In the Mafambisse community in Zone G, Luis Sozinho Tenesse and his wife, Nercia Benjamim, are building something new—not just for their family, but for their entire community. Luis, 35, and Nercia, 30, are parents to four children: David (11), Luisa (9), Francisca (7), and Fatima (4). Like many parents, they wanted stability, education, and a clear future for their children, but before joining Care for Life’s program, those hopes felt distant.
Before beginning the 36-month journey through the 8 Steps to Self-Reliance, daily life focused on immediate needs. Planning ahead felt nearly impossible. But when their community began working with a Care for Life technician and community participation supervisor, Luis and Nercia were given the tools, knowledge, and support to start thinking differently.
Care for Life does not provide short-term solutions. Instead, families learn practical skills that create lasting change—how to save, plan, improve health, build income, and keep children in school. Families lead their own progress, while Care for Life walks beside them, offering guidance and encouragement along the way.
For Luis, one of the most meaningful changes came through savings and business training. As a bricklayer, he already had valuable skills, but the program helped him turn those skills into greater opportunity. Through his work, he has helped build and improve homes throughout the community using clay and cement blocks. At the same time, he learned how to save for emergencies and start a small business at home, selling everyday items like tomatoes, onions, salt, and dried fish.
“For the first time, we learned how to plan for the future,” Luis shared.
Well-being classes also had a powerful impact on their children. Their eldest son, David, previously struggled with communication and confidence at school. With support and guidance, he has made significant progress and is now learning alongside his sister in the same grade. Today, all four children attend school more consistently and with greater confidence.
Nercia has become a quiet leader in the community as well. Through visits to other families, she encourages parents to believe that change is possible. She reminds them that while the journey requires effort, opportunity paired with knowledge can lead to real progress. Her involvement has strengthened relationships and helped build a shared sense of hope within Mafambisse.
This transformation did not happen overnight. It happened step by step, month by month—through commitment, learning, and perseverance. And it happened because Luis and Nercia chose to engage fully in the process, and because supporters chose to believe in families like theirs.
This December, every gift made to Care for Life is matched dollar for dollar through the Give Hope 2X Match, thanks to a generous anonymous donor. That means your gift has twice the impact for families preparing to begin or continue their journey to self-reliance in 2026.
Your support helps provide what families tell us matters most: nutritious food they grow themselves, health and hygiene practices that protect their households, savings groups that build confidence and stability, children attending school consistently, and communities working together instead of struggling alone.
As we approach the final hours of December 31, our Give Hope Match Partner will increase the match to 3X, making your generosity go even further when families need it most.
Luis and Nercia’s story is not rare. It is what happens when families are equipped with tools, knowledge, and opportunity—and when donors choose to stand with them.
“We learned that it is possible to achieve our goals,” Luis said. “We just needed the opportunity.”
Your generosity this December turns effort into progress and hope into a future families can build for themselves.
If you want to help another family begin this journey, your matched gift starts here: <<LINK>>
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