The post 5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real Difference appeared first on Joan Kelley Walker.

The post Rinkside With Cheryl Bernard appeared first on Joan Kelley Walker.

Canadian Icon Tom Cochrane is a leader in Canadian music, known and loved throughout the world for hits like “Life is a Highway”, “Human Race” and “I Wish you Well”. Tom bought his first guitar at age eleven by selling a toy train set. Tom’s global successes, massive body of work and powerful performances have firmly established him as one of Canada’s most loved artists. Beyond the music industry, Tom is also deeply respected for his down to earth, caring nature and his work to support people around the world. On the heels of his new music industry award spoke with Tom about his music, artist responsibilities and giving back.

Joan: Tom, you have won countless awards. Congratulations for being honored by the Canadian Music Hall of Fame! What does this particular honor mean to you?

Tom: It’s weird but the public has a short memory and I already am in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. This is the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and it is also a great honor and very prestigious, well respected award and I am very humbled by it. CMW has become a hugely respected show case and educational week for artists both on a Canadian level and internationally.

Joan: Music aside, you also have the Queens Diamond Jubilee medal, the Order of Canada and many Humanitarian awards. Do you think it is important for artists to draw attention to social issues?

Tom: It is an ongoing debate whether artists should be the voice of change and get involved in social issues and I feel the short answer is yes… Right or wrong the public tends to listen, trust and be influenced by celebrities often more than politicians so if there are issues that a musician feels strongly about then they should lend their voice. Advice: pick your issues wisely, do your research and don’t use a cause or issue simply to enhance your image or profile.

Joan: Can we talk about World Vision? What is your involvement and how did that come about?

Tom: I have been involved with them since 1989 — at that time we had a sponsored child. We’ve partnered with World Vision since then, and have seen their work many times. My wife Kathy and I have been extremely touched and motivated by the dedicated work they do world wide to help save lives in the developing world and improve living conditions for the world’s poor. We have sponsored many children since that first child in Ecuador and will continue to do so.

Joan: I know you’ve traveled with World Vision to remote parts of the world. What do you take away from those experiences?

Tom: We have taken away from those trips an understanding of how difficult it is to do this work and how lucky and blessed we are to have been born in a country with relative boundless opportunity and riches and that to help World Vision in some small way do the heavy lifting they do is a privilege.

Joan: Is there one story in particular you’d like to share with us about some of the people you’ve met while on location with World Vision?

Tom: I was in a fairly dangerous part of war torn Mozambique, a wet feeding refugee camp when a women being held in her daughter’s arms died in front of us, she was severely dehydrated in an advanced stage of starvation and the little girl looked up at us as if to say “how could this happen?”. I saw my daughters in her face at that moment and I will never forget it. The World Vision doctor, Dr. Jellipa had been there for two or three months in horrendous conditions and refused to leave. He was that dedicated.

Joan: What other charity work are you doing right now?

Tom: I will be speaking at a World Vision event in June about their “Starting Strong” initiative. We are taking a trip to Cambodia in the late fall with child slavery as the focus of that trip.

Joan: You lead by example, showing that individuals can make a difference and make the world a better place. Who do you “look up to” in your life?

Tom: Well I have had some pretty great mentors who have lead by example themselves like Dave Toycen (President of World Vision) on a charity level, then there are people like Deane Cameron, Randy Lennox and Frank Davies on a music business level as well.

Joan: A lot of musicians look to you as a mentor. Any advice for up and coming artists?

Tom: The music, the songs, the work comes first — not everything else. The other things will find and pick you after you have some success. Also keep your options open not just from a practical standpoint, but because by going to school or working a part time gig, whatever you learn you can draw from those things to create and get inspired. These things all teach us about life — and life after all is what the songs are about.

Joan: What advice would you offer to a regular person who would like to help make the world a better place?

Tom: Just do what you can and try to be mindful and kind on your journey. Nobody can change the world all by themselves and it is futile and arrogant to think that you can. “Life Is A Highway” touches on this. Keep your eyes on the road ahead of you and try to spread some good will and do the right thing along the way.

Joan: Getting back to your music, what can we look forward to hearing from you next?

Tom: Pretty much all my energy right now is going towards making a record and trying to get a single/EP out by late June then an album by the fall.

Joan: You grew up in a very small town, Lynn Lake, Manitoba. When you were a kid growing up, no doubt dreaming big, did you ever expect this kind of huge international success that you’ve enjoyed?

