CFTW - Blog , UncategorizedCFTW - Blog , Uncategorizedhttps://www.cftw.org/blogs/UncategorizedSat, 28 Feb 2026 02:53:29 -0800http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[More People Need You - Be Generous This Christmas ]]>https://www.cftw.org/blogs/post/more-people-need-you-be-generous-this-christmasChristmastime is here, and with it, the world shifts toward thoughts of gift, the joy of the season, and happiness. The sharing and caring, the demons ]]>

Christmastime is here, and with it, the world shifts toward thoughts of gift, the joy of the season, and happiness. The sharing and caring, the demonstrations of love—these are what characterize Christmas and the jolly old man in red himself. For most people, the joy of the season is giving gifts that light up the faces of their loved ones and friends. Maybe it’s time to think outside your circle and consider what a very small gift could do for others?

  

COVID-19, lockdowns, wars, disasters, poverty—the world is full of suffering and sorrow. Hope is dying, and more and more people are struggling to find joy and peace in their lives. This Christmas season, you can be the light of hope that many people have given up on finding.

Be Generous, Be the Light of Hope 

You don’t need to be an army general, a famous politician, or a celebrity in order to inspire people—in fact, people don’t need to know who you are at all. You don’t have to be rich to make a difference. What you can do is your best.

Go to Old Age Homes to Celebrate Christmas 

One easy and fun option to be generous this Christmas season is with your time. Visit nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to spend time with the residents. You may bring simple gifts like socks if you wish; they’re easy to afford and can make a big difference in the comfort of the people who live there.

 

If you don’t have a few dollars to spare, your time alone is your generosity. Listen to these folks, some of whom have no family that comes to visit. They have amazing stories to tell, and they rarely get to tell them. Sit down and have a warm conversation this holiday season.

Give Gifts to Orphans in Orphanages 

Children who live in orphanages do not get to celebrate Christmas the way that most kids do. They might have a community Christmas where everyone receives a bar of candy, but there’s something special about getting a gift that’s given just to you.

 

Children in orphanages might appreciate books or small toys. You don’t have to break the bank, and these young ones can experience the joy of receiving a present wrapped just for them. Consider fun options like games that you can show them how to play so that they can spend some time with folks on Christmas!

Give Gifts to Special Children 

Not all children experience Christmas the same way. For some with processing disorders and other challenges, the season full of lights, glitter, and admittedly sometimes blaring music can cause stress, fear, and discomfort. This is not how Christmas should feel!

 

Consider offering different gifts to these children, even if they may be a bit more challenging to buy for. Excellent options include weighted blankets, noise-cancelling earbuds, or engaging puzzle toys that they can solve with their hands. If you’re not sure what to get, a donation to a worthwhile charity can make that decision in your place based on what they know the child likes!

Visit a Slum Area and Spread Joy 

Due to economic opportunity and other factors, many people who struggle to afford the traditional trappings of Christmas live in the same area. Consider spending time visiting a slum area and spreading joy to the families there. Many of them have likely given up on Christmas entirely, or they may be feeling inadequate that they can’t provide the Christmas they’d like.

 

Simple tasks like handing out canned goods or clothes can go a long way toward making these families’ Christmas bright. Consider providing necessities, and if you have some resources left over, throw in a treat or two. You will bring light and hope to dozens of people this way.

Donate to CFTW for Education or Health Welfare 

Charities play a big part in the Christmas season, and CFTW is no exception. We strive to give children and families around the world access to the education and healthcare resources that they need to thrive.

 

Many folks have never learned to read or write, and if they fall ill, medical care is too far away or too expensive. For these families, CFTW relies on the power of donations to fund the care and treatment that they deserve. CFTW builds schools and mobile health units to improve access worldwide.

 

Donate to build a better world. Your small contribution could forever change the life of a child or family, and there is no greater generosity than being someone’s light of hope in a dark time.

