Every community benefits from a place that represents the values of its people. No one teaches us that better than Local Expert, Mary Kamanzi from Rwanda. Mary has been actively involved with child advocacy for 20 years since first coming to Kigali, Rwanda after the genocide. Besides personally tracking with over 100 orphans, she started…
Loom: Tell us a little about yourselves Ed & Kay: Kay was raised by missionary parents in Africa and Ed was born and raised in California. We married in 1973, and eventually joined Youth with a Mission in 1987 and our lives have taken us all around the world. We have four children and 12…
This month we’d like you to meet Jessica, our newest intern! Jessica is interning for us remotely from Texas, where she is finishing up her degree from Multnomah University online. Currently she is researching moringa tree production, dairy cow yields in East Africa, farm co-op formation, and education models for children with disabilities, which will…
Shame is dangerous. If you haven’t watched Brene Brown’s TED Talks on shame and vulnerability, do yourself a favor—stop right now and do it. They’re phenomenal. She discusses the crippling effects of shame on our ability to live whole-hearted lives and explains how it is the single greatest obstacle to our ability to accept and…
How can you disciple the nations in areas where you have no experience? This was one of the foundational questions asked during our time in Rwanda hosting ReGenerate. The meeting included 42 Local Experts from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, and South Sudan. These leaders came together to discuss topics such as biblical views…
As a child, did you look forward to an Easter basket full of candy or little gifts? We did, so we put together an “Easter Basket” for you, our Loom friends. Listen to some favorite songs, read a poem, or look at some meaningful Easter art as you prepare for Holy Week. Songs: Wood & Nails…
Community capacity building involves developing and strengthening the skills, abilities and resources that organizations and communities need to survive, adapt, and thrive. Loom is convinced Local Experts know more about their own context than we do. Local Experts work with integrity and passion, bringing hope and change in their community—the place they know best.…
Mandy Clapper is a great friend of Loom and recently joined us at the Celebrating Children Workshop: Part Two in Tanzania. We asked Mandy a bit about her experience at the CCW and how it impacted her. Loom: First, tell us a little bit about yourself ! Mandy: I was born in Portland, but I grew up…
It’s been over a month since the team returned from East Africa, and we thought it might be time to share some more moments and stories with you! As we thought about what to share, there were so many stories we could tell. We could tell you about attendees who arrived from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda,…
A proven strategy for family preservation in vulnerable communities is a lay social worker working alongside local churches and schools. Lay social workers (sometimes also called para social workers) are those who have not been formally certified as a social worker but have the experience or know-how to perform many of the same services to…