Tom: No I never expected this kind of success or longevity. I thought, well, it would be great to release a record or two and tour and play the world — you know you put one foot ahead of the other and see where it takes you. Started playing pubs and coffee houses then clubs for the summer and it turned into the endless summer ha ha ha!

Joan: You gotta love endless summer! It’s been an honor to speak with you Tom, Can’t wait to hear the new album! Thank you for sharing with us today.

The post In Depth and Personal With Tom Cochrane appeared first on Joan Kelley Walker.

Joan Kelley Weisshaar Walker: Former Model, Avid Fashionista and World Vision Ambassador

I love the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and this year was no different. I love the glam, the stars, the energy, but most of all, I love the movies. I am a veteran red carpet journalist and I’ve been fortunate to interview many A-list movie stars and directors, for a show called “Red Carpet Diary.”

The post 10 Must-See Films from TIFF that will Inspire you to Take Action appeared first on Joan Kelley Walker.

We often have little or no idea about the manufacturing chain a given product passes through before it reaches our country.

WORLD VISION CANADA

I’m certain I speak for all Canadians when I say that no one wants to buy products that have been made by the hands of children forced into slave labour. That is fundamentally wrong on all levels. Everyone knows that.

I have a cottage where I host a lot of guests. I am constantly restocking household items. Of course I try to find the lowest prices, but at what expense?

It is heartbreaking to hear that, in some cases, children as young as five years old are forced to work in dangerous jobs. Their step of the process goes unrecognized, undocumented in the information that is passed on to the consumer.

These children should be in school. They should be enjoying their childhood. When they are old enough to work, they should be paid fairly and work in good conditions for reasonable hours.

I cannot sit idly by and watch this ‘chain” continue. How do we, as Canadian consumers find out where, how and by whom a product has been made, besides what we are told on the label or information given by the manufacturer?

CHELSEA MACLACHLAN/WORLD VISION CANADA

This young boy works on his family’s coffee farm. When he is older he will work on a larger plantation to earn money for his family.

We could be the problem

Canadians may unintentionally be supporting this situation in the products that we buy. Research shows that more than 1,200 companies operating in Canada are importing goods at high risk of child or forced labour.

I believe a key step is to rally our government to create tangible change. We need to insist on legislation for transparency of the entire chain of goods that enter our country. We deserve to know all the facts so we can make informed decisions about what products we purchase and how we are affecting children around the world. Imagine your own children in this situation!

According to World Vision, there are 168 million child labourers worldwide. Eighty-five million of these are in hazardous work, doing work that is harmful to their health and development. That is one in ten children worldwide.

WORLD VISION CANADA

Every year when the monsoon rains come to Cambodia, Khav drops out of school to work in the fishing industry. He’s been working since he was 10 years old.

So what can we do?

World Vision is rallying Canadians to ask our government to create legislation requiring large companies in Canada to publicly report on their efforts to monitor, address and prevent child labour in their supply chains on a yearly basis. This approach was successful in the UK.

How do we ask this of our government? There is an online petition through World Vision Canada’s No Child for Sale campaign.

Here are some more tips at home that you can do to help reduce the amount of goods at risk of child labour entering our country:

1. Shop at vintage or second-hand shops
2. Purchase artisan, hand-crafted items
3. Shop at local farmers’ markets
4. Upcycle old items
5. Look for ethically certified or fair trade items

Change will not happen overnight, but we need to do what we can. We are so blessed to be in this beautiful country. Let’s rally together to make the world a better place for the children’s sakes, and your own ability to make ethical informed consumer decisions. That’s something I look forward to.

The post Canadian Consumers Shouldn’t Accept Child Labour In Their Products appeared first on Joan Kelley Walker.

There nothing like a change of season to make you rethink your wardrobe. To find out what to wear this spring and summer 2016, I spoke to Molly Fitzpatrick, the Chair of Scrubs in the City, a Sick Kids Hospital Foundation, who also happens to be a respected trendsetter and avid fashion follower.

“I’ve loved fashion since I was a little girl,” she told me. “I love all aspects of the fashion industry. The thrill of the hunt is really fun too!”

On trend for this summer, Molly suggests that “white lace dresses, strappy sandals in all heel heights, and a great statement earring, particularly in turquoise” will take you anywhere.

