Hope is a work of the heart

The work of hope is primarily a work of the heart.

We continue to be deeply thankful for the people who searched their hearts and found more reasons to give than not. Every gift received in 2008 created a new story among the world’s poorest families - a story that begins with despair but ends with hope prevailing, with self-reliance triumphing over suffering.

One of the reasons suffering exists is because people and their communities lack opportunities to improve their lives. Friend we too would certainly suffer, just like our brothers and sisters in the developing world, if not for the opportunities that are our inheritance simply by virtue of where we live.

Lar Yom, featured in this year’s annual report, has a new story to tell about her journey from despair to hope. You can also read about Vanjie Rojas, a young woman who is among a generation of heroes emerging in communities throughout the developing world who are striving to achieve self-reliance.

Each one of the nearly 1.5 million people we were able to help in 2008 has a new story of hope and their story is a testament to the compassion you have found in your heart. Many of the stories are still being written as the help you have provided enables families to emerge from years of war, conflict, regional crisis, famine, disease, oppression, and lack of opportunity. In times of crisis, you saved people from certain death. In situations of chronic suffering, you offered an alternative by giving to provide clean water, food security, education, training, and programs of micro-finance, all of which are leading families to self-reliance. See where your donations were put to work in 2008.

Your compassion and generosity continues to create new stories of hope in the lives of the world’s poorest families.

David S. McKenzie, Executive Director