Hi there!

I've been interning at a development agency called International Teams Canada (iTeams) located in Woolwich, ON. iTeams has been active for many years and provides funding, logistical support, and networks to innovative community-led programs that serve people living in poverty and vulnerable situations in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

Recently, I've been having Zoom meetings with local leaders in South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, and Romania, where I've learned about their impressive work this year. One story that moved me was from Impact South Sudan's Confident Children Out of Conflict program. Their leader, Helen, shared in our bi-annual assessment meeting that a child who was abducted at the age of two by an opposing tribe was reunited with his family after four years of being under CCC's care. This year, with the help of local churches, CCC reunited the child with his family and conducted paternity tests for others with similar stories. The money raised by iTeams has changed the lives of many children and the community around them.

Starting on August 14th, I'll be aiding our Romanian partner Pas Cu Pas, a summer camp for orphaned children, in evaluating its current programs. I'll be conducting interviews with staff, volunteers, community members, and the children who have been attending for multiple years to see how we've progressed since our last on-site evaluation in 2017. This will allow us to effectively plan for the next cycle of 5-10 years with fair representation of all stakeholders. Pas Cu Pas is crucial in creating safe spaces for these children since the Romanian childcare system for orphans has a dark history of neglect and abuse dating back to its communist regime.

I'm grateful to support these ministries with my work and resources, and I hope you'll consider joining me by spreading the word.

Thanks so much!

Pictured above are students from our Kenyan partner PACE- the organization provides food, healthcare, and subsidized education to a diverse student body of over 400 children from nursery to high school ages 

Fundraise with me- Don't have money, but have time? Reach out to me at soliana.yitbarek@iteams.ca and let me know that you are interested in being a part of my fundraising team - I can connect you with opportunities to help me reach my goal that doesn't require disposable income!