Variety: Psalm 71:14

‘As for me, I shall always have hope; I will praise you more and more.’ (Psalm 71:14) Faith Tsungulo, Projects Manager for Tearfund in Malawi, shares her story of excitement and expectant hope for one particular community that she’s been working with in rural Malawi. ‘I was in rural Malawi visiting Mponela, a community where Tearfund’s local church partner had been working through Transforming Communities training. ‘The community in Mponela was facing chronic poverty, food insecurity and limited opportunities to improve their income. Erratic weather, poor soil quality and a lack of modern farming techniques left many families struggling to grow enough food or earn a stable income. Children went hungry, school attendance dropped and child marriage became a survival strategy for some girls. Financial stress led to conflict in homes – and overall, there was a deep sense of hopelessness. ‘But alongside that sorrow, I had a powerful sense of hope because this community didn’t stay stuck in despair. With support, collaboration and faith, they turned things around. ‘Tearfund and our local partners, Ministry of Hope, worked with church leaders to form the Yankho Cooperative, made up of members of the community, to invest in long-term change. The introduction of greenhouse farming and agricultural training enabled year-round farming protected from climate shocks and pests. Crops like tomatoes and green peppers now thrive, with each plant producing up to 20kg of fruit. This Advent, remember that even in the hardest places, hope can grow. If you feel overwhelmed or hopeless, know this. Transformation often starts small through a seed planted, a community united, or a prayer shared. Hope is alive in the resilience of people who refuse to give up, and in the power of faith that sustains them.