Episodes
with guest AHM Zaman of FH Bangladesh and Jenny Gutzmann of FH Canada Climate change might be a loaded word, but no matter where you stand on the topic, for many areas of the world it’s a very ugly reality. Vulnerable communities on the coast of Bangladesh are being hit with rising sea levels and extreme weather events like never before, to name a few. AHM Zaman, Senior Manager of Program Quality and Resource Development at FH Bangladesh, along with Jenny Gutzmann, Senior Program Officer at...
Published 04/29/24
With guest Stephan Lutz Stephan Lutz, Senior Program Consultant for World Renew. Farming is not a light job. We link it with dirt and dust, back-breaking work, and long hours sweating in the sun. But, have you ever thought about farming as an art? Where a farmer can try new crops, experiment with techniques, build new tools, and change as they go? In fact, farmers may be some of the most resourceful, ingenious, and creative people you know! Stephan Lutz, Senior Program Consultant at World...
Published 04/08/24
Published 04/08/24
With guest Alice Kamau of Food for the Hungry Rwanda We all know that access to clean water is crucial for health and hygiene, but have you ever considered the impacts clean water can also have on human dignity, empowerment, and self-esteem?  In this episode, Alice Kamau, country director of FH Rwanda, dives into the ripple effects that clean water is having in the community of Bwira. Beyond improved health, less time and energy spent fetching water also means more time and energy for shaping...
Published 03/18/24
With Niki Whaites, VP of International Development at Big Bad Boo Studios. We seemingly know more about world events than ever before—conflict, disasters, hunger, climate change, to name a few. In a world flooded with sensational headlines and heart-breaking stories, how do you avoid being overwhelmed by it all? How do you cut through the noise? Nikki Whaites, Vice President of International Development at Big Bad Boo Studios, reassures that it's actually okay to feel overwhelmed! But,...
Published 02/26/24
with guest Abraham Somavarapha of Advisors With Purpose. You have people and causes that are near to your heart—even ones you wish you could support more than you already do. So, did you know that with good estate planning, you can do that and more?  Abraham Somavarapha from Advisors With Purpose explores the benefits of estate planning—easing tax burdens, ensuring family is taken care of—and supporting what you care about.  Discover how you can leave a legacy of impact, even beyond your...
Published 02/05/24
with guest David Collins, founding president of Food for the Hungry Canada. | Did you know Food for the Hungry Canada started with just two people, a lot of risk, and a big vision? Journey to the past with us as we celebrate 30 years of FH Canada with founding President David Collins.  From humble beginnings to navigating the challenging landscape of relief and development work, David shares candidly about the early days. And yet, it is those same challenges and extreme circumstances that...
Published 01/15/24
with guests Wayne and Jane Dahl of Davis Meats How can a local meat shop serve up global change? Wayne and Jane Dahl, the charismatic duo behind Abbotsford, B.C.’s Davis Meats are about to butcher your misconceptions about giving for community impact. To them, it was a no-brainer. Not only have they carved a special place in their local community with Grade A cuts and quality customer service, they’re also impacting communities worldwide. By inviting customers to chip in a dollar or two,...
Published 11/27/23
with guest Safaa Shahin for Food for the Hungry International Turn on the news; conflict makes the headlines—civil wars in Syria, strife in Ethiopia, disharmony closer to home, and more. Dispute is layered and complicated and hurts millions of people, and too often our external aid further exhausts those who’ve suffered enough. So, when conflict arises, how do we help without making things worse? Safaa Shahin, originally from Syria and currently acting as Food for the Hungry’s Global Risk...
Published 11/06/23
with guest Su Min Park of Korea Food for the Hungry International. How can your church combat global poverty while sparking transformation closer to home? Su Min Park, Senior Associate at Korea Food for the Hungry International, has an answer for you.  Travel with Su Min as he recounts his recent trip to Toronto to connect with Korean churches. Alongside celebrated Korean artists Kim Jung Hwa and Yoo Eun Sung, they shared a captivating decade-long story. It begins with sponsoring a child in...
Published 10/16/23
with guest Brian Doerksen, Canadian song-writer, instructor, and singer. When hard things happen, a personal response—however that looks—is inevitable. When Brian heard the First Nation Band Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc announce that the remains of 215 children were found at the former residential school in Kamloops, BC, he was deeply impacted. Like many Canadians, he wrestled with what was being uncovered, the role of religious institutions in the injustices done, and what he should do next. Brian...
Published 09/25/23
with guest Musu Taylor-Lewis of Food for the Hungry (FH) Canada. Ponder with Musu as she considers our global “family”, and shares from her own life story. Growing up and living in communities in Sierra Leone, parts of Europe, and Canada has influenced her view of culture, economics, beauty, and what a faith-led response to poverty might be. Musu Taylor-Lewis is Food for the Hungry Canada’s newly appointed President & CEO (as of June 2023). As a self-proclaimed ‘unapologetic dreamer with...
