Africa Archives - Cross International

A Life-Changing After-School Program in Rural Malawi

June 16, 2025 by Cross International

Six days a week, hundreds of children pour into a large fellowship hall in the remote village of Thanganyika in southern Malawi. This hall is so much more than merely a building. It represents hope. It’s a place of refuge, a sacred space. The joyous sound of kids singing and laughing often echoes through the room. Children are taught the Word of God here, and for many, this is where they receive their only substantial meal of the day.

Nine-year-old Tamala and her siblings used to venture to neighbors’ houses in a desperate attempt to obtain food. Despite working hard, Tamala’s single mother struggled immensely to provide. The family also lacked access to clean water, leading to constant sickness from consuming contaminated water. Tamala was heartbroken when she had to be pulled from school because fees were too expensive. She ultimately missed over a year in the classroom. But God had a different plan for her future.

Because of her difficult situation, Tamala was welcomed into the after-school program that’s run in the fellowship hall by Cross International ministry partner Ambuya Development Center. She’s given a nutritious, daily meal and clean water to drink, and her health has vastly improved. As part of the program, Tamala’s educational expenses are paid for, allowing her to resume school! While schoolwork is sometimes challenging because of the lost classroom time, Tamala is steadily progressing and receives extra help with her studies from the center’s staff. She loves to learn and dreams of becoming a teacher when she grows up.

Tamala used to wonder whether God really cared about her, but her faith has grown as she’s experienced tangible expressions of His love through the program in the fellowship hall. She enjoys the regular Bible lessons and fun activities and has made many new friends. Tamala’s favorite Bible story is the account of Esther. She admires Esther’s courage and the way the young queen trusted in God, praying and fasting on behalf of her people.

When ten-year-old Pemphero walked into the fellowship hall for the first time, his attention was immediately drawn to the chairs. They’re not fancy chairs, but Pemphero was not used to having a chair to sit in. He and his siblings live with their single mother in a flimsy, temporary shelter. The fragile structure is all his mother can afford. Like Tamala, Pemphero’s family has very little food and no access to clean water, and he was also out of school before being accepted into the after-school program and having his academic fees covered.

Pemphero was thrilled to return to the classroom! He likes a variety of academic subjects, and though he’s young, he already understands that education is key to eventually being able to start a career through which he can support his family.

Learning scripture has left an impression on Pemphero, who now sees God as his provider. He’s grateful for all of the blessings he’s received. “I did not know that I could be in school…that I would be getting free, good food six days a week…to be using a hall like this one and chairs we do not have at home. All this is a miracle to me. May God be praised.”

The opportunity to go to school and the daily after-school gatherings in the fellowship hall are a lifeline for kids like Tamala and Pemphero. From healthy meals to academic support to Bible lessons and interactions with caring staff members, what’s happening in this space is truly special. When you partner with Cross International, you provide critically needed physical and spiritual nourishment to kids in rural Malawi and beyond in the name of Jesus.

Empowering Women in Rural Uganda: Lydia’s Story

June 2, 2025 by Cross International

As a mother and a grandmother, Lydia is the heart of her household. Over the years, she’s prepared hundreds of meals for her family. And in her home, that’s no small feat. Lydia and her husband Christopher have nine children, some of whom are now adults while the rest are in their teens, and one grandchild. Together the family lives in a small, metal sheet-roofed house in their remote village in southern Uganda.

Lydia cooks for her large family in a tiny space with very basic supplies, and for many years utilized traditional cooking stones that are commonly used by rural Ugandan women. While skilled in this method, Lydia was keenly aware of the hazards of open fire cooking. “The smoke was simply intolerable,” she remembers. “My eyes would burn, and my chest felt heavy. I often worried about the health of my children, who were always around the cooking area.” Lydia and her kids frequently suffered from respiratory infections due to smoke inhalation.

The process was arduous. It took hours each day to collect adequate firewood, leaving minimal time or energy for other activities. The physically-demanding work left Lydia in a constant state of exhaustion, but she pressed on for the sake of her family, trusting God to sustain her. Lydia found comfort in the words of her favorite scripture, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Feeling like she was stuck in an endless cycle, Lydia began attending a series of community meetings organized by Cross International’s local ministry partner, HEED Uganda, which informed residents about various resources and opportunities. Lydia listened intently as meeting leaders discussed the construction of energy-efficient stoves for individual households at extremely low costs. When she realized this was an option for her home, Lydia was elated!

