I began the day excited to travel through Kabarore, Burundi, especially anticipating the first stop of the trip. The FH Burundi team had kindly arranged for me to meet Hadjala, the twelve-year-old girl that I had been sponsoring since I joined FH Canada in 2023.  

As we drove up to the house, neighbours stopped what they were doing to see what was happening. In the rural community where Hadjala and her family live, visitors don’t come through very often. Our arrival caused a bit of a stir.

Finally, we came to a stop at the house where the family was waiting at the door near a sewing machine. Hadjala’s dad, Manariyo, stepped forward to introduce himself and the family. Hadjala saw me before I saw her and ran towards me to give me a big hug. In that moment, any nerves I felt leading up to this visit vanished. Hadjala’s mother, Harerimana, beamed at me and, with a wave of her arm, invited me into their home, balancing her baby girl, Izere, on her hip.  

As we stepped into the living room, furnished with a couple of chairs and a table, her younger brother, Abdul, stared with innocent curiosity. Through translators, we talked slowly and learned more about each other.

Hadjala sat close as her parents explained how being part of FH initiatives had helped their family. After a reminder from mom, Hadjala went into another room and came out with a gift. It was her carefully written letter, telling me how well she’s doing in school! Instead of sending the letter through FH as usual, she held on to it until she could give it to me in person. Reading the letter in her home gave me a fuller picture of who Hadjala is: a confident, respectful young girl who takes pride in her school work, with loving parents supporting her success and working hard to give their children the best possible life.

I spent the rest of the day visiting some of the community projects in Kabarore supported through FH Canada. One of the highlights was a youth co-operative business created for and by youth in Kabarore called Terimbere Rwaruka, which means “Youth Advancement”. The young women and men started a sewing co-op, selling made-to-measure clothes to people in their community and a neighbouring town on market days. There was an air of excitement and pride as we stepped into the co-op building to hear the young people’s stories.  

As I entered the co-op building, I looked up, and there was Hadjala’s mom, Harerimana. That’s why there was a sewing machine set up outside her house this morning! Recognizing each other, we embraced, and I couldn't have been happier to see how my monthly donation had supported this mom in providing for her children. We sat down together and listened to young people tell their stories. 

We listened as Evelyn, a 27-year-old woman, shared that she had dropped out of school because her family couldn’t afford the fees and had been working as a day labourer, barely making enough to survive. She was integrated into the youth program in Kabarore and given a sewing machine from the FH Canada Gift Guide. Eventually, she used the money she earned from sewing to buy two rabbits and rent an avocado tree from a friend. She took on the risk of farming in uncertain weather conditions and doubled the money she invested. Today she owns a pig, two goats, and ten rabbits, and is actively helping other youth in Kabarore!

Evelyn in Green, 22 year old Belyse Mahoro in the orange jacket.

As we drove away, I couldn’t help but wonder about other children in the community. My mind went to children who are registered in our program, but not sponsored. In each of FH Canada partner communities, we have more children registered for sponsorship than we have Canadian sponsors. Every registered child participates in programs that strengthen their families, school, and communities through clean water projects, nutrition programs, and healthcare. But not all children have the opportunity to connect with the supporters in Canada who are supporting their journey.

What I understood more clearly from my visit that day was that my sponsorship supported programs that strengthen Hadjala’s family, school, and community. FH Canada has completed our ten-year partnership with Kabarore, and I am confident that Hadjala will not only have the support of her parents, but also mentors like Evelyn. At FH Canada, we have always worked to ensure communities are not dependent on us, so that they can continue the work with children and families after we exit. My role in Hadjala’s life was to help strengthen her home, school, and community so that she lives in an environment where she can thrive!

In 2026, FH Canada will start our own journey to the next 100 community partnerships. We are moving forward with the learnings from the last thirty years of emboldening 100 communities, like Kabarore, on their pathways to more hope-filled futures.

Instead of child sponsorship, we are inviting you to be part of transforming communities as a Journey Partner. We will be investing even more deeply into local leaders and communities through new partners embedded in communities who may not have the resources to support child sponsorship. The reality is, there is a cost to running child sponsorship. That cost will now be invested directly into community transformation.

I am making the same monthly donations as always, but now as a Journey Partner. I invite you to join me. . 

My giving now matches what child sponsorship has always been about: transformation that benefits many children, youth, and families in FH Canada partner communities. I receive updates on children like Hadjala and from young people like Evelyn. I see the impact of farmers’ co-ops on fathers who can finally provide well for their families. I hear inspiring stories about the nurse who can look after her patients with the proper equipment. I invite you to join me in being part of the powerful journey of community transformation.>br>

Sign up today and learn more about becoming a Journey Partner below.

Become a Journey Partner