivory Coast! |
Moussa Samake, a child in CMF’s sponsorship program in Ivory Coast, was successfully treated for malaria after his social worker found him sick at his school and took him to the CMF clinic. |
|
Meet our new Director of Sponsorships
 ‘I’m passionate about what we do!’
Travis Gabbard wanted to work at CMF so badly that he sent monthly emails for two years to the Director of Personnel. His persistence recently paid off when he was selected as the new Director of Sponsorships, overseeing and supporting both the child sponsorship and microfinance ministries.
Travis grew up in southwestern Ohio and earned a bachelor’s degree from Cincinnati Christian University in 2007, and then a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Dayton (Ohio) in 2011. Before coming to CMF, he worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Dayton in several roles, including business manager, medical recruiter and the facilities’ Privacy Officer.
A class he took for his master’s program involved work in impoverished communities in Dayton, and ignited his passion for building community among the poor.
“My heart was to find a place where I could support the efforts of those empowering individuals for community transformation,” he said, “and I felt that CMF was making this a reality. The ministries we participate in have both practical and eternal impact in the lives of children, families and communities.”
So far Travis has learned that there is never a dull moment with child sponsorship, and he’s happy about that.
“After years in government work, ministry in a Christian setting is a privilege for me,” he said. I’m passionate about what we do! And because we empower nationals for transformation, our footprint will live on long after we’re gone.” |
|
|
|
|