It took just a few hours for Lydia’s new stove to be built. Cooking with the energy-efficient stove produces far less smoke and requires only a fraction of the firewood that was previously needed. Since the switch, Lydia and her family have been healthier from breathing cleaner air. Meanwhile, fewer trips to collect firewood has freed up time for Lydia to spend on other activities. “I now have more time to tend to my garden and grow vegetables for my family. I even have time to make crafts that I sell at the local market in Kafunda.”

From energy-efficient stoves to safe water to agricultural training and much more, Cross International collaborates with local ministries to equip individuals and transform communities. Lydia has experienced the difference firsthand: “Your generosity has brought hope and empowerment into our lives, and I am deeply grateful.”

It’s the selfless giving of people like you that enables Cross International’s work to continue. Partner with us today to bring vital resources and the hope of Christ to the poorest of the poor!

Inclusion & Justice for Children with Disabilities

April 4, 2025 by Cross International

Sheila’s son, nine-year-old Emmanuel, suffers from cerebral palsy. “Ever since he was a baby, the community shunned us,” she said, which also made her other children feel isolated and excluded.

Sheila and her family live in Kilifi County, Kenya — a remote area with widespread misunderstandings about physical disabilities. Many believe that curses, incest, witchcraft or even God is to blame. Frequently, children are painfully abused by “healers” who perform excruciating exorcisms, cuttings, burnings, and live burials to “heal” children of their disabilities. Mothers are often believed to have caused the child’s infliction and consequently are subjected to much of the same inhumane treatment.

Until recently, young Emmanuel and his mother Sheila was in dire need of an advocate who would counsel them on their rights and refer them for care. Cross International intervened on their behalf. Thanks to Cross and our in-country partner, Kupenda for the Children, Emmanuel has received regular physical therapy. The results have been outstanding.

Before he began his physical therapy, Emmanuel was totally dependent on others. Now he can get in and out of his wheelchair by himself. He can crawl and stand up unaided, which would have once been inconceivable. It’s an amazing change for Emmanuel and for his brothers and sisters, as well. They can play and interact with him in a more normal manner. It’s truly a blessing!

With your help, we can transform even more lives and spread the love of Jesus

Cross International has programs serving children with disabilities in six countries — Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya and Malawi — and serves more than 35,000 children and family members. Our work ranges from food distribution and community schools to therapeutic rehabilitation, to surgery, to residential programs, and biblically based leadership and community training to change beliefs and practices for a more just and participatory society.

In the first three years of this plan, we anticipate growing to reach a minimum of 60,000 children with disabilities and family members each year. This is significant, as these vulnerable children and their families are likely to be among the poorest members of the community. Children with disabilities are:

Children with disabilities are at a higher risk of physical abuse and are often excluded from receiving proper nutrition or humanitarian assistance in emergencies. These are children devoid of awareness of life’s possibilities, of life’s hope, or a life of involvement even at the most basic levels of society. Families with disabilities are often shunned, isolated and lack economic opportunity, resulting in lives of poverty and living on the periphery of society.

On average, families who have a child with a disability have lower annual incomes.

In our work, Cross International regularly sees all the challenges described above. As a community of followers of Jesus and as an organization, we believe God is calling Cross to “go deeper and do more.” We are poised to significantly grow our position as an agent of action and influence to improve the lives of these children and their families.

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.

-Luke 14:13-14

Your gift to Cross International can help change the lives of children with disabilities and their families so that their lives can flourish and thrive!

Restoring Peace to Gulu

March 28, 2025 by Cross International

Cecilia, 12, is one of six children born to a former child soldier, a tragic victim of the atrocities inflicted on the people of northern Uganda a generation ago. During that violent era, the perverse Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) was notorious for abducting young children, conscripting boys as soldiers and coercing girls into becoming soldiers’ wives.

During those brutal years, the LRA didn’t just brutalize children, they terrorized children’s families as well. Cecilia’s uncles were abducted, and her grandparents lost 12 acres of land plus many animals to the LRA. It was a dark time for all Ugandans. But today, things are bright again for children like Cecilia, thanks to Gulu Community Park, a community-based playground and evangelical discipleship center supported by Cross International and a Ugandan-based ministry, World Embrace.

It’s hard to imagine that with over 250,000 children in the Gulu district, there are no safe public parks for children, but it’s true! When fully completed, Gulu Community Park will provide 15 acres of enrichment to children like Cecilia.

Already, the park is paying dividends! Cecilia’s father got a new job with Gulu Park security. With his improved income, the family can finally afford the children’s school fees, nutritious meals and even medical treatment. Eventually, Gulu Community Park will be a social hub for the entire community – and Cross International will be there each step of the way.

Your support to our Thriving Kids Initiative will bring joy and a safe space for these children to play, learn, and grow.

