Childhood: Canadian Feed The Children Online Update

February 2011

We hope you enjoy reading this update from Canadian Feed The Children. Your support helps children thrive in Bolivia, Canada, Ghana, Ethiopia, Haiti and Uganda. Thank you!

Since mid-2010, school gardens in impoverished northern Ghana have brought teachers, children, parents, local farmers and government representatives together around a common goal: to bring better nutrition to children and families now and build skills to support sustainable farming in the future. It’s a tough ‘row to hoe’ in a place of great poverty, little rain and years of soil erosion and neglect. But against all odds, Ghana’s gardens are growing and with them, so are its future farmers’ skills and self-confidence. Read more about this innovative, CFTC donor-funded project here.


Bernie's Back! "If you had told me in 2008 that I would be climbing Mount Everest [less than two years after Kilimanjaro], I wouldn’t have believed you," said Bernie Schopp, from the comfort of his living room in Toronto. But that’s just what he did – raising $9,500 for the House of Hope Orphanage in Haiti along the way. Read more about Bernie’s latest big adventure here.		Building Hope Bernie Schopp’s latest fundraising venture on behalf of CFTC will make a big contribution to rebuilding the girls’ dorm at House of Hope, Haiti – but the building fund still has a way to go! Every dollar raised puts the children now living in tents closer to having a safe and secure roof over their heads, and supports core health care and nutrition programs too. Find out more, here.

Slow Food Gains Momentum in International Development
As an international development best practice, school and community gardening is not a new idea, but it’s one that has come back into vogue lately as this month’s feature story attests. Millions are recognizing that “slow food” – supporting local food production, alternative and sustainable agricultural practices and a strong culture of food – is the key to disease prevention and good livelihoods. Slow food is much more than a fad – it brings multiple benefits, including the potential to significantly reduce malnourishment and ensure long-term food security in many of the impoverished communities in which CFTC works. Find out how, here.

Honouring International Women's Day – March 8th
March's Childhood brings a story of recovery and rebirth from the streets of La Paz, Bolivia where CFTC’s partner, Little Flower (La Paz Foundation), provides community outreach to girls and young women living in situations of commercial sexual violence. In co-operation with police, Little Flower offers health care, the knowledge to protect themselves from abuse and an understanding of their rights to these vulnerable girls and women, all within an atmosphere of tenderness and acceptance. Their goal: get them out of situations of violence, substance abuse, disease and sexual exploitation to safety and a better life.

We are grateful for the generosity of the following donors this month, who have stepped up to the plate to help reduce the impact of poverty on children.

EECOL Electric - Thank you to EECOL for their unwavering commitment to help children with a gift of $60,000 to the Hungry for Change – Electrical industry campaign supporting nutrition programs in Canada and around the world.

Ve’ahavta - Special Thanks for your continued partnership and significant support of House of Hope Orphanage in Gressier, Haiti.

CFTC@UWO - Kudos to the CFTC Club which held its second annual comedy night, raising spirits as well as more than $7,000 for children’s medical check-ups in Ethiopia.

Christine D'Angela - We celebrate and thank Christine for her generous donation of $10,000 to help provide a safe haven and vocational training for orphans and abandoned children in Bolivia.

Hay Group - Instead of sending holiday cards to clients, Hay Group made a donation to CFTC. Their generous gift provides women's self-help groups in Ethiopia with micro-credit to start various income-generation activities. Thank you!

Thank you to these and our other generous supporters!

Lots of Likes During the Month of Love!
Thank you for sharing your love with needy children and families around the world in February! Our Valentine’s Day Best.Gift.Ever campaign gave thousands of dollars worth of chickens instead of chocolates, breakfasts in instead of dinners out and fruit trees rather than roses. We raised twice as much this February than in years past, thanks to our generous supporters overall and especially our new Facebook friends!

There’s still a few days left in our “Share The Love” campaign – but the time is always right to select a Best.Gift.Ever in honour of someone you love. Join our Facebook community and read our wall for details (you could win a ‘lovely’ gift basket). Please drop us a note if you stop by – we’d love to hear from you!

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