Lent Appeal

How your gift can help unlock possibility

Innocent was just ten years old when he started working at an illegal gold mine in Ivory Coast. Without the opportunity for an education, there can often be nowhere else to turn. The door to a better life seemed slammed shut.

The mines were dangerous. Two of his friends became trapped in a tunnel and died. So Innocent gave up and started working as a farm labourer. But with a wife and two children to feed, it didn’t provide enough income. His family would often go hungry.

This Lent, you can transform the lives of people like Innocent – unlocking opportunities and creating a more secure future.

Your gift could help our local church partners provide life-changing business skills training, creating a secure future for people in need. And because the training is holistic – grounded in Biblical teaching and meeting physical, material and spiritual needs – the transformation will last.

Local churches changing lives

Four years ago, Pastor Edward from his local church started inviting Innocent to his home to talk about God and faith. Innocent’s relationship with God was restored. He started attending services and joined the church’s business training programme – supported by Tearfund.

Now, Innocent has plans to save up and open a shop: ‘I'm going to work hard in order to open my DIY store,’ he says. ‘Pray to God for me that one day I will be great – successful.’

Work like this is transformational. But it can’t happen without people like you. Poverty isn’t God’s plan. You are. By giving to our Lent Appeal, you can unlock the door of opportunity for people like Innocent who are trapped in poverty.

Please support vital work like this around the world by giving to our Lent Appeal today.

Image credit (below): Patrick Brown/UNICEF Panos Pictures