We have just past the decade anniversary of the gigantic Japanese earthquake/tsunami which occurred on March 11, 2011. A force so strong, it not only shook Japan, but the rest of the world along with it. If you were over the age of 10 you probably remember what you were doing that day, and every news source providing updates on it for weeks afterward.

On that day, a 100-year-old Clock was stopped by the jolt, as one of it’s parts must’ve been knocked out of position. After this the clock has rested at an antique store to present day. However, this year on February 13^th, nearly 10 years after, Japan was struck with another Earthquake, while it was not as damaging as the massive quake of 2011, it still created fear. Many scientists believed this was still an aftershock of the original one. This aftershock must have been the correct amount of force needed, as it somehow turned the clock back on. 

The 58-year-old antique store owner claims this as a sign of restoration. World-wide efforts were made to assist Japans efforts in cleaning up the nuclear damage, along with providing aid to those who lost their homes and businesses. Although, the lasting impacts have still been lingering, in cases like this we must look towards instances such as the clock for hope.

At times we all fail to consider our privilege, and the fact that everything around us, the things, people and places we take for granted can be taken away at any moment. For the families who were impacted by the Tsunami, they are still dealing with radiating damages over a catastrophe which occurred 10 years ago.

But: “Education is the key to opportunity. It's a ticket out of poverty” – Barack Obama

References:

Clock stopped by Japan earthquake restarts decade on. (2021, April 14). Msn. Retrieved from https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/clock-stopped-by-japan-earthquake-restarts-decade-on/ar-BB1fEzMv

Currently, it is 11 Celsius degrees here in Calgary, and we are shocked by just how quickly summer is arriving.  Visibly you can see the relief; the snow is melting, the kids are outside, layers have come off, with few walking around in their shorts and slippers.  As I let the cool spring breeze graze my face, I am grateful as, in contrast, it is incredible how much the weather has improved. About a month ago, it was -30 degrees Celsius, and there was an overwhelming sense of endlessness. 

Sr. Joy and Sr. Anusha use the money to buy 100 blankets to be distributed among the poor in the New Delhi Slums and sleeping bags to people who lived under the metro tracks. 

Another CFTW Success!!!

Do you know how to spell your name? If so, you’re already many steps ahead of millions of children in third world countries. Whether in Africa, India, South America, or elsewhere, young people around the world face constant barriers in getting an education—and that can have profound, lifelong consequences.

However, some people would do anything to ensure that these children receive the schooling that they need and deserve. For three teachers across the globe, making sure that children receive an education isn’t just an interest—it’s a duty.

 Inspiring Stories of Amazing Teachers 

Everyone has probably had that one teacher who made a difference in their life. But for children who can’t typically access education due to political conflict, cost, geography, poverty, and even the COVID-19 pandemic, a few teachers have stepped up in their communities to bring them the schooling they need.

Going the Distance

The sun is up early in the small region of Prey Veng in Cambodia, but the ardent teacher Seng is up even earlier. Attaching a cart to the back of her motorbike, she’s off to pick up children for preschool.

For the last 15 years, Seng has managed a community preschool, but many of her students rarely attended because the facility was three or more kilometers away from their homes. Because parents often couldn’t bring the children themselves, she decided it was time to take action on her own.

Early in the morning, the familiar sound of the motorbike brings the kids out to hop into the cart, and at the end of the day, Seng makes the same trip again to drop them off at home. Thanks to her efforts, the number of children attending preschool has multiplied drastically.

Seng won’t let the geographic and opportunity failings of her impoverished regions to deny children the right to an education. And she’s doing something about it.

Bringing the Classroom Home

Across the globe in Balochistan, Pakistan, another teacher is making waves to ensure that students aren’t locked out of schooling. Najeeba saw that COVID-19 had shut down schools, and her family stopped going. Determined to ensure they continued their learning, Najeeba crafted a sanitization station outside her home and called for all the students to attend there.

In place of a closed school, Najeeba turned her home into a classroom. WhatsApp groups experienced in home schooling have flocked to help her as she manages the daunting task of educating these students—even though she is a student herself.

Najeeba refused to give in when COVID-19 shut down schools. And now, students are continuing their education through her. 

Give a gift that will make a real difference in the lives of children 

Down to the southeast of Indonesia, the small island nation of East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, a teacher named Nicolau has acquired land on which to build a school accessible to more students than ever before.

With educational facilities miles out of reach for many rural families, Nicolau was upset—even at his own situation. Forced out of school at a young age himself due to political conflict, Nicolau vowed to bring education to those less fortunate. He recalled that during the time he was in school, the situation was so dire that even 17-year-olds were still studying in Grade 1 because they did not have the time or opportunity to attend regularly.

