Livelihood Grant Removes Hostility, Builds Friendship

Fear filled Mrs. Nurhayati’s eyes as she gathered her children around her. She immediately declined the Food for the Hungry offer for her to attend a free English camp. The children would listen to stories, do arts and crafts and play games. But Mrs. Nurhayati feared that these Food for the Hungry “foreigners” would corrupt and indoctrinate their children.

The image of that fearful look haunted Food for the Hungry staff. They returned to her home to discover that she had six children and a small stall from which she sold food. It was her only source of income. She reluctantly accepted the offer of a livelihood grant of a stove, an oven, pans and dishpans to make her business more profitable.

Mrs. Nurhayati can now provide for her family and, for the first time, she is able to send her daughters to school. Having overcome her fear of Food for the Hungry, her children now attend English camp and enthusiastically learn to speak English.

By God’s grace, Food for the Hungry has developed a strong relationship with theNurhayati family. The hostility and distrust are replaced with a future full of opportunity and hope.

What We Do

Agriculture & Economic Development: The Agriculture Livelihoods programs consist of training in the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) organic rice planting method, organic gardens, and reforestation with cocoa trees as a cash crop.

Indonesia Education: In partnership and at the request of local leaders, Food for the Hungry created a program focused on the improvement of English education in Meulaboh. The project has four major components: English Camps, Teacher Training Retreats, Teacher Exchange Programs, and PKK Teacher and Leadership Training. In addition, in the Afulu district, our staff tutors in Indonesian literacy, kindergarten, and high school science and math.

Indonesia Livelihoods Program: Skills trainings are provided in sewing, embroidering, baking, and cassava chip making. In addition, participants learn about financial management and develop savings groups. These programs focus on empowering the women in the community.

Food for the Hungry began working in Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami, initially to provide relief assistance to children and families who survived the tragedy.

In response to the long-term need for rebuilding and rehabilitation, the City of Phoenix joined with Food for the Hungry to establish the “Rising to Help” initiative, a commitment to restore the municipality of Meulaboh, which lost nearly one-third of its citizens in the disaster. Food for the Hungry has committed to help communities and leaders discover sustainable ways to improve their living and know and embrace the love of God. The area now shows more economic activity than before the disaster.