Sewing a Better Future

December 13, 2024 by Cross International

Within the Eastern Province of Zambia, many single, divorced and widowed women find it exceedingly difficult to provide for their households’ basic needs. Their meager incomes often don’t cover the cost of food, clothing, adequate shelter, education and health care for themselves or their children. As a result, female-headed households are desperate for an alternative means to increase income and provide for their families.

Along with our partner in Zambia, the Kachere Development Program, Cross works to empower women to build sustainable small businesses. Currently, 436 training and business groups, each comprising 15 to 20 women, meet weekly across many Zambian villages.

One of these groups is the Women’s Sewing Project, based in a central location in the Chipangali District. Currently, 20 women run the business, working on manual sewing machines, as there is no electric grid in the area. They sew uniforms or clothes for families or small businesses and have a full-time trainer to help them develop their sewing and business skills. Each woman has her own clients, but they also work as a collective and share resources.

In addition to the work sessions, the women hold self-help group meetings, where they share ideas and resources to help each other improve their livelihoods. Group members borrow money from the group’s savings and abide by the agreed repayment and interest terms. With the help of the Kachere Development Program, we aim to raise the income of the participants by helping them build sustainable sewing businesses.

Is the venture successful? Just ask Dorika Mwale. Before she became involved with the Women’s Sewing Project, her family faced many hardships. They struggled to meet their daily needs. Most days, they only ate one meal.

Dorika’s husband, Aaron, is a seasonal farmer and earns about $30 for the entire harvest, not nearly enough to support their family of six. But self-help groups such as the Women’s Sewing Project ensure that hardworking women like Dorika don’t have to rely on charity or borrow from predatory moneylenders. Instead, she has established a thriving business where she sews clothes, school uniforms and other garments for clients all across the Chipangali District. The training she receives from the Women’s Sewing Project is wide-ranging, and includes business planning, assertiveness training, psychological counseling and spiritual development.

“The Women’s Sewing Project has changed everything!” says Dorika. “For the first time in my life, I have money left over each month to use at my discretion!”

Cross International currently has microenterprise programs in three countries — Zambia, Malawi and Uganda — improving the lives of more than 3,400 men and women, and indirectly providing a better future for more than 7,400 children.

Our work ranges from self-help groups that offer low-interest microloans, job training and community support to residential programs that offer career counseling, tutoring and Bible training.

Building Hope in Malawi

June 14, 2024 by Cross International

The recent years have been tough for Malawi. Already struggling to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19, Cyclone Ana struck in January 2021. Then subsequent tropical storms displaced more than 190,000 citizens. Before the storms, many of these poor Malawians were already living in inadequate shelters. Their makeshift abodes – homes made from mud bricks, straw, tarps or tin scraps – were in danger of collapsing anytime it would storm. Many have been rebuilt. But until these families are able to upgrade their situation – and live in sturdy, storm-resistant shelters – they will be destined to lose their homes all over again when the next severe storm strikes.

THE SOLUTION: SAFE HOMES FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES

Last year, Cross International worked with a local partner in Malawi, Ambuya Development Center, building homes for three displaced families in the remote villages of Thanganyika, Samama, and Ngundo — all located about an hour’s drive west of Blantyre. This project impacted three adults and 10 children, giving them a safe place to live and thrive. Over the next year, Cross and Ambuya will build four additional homes, impacting four adults and 16 children.

These families are led by widows or single women, and a sturdy, dignified home will immediately improve their families’ well-being and quality of life.

Each cement-block house includes a metal roof, a sturdy, lockable door, two bedrooms, a living space, an elevated concrete foundation, and runoff for rainwater. The project covers materials, a contractor, and quality assurance checks.

MEET THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN MALAWI

Recent severe weather events have made farming nearly impossible for 17-year-old Nelson Kansemo and his mother, who live in Ngundo Village. Since his father passed away, farming has been the only source of income and food for this family of six, who live in a cramped mudbrick hut with a straw roof and plastic tarp stretched across the front of the dwelling.

A stable home would ease the family’s burden, protect them from wind and rain, and allow Nelson to achieve his dream of finishing school.

You can join us in bringing hope and safe shelter to more families.

Christians Provide Clean, Safe Water in Zambia

May 9, 2024 by Cross International

Right now, compassionate givers across the U.S. are partnering with Cross International to provide clean, safe water in eastern Zambia. By participating in Cross International’s A Thirst for Hope, a Thriving Kids Initiative, more than 8,900 lives will be impacted by:

Here, learn more about the lives of the families that will be impacted.

