Today, on World Humanitarian Day, we especially remember the people of Colombia, particularly those affected by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western parts of the country on August 10. Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) is accepting donations to help its Jesuit partners who are providing affected families with safe water, emergency supplies, and other lifesaving assistance. Funds will also be needed for recovery and reconstruction efforts. Learn more and donate now: Click link in bio. #Jesuits #Colombia #earthquake

A big thank you! With your generous support, Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) was recently able to fund 50 scholarships for poor and deserving students at the Jesuit-run St. Alphonsus Primary School in Kurseong, a town in the Indian state of West Bengal. The scholarships helped cover the students’ fees, books, uniforms, and school supplies, thereby reducing the financial burden on parents. “I am a single parent with no steady job. Now my son has received a scholarship from the school. I am so happy and cannot express my joy in words,” said Bimal Rai, the father of Swikar Rai, one of the scholars. “My tears are an expression of my gratitude towards the school.” The scholarships have helped to reduce the dropout rate in school, said Fr. Siby Joseph, SJ, treasurer and development director of the Jesuit Darjeeling-Nepal Province. The scholarship program “created equal learning opportunities for students and supported their academic growth and well-being. It has made a positive difference in the lives of the children and their families.” Learn more about CJI education projects in India: Click link in bio to visit our website. #Jesuits #Darjeeling #India #education

The Jesuit-led Human Life Research and Development Centre (HLDRC), a CJI partner, has provided hand tractors, seeds, water pumps and guidance to poor and marginalized tea plantation workers in Matigara, India, to help them grow vegetables. Community members, many of whom are part of HLDRC’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs), are cultivating a vacant land near a tea garden, and as a result, they now have fresh vegetables to eat; surplus produce has also generated extra income for families. This Social Agriculture Program is enhancing women’s participation in agriculture and community cooperation, and contributing to sustainable rural development. HLDRC will continue to support the communities through additional training in agriculture and capacity building. “HLDRC is striving to work with the vision of St. Ignatius of Loyola in experiencing, finding God in all things, especially with the poor and the marginalized tea workers, the youth, the women and the children through [its] programs,” says HLDRC Director Fr. Pascal Xalxo, SJ. Other HLDRC programs include employment training and placement for youth, non-formal education for children of tea workers, help desks to claim land rights and other entitlements, and anti-human trafficking initiatives. Learn more about HLDRC, including how you can support its work: Click link in bio to visit our website.

“Going to school changed my life,” says Benjamin Chol Lueth, who comes from a cattle-raising community in Ayel, South Sudan. Benjamin is in his fourth year at the Jesuit-run Victor Luke Odambo Secondary School. He has six siblings, but he’s the only one in school. His brothers work with cattle, and his sisters were married when they were young. His father decided that Benjamin would go to school, even though the family didn’t have much money. Victor Luke Odambo Secondary School is supported by Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) and other members of the Xavier Network as part of the Jesuits Eastern Africa Province’s @aorjesuits Sowing Seeds of Transformation Project. The network, of which CJI is a member, brings together 14 Jesuit mission offices and international development organizations of provinces in Europe, Canada, and Australia. Education “opened my eyes to the wider world beyond my community,” says Benjamin, who wants to become a doctor and set up a clinic to address the lack of healthcare in his community. Benjamin is more fortunate than his siblings and most young Sudanese who are unable to go to school because of poverty, cultural barriers, child marriage, and lack of government funding for education. More than 2.8 million children, or over 70% are out of school in South Sudan, according to UNICEF. The largest percentage of them are girls. The Jesuit-supported education that Benjamin receives has helped him gain a strong sense of purpose and responsibility, practical and life skills, and a greater awareness of the needs of his community and country. His story demonstrates the power of education to transform lives. Learn more, including how you can support the project: Click link in bio to visit our website. #youthday

About 30 young people explored social justice issues, participated in leadership training, and shared their experiences at Model Youth Justice, a two-night retreat organized August 7 to 9 by Camp Micah in partnership with organizations such as Canadian Jesuits International (CJI), Mary Ward Centre, and Kairos. “It was an amazing and inspiring experience. I spent the weekend surrounded by brilliant young people who share a passion for social justice, advocacy, and creating change in their communities and globally,” said Hasina Qaderi, CJI summer intern, who attended the gathering. “It was really inspiring to see how passionate everyone was about different issues, from refugee rights, allyship and anti-oppression to gender issues and ecological justice.” Hasina and CJI Outreach Coordinator Juan Camilo Poveda gave a presentation on CJI-supported projects that support women in the Global South who are leading the way towards justice, equity, and sustainability. “The participants were inquisitive and engaged in the conversation, asking thoughtful questions and sharing insights that also made me reflect more deeply on the issues myself. I think that was one of the most meaningful parts of the experience for me.” The retreat “reminded me how important it is to create spaces where young people from multiple faiths can share their gifts and passions, learn from each other, and feel empowered to speak about the issues they care about.” The event was held at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp and Retreat Centre in New Hamburg, Ont.

"Comparte" means to share—and since 2011, this Jesuit-led initiative in Latin America has been actively promoting alternatives to dominant economic models that often harm local communities and ecosystems. A partner of Canadian Jesuits International, Comparte supports initiatives in rural areas (organic coffee, cocoa, banana, honey, garden plants, and other products; livestock.) and in urban areas (textile, crafts, footwear). Compare promotes community agroecokogy and equity in leadership. Network members connect and share knowledge and resources, and team up with Jesuit universities to collaborate on research and training. Learn more, including how you can support the work of Comparte: Click link in bio to visit our website.

You did it! Between July 15 and 31, we asked you to help us match a donor's $5,000 gift for Canadian Jesuits International’s Venezuela Earthquake Appeal. You didn’t just meet the goal, you exceeded it. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised $27,000 in just 16 days! That brings our total to over $80,000 raised so far to support families affected by the back-to-back June 24 earthquakes. Your donations are helping our local Jesuit partners to provide, among others: * Food, clean water, medicine, hygiene supplies, and assessments of infrastructure safety * Repairs and restoration of damaged classrooms, school supplies, and social-emotional support so children can continue learning * Medical care, psychosocial support, and grief counselling for affected communities * Support, such as seed capital, tools and training for people who have lost their livelihoods The situation remains critical and the needs are great. If you haven't donated, please consider doing so: Click link in bio. #Venezuela #Jesuits

Every child has the right to an education. CJI supports a Fe y Alegría initiative dedicated to bringing quality, inclusive pre-school education to nearly 2,000 young children in rural communities in Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and Haiti. Early education for children ages four to six is crucial. It shapes their cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional development. But in many parts of the Global South, barriers like poverty, forced displacement, and systemic underinvestment in education keep early learning out of reach. Rooted in the Jesuit tradition of holistic formation, Fe y Alegría works in 22 countries to bring education, dignity and opportunity to marginalized communities. Learn more about this project, including how you, too, can support it: Click link in bio #education #Jesuits #Chad #Madagascar #Haiti

Happy Feast Day of Saint Ignatius! Canadian Jesuits International staff attended a mass hosted by Our Lady of Lourdes Parish @lourdestoronto in Toronto. They then joined other guests in a simple celebration on the parish grounds. 📷 @juanemiliohc