Ending Poverty Together

with guest Amie Gartner, a team member of Mission to Many.

Do you think it’s better to focus on helping here at home or across borders? Maybe you know this as the “local versus global” debate. Amie Gartner believes we can do both! 

Amie Gartner, a team member of Mission to Many, an interdenominational church collaboration from southern Alberta, has seen how one focus doesn’t mean ignoring the other. Through Mission to Many’s decade-long partnership with the community of Acul, Guatemala, Amie has seen its families move from being stuck in poverty to having hope for their futures. But it’s also been a reciprocal relationship! Their part in the partnership has deeply impacted herself, their Canadian team, and how they go about helping here in Canada, too.

Amie also reflects on how to better "do photography" when on a trip. She experienced the power of putting cameras and phones away while visiting  the community and how this opened up opportunities for even deeper, more meaningful connections.

Recommended Resources:

Partnership with a community - webpage

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Jo Swinney of A Rocha International, and author of "A Place at the Table: Faith, Hope and Hospitality".

Talking about creation care and the state of the environment can feel heavy—we’re often left with doom and gloom and no real way forward. But fear not! Jo Swinney, Director of Communications at A Rocha International, is here to inject hope into the discussion. 

Jo grew up talking about the environment, gardening, and all things green around the dinner table; her parents were the founders of A Rocha, a Christian, environmental stewardship organization. She has experienced the intricate connection between creation care and the Christian faith. In this episode, Jo shares personal stories from her childhood in Portugal, illustrating the importance of community, hospitality, and how creation care is an act of worship. Jo also touches on the pressing issue of how environmental degradation disproportionately affects the poor, underscoring the need for responsible stewardship. 

Join the conversation as we explore the vital connections between faith, conservation, and community through Jo's inspiring journey and insights.

Recommended Resources:

A Rocha Canada - website

A Place at the Table: Faith, Hope and Hospitality - buy the book

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Veasna Pin, Program Operation Director from FH Cambodia.

What do delicious barista-made drinks, sharp haircuts, and a finely tuned engine all have in common?

By Grade 6 or 7, many Cambodian children from vulnerable families drop out of school. While kids in Canada are learning about the solar system, too many kids in Cambodia are working in the fields or on construction sites sacrificing their education to help their families survive. But that’s not the end of their story.

In this episode, Veasna Pin, Program Operation Director from FH Cambodia, shares how a new youth vocational training program is opening up a world of possibilities for these vulnerable youth. With pivotal mentorship, lifeskills training, and business development, youth who had given up on education are now pursuing their dreams, starting their own businesses, and supporting their families in ways they never imagined.

So, what do delicious drinks, haircuts, and an engine have in common? These are just a few of the skills now expertly offered by the youth in this program! Tune in to discover the full story!

Recommended Resources:

Partnership in Cambodia - webpage

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Andrey Sawchenko, International Justice Mission (IJM)

From the shirts in our closets to the TVs in our living rooms, do you really know where these products came from? Trying to track the supply chain that produced your blender is enough to make your head spin, especially when each piece may have come from a different country. It’s no wonder we feel overwhelmed when trying to figure out if a product has been made under fair working conditions before we buy it.

In this episode, Andrey Sawchenko of International Justice Mission (IJM) delves into the harsh realities of forced labor lurking behind many consumer goods. Despite the intricacies of supply chains, Andrey poses thought-provoking questions that challenge our understanding of ethical consumerism. Join us as we explore how to become more conscious consumers in such a complex world.

Related Resources:

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with special guest, Raskey Samnang, a student and debate champion from FH partner communities in Cambodia.

While on-site in Cambodia, host Shelaine sat down with Raskey Samnang, a remarkable young woman sparking positive change in her community. As the sole female member of a debate team that has gone on to compete at the Cambodian national level, Raskey is no stranger to hard work. She also knows what it takes to succeed.

Raskey’s journey hasn’t been without adversity. At a young age, Raskey faced pressures to drop out of school and help support her family, but she knew education had the power to shape not only her future, but the futures of other young people in her community. 

Meet Raskey and hear her story of resilience and self-confidence, and see her vision for how a younger generation can build a thriving future for their communities.

Recommended Resources:

FH Canada's partnerships in Cambodia - webpage

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest AHM Zaman of FH Bangladesh and Jenny Gutzmann of FH Canada

Climate change might be a loaded word, but no matter where you stand on the topic, for many areas of the world it’s a very ugly reality. Vulnerable communities on the coast of Bangladesh are being hit with rising sea levels and extreme weather events like never before, to name a few.

AHM Zaman, Senior Manager of Program Quality and Resource Development at FH Bangladesh, along with Jenny Gutzmann, Senior Program Officer at FH Canada, share how FH is helping communities prepare for shocks due to unprecedented environmental changes and increase resilience when calamity hits. Families in Bangladesh are preparing for futures where they can break away from reacting and surviving, and can instead focus on flourishing.

Recommended Resources:

FH Canada partnership in Bangladesh - webpage

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

With guest Stephan Lutz Stephan Lutz, Senior Program Consultant for World Renew.

Farming is not a light job. We link it with dirt and dust, back-breaking work, and long hours sweating in the sun. But, have you ever thought about farming as an art? Where a farmer can try new crops, experiment with techniques, build new tools, and change as they go? In fact, farmers may be some of the most resourceful, ingenious, and creative people you know!

Stephan Lutz, Senior Program Consultant at World Renew, shares the need for art and beauty within community development. It’s tempting to think that development begins when help arrives, but Stephan reminds us that every community already has a story. That’s why it’s crucial to listen and learn that story first before assigning “solutions”—to ‘walk with’ instead of ‘do for’. When dignity is upheld and people have the choice to try new things, make mistakes, and learn, they take the lead in their own development journey and create something truly beautiful.

Recommended Resources:

World Renew's programs - website

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

With guest Alice Kamau of Food for the Hungry Rwanda

We all know that access to clean water is crucial for health and hygiene, but have you ever considered the impacts clean water can also have on human dignity, empowerment, and self-esteem? 

In this episode, Alice Kamau, country director of FH Rwanda, dives into the ripple effects that clean water is having in the community of Bwira. Beyond improved health, less time and energy spent fetching water also means more time and energy for shaping a thriving community. From robust harvests, to increased school attendance, to women feeling empowered in their homes, clean water is more than just a basic necessity—it’s a catalyst for change!

Recommended Resources:

FH's work in Rwanda - summary and stories - webpage

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

With Nikki Whaites, VP of International Development at Big Bad Boo Studios.

We seemingly know more about world events than ever before—conflict, disasters, hunger, climate change, to name a few. In a world flooded with sensational headlines and heart-breaking stories, how do you avoid being overwhelmed by it all? How do you cut through the noise?

Nikki Whaites, Vice President of International Development at Big Bad Boo Studios, reassures that it's actually okay to feel overwhelmed! But, amidst the media clamour and the chaos of a world in strife, we can still engage in a meaningful way. Listen in as Nikki explores media’s connection to poverty and the ways in which we can channel our focus and passions to bring about positive change in our world.

Recommended Resources

Big Bad Boo Studies - website

with guest Abraham Somavarapha of Advisors With Purpose.

You have people and causes that are near to your heart—even ones you wish you could support more than you already do. So, did you know that with good estate planning, you can do that and more? 

Abraham Somavarapha from Advisors With Purpose explores the benefits of estate planning—easing tax burdens, ensuring family is taken care of—and supporting what you care about. 

Discover how you can leave a legacy of impact, even beyond your lifetime.

Recommended Resources:

Do I need a plan? - take the survey

Episode hosted by Shelaine.