Gladys could have easily given up – and she admits to
having thought about it. She lost her husband, five of her brothers and a
stepson from the conflict in Colombia that has been afflicting the country for
six decades. She was driven from her home four times and eventually became a
refugee in her own country.
But – “Pa’lante pa’ya!”
says Gladys: “Life has to go on!”
Today Gladys is the
coordinator of a self-help group, made up of women who have lost almost
everything to the conflict. “Many of us were driven off our own land, and in
many cases our husbands have been killed,” explains Gladys.
The women in the group,
including Gladys, had to pick up and start over. Many ended up in slum-like
communities – without a means to sustain themselves and with little hope for
the future – until they became organized.
The women formed a group
and received a grant from The Lutheran World Federation, supported by your
gifts to ELCA World Hunger. Now, thanks to your support, the women grow organic
vegetables and raise chickens.
“We have clean, healthy
food for our families and recently we have had a bit extra that we can sell,”
stated Gladys. She is proud of the group’s success. “But it’s not just about
producing food. We organize, help ourselves and advocate to improve the
situation for women in our society.”
Colombia has the second
highest number of refugees in the world. The Lutheran World Federation provides
service and care for 1.2 million of the world’s refugees. Your gifts to ELCA
World Hunger help make this work possible – providing opportunities to those
who otherwise wouldn’t have it.
Thank you for supporting
Gladys and other men, women, and children like her throughout the world!
For more information on ELCA
World Hunger, click here.
We cannot keep quiet about
what we have seen and heard! Acts 4:20
Christine Donahue
TLGCS Mission Interpreter Coordinator
cedonahue@gmail.com
TLGCS Mission Interpreter Coordinator
cedonahue@gmail.com