All photos courtesy of Joan Kelley

Other must-haves include “anything off the shoulder…blouses or dresses,” continues Molly. “(They are) very flattering for all shapes and sizes.”

If you are looking for a great piece that can carry you through all seasons, one of Molly’s favorites is a bit unexpected. “Black leather pants,” she says. “I own several pair in different cuts. You can dress them up or down. A thousand miler!”

Dressing for the big event

For some, deciding what to wear to a big event can be a challenge. Here is Molly’s approach:

“When thinking about what to wear for a charity event, the first thing I consider is the theme. I try to come up with something that works with the theme but also works with my style. For example, this year the theme for Sick Kids Hospital’s Scrubs in the City is ‘London.’ I haven’t decided on the dress yet but I know I will be choosing a U.K. designer.”

There are a lot of amazing international designers out there, but Canadian designers hold their own on an international stage. One that is really trending right now, according to Molly, is Greta Constantine. “I love Greta because their styles are beautifully cut and I love their fabrics.”

Other Canadian designers to watch for this season include Aleks Susak and one of Molly’s favorites: “Pink Tartan, because they are giving back. Teaming up with Burt’s Bees to save the Bees!”

Conscious fashion choices

If conscious shopping is important to you, there are a few simple things you can keep in mind. You could purchase a high-quality wardrobe staple (for example, instead of several cheap white T-shirts, invest in one well-made shirt that will last longer and look better). You might choose to buy locally produced garments, or be open to high-end consignment shops to look for designer labels. If you want to take it one step further, you may want to check out World Vision’s Conscious Consumer Challenge.

The post How To Embrace Conscious Fashion And Style appeared first on Joan Kelley Walker.

Being Thankful

It seems like a no brainer. Supporting charitable organizations and doing acts of kindness is the right thing to do. Most people get that. My family and many Canadians are very privileged. I feel we have an obligation to give back, to “pay it forward.” People like to contribute. It is a great example for your children and the starting point of important dialogue.

Personally, it makes me feel good to give, to help, to support. In my hour of need, I hope others would help me in return. That’s how I see the world: an interconnected network of ever changing circumstance. An ebb and flow within a fabric of leaning on one another for the greater good.

Canada is known throughout the world for having this capacity. It starts with its citizens. One friend shared with me that she remembers not having much and how terrible she felt. She wants to give back now so that others can have what she did not.

The author and her husband are grateful to be Canadian givers. (Photo/ World Vision)

My values are humble and simple. I recognize that I am fortunate and I give thanks every day. I live in this beautiful country. I am healthy. I have capacity to reason and work. I value that we have the ability to make choices in our lives. I choose to focus on compassion and kindness. These are values that contribute to the world and fill my heart.

Making Choices

If you do good in the world, good comes back to you. It is important to align yourself with initiatives that you have a direct connection with. That way you get your heart involved. Don’t just support the charities that your friends support.

You should do your research, do your homework. Ask the big questions such as: How does this make me feel? Where does the money go? How much overhead is there? How can I be sure my time and money is well spent?

I think fundraisers, charities and especially galas should be transparent. They should disclose costs, how much money is raised and how that money is spent. Are the galas, fundraisers and charities affecting change?

Our family has a list of criteria that we use to evaluate which organizations to partner with. The list depends on whether it is a local/community based initiative or an international charity. For example, our list for international giving includes giving to organizations that promote human rights. We support organizations who believe in gender equality and promote healthy family relationships, no matter what the structure of that family may look like. We focus on clean water, nutrition, education and skills training.

The author gets hands on with some World Vision projects in Cambodia (Photo/ World Vision)

I have been incredibly blessed to visit many of the communities we support around the world. The most satisfying moments are when you can see that the work is making a positive impact.

For local initiatives, volunteering is the best way to get to know an organization and the people within it. Then you’ll have a strong platform to decide how you want to lend your support.

Looking In

Once choices are made, communication is key. To withhold it is detrimental. Miracles happen in all walks of life when we communicate with honesty. Some people appear to “have it all” but are spiritually bankrupt.

I choose to search within, to discover myself, to challenge myself, to understand and evolve. It’s not always easy but I try! Everything I say or do has a massive impact. That goes for all of us. Each individual has a powerful voice. How do you choose to use your power? Sometimes effort is as important as outcome.

For me, I default to compassion. I empathize. I take responsibility. You never know how bumpy the road will be but I keep trying.