IMPACT ON HEALTH

Olivia knows her children’s lives are in danger. It’s the dry season, and in the village of Agripa, fetching water means traveling to the only source available — a hand-dug watering hole that is shared by villagers, cows, pigs, and wild animals. Every day before the sun rises, Olivia sets out on the first of several trips to the bug-infested watering hole. She knows the water she is gathering is contaminated. In fact, she tells us stories of grown men and women who get desperately ill from diarrhea. You can see why she is so worried about the health of her children.

One look at the brown, murky water, and you can also see why she prays every day that her village will receive safe water. Everyone should have safe water.

IMPACT ON WOMEN AND GIRLS

With a heavy bucket of water perched on top of her head, Tasila carefully makes her way from the local water source back to her home. Like most of the women and girls who live in her village, Tasila walks for hours to fetch water for her family. Often her young daughter, Monica, must miss school so she can fetch water along with her mom. This is a back-breaking chore for mother and daughter, but it’s a necessity they must endure 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Here in eastern Zambia, it is the girls and the women who bear the primary responsibility for water collection. Tasila has spent her whole life worrying about where to find water, especially during the 6-8 months of the dry season. She prays for safe water in her village.

Tasila is hopeful that her daughter will have clean drinking water one day. Then, no longer burdened by long arduous walks and stomach illnesses, Monica would be able to go to school.

IMPACT ON FAITH

Martin smiles as he tenderly thumbs through the pages of his new Bible, a cherished item he never thought he would own. He is sitting on a bench, reading scripture to his young son, Daniel. “I’ve never held an actual Bible in my hands, much less owned one,” he says with reverence.

In Martin’s village, they are celebrating because they have received a community water system that provides safe, drinkable water, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) training.

In addition, they will each receive a Bible, each one printed in the native Chichewa language. It’s a moment that resonates deeply with the Gospel of John and the parable of the Woman at the Well, in which we can proclaim, the words of Jesus, “Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The Holy Spirit is present in every moment of this special occasion, and Martin is particularly overcome with praise. This, after all, is the most important moment of his life — the moment Martin himself will be able to read the Word of God to his son, Daniel.

You can join us in bringing hope and transformation to these communities.

What a Princess Looks Like

April 8, 2024 by Cross International

Emily dreams of becoming a doctor when she’s older. Jackie wants to be a teacher. Patricia hopes to lead a church.

For these and other teenage girls in Uganda, such admirable aspirations are fragile. Poverty severely restricts access to education, especially for girls. School represents a pathway to opportunity while also functioning as a safe haven. Cut off from the classroom, girls not only miss out on valuable learning that could have propelled them forward, but often end up in difficult and even dangerous situations. It’s common for Ugandan girls to be forced into marriages as teenagers, part of a desperate attempt by their families to survive. This sadly results in high rates of gender-based violence, abuse, and teen pregnancy.

Emily

Thirteen-year-old Emily’s parents are hard-working farmers, but crop production has been in sharp decline due to challenging conditions, leaving the family without a reliable source of income. The third oldest of seven children and a dedicated student, Emily dreaded the day she might be required to drop out of school and the implications that would have for her future.

Jackie

Inspired by one of her own teachers, Jackie sees herself leading a classroom someday. The 12-year-old treasures time in school, even with the long daily walk to and from. But similar to Emily, Jackie’s parents are farmers with scarce finances and several other kids to take care of. It seemed inevitable that Jackie would need to be pulled from school, with her dreams disappearing in the process.

Patricia

At the age of 14 and the firstborn of five, Patricia is described as a “brilliant girl” who is “determined to do well in school.” Her passion for Jesus is evident in her expressed desire to “change the world by preaching the love of God.” Hindering Patricia’s pursuit of her goals was her family’s financial situation. It was a major struggle for her mother and father to afford their daughter’s educational fees. Patricia wondered if her days in the classroom were rapidly winding to a close.

Crucial junctures like these become tragic turning points for many Ugandan girls, but for this trio marked a new beginning infused with hope thanks to the intervention of Cross International and Kampala-based ministry partner Project Princess Initiative (PPI). Through the faithful giving of Cross International friends, more than two thousand vulnerable girls have been able to stay in school. PPI covers school expenses and empowers girls by providing spiritual and educational support, counseling, vocational and life skills training, and other resources. Each girl is taught that she is a “princess,” an image bearer of God with immeasurable value and worth.

The vision is for girls to flourish as they grow into young women, putting them in a position of stability when they begin their own families, which will ultimately help create thriving communities. Your generosity to Cross International is beautifully redirecting the paths of precious girls like Emily, Jackie, and Patricia. Thank you!