Hope is growing

Laurent Kabuyaya knows the difficult daily life of many families in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Limited knowledge about balanced nutrition and low incomes mean that many people suffer from malnutrition.

As an agricultural expert from a VEM member church in eastern Congo, he supports communities in the west of the country. In training sessions, he shows families how to grow nutrient-rich foods such as vegetables, grains, and fruit using simple methods. For example, he has introduced sorghum. This nutritious grain is well suited for bread and children’s food but is still largely unknown in the equatorial region. He sources the seeds from a church field and distributes them in his trainings.

In the remote northwest lies Nyakahanga Hospital of the Evangelical Church in Tanzania. In this rural region, it is difficult to attract qualified medical professionals. As part of the VEM personnel exchange, Dr. Albert Muhindo from the Democratic Republic of Congo works here as the lead physician. Day after day, he performs surgeries, treats serious illnesses, and cares for pregnant women and children. For many people—especially low-income families—the church-run hospital is often the only access to medical care.

In Indonesia, living together across different religions is part of everyday life. To ensure this coexistence succeeds, the Christian Church in East Java promotes dialogue and social cohesion. Julia Thissen also contributes to this effort. She is a social worker specializing in conflict management from a UEM member church in Germany. At an educational center, she leads a training program for women of different faiths. There, participants learn how to resolve conflicts constructively and to actively promote understanding and peaceful coexistence within their communities.