THE REAL HEROES
AS THE UK GEARS UP TO HOST THE OLYMPICS, OUR NEWSPAPERS AND TV SCREENS ARE FULL OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE VARIOUS ATHLETES TAKING PART. But here at Viva we’ve been thinking about people whose successes are not so well known. People whose triumphs are helping a child to feel loved, keeping them safe from hurt and fear, offering them a hope-filled future. These dedicated, compassionate caregivers are unlikely ever to receive medals for their tough, tiring work. So here we give three the recognition they deserve. They are our heroes of the summer.
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z Ofelia Lope rite is 51, her favou is Bible passage she is Psalm 61 and terrified of mice
Ofelia runs a large project in the poor suburb of Santa Ana, and is a long-standing member of the El Salvador network. Providing education and meals, and working closely with whole families, she has been helping children like Jose Carlos (above at age 11) for 25 years. As a young boy Jose Carlos’ ambition was to be a thief. Determined to give him a better future, Ofelia spent years helping with his school work, organising a mentor for him and loving, guiding and challenging him every day. Jose Carlos is now 20. Far from being a career criminal, he is in his second year of medical studies. Ofelia tells us she owes these kinds of successes to God: “The Lord called me to this work many years ago and still it is my passion. He has given me much grace over the time to help these children. And I am also so thankful to Viva for everything they have given my project.The training and support from them is just this amazing thing. Before Viva we were wanting to help children like Jose Carlos; after Viva we were able to.”
yo Michael Mbe is 35, he loves and playing hockey is ink his favourite dr Coca-Cola
Sina Japuir rite is 28, her favou and she colour is pink the thinks she has world’s best job
Michael is a social worker involved in the Kampala network in Uganda. He loves to build strong relationships with the children he works with; earning their trust and helping them share their stories. Mary (above) and Philip are among those who have benefited from Michael’s ability to listen.
Sina works for a church that is a part of the network in Butwal, Nepal, heading up an outreach programme for children who have suffered physical or sexual abuse. She has counselled and cared for many children in her three years at the church, but none so personally as 12-year-old Rajan.
Mary and Philip had been unwell and unhappy for several months, but only Michael’s gentle encouragement eventually prompted them to confide why: their recently-divorced parents had left them to live with a neighbour who ignored them and didn’t give them enough food. Hearing this, Michael went to their father and convinced him of the importance of his children’s welfare, and supported him as he took Mary and Philip back into his care.
Sina and Rajan met at the local hospital - he had a badly infected leg wound and she was visiting a child from church. As their friendship grew, he shared his fear of having to return to life on the streets after his leg healed. Sina’s response was twofold: she prayed about it for one week, and then she took him into her own home. For the last six months Sina and her husband have been showing Rajan what it’s like to be part of a family.
What made Michael take this action? “In this job working with the mum and the dad is hard. But Viva has made it possible for me to do this by teaching me how to help a child in the context of their family. Now I can listen to the children and have a good relationship with them, but also take action with their family and make a change in their circumstances.”
WHO car s?
Sina explains her motivation: “Helping children has always been important to me, but Viva’s training made it more than that. I learnt that love and stability in the present helps a child to face what has happened in their past, and something clicked in my mind. I just had to make sure that Rajan knew that love. Viva has turned a job into a calling for my whole life. God bless you!”
Ofelia, Michael and Sina are already answering this question. Will you join them? Find out how at viva.org/whocares
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