Colombia_Hyejung Kim 2024

Thanks to the heartfelt love of the Global Children Foundation, the children of Wanaparepo now enjoy nutritious and delicious meals. In the past, many hungry children would linger around the church residence, but today, through shared meals, they are well-fed, smiling, and joyfully playing games. Children aged 3 to 13 benefit greatly from these communal meals, and the positive changes are becoming evident, with gradual improvements in their height and weight. These meals are especially meaningful as they are lovingly prepared with the assistance of village mothers and local volunteer teams from Colombia.  Our village faces significant agricultural challenges due to a lack of rainfall and sandy soil. While some families grow tubers, corn, and beans during the rainy season, most still struggle with food shortages. The local custom of men eating first, with mothers and children sharing whatever is left, means children often go hungry. In this context, communal meals exclusively for the children bring immense joy and relief.

Though many children bring their own dishes from home, some families lack even basic utensils, so siblings take turns eating. While it is heartbreaking to witness such moments, seeing all the children share a meal together and smile with happiness fills us with deep gratitude and joy.