Donate Now
]]>Sun, 20 Dec 2020 18:50:00 +0000<![CDATA[SOPs for School Going Children Amid the Corona Virus]]>https://www.cftw.org/blogs/post/sops-for-school-going-children-amid-the-corona-virusFor marginalized children and youth, especially those living with miserable conditions, education is more than just attending lessons. For them, going ]]>

For marginalized children and youth, especially those living with miserable conditions, education is more than just attending lessons. For them, going to school is more like improving health, safety, nutrition, and lifestyle as a whole.

   

David Beasley, WFP Executive Director, says, "In the poorest countries, children often rely on schools for their only meal of the day. But with many schools now closed because of COVID, 370 million children are missing out on these nutritious meals, which are a lifeline for low-income families. They are also being denied the health support they normally get through school. This could do lasting damage, so when schools reopen, it is critical that these meal programs and health services are restored, which can also help draw the most vulnerable children back to school."

COVID-19 has forced the world's learners - over 90% - to stay out of school. 

 

The worst is that nine out of ten of the world's youth live in either developing or under-developed countries. Sadly, where (including India, South Africa, and a few others) opportunities for distance learning are quite limited due to the low caliber or unavailability of internet connections.

Fortunately, or maybe, unfortunately, schools are set to open by this week; in some regions they have resumed already.

 

So, as countries are grappling with when to resume school, the Global Education Coalition (UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP, and World Bank) urges governments and education authorities to consider all the risk factors associated with the reopening of schools.

 

Considering all those factors, a list of precautionary measures will be issued to all schools - to aid in their reopening plans. Adherence to anti-COVID behaviors can reduce the spread of COVID-19.

 

Measures are not for schools only; children and their parents are also requested to cooperate with schools and practice the given instructions.

Some Creative WAYS 

  1. Play games with students or engage in some fun activities, teaching them how to wear a mask.

  2. Art teachers can use some art materials or other creative outlets to make them understand why masks are so important.

  3. Share inspirational stories about masks with students so they know what to expect in social settings like school.

  4. Incorporate short lessons or videos to teach students how to wear a mask properly, using videos with celebrities, musicians, cartoon characters, or other popular personalities.

  5. Engage students in the class, discussing why masks help reduce and control the spread of COVID-19.

Teachers can incorporate a lesson into the science curriculum, explaining how respiratory droplets spread deadly diseases.

SOP's for Kids at School 

  1. Wear masks throughout the day, except if you have severe asthma, breathing difficulties, or any other major disability.

  2. Keep yourself socially distant from others, including teachers, support staff and students. 

  3. Continue good hand hygiene habits - either wash them regularly with water and soap or use the sanitizer to keep them clean and germ-free every time.

Don't share or swap your books, papers, masks, or food and water. 

SOP's for Mothers 

  1. Students with lowered immunity should not be sent to school.

  2. Ensure children wear a mask and remain socially distant from their friends.

  3. Keep a hand sanitizer in your child's pocket and ensure him/her use it often.

  4. Write your child's initials on his/her mask.

  5. Store your child's mask in a designated space, and wash after every day of use or when visibly soiled.

  6. Keep an extra mask in your child's bag.

  7. Adopt a positive attitude: Going back to school should be happy, not threatening. With your attitude, show your kids that there’s no need to worry about it.

 

I wish all kids a happy back-to-school!

Donate Now
]]>Fri, 25 Sep 2020 05:12:14 +0000<![CDATA[The Situation of Education and Health in Africa]]>https://www.cftw.org/blogs/post/the-situation-of-education-and-health-in-africaAfrica is the world’s second largest continent, home to 54 countries, a number of deserts and mountain ranges, and surrounded by seas and oceans on th ]]>

Africa is the world’s second largest continent, home to 54 countries, a number of deserts and mountain ranges, and surrounded by seas and oceans on the majority of its borders. This exotic continent remains one of the top travel destinations for holiday travelers thanks to its unique and iconic wildlife, stunning landscapes, and distinctive cuisine. Unfortunately, the continent struggles to maintain a high quality of life for many of its residents, with healthcare, education, and economic struggles plaguing a large majority of its population.

