Gift Impact

Watch the inspiring story of how the people of Mulwani, located in Kalemie DRC have persevered in the face of climate change by empowering themselves through World Vision’s Climate Smart and Food Security Program.

Countries with the smallest carbon footprints suffer the most from climate change, and the Democratic Republic of Congo is no exception. In Kalemie, the capital of Tanganyika province in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), climate change is negatively impacting the health of families and farming activities.

The ND-GAIN index ranks the DRC 5th worldwide among the countries most vulnerable to climate change in terms of its capacity to adapt. As a result of climate disruption, local farmers are experiencing low yields due to unpredictable weather and very short growing seasons.

"Food insecurity is a recurring problem in Tanganyika.’’ says Guillaume Ngumbi Sengi, Project Officer at World Vision DRC.

Thanks to the generous contributions of donors like you, World Vision has funded the Tanganyika Climate Smart and Food Security Program and focuses on improving agricultural production through climate-smart farming. "World Vision trained us in new farming practices. How to farm without burning the bush. We also learned how to use grasses by burying them in the soil to make it more fertile. We no longer cut down certain tree species to protect the environment", explains Annie, a beneficiary of the project.

After 10 months of implementation, 600 households, including 406 women (67.6%) and 194 men (32.3%), have received seeds and farming tools. In addition, 20 farmer groups were formed and received seeds. The supported families produced a significant harvest: 22 tons of groundnuts, 3 tons of amaranth, and 4 tons of sorghum. This substantial yield, with a portion designated for sale, has notably increased the income of the beneficiaries’ households

"There are nice pictures and videos that I love watching,” says 11-year-old Edah. “I also love reading the storybooks that have helped me to improve in English and learn how to spell and pronounce words correctly."

Edah is among a group of students in western Kenya who are partnering with World Vision to take advantage of digital learning using a software program called ABRA (ABRACADABRA). The software is part of a tool kit in a digital literacy program that supports education access and learning materials for rural and marginalized communities.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, World Vision can provide schools with laptop computers and tablets for e-learning, which allow students to access a wide variety of electronic textbooks and storybooks. Previously, such books were hard to come by as most parents could not afford them. The kit makes it possible for children to access learning tutorials that teach them how to read, calculate sums and pronounce words correctly.

This innovative digital learning platform has greatly improved student performance. More students are staying in school and completing their education because this approach to learning is more fun and engaging.

The program rests on a sturdy foundation: World Vision first equipped staff with skills to help them effectively integrate Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in learning. These teachers have become digital learning champions in their respective schools and have gone further to train more and more teachers.

World Vision is eager to collaborate with the government to continue bridging the digital divide, ensuring all children, regardless of location or income, can benefit from technological innovations.

In 2016, Magalita dealt with severe anxiety and fear just as she was about to give birth to her first child. Facing a choice between giving birth at home or travelling 14 kilometres to the nearest clinic, Maigalita found herself in a challenging situation. The clinic, Kanyongoloka, lacked clean water and essential facilities, with the closest water source being a borehole at a distant church. Despite these harsh conditions, she gave birth successfully, though under stress and unsanitary circumstances. Unfortunately, Maigalita’s experience reflected the struggles of many women in her community.

Six years later, Maigalita found herself pregnant. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, World Vision transformed the Kanyongoloka clinic with a new maternity wing, running water, and solar-powered electricity. This improved infrastructure ensured a safer and more comfortable birthing experience for Maigalita’s fourth child.  

“I wasn’t scared this time around. I was happy because the new clinic had a bathroom with clean water running from the taps,” Maigalita says.

Nurse Ngonya Banda highlights the positive impact of these changes, noting improved hygiene, reduced infection risks, and increased confidence among expectant mothers in seeking medical care.

“In the past, I used to wake up very early to fetch water from a borehole a kilometre away. When the water ran out, I couldn’t leave again to fetch more because I needed to attend to patients, so I had to work without water,” she says.

She adds, “But now, it’s a different story. There is running water in the facility, more expectant mothers come to access medical services, and my work is easier because clean water is crucial.”
 

Thanks to generous donations from donors like you through the Gift Catalogue funded by World Vision Canada, a family in Honduras comprising Emerita, Jonathan, Emily, and Marta is undergoing a significant transformation. Contributions from donors like you have funded a project that has had a substantial impact on the Food and Nutritional Security of 1,345 families in northern Honduras.

Emerita, the aunt, smiles as she observes the laying hens’ coop provided by the project. "The benefit I received from the seven hens and a rooster they gave us, has been very helpful for my family. I am very happy because sometimes I collect my eggs and sell food," she shares with gratitude.

She explains how the presence of these birds in her home has changed their eating habits. "Now I don't buy a carton of eggs weekly because I have productive hens. I only buy the feed and give them green leaves to eat," she adds with a smile.

In addition to the hens, the project has delivered a total of 7,477 laying hens, 1,067 roosters, and 11,065 broiler chickens to families in the region.

Emily Juliette, Emerita’s niece, shares her dreams of becoming an "animal doctor" and how her mom, Marta feeds her with food prepared using the eggs from the chickens. With wisdom beyond her years, Emily emphasizes the importance of food for health and reflects on the vulnerability experienced by those without access to proper nutrition.

These projects supported by the Gift Catalogue have had a profound impact on the lives of the most vulnerable families, improving their well-being through training processes and resource supply that foster sustainability and economic growth.