You don’t have to be strong all of the time. It’s okay to make mistakes. That is bound to happen, it is part of the ebb and flow of life. But when you have your feet under you, when you have your power and strength, be responsible and resourceful with it.

No one ever became broke by supporting a charity or doing acts of kindness. Do what you can, according to whatever means you have. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture; in fact, sometimes the smallest acts of kindness, simple things, have the most impact.

The author with a child at a World Vision nutrition centre in Cambodia. (Photo/ World Vision)

Giving back is a crucial mind set. It’s all about balance within our lives as individuals and as a society as a whole. For me, the most important thing is supporting children to give them the best possible opportunities. This is the torch I carry and by leading by example I hope to inspire people to do the same.

If any of the above resonated with you, here are my favourite ways to give back:

1) Sponsoring a child with World Vision

2) Volunteering time at a school or church

3) Choosing a cause and learning as much as I can about it. Then being creative and thinking outside the box to create my own way of giving back

4) Letting people know how much I appreciate it when they give back with genuine kindness

5) Helping my neighbours

The post Why I Give: Volunteering Is A No Brainer appeared first on Joan Kelley Walker.

Eric Fusilier (Bass, Vocals) Aaron Powell (Guitar, Vocals) Elias Dummer (Lead Vocals, Piano) and Josh Vanderlaan (Drums) are contenders for a Juno this Sunday night. Photo courtesy of The City Harmonic.

The 45th annual Juno Awards will be broadcast this Sunday, April 3, from Calgary. The Junos highlight Canada’s very best musical talent in many categories, including Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.

One of the contenders in this category is Hamilton, Ontario’s own band The City Harmonic. The band is composed of four worshipers from four small churches who began by singing hymns and spiritual songs.

Since then, The City Harmonic is no stranger to success, having won its first Juno in 2013. I enjoyed a candid and interesting conversation with two of The City Harmonic’s members, Elias Dummer and Eric Fusilier.

Elias: It’s great because the Junos are an internationally recognized thing. Especially as a worship band, to be in a space where the rest of the world can talk about it. It’s been an honor to play a role at all. It’s the sort of thing we never expected.

Joan: What is the difference between being a Christian rock band and a regular rock band?

Eric: Christian music is an industry in its own right, and sets a different career track than other bands might take.

Philosophically, art is a creative process where we can express ourselves. There’s no difference between art of a regular band or our band except through our purpose, that we are directing our art at God.

When we participate in the creative nature that we are created for, we see God there. There is a common thread in the way that we experience art and beauty, it’s all sourced in God.

Joan: What is The City Harmonic’s process of creating music?

Elias: I tend to write something every day. Going into this new record I had about 145 voice memos, we call them scratches. We sift through them and work on lyrics once we understand the emotional space we’re going for.

Joan: I’m always interested in how artists use their talents to help children in need or other important causes. What has The City Harmonic done to have your career in the arts impact the world around us?

Elias: We’re trying our best to represent what World Vision is doing. A lot of our work has been around equipping local churches to work together better. We spent last fall encouraging groups of local churches, talking to them about how they can impact the world around them.

Joan: Can you share an example of an experience you’ve had with your charity work that was particularly important to you?

Elias: We were in Guatemala and met a young boy named Jose who had been born without the ability to speak — he was tongue-tied. Jose had surgery. World Vision helped him get through that whole process even though he didn’t have a sponsor. I loved how the staff took care of the whole community. Now the band sponsors Jose.

Eric: I was quite ill (just before that time) with leukemia, so I was sidelined. When the leukemia was finally in remission, our band got the opportunity to go to Guatemala, the doctors advised me not to go. Still that whole experience was hugely formational and shaped me in powerful ways.

I heard my bandmates’ stories when they came back, saw the experience through them. I got to hear the passion coming from all the guys and how excited they were – and I got to partner with them to sponsor Jose.

At the same time I had this overwhelming realization that if I was born somewhere else in the world, and got as sick as I did, I would be dead right now. It was a double whammy, experiencing what the guys had seen and the powerful realization, first hand, of how important all this work is.

Joan: Did you ever expect to enjoy the incredible success that The City Harmonic has had?

Elias: Oh man, no. For us, we weren’t 21 — most of us were married with kids and this was kind of our last kick at the can. We didn’t expect success so quickly.

Joan: Right now you guys are going through some real changes. Can you tell me a little about that? How are you feeling?

