World Renew Canada’s Executive Director, Jamie McIntosh, recently visited the south of Madagascar with Cheryl Weber, host of 100 Huntley Street. Although the dry season had barely begun, the air was thick with dust and where raging rivers once flowed, there were mere trickles of water. The region is experiencing its worst drought in 40 years.
In Madagascar, 90 percent of the population depends on farming for survival. But crops cannot grow in the drought-weary soil and families are left struggling with hunger. While cactus and cassava manage to grow in the dry, cracked earth and many families give thanks to God that they have these to eat, Jamie and Cheryl saw how the lack of proper nutrition has left children with the telltale signs of acute malnutrition – distended stomachs, frail bodies, and dry hair.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 teaches us the power of working together:
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
With this call to support our brothers and sisters in Christ through difficult times, World Renew in partnership with Canadian Foodgrains Bank is working to address the food needs of 2,000 of the most vulnerable Malagasy impacted by the drought this season.
In a follow up to their visit to the region, Cheryl and Jamie co-hosted an episode of 100 Huntley Street and shared the heartbreaking challenges families in Madagascar face trying to find food. But Jamie noted that the people he met are resilient, and aren’t asking for handouts, but for hope for the future.
Malagasy community leader Torognasie, a mother of 8 children, helps to ensure the most vulnerable households in her village of Atomba receive assistance. “I keep my faith in God even when the situation is bad,” she says. “We think God sent World Renew to help.”
Eager to share hope with families, Cheryl encouraged 100 Huntley Street viewers to give to support World Renew’s food security project in Madagascar. With the dry season fast approaching, the project will focus on providing families with emergency food baskets containing rice, beans, and cooking oil. Canadian Foodgrains Bank will match all donations made to support this project 4:1.
The food baskets help extend Christ’s hope and ensure families survive the dry season—and are healthier and stronger and more able to move forward to find sustainable ways to address food insecurity.
Give now to help share Christ’s hope with people impacted by the drought in Madagascar and other food insecurity crises around the world. Your gift will be matched up to 4 times thanks to World Renew’s partnership with Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
To view a recording of the episode of 100 Huntley Street, click here.
