These excerpts come directly from our partners and were compiled into this blog post by our Senior Communications & Events Officer, Megan Henderson.
Rainbow in Marsabit, Kenya.
Earlier this year we asked partners to reflect on what they had achieved in 2020. We had lots of great responses and we were delighted to share them with you in their own words. The Five Talents family has learned so much this year, and so recently we asked our partners again, what did they learn and see this year? We’d like to share a few of their responses with you below, again in their own words.
Cynthia, Butere, Kenya
I have learned a lot this year and some of the lessons learned are:
The community and I need to be ready for uncertainties that may occur in one’s lifetime.
We need to have some savings that will cushion us in tough times.
We need to live a healthy life to protect ourselves from diseases.
We have learnt the communities that we work with fall in the category of those who live from hand to mouth. It has now been proved that most of our communities don’t have ways to absorb calamities and crisis, but COVID-19 has provided a reference point to teach on the need to make savings from the little expenditure we get.
Claudette, Burundi
This year, as always I am proud of all the work done. But one of the most important is that we have been able to help community members through Saving Groups to be aware of and get prepared for COVID-19. This year taught me more about God's protection to me and to the communities where I am working.
‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.' Psalm 46:1.
Although coronavirus is bad, the love, care and solidarity demonstrated all over the world revealed a sense of humanism.
Jesca, South Sudan
This year taught me to be committed, to work hard, to be patient, prayerful and to love the communities I work with.
Positively, COVID-19 has taught me to be alert and to adhere to the instructions and improve our health habits. People have been forced to do business and savings in order to sustain their lives, it also made us strengthen relationships with other friends like Mary Sumner House (Mothers’ Union) on Zoom conferences.
Sarah, Bolivia
This year has taught me that the word "relief" is not bad in these times. We cannot eat if our neighbour does not have food; I cannot enjoy my pets if there are others in the streets being abandoned by circumstances...
It is important to work on ‘development,’ but as God says ‘everything has its time.’ For mercy, the whole community joined forces to relief first, and then develop, with ideas, encouragement, support, publicity, clients, everyone can help because everyone has talents. People are looking more for God; they are more sensitive to help, especially to small businesses; there is compassion for the most vulnerable.