Enter a kindergarten class in Canada and you'd expect to hear the heartwarming sounds of melodic laughter or perhaps the piercing cries of a child who lost his toy truck. You wouldn't be surprised to see children running in every direction or holding hands with a new friend. Children are bundled with copious amounts of energy that it can be exhausting just to watch them for a few hours.

That's why I was so disheartened when I recently visited Kenya and Ethiopia – two regions in the Horn of Africa suffering the effects of a severe drought. I saw children of the kindergarten age that lacked so much energy, that they would just sit quietly. Some didn't even have the energy to open their eyes because they were so tired. I saw many of these children waiting in line with their mothers at a local medical clinic. If they could just have a regular meal every day, perhaps they would have the  strength to run and play with their friends.

Christian Children's Fund of Canada is doing its part to help children in these situations. We are providing life-saving food through distribution centres and school feeding programs, funding medical clinics, and providing basic essentials like blankets and clean water. We are also working to provide long-term solutions to help families with needy children like those I met.  

This holiday season, I hope you will consider giving a gift to help children and families in the Horn of Africa. Your support to our emergency response efforts will give children the chance to live a life without hunger.

Thank you,

Mark Lukowski
CEO and a Child Sponsor
Christian Children's Fund of Canada