Convincing the local parents and authorities that a school was worthwhile proved to be a challenge—they believed that since girls were meant to get married and men to work, schooling was a pointless use of time. However, Nicolau never gave up, and his convincing prompted an important official to gift the land on which his school was built.

Now, with access to proper educational tools and even critical resources like water, the community is flourishing. 

Conclusion 

These teachers have made massive impacts in the lives of their communities. However, they could not have done it alone—Nicolau’s school, for example, still required the help of charitable causes. If you would like to give the gift of life-changing education to a family in a third world country, consider donating to CFTW. We build educational and medical facilities in areas that do not have access to them so that the families living their can receive the rights to education and health that they deserve, setting themselves up for future success. Even a few dollars can buy critical materials like textbooks and access to clean water.

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.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the globe has caused dramatic, lasting changes in all regions—first world or developing country, peaceful or stricken with conflict, countries around the world have had to adapt quickly. First suspected in late 2019, the coronavirus situation has continued to develop, and the vaccine is still not currently available as of late 2020. It is unclear when such a measure may be widely accessible to the public; in the meantime, the world must continue addressing the crisis through mitigation and responsible activity.

As lockdown measures begin to ease, the international community must consider how these actions will affect the world’s most vulnerable populations. One such concern is with Sub-Saharan Africa, which is likely not ready to bear the brunt of a full-scale coronavirus infection. The United States has shocked the world by recording more than 2,000 deaths in a single day, but more catastrophic results could be possible if the most susceptible among the world’s populations are left to fend for themselves.

Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study

Africa as a whole is widely vulnerable to a large-scale coronavirus outbreak for many reasons, and its effects could be long-lasting and severe. The region is characterized by overall weaker than average healthcare, and the number of healthcare workers remains low at only 2.2 per 1000 people. This means that a COVID-19 surge in the region will likely quickly lead to overwhelmed hospitals, and a recurrence of the tragedy seen in Italy earlier in the year may not be far behind—but on a much larger scale.

Few African countries have ventilators in numbers enough to make any substantial difference were the coronavirus to rear its head; in fact, the Central African Republic may have only three ventilators total. These life-saving machines are meant to assist those having a severe reaction to the coronavirus, but with countries largely unable to access this critical piece of equipment, the death toll could climb quickly to unprecedented levels.

Both short- and long-term consequences could result. While it is true that Sub-Saharan African has its previous experience with Ebola to rely on, COVID-19 could prompt a race between fatal hunger and a life-threatening illness. In some states with already weakened infrastructure and political guidance, the situation could become so dire that the entire state fails, opening the region to periods of unrest and potentially violent actions at the hands of extremist groups.

In the longer term, extended productivity losses may create ripple effects that result in extended joblessness and school closures. Over time, the region may see increased child marriage, domestic violence, and teen pregnancies as a consequence of the shifting dynamics. 

Protecting Vulnerable Regions

The international community has not left the crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa unnoticed; the International Monetary Fund, has made moves to quickly and efficiently bolster emergency funding and secure as much capital as possible in preparation for large-scale assistance. As many as 90 countries have already approached the IMF for assistance, and the organization has since reached out in cooperation with the World Bank to address this crisis as it unfolds. 

Other countries have also joined in participation, with China suspending debt payments due from the poorest developing countries. Grant resources provided by the IMF and other organizations are pooling in to offer some form of debt relief for some low-income countries, and other states have done their part through medical donations to the region.

What You Can Do

Each country and its people have their own role to play in the prevention of what could be one of the most catastrophic medical health outcomes in recent memory. Developed countries should prepare to share their knowledge of mitigation strategies and containment methods with threatened locations, while both public and private sector organizations can continue with monetary management and the procurement of medical supplies.

On the home front, it can be difficult to imagine what a single person can do to assist in this endeavor. First and foremost, individuals must take responsibility and mitigate the spread of coronavirus as much as possible. Wear a mask and self-isolate to avoid spreading or become a carrier for the virus; a single point of transmission may be sufficient, over time, to introduce COVID-19 to the world’s most vulnerable regions.

Those seeking to help can also dedicate their time or money to charitable causes that are supporting efforts in the region. Both in-person or remote work to reduce the burden on charities may be available, and monetary contributions go toward funding necessary medical supplies, grants that improve the economic situation of countries by addressing their debts, and a number of other critical uses that free these developing nations up to address the coronavirus in a timely manner—before it spirals out of control.