Weaving a new life: ELCA World Hunger

Eunice lives in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, where she used to struggle to earn enough money to keep herself and her daughter fed. That was before Pangani Lutheran Children Center welcomed the little girl into the center’s boarding school and paid for her tuition, fees and supplies.

Life was improving for Eunice’s daughter, but Eunice herself still struggled. Then Pangani began working with Eunice to help her toward a sustainable livelihood. Through the center, Eunice received a microloan and learned to weave. Now she has a full-time job, earning a steady income. Eunice repaid her loan in order to help other women get the same opportunity she once had for a fresh start.

“I can now earn [an income] and [provide] for family needs,” Eunice says. “I can also take care of my sister’s two boys who were left under my care.”

Pangani Lutheran Children Center is supported by ELCA World Hunger. The program provides opportunities for children who lack the resources for regular meals or do not have the chance to attend school. The center also works with the students’ families to address the root causes of poverty – providing microloans, vocational training and adult education to parents.

More than 800 million people — that’s 1 in 8 people in our world today — are hungry. Working with and through congregations, ELCA World Hunger reaches communities in need. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to animal husbandry, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger make it possible for the ELCA to respond, supporting sustainable solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty.

At St. Paul this Lenten season, all midweek Lenten offerings, in any envelope, will be dedicated to fighting hunger. For any additional Lenten offering towards this cause, please earmark your check memo line: “World Hunger.”