In our project area too many children were living in despair. Some had been abandoned by their families, left to navigate life alone. Others came from homes where extreme poverty made basic needs food, clothing, medical care seem impossible. Many had lost all hope, carrying burdens no child should have to bear.

We saw their pain, and though we didn’t have much, we had love to give. So we began with what we could. We gathered the children, shared meals with them, prayed together, and sat with them in counseling sessions. In those simple moments, something beautiful happened. The children, who had once been silent, started to talk. They smiled. They believed again.

A Meal: More Than Just Food

Hunger was one of the greatest challenges. Many children would go for days without a proper meal. Some struggled through school with empty stomachs, unable to concentrate.

We started by providing meals, not just to fill their stomachs but to remind them they were seen, valued, and loved. Food was not just nourishment—it was an act of care, a way of saying, You matter.

As we shared meals, we realized that many of these children were not just hungry for food; they were hungry for love, for belonging, for hope.

Praying Together: Restoring Faith

We didn’t just feed them physically; we fed their spirits. Every gathering began with prayer. We prayed for them, with them, and over them.

For many, prayer became a source of strength. In a world that had told them they were forgotten, they began to believe they were loved by God, that their lives had meaning, and that their circumstances did not define them.

Prayer also became a way to restore families. Some parents, who had lost hope in their ability to care for their children, found encouragement. They realized they were not alone in their struggles.

Counseling: Healing the Heart

Beyond hunger and physical struggles, many of these children carried deep emotional wounds. They had experienced neglect, abuse, loss, and rejection. They had been told, through words and actions, that they were unwanted.

We created a safe space for them to share their pain. Some had never spoken about their struggles before. As they opened up, we listened, we reassured, we reminded them that their past did not determine their future.

Through counseling, they began to replace the lies they had been told with truth: You are loved. You are important. You have a future.

Expanding the Mission: Meeting Deeper Needs

As we walked alongside these children, we realized their struggles went beyond what we had first seen. Many were facing:

• Lack of medical care: Some were sick or malnourished, needing urgent attention.

• Family struggles: Some parents had abandoned their children out of desperation, believing they could not provide for them.

• Barriers to education: Many children couldn’t attend school due to a lack of fees, uniforms, and supplies.

We knew we couldn’t stop at meals and prayer, we had to go further.

Education: Opening Doors to a Brighter Future

We started by helping children return to school. We provided uniforms, school fees, books, and supplies everything they needed for a fresh start.

But education was more than just getting children into classrooms. We worked with teachers and mentors to ensure these children received emotional and academic support. We encouraged life skills training and leadership development, helping them see beyond their current struggles to a future filled with possibilities.

Children who once saw no future for themselves now dared to dream. They began to believe they could become doctors, teachers, and leaders in their own communities. Restoring Families, Strengthening Communities

As we helped the children, we saw another heartbreaking reality—many parents were not abandoning their children out of cruelty, but out of hopelessness.

Some had lost confidence in their ability to provide. Others were trapped in cycles of poverty and despair. They needed help, too.

We introduced family counseling and empowerment programs. Parents were given opportunities to rebuild their lives through farming and small business training.

As families became stronger, children who had once been neglected were welcomed home again. Parents who had once given up on their children began fighting for them instead.

Lives Transformed

The change has been incredible.

A child who once felt abandoned now walks into school with confidence.

A mother who once struggled to feed her family now runs a small business and sends her children to school.

A family that was once broken now prays, eats, and grows together.

This is what FOCEI is about. Not just providing handouts, but restoring hope. Not just helping children survive, but helping them thrive.

Our Story is Still Being Written

Every day, we meet more children in need of food, love, and support. Every day, we see the power of a simple act of kindness a meal, a prayer, a conversation.

And we know this is just the beginning. With every sponsor, volunteer, and supporter who joins us, the FOCEI family grows. More children are fed, more hearts are healed, more futures are changed.

So we keep going, believing that no child should ever feel alone, abandoned, or without hope. Because when we stand together, we don’t just change lives, we rewrite destinies.