Stories from the field

Impactful moments of life change

A baby's touch

The following story is shared by Barbara Metcalf, long-standing member of the Ending Violence Educators (EVE) Team who recently returned from a trip to Ensenada, Mexico where they worked alongside the HFL partners at El Refugio, an organization providing education for women and children in the areas of women’s health training, violence and risk against women, and leadership.

Nelson's story

Nelson was a witchdoctor, a slave of Satan. Years ago, if someone had run into him on the street, they would have run away because of what the Devil used to do. At 6 pm everyone would bring their kids home. They were afraid. They were frightened by his appearance and because of the dark rituals he performed.

Nelson didn’t believe in God. He worshiped the Devil.

Jean-Yves' story

Jean-Yves had a dream. He wanted to be an agriculturalist, but his family was very poor — he practically grew up with nothing. So education seemed like an impossibility. He started at a university in Port-au-Prince, but halfway through the year he couldn’t afford to continue. His dream seemed dead.

Answered prayers

Kids love to fix things. In Pryazovs'ke, Ukraine they have the opportunity to work on bicycles. As they grow older, they even learn to repair cars. While they develop their skills, they help their community.

Edna's story

Every year, for the last fifteen years, Edna puts on a brunch. She invites family and really close friends. They all come in the door, they greet each other and everyone is happy to be together — chatting a mile a minute. And then, she serves the brunch.

Rachel's recipes

In 2011, Rachel was patiently awaiting the arrival of her new niece. Her brother and his wife had adopted a beautiful daughter from Ethiopia. That was when Rachel — filled with all sorts of excitement — decided to make a cookbook. It was a taste of home gathered from African shores.

Nigel’s story

Nigel is the oldest of 5 children. His father is a pastor and tries to make a living by selling small bags of water on the street. One day Nigel was playing soccer using a ball made with bits of string and plastic wound together. As he was playing, he kicked a rock that he mistook for the ball. The pain was immediately intense.

Maggie's story

The view from the narrow dirt road was breathtaking. The whisper of a breeze through the trees and the deep red earth — it was a symphony of sound and color. I was struck by the disunion; the majesty — even perfection — of creation in front of me, and the suffering that plagues this land.

Pheral

Pheral was an orphan—a tiny tot with a swollen belly and big, vacant eyes. He was tired, hungry and alone.

Mary's story

She spoke somewhat reluctantly, this jewel of a woman. Weathered and straight-backed, she carried herself with a certain elegance, in the middle of this drought-ridden African land. The deep lines on her face spoke of laughter, of depth, of hope and humility. It was all there, as she graciously endured our obtrusive microphone and began to talk about someone she would rather have not: herself.

Stories from the field

Impactful moments of life change

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