There is always hope: Sylvia’s story

Less is More

Sylvia had nothing left

Sylvia is over 100 years old. When violence descended on her village in Nigeria, she had to flee. Her home was burned down, her personal belongings were all destroyed and she lost her last living son. ‘We were running for our lives,’ Sylvia recalls.

‘All of my things were destroyed, everything I own.’

A helping hand and a place to rest

After being in hiding for four days, Sylvia and her grandchildren were rescued and taken to a nearby camp. A Tearfund partner helped them with emergency supplies and gave them food, soap, and a mattress to sleep on. Sylvia says, ‘I was happy’.

Hope for the future

Almost everything Sylvia held dear has been destroyed. Yet she is still looking to the future. She has enough to feed and care for her grandchildren and she’s got a mattress to sleep on. It may not sound like much, but when you are over 100 years old, not sleeping on the ground is a precious gift.

‘My house has been burned down, but at least I can sleep on a mattress.’

The power of simple

When disaster strikes, the simplest gifts can offer people the strength and hope to rebuild their lives. A few cooking utensils, a little food, a mattress… And you could transform lives with one simple action too: when you make a monthly gift to Tearfund. Month after month, you could help to offer the power of simple where it’s needed most.