Children placing mud pots in homes so sparrows can live

That donation your church made to Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC) may pay for more than food, healthcare, or education. It may also pay for environmental initiatives that fight hunger in India.

“House Sparrows feed on insects in fields, providing a natural pesticide so farmers can increase their crop yield.” says Mark Lukowski, CEO, CCFC. “Through our sparrow conservation program, we protect the environment, produce more food and save on pesticide costs. This creates a healthier community overall.”  

CCFC’s House Sparrow initiative in Southern India has taught 2,637 children in coastal villages the importance of protecting sparrows. The children, ranging in age from eight to 18 years old, spread cereal grain on terraces, hung mud pots on trees and houses to provide the birds with nesting areas, and physically cleaned coastal villages.

“The children developed a sensitivity towards nature and learned that they could be actively involved,” says Lukowski. “They then became champions and examples in their own villages to protect endangered species.”

India is not the only country to notice a decline in the population of House Sparrows. In Canada, reduced numbers have been noted in Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, the Prairies, and the Maritimes.

“There are more dramatic declines of House Sparrows in the Atlantic provinces, falling from 57 per cent of feeders visited in 1989 to only 17 per cent in 2008,” says Kerrie Wilcox from Bird Studies Canada. “Although House Sparrows are not native to North America, they are very important to monitor because declines in common species are often more visible and we can learn a great deal by studying the underlying cause.”

Environmental initiatives like the House Sparrow program provide yet another weapon in the fight against world hunger in India. For a Christian organization, it also helps respect and care for God’s Creation.