True Relief

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10b.

Hamidi's Hope*

African children are no strangers to humanitarian relief efforts. It's not uncommon to see trucks pull into town brining shoes, food, water, medicine, or even boxes of toys handed out by smiling representatives from nonprofits around the world. But as impactful as these projects and donations can be, relief will never be enough to heal the broken hearts within these impoverished communities. Relief will never be enough to enable communities to truly thrive. 

At RiverCross, we take a different approach to transforming communities by equipping local leaders with tools to teach children in their community how to heal from their trauma and break the cycle of vulnerability. Hamidi, a Freedom Club leader at an elementary school in east Africa explains that so often in poor communities, the children see how money is the proposed solution for every problem, and it is easy to feel helpless when there is no money. But because of the Freedom Club, they are gaining a knowledge and perspective they'd never thought about. The children had no idea they can cross a bridge, or even be a bridge for someone else, without relying on financial support. They don't have to be helpless in their own story. 

True relief comes when children and communities are empowered to cross the B.R.I.D.G.E. to freedom by building relationships, regulating self, increasing safety, developing resilience, growing in understanding, and embracing rest. Only then are they truly set free to thrive. 

*Although the stories we share are true, some identifying details have been changed.