Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Countless families suffer from starvation and malnutrition, one of the leading killers of children under 5. The people who live there are doing everything they can to survive … but every day feels harder than the last.
Recently, a World Help team traveled to Burundi, where they met Daniel and Josephine, two exhausted grandparents doing everything they can to care for their six grandchildren. Their story is one of incredible strength and resilience, but they are still in desperate need of help and hope.
Keep reading to learn more about Daniel and Josephine, and how you can help people like them.
This family grieves the loss of their mother/daughter as they struggle to survive
A life-changing loss
What happens to children living in poverty when their parents die? Many of them end up sinking deeper into poverty, but some — the lucky ones — have family or friends who can take them in.
That’s exactly what happened to Daniel and Josephine’s six grandchildren. When their mother died just last year, Daniel and Josephine instantly stepped in to take care of them.
But it hasn’t been an easy adjustment. Daniel and Josephine were already caring for their adult disabled son, and adding six more mouths to feed is nearly impossible for a family already struggling to get by.
Daniel and Josephine do what they can, but with their age and health, they aren’t able to work regular jobs and struggle every day to feed themselves and their grandchildren. There just isn’t enough food to go around.
Night after night, the children go to bed hungry; starvation weakening their bodies, making even the smallest of tasks difficult. The children have dreams to become doctors, teachers, and even the president — but without help, they may never have a chance to chase those dreams.
Every day, children around the world face starvation, leading their bodies to become malnourished
How you can make a difference
Daniel and Josephine’s family isn’t the only one struggling. People in Burundi and around the world in countries like Afghanistan, Haiti, Peru, Uganda, and more are struggling to survive because they don’t have enough food.
A global food shortage is threatening families worldwide, and children — like Daniel and Josephine’s grandchildren — are the most vulnerable.
When a child is malnourished, it affects their entire body, from their brain to their bones. They can’t focus, their immune system weakens, and their organs begin to shut down.
These children need help — but the solution is simple. They just need food, and you can be the one to provide it to them today.
Guardians like Daniel and Josephine are facing the nearly impossible task of feeding their families, and they need help
For just $30, you can feed one starving child for an entire year. That’s a full year of nutritious food to help a starving child grow healthy and strong, and a year of not having to worry about when they’ll eat next.
Your gift could literally save a child’s life — and when you give to feed a starving child, you’ll also help them experience the love and provision of Christ.