Eric: After the leukemia went into remission, I was well enough to travel with the band again. It was a testing period to see what my body could handle; I’m essentially rebuilding my immune system. There have been some difficult side effects and long-term effects from my transplant and some of the medication.

In 2015 we were on the road for a long time, and it was a tough pace. At that point I realized I couldn’t keep going. It also highlighted to me that I wasn’t feeling as called to the band as I used to be.

I started to get involved in local worship and God is really calling me there. It was a really hard decision. But when I sit with it, I have a great sense of peace.

Joan: What’s next for you, Eric?

Eric: I am going to continue to work with the local church, and be intentional and missional where I live. It’s about being with God and trusting him. I’m not certain about what is next, but feel that God is fully in control. I hope that even if I am not in the band I can still connect with organizations like World Vision, and speak about causes that are important to me.

Joan: What is next for The City Harmonic?

Elias: Right now we’re in a season of trying to figure that out ourselves. We have a few concert dates in Canada, a trip to Europe in May and some summer festivals.

Joan: I’m sure Jose thanks you for your sponsorship; we thank you for your music and inspiration. We all wish you the best of luck with your nomination this year at the Junos, and pray for continued health.

The post Juno Contenders The City Harmonic Live What They Sing appeared first on Joan Kelley Walker.

  Dani and John with pictures of the children they sponsor through World Vision. Photo courtesy of the Gattinger family.

There’s nothing I admire more than a couple with an enduring love and a commitment to giving back. Such is the case of John and Olga Gattinger. They are in their 90s and are soon to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary! Perhaps the best part of the story, like most, is the journey…

They grew up during Canada’s Great Depression to immigrant parents from Austria and Ukraine. Olga, who prefers to be called Dani, experienced extreme poverty while growing up, often without enough food to feed the large family.

Dani went on to meet John, a WW2 soldier and the couple married in 1946, the year after the war ended. It seems to me that Dani would have experienced the entire gamut of emotions in her life leading up to her wedding day. Of course there would be the excitement of falling in love, but before that, much of her life would have been filled with fear for herself and her siblings, pain of loss, hardships of being hungry, and the anguish of war. Thankfully few of us alive today in this beautiful country will ever face one of those challenges, let alone the whole range at once.

The couple on their wedding day. Photo courtesy of the Gattinger family.

It’s a deep esoteric question but it makes we wonder how some people are able to approach life with such a positive attitude, joy and compassion despite extreme difficulty. Here is where Dani and John excel.

After they married, life became more stable. Instead of survival, Dani’s passions developed. They had five children. Dani was able to travel and see the world. They developed a list of priorities including helping others, in a tangible way.

It all started when Dani travelled to Cambodia and witnessed harsh poverty that she had herself experienced. “During the years of 1971-1990 I travelled the world to learn firsthand how the children of the world were faring. In a nut shell, Oh my! These children are poor just like I was growing up and they need help. The question is, how can I help?” She continues, “the need to help poor children is great and my prayer is that many who read this article will pitch in to help the poor children of the world.”

One of Dani’s greatest joys has been watching her own children grow and be educated, followed by her ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. This is a very large family by most standards but Dani, following her passion, decided to “acquire an extended family.”

For the Gattingers, their children here in Canada are only the start of their family. Photo courtesy of the Gattinger family.

Dani explains “in 1975 I started my extended family with one child. Over the years I have increased that to six, the current number I now support. Throughout the years, many have come and gone, so to speak, as they have grown up, each one has brought great happiness to me and my husband John. The joy goes on and on but could not have happened without the great planning, assistance and development of World Vision.”

In the last month, Dani and John received two annual reports, one from their sponsored child in Romania and another from Jerusalem West Bank Gaza, “the pictures alone are enough to bring tears to my eyes. I have been with them, and they with me, since their early childhood and now in their teens and although I’ve never met them personally, they are mine” Dani shares.

For her 90th birthday, World Vision helped to put together a framed birthday card featuring a picture of each child, which Dani and John refer to as their grandchildren. “It’s the treasure of my life” she says “and is reflective of the joy working with World Vision and at the same time helping the poor as I was at one point in my life.”

Thank You Dani for your lifetime of inspiration and happy 90th birthday! Congratulations to you and John on your 70th wedding anniversary!

The post How A Couple In Their 90s Is Helping To Care For The World’s Children appeared first on Joan Kelley Walker.

