At fifteen, Tendai* was caught in a cycle he didn’t know how to escape.
A ninth-grade student, Tendai wanted what most teenagers want—to belong. The year before, friends at school had introduced him to drugs. What may have begun as a desire to fit in soon became something far more difficult to leave behind.
But Tendai’s story was only beginning.
That year, he started attending a RiverCross Club.
Each Club gathering begins with a RiverCross audio drama—a story that invites young people to wrestle with difficult realities through the lives of its characters. After listening together, trained Facilitators lead games, activities, and conversations that help participants connect the story to their own experiences in a safe, caring environment.
Tendai’s story is one of many. Across Africa, local churches, schools, and community organizations are using the training and resources they have received to lead RiverCross Clubs for youth facing adversity. Every RiverCross Club creates a safe environment for youth to get help, find hope, and experience the love of Christ.
At RiverCross, we believe God has already placed the right people in the right places to care for children in distress. That’s why we equip local caregivers with the training, tools, and resources they need to help children heal and thrive—all so that every child can be treasured in their community and transformed by the love of Jesus.
Because of faithful partners like you, those caregivers were trained. They, in turn, shared the audio drama and trauma-informed skills with the children in their care.
For Tendai, the audio drama’s story became a bridge to freedom.
At first, it was easier to talk about a character’s fears, choices, and struggles than his own. But as trust grew, so did his courage. Through the club, he discovered a safe place to be honest, learned skills to make healthy choices, and began to understand that he was seen, valued, and deeply loved by Jesus.
For the first time, Tendai felt safe enough to tell the truth.
He shared about his drug use.
And he asked for help.
A Safe Relationship Changed His Story.
Because of your partnership, a caregiver was equipped to be a safe person. They were there when Tendai found the courage to say, “I need help.”
Through RiverCross Global trainings, local caregivers were equipped with gospel-rooted, research-informed tools to care for children and youth who had experienced adversity. As they built trusted relationships in RiverCross clubs, they helped children build relationships, increase their safety, process their experiences, and discover hope in Christ.
For Tendai, that relationship changed everything. His RiverCross Club facilitator looked beyond his drug use and saw a young man worth knowing. Tendai found ongoing support, trusted relationships, and the courage to make healthier choices.
Over time, he began moving in a new direction—and one milestone marked that change: he returned to school. More than a return to the classroom, it was a step toward a new future.
As caregivers walked alongside Tendai, Jesus was at work bringing healing, restoration, and lasting hope. His journey is still unfolding, but he is making healthier choices, back in school, and surrounded by people who continue to point him to Christ.
Together, we are equipping caregivers to help children discover that they are treasured in their communities and transformed by the love of Jesus.
*Tendai’s name has been changed to protect his privacy.