Compassion in Action through the Activistas
In Mozambique, Africa, something quiet yet powerful is happening. Through our compassion projects at Children’s Relief International, local heroes called “Activistas” are rising up in love to care for the forgotten—the widows, the elderly, and the chronically ill.
Who Are the Activistas?
Activistas are local community members who step into some of the most heartbreaking situations with compassion and courage. They are not doctors or nurses. They are neighbors, friends, and believers moved by God’s heart to serve those the world often overlooks. Through Project Life, they are helping care for people who have no other support system.
In the areas of extreme poverty in Mozambique, there are no nursing homes, no assisted care facilities, and no social safety nets. Elderly women who are too weak to work are left without food, clothing, or basic medical care. They often have very few adult children or they are taking care of young grandchildren. The Activistas change that. They visit homes, pray, provide fellowship, and they now bring essential medical help as well.
The Need: A Simple Ask, A Profound Impact
When Richard and I walked through the villages during our October visit, the need was tangible. Frail widows unable to walk to a clinic. Small wounds left untreated. No aspirin for pain, no bandages for cuts, no way to take a pulse or check for fever. But what struck us most wasn’t the lack of supplies—it was the abundance of love. These Activistas were filled with deep compassion. They just needed tools to serve more effectively.
We asked, “How can we help?” The answer was simple and direct:
- Training by a local doctor
- Basic medical supplies
- First aid kits to carry with them on their visits
In December 2024, Van Brunt & Company humbly funded this initiative. And the results are already being felt.
The Update: Training and Transformation
Just last month, the first First Aid class took place. A local doctor met with the Activistas and spent hours teaching them:
- The difference between urgent and emergency situations
- How to take and interpret a pulse
- How to clean wounds and apply dressings
- The appropriate use of over-the-counter medications
Each Activista received a small bag stocked with essentials like aspirin, gloves, antiseptics, and band-aids—tools that now travel with them on foot across long distances to visit the sick and dying.
And this is just the beginning. The doctor plans to return for a second session to reinforce the training through hands-on skill application, empowering these caregivers to act with greater confidence and care.
The Heart Behind It All
When I received the update from Elizabeth, CRI’s Nutrition Developer, my heart exploded with joy. The laughter, the bright eyes of the Activistas, their boldness and joy—it all reminded me why we do this work. This is the Gospel lived out. Seeing a need, responding with love, and watching as God moves through ordinary people to bring extraordinary hope.
These women aren’t just learning skills, they’re being poured into. They are being reminded that they are seen, known, and supported. And in turn, they carry that love to others.
How You Can Help
After every mission trip, I get the same question:
“How can I make a difference?”
The answer is simple: Give to the thing(s) that tugs on your heart.
If you’d stop to offer a band-aid or pray for your neighbor, this mission is for you. If you feel the call to be part of something bigger, something eternal, this is your chance.
Want to support more projects like this?
Give to widow care and medical training
Thank you for walking with us in this mission. Thank you for giving, praying, and caring. And thank you for being a part of stories like this, where love meets need, and the Kingdom of God grows in the hearts of the forgotten.
With a full heart,
Jessica & Richard
Van Brunt & Company | Children’s Relief International Partner