Aselefech crouched on the roadside near her crumbling home in Ethiopia, holding out trembling hands to anyone passing by. Her children were starving. She was praying for coins, for food, for anything. Most days she returned with empty hands.
She felt hopeless. Invisible. Trapped in a cycle of poverty with no way out.
But then her local church stepped in — and everything changed.
Equipped by Tearfund supporters, Aselefech’s church didn’t just offer her a meal. They offered her a future.
First, they addressed her immediate crisis: repairing her leaking roof, providing food and clothing for her children. But they didn’t stop there.
The church provided Aselefech with comprehensive business training that taught her how to generate her own income. They gave her the startup tools and materials she needed to launch a small business. And they walked alongside her as she learned the skills that would transform her family’s future.
Today, Aselefech no longer begs. She runs her own business and feeds her children with the income she earns.
From empty hands to running a business. From desperation to independence.
This Christmas, you can help more families like Aselefech’s break free from poverty.
Tearfund Canada partners with local churches in places like Ethiopia to provide families with more than temporary relief. We equip churches to offer both immediate support and long-term solutions — because families don’t just need to survive this month. They need the tools to thrive for years to come.
When you give today, you’re not just helping one family. You’re equipping an entire church to transform their community. One equipped church can help dozens of families move from begging to business ownership.
Here’s what your gift today provides:
- Immediate relief — food, clothing, and home repairs for families in crisis
- Business training — skills that teach families how to generate their own income
- Startup tools — materials and support to launch a small business
- Ongoing guidance — mentorship as families build sustainable livelihoods
Your generosity today helps families not only escape their current crisis but also build a foundation for lasting change. By partnering with Tearfund Canada, you’re helping bring restoration and hope to families living in poverty.
Following Jesus where the need is greatest
In the midst of this brokenness, we know that Jesus is always moving. Working alongside our church-based partners, your generosity provides much more than just business training. It provides hope to families that there are people who care for them and a God who loves them.
When local churches reach out to families like Aselefech’s, they’re offering the same compassion and practical support that Jesus showed throughout His ministry. They see each person not as a statistic, but as someone created in God’s image with inherent dignity and potential.
Your gift today can equip more churches to help more families break free from poverty
This Christmas, will you help another family break free from poverty?