Dear Eric and Hannah,
Greetings in the mighty name of Jesus. I am Pastor Zacharie M. a partner with Compassion International in the Kavumu Student Center. We minister to your sponsored child. Thank you for your sponsorship of Tresor. I am also pastor of a Presbyterian Church located in the Southern Province of Rwanda, in Kavumu.
I am grateful for your kind sponsorship. Agriculture is the main economic activity of this rural community. The main constraints the people face include farmers' access to markets and finding the best price for their produce. Farmers have difficulty maximizing their yield due to steep prices of agricultural inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, seeds) and sometimes water shortage caused by unpredictable climate. Consequently, the risks are high, and oftentimes, the return on investment is very low. As a result, rural communities like my parishioners tend to be the poorest, and their livelihoods precarious.
The church has made strides in terms of supporting improvements in agricultural productivity, but the community is still faced with pressure to increase yields while protecting land, water, and biodiversity. In developing economies like ours, this journey to sustainable agriculture is complicated.
In this community, children's needs are multifold and very according to their age group. Young children need healthy food to give them a good start in life. Unfortunately, some already show signs of malnutrition. Primary school age children need school uniforms and supplies. Children studying at secondary school levels need assistance with school fees and other financial support. We are grateful that children benefit form different forms of support through this Center: their school fees, school materials, and medical insurance are covered through the sponsorship of each child.
The church has historically contributed a lot of the community, as the vanguard for education and provider of social services. The church encourages the community's enrollment in medical care and provides some services and has had some influence in socioeconomic improvement and cultural expression. It plays an influential role in every aspect of the community's spiritual growth. This centers support has been instrumental in contributing to this legacy. However, it is difficult, or perhaps too early, to assess what its overall impact has been. It is worthy to note, however, that most of the children registered in the center and their caregivers have been baptized after being ministered to. Additionally, the children in the center have recorded and produced an inspiring Gospel music video.
This church looks forward to the center's expansion to include more children and to lift them out of poverty in Jesus' name. We want to enable them become responsible Christians, able to live independently and be productive members of their community. The church and center will cooperate to educate the parents with the view of ensuring that the center children are given the tools to live as independent and productive adults.
The sponsor-child relationship, especially correspondence has a great value to everyone involved in the partnership. A letter is a sign of love on the side of the sponsor toward the sponsored child and also a source of joy for the child. Sponsors and children exchange news and information, send prayer request, and share biblical verses. Our children are very eager to get letters. Please write Tresor often.
We request you to pray with us so that the children can grow up honoring God. We thank you for your invaluable sponsorship that has filled our hearts with joy.
In Christ,
Pastor M. Zacharie
If you would like to sponsor child from Rwanda, please consider Nteziryayo who's 5 and has been waiting over 184 days. His birthday is February 23!
Nteziryayo lives with his father and his mother. He is responsible for running errands and cleaning. His father is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother is sometimes employed as a farmer. There are 4 children in the family.
Soccer and running are Nteziryayo's favorite activities. In kindergarten his performance is average and he also regularly attends church activities. To sponsor Nteziryayo, click here.