Quality of Life and Health

 

The health and wellness of many African people has deteriorated over time, and being unwell is quickly becoming the standard. The rising cost of living has led to a high dependence on staple foods like grains in place of nutritionally dense foods like fruit, vegetables, fish, dairy, and eggs. This promotes the widespread production of cheap and nutritionally lacking fast food and packaged food, which in turn results in worse health outcomes.

 

Because of the food monoculture that lacks variety, more than 222 million Africans are undernourished. Nearly 14 million children are experiencing wasting, with four million wasted severely. Nearly two-thirds of children at preschool age are anemic, and more than half (58%) of all residents of sub-Saharan African lack access to clean water. 

 

The area also struggles with disease, representing approximately 24% of the global disease burden while seeing only 1% of global health expenditure and 3% of the world’s health workers. Over 90% of global malaria cases occur in Africa, and around 3,000 children die each day of the disease. Women are also at particular risk in the health system, as 19 out of the 20 countries globally with the highest maternal mortality rates are in Africa.

Education and Teaching

 

It is easy to see why education in Africa may be lacking solely due to the poor health outcomes for many children, but a number of additional factors hamper proper education even further. Consistent military conflicts in the area based upon ethnic intolerance reduce access to education, as children in conflict zones or remote camps lose access to schooling. Many nations and institutions have been unsuccessful in ensuring geographical and gender equality in education; disabled students are at a particular disadvantage.

 

In addition, quality remains an issue in the African education system. Only one quarter of primary school teachers in sub-Saharan Africa have received any training; only about half of secondary school teachers are qualified for their positions, but many students will not even reach secondary school due to external factors. In fact, Africa has the highest rate of educational exclusion—and the lowest secondary school attendance—in the world. Only 28% of children enroll in secondary school, and 60% of young people aged 15 to 17 no longer attend schooling. One-fifth of 6 to 11s and one-third of 12 to 14s do not go to school, and as many as 15 million children have never been to school at all.

 

In addition to the healthcare outcomes and military presence that make education more challenging, limited household income also plays a role. The government provides little investment in equal access to education, and most children are responsible for contributing income to the family and so cannot spare time at school. Illiteracy resulting from inadequate schooling reaches as high as 40% across the continent, with some harder hit areas seeing over 50% of their population unable to read or write. These critical areas include Ethiopia, Chad, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Niger, Benin, and Burkina Faso.

Economic Opportunity

 

Economic opportunities are shrinking for those growing up in the African continent due to a cumulative build-up of roadblocks; these include poor health, a lack of education, and increasing military and governmental tensions across the region. In just two African countries—Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—more than 150 million people live in extreme poverty. One in three Africans, or around 422 million people, live below the global poverty line, accounting for more than 70% of the world’s poverty.

 

Around 40% of Africans earn approximately $1.90 US per day. One of the driving factors behind the rising poverty and falling economic opportunities is the rapid population growth that has been occurring in the region. Many factors drive this, but inadequate education and health provisions for proper family planning are contributors.

What’s Next 

Countries across African continue to suffer from unsustainable economies that can collapse at any moment, local conflict, ballooning poverty levels, failing educational systems, and natural disasters like droughts that only exacerbate other issues. These barriers to a better quality of life can be addressed, but it will take cooperation and a concerted effort from people across the globe to offer the assistance that the African people need.

Donate Now
]]>Sun, 06 Sep 2020 22:59:06 +0000<![CDATA[What We Do ]]>https://www.cftw.org/blogs/post/what-we-doCFTW - Compassionate for the World is a registered charity, having received its charitable status by the government of Canada in spring 2009. The visio ]]>
CFTW - Compassionate for the World is a registered charity, having received its charitable status by the government of Canada in spring 2009.


The vision and purpose of the foundation are simple: to uplift the literacy and health status of those who are lacking the most. 


People who are living in under-privileged vicinities, especially across countries like India, South Africa, etc., are not only facing the worst form of poverty but also far from basic health and education facilities. 


Imagine how these unfortunate people, who have to work hard every day to make a living, could get access to primary education and healthcare facilities; they are not even aware of their basic rights too. 


