A Mom of Hope is a woman who knows she is blessed by God with skills and resources to support her family. She looks to the future, trusting in God’s love and abundance.

Fanta Koroma lives in Sierra Leone and belongs to a large farming family. The family struggled to earn enough to meet their basic needs. Through World Renew, Fanta had the opportunity to join agriculture and economic support activities facilitated by World Renew’s local partner, Christian Extension Services (CES).

Fanta learned about conservation agriculture methods that help increase crop production, including practicing minimum tillage to protect the soil from erosion and loss of nutrients. She applied what she learned to growing the rice seed she received through the program. She says, “[World Renew and CES] supported me with rice seed, which helped me and my household a lot for the past two planting seasons. My farm yield increased twofold.”

Alongside the extra income she earned through the increased rice production, Fanta took out a low-interest loan through a local Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) and used the money to purchase two goats. The two goats soon multiplied into a goat breeding business. “Now I have six mature female goats after selling two goats this year to settle my children’s educational affairs,” says Fanta. Through the VSLA, Fanta also learned how to become a wise steward of her money and she developed strong bonds with the other members.

Fanta feels blessed to have had the opportunities to learn and grow so she can sustainably contribute to her family’s food security and income stability.

At World Renew, we understand that women are essential to God’s plan to restore creation and should not be denied opportunities to learn, to grow, and to use their unique abilities to contribute to the flourishing of their families and their communities. Through World Renew’s Free A Family® program, women receive training in income-generating activities, learn about proper health and nutrition practices, receive trauma counselling, join VSLAs, and more-so they can thrive, like Fanta.

On May 8th, please join us in celebrating Moms of Hope Sunday. Through your gift you can help share Christ’s love and hope with vulnerable women in communities where World Renew works around the world. By walking alongside women who would otherwise be denied opportunities to grow, you help those women to recognize their value. They in turn make positive changes that help improve their families and their communities: They become Moms of Hope.

To find out more about Moms of Hope Sunday and access our church resources, go to worldrenew.ca/momsofhope. To learn more about the Free A Family program, visit worldrenew.ca/free-a-family.