Photo: World Vision

As a child advocate, I recently had the opportunity to travel to Cambodia to see some of the work World Vision is doing to make a difference. It was also the first time I took my sons to see how many people in developing countries live. I tracked my experience in this travel journal. This is Part 3.

Read Part 1 of my journal

Read Part 2 of my journal

Day 4: Youth Leaders Provide Hope

I am so excited to tell you about the youth leaders that I met in rural Cambodia! They are young people between the ages of about 14 to 30 years old. Sure, they get together to socialize like any youth group, but the focus of their group is more important than any other youth group I have ever heard of.

These young people are the front line of the Starting Strong program that my family helps support through World Vision for all of Cambodia.

This dynamic group is the core to teaching women, mothers and caregivers in rural areas about their options and choices, and how to raise their babies with the best-possible care.

This group of young leaders is an important support for expecting and new mothers. Photo: World Vision

Starting Strong measures and tracks the progress of pregnant mothers, babies and children up to the age of five. It is difficult to believe how little education most of the women in Cambodia have here about care for themselves during pregnancy, breastfeeding and caring for their children.

Malnutrition is also prevalent, even in families that are not considered poor. It is not an economic thing; it is an educational thing.

The focus of Starting Strong is to educate and support mothers to learn how to use local, readily available ingredients to make sure that their families have all the nutrients they need. The primary goal is to prevent stunting in children, which has a very high incidence rate. (Stunting means they don’t develop and grow properly because of poor nutrition.)

If addressed before a child is two years old, the long-term physical and mental effects of stunting can be reversed.

The leaders invite the mothers to join groups that teach them about food preparation. They also have regular weighing of mothers and babies using the same growth chart that my doctor used for my kids when they were born in Canada.

It’s wonderful to see how stunting can be reversed with this team approach!

There’s nothing more beautiful than a healthy mom and baby! Here, I was speaking with moms at a rural health clinic. Photo: World Vision

At a rural health care facility about an hour outside of Siem Reap, Cambodia, I was able to meet mothers and babies who came for their regular weigh-ins.

This is important because it shows the mothers that their participation in the Starting Strong program is working. It’s also an opportunity to identify mothers and babies who need additional support.

There were many mothers attending the weigh-in. Some of the babies were in the danger zone of the growth chart, meaning the babies had malnutrition and were at risk of stunting. Left untreated, stunted babies could have physical and mental problems for life.

Embracing education

One mother I met was new to the program and she had no prior knowledge of breast feeding. She did not know that what she ate affected the quality of her breast milk, or that a diet consisting mainly of rice, or crackers was not sufficient to prevent stunting. Her baby was underweight and malnourished. The mother was anemic and lethargic.

She very relieved though that her baby had been identified as being underweight. And this mother was very motivated to follow the food regimen that was suggested. Mostly, she was thankful for having heard about the Starting Strong program from a youth leader.

She looked forward to learning about nutrition, being taught how to cook with local, readily available ingredients to make proper nutritious food for her and her family. Without it, she feared for the quality of life her baby would have.

It brought tears to my eyes to feel her struggle. It made me thank God for the good work World Vision is doing in the Starting Strong program.

I am humbled that my family and I support this program throughout Cambodia

Day 5: How Nutrition Changes Lives

Today I got to prepare nutritious food with a women’s gathering in a rural area, outside of Siem Reap, Cambodia. This is a learning and sharing opportunity for all of us.

The focus of the day is a big pot cooking over an open flame. Inside the pot is rice, meat, fish, egg, oil, clean water, peanuts, iodized salt, local pepper, herbs and lots of green leafy vegetables from local trees and shrubs. The people cook this into what they call “porridge.”

This is the front line to ensure proper nutrition for mothers and their children! It tastes more like lunch to me, not breakfast porridge. The babies and young ones can’t get enough of it and I get a great deal of satisfaction feeding babies!

Photo: World Vision

I love to hold the babies! And to talk with the mothers who are keen to learn about what it’s like to raise children in Canada. I also love to be a part of this Starting Strong program that we are partnering with World Vision Canada on to support Cambodian families and communities.

One of the mothers said to me, “As a mother of a malnourished baby, I am so thankful to be learning how to make this porridge!” She was not embarrassed, nor was there stigma, rather, she was thankful that World Vision was there to help.

The post Youth Leaders Are Helping Cambodian Children Grow Up Healthy appeared first on Joan Kelley Walker.