Playing a little part in making the world a better place for EVERYONE, CFTW initiated to extend help to those, who are not only neglected by the world, but also by their governance.
CFTW Efforts 
Scroll through our contribution, and think of playing yours with us! 


School in Ghana
CFTW has initiated a project for school in Offinso, Ghana Africa. The journey started with  an inspiration taken from Dr. Paul Bickert. 
Back in 2006, Dominican Order asked Dr. Paul to visit Ghana. They needed his help to start a school in a jungle located near the outskirts of the town of Offinso. 

Dr. Paul visited with Papal Nuncio and Father Moses, a Dominican priest, who also was personally involved in this project. He was shown the 50 acre land in the vicinity, which was actually purchased by the Dominicans for the project. And, to build that dream, funds were needed.

The friendliness, and ofcourse, the need of the Ghanaian people, convinced Dr. Paul to raise the needed funds for the project. Upon returning to Canada, Dr. Paul committed Dr. Robert Champagne to help him and find some philanthropists to fund the school project.  
Donate Now
]]>Wed, 29 Jul 2020 14:38:29 +0000<![CDATA[Anybody can be a Helping Hand]]>https://www.cftw.org/blogs/post/anybody-can-be-a-helping-handWe all have heard from childhood ‘sharing is caring’ but have we ever thought of this phrasal verb outside of our home or community?  Unfortunatel ]]>

A Real-Life Example of a Senior High School Girl Who Helped Us 

We all have heard from childhood ‘sharing is caring’ but have we ever thought of this phrasal verb outside of our home or community? 


Unfortunately, No. We always share and care for those whom we find deserving, and feel comfortable in doing so, or maybe we don’t know who deserves our donations the most. 


Giving charity makes you and others (the receivers) feel good, and this is one act of kindness that goes around and comes back tenfold. Interestingly, for this, you don’t need to be aged, highly rich, resourceful, or belong to a specific class of society but generous.


Look at what a senior girl did and raised around $1,200 in a day, make sure that this is a voluntary act performed by her in her own capacity. 


My name is McKenna Patterson.  I am a senior at Greenbrier High School in Evans, Georgia.  For my senior year, I am required to complete a project called the Capstone Project.  This project requires me to learn more about the world's poverty and literacy and produce a product that is extended from what I learned.  The product can be a fundraiser, collection drive, or model that extends from a specific career.


For my project, I am-job shadowing a local fund-raiser.  My focus for my project is on the importance of spreading awareness to people about how people in less-developed countries are living their lives without having basic health and education. I believe that people around the world, especially in third world countries, should be prioritized when it comes to donation and charity.


After researching potential non-profit organizations that spread awareness of the importance of healthcare and education, I came across CFTW - Compassion for the World. 


While reading the values of the organization, I immediately connected with the organization. I knew that this organization would be perfect for me to donate money to and share some bits of literacy and necessary health facilities to those who cannot even know their fundamental rights, as they have never learned, never seen schools ever.


Alas! How unfortunate are they? 


My goal is to raise $1,000.00-$2,000.00 to the organization.


Picture Banner Content (three options)


Even your $1 would be enough for them


Spend $1 less on your lunch and share with them, who will always be thankful to YOU

For them, it’s the matter of LIFE & DEATH - Luckily, it’s in our hands, to help them or let them die innocently.   

Picture Caption: Making banners to raise awareness about those who don’t have enough resources to learn and write their names themselves, and encourage fellows to donate more and more for them. 


See, when there’s a cause, there’s a SOLUTION… She spent some bucks, made banners, and collected $1,200 - it’s not always MONEY!


If you take them seriously, you will find thousands of ways to raise, not invest by yourself, thousands of bucks for this cause. 


Here at CFTW, we leave no stone unturned to play our part in supporting and helping those who do not have even proper clothes to cover their bodies, they are ill-fated just because they belong to seemingly unimportant part of the world; otherwise they are the same HUMANS, like you and me.


Aren’t they? 


Think about it!
Donate Now
]]>Wed, 29 Jul 2020 14:25:15 +0000