Published 09/04/23
with guest Carmyn Prefontaine. When you donate, you're accustomed to hearing about the impact of your dollars, time, and commitment—but what about the way your gifts impact your own life? Behind every healthy organization is a family of donors who have been invited into "mutual transformation"—they spur on change, but their own worldviews and relationships are changed by the hope they are a part of, too. Food for the Hungry (FH) can only walk alongside communities around the world thanks to...
Published 08/14/23
with guest Joeline Magill of Hope Restored. We all know what it's like to want to belong—it's an intrinsic part of what makes us human. For those who grew up in a healthy family environment, these needs are met through bedtime stories, family dinners, outings, and more. But what about people who didn’t share that privilege? What are the connections between these unmet needs and exploitation and human trafficking? And don't kid yourself, this dark world lurks even within our own neighbourhoods...
Published 07/24/23
With guest Laura Solberg, Executive Director of Kentro Christian Network. In a world that champions individuality and independence, the idea of being connected often takes a back seat. We may say “we’re all in this together”, but how often do we see that truly play out? Yet, with connection comes a whole world of unexpected benefits. Join us as Laura Solberg, executive director of Kentro Christian Network, sheds light on the true value of connection and relationship between individuals and...
Published 07/03/23
with guest Aaron White, director for 24-7 Prayer Canada, teacher at Westminster Theological Center, podcast host of Two Wise Fools, author, and neighbourhood enthusiast. Have you ever taken time to walk through your neighbourhood and point out the beauty you see? It’s so easy to see the lacking, the grisly, the ugly, that all-too-often we miss the simple joy and charm all around us. Aaron White, resident of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, shares about the incredible beauty found in his...
Published 06/12/23
with guest Andy Harrington of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank The hunger crisis—it’s in the news a lot these days. Food prices have gone up every year since 2019. 1 in 4 are food insecure. Over 800 million go to bed hungry. 45% of child deaths globally were hunger-related. But why is hunger rising at such an alarming rate? And, in the face of such overwhelming need, can you and I really make a difference? In this episode, Andy Harrington, Executive Director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, sheds...
Published 05/22/23
with guest Amos Manirakiza of Food for the Hungry Burundi Do you remember when you learned to read? That excitement as new worlds and stories opened up to you? Literacy is a skill that affects every aspect of life. From traffic signs to job opportunities to even reading this podcast description! Your life would probably look pretty different if you hadn’t learned to read as a kid. But for too many children in Burundi, a future of illiteracy is an all-too-common reality. In this episode,...
Published 05/01/23
with guest Randall Bear, from Nadleh Whut’en, Dakelh nation, of the Duntem’yoo Bear clan. How is your story rooted in the place—the land—you call home? If you’ve been displaced from that place, is that another facet of poverty? Randall Bear Barnetson, an Indigenous artist from Nadleh Whut’en in Northern BC who now resides in Vancouver, shares his personal experience with poverty—not poverty from a lack of possessions, but as a result in not living on the land he’s from. He shares about the...
Published 04/10/23
with guest Peter Roebbelen, President of the Charis Foundation. Have you ever stared at rows upon rows of products on the grocery store shelf and felt paralyzed by the options? Don’t they all do pretty much the same thing? Some could argue the same thing is happening in the charity world, where services may be duplicated because nonprofits are doing the same work, sometimes even right down the road from one another. In this episode, Peter Roebbelen, President of the Charis Foundation,...
Published 03/20/23
with guest Andrea Soberg, Business Professor at Trinity Western University. When it comes to work, we all want to be valued for who we are and for what we bring to the table. You’d never want our potential to be out-weighed by stereotypes or inconveniences before even being given a chance. Yet, when it comes to hiring a woman, all-too-often potential employers first see the challenges rather than the unique expertise and passions she may bring to a role. Andrea Soberg from Trinity Western...
Published 02/27/23
with guest Kadee Smedley of Covenant House Vancouver Consider the people in your life and where they come from— we don’t all get an equal “start”, do we? For too many youth in homelessness, the lack of a safe home, square meal, and warm bed rob them of mental health and personal belief in their future. Our teen and young adult years play a big role in the opportunities we have and how we achieve our goals. Kadee Smedley, ordained minister and spiritual care practitioner at Covenant House...
Published 02/06/23
with guest Jenny Stoecker, Senior Program Officer at Food for the Hungry Canada You have to admit— you can’t always do things on your own. Whether it’s a neighbour to hold the ladder, a friend to drive us to the airport, or a shoulder to lean on for comfort, we all need the support of our community. So why is it that organizations all-too-often view each other as competitors instead of allies? Join Jenny Stoecker, Senior Program Officer at Food for the Hungry Canada, as she highlights how...
Published 01/16/23
with guest Kevin McKay, Director of Business Partnerships at Food for the Hungry Canada How do businesses and poverty alleviation intersect? What do we really mean when we say entrepreneurs are “uniquely equipped to tackle poverty”? Kevin McKay, Director of Business Partnerships at FH Canada, unpacks these ideas as he challenges us to see beyond the all-important bottom line to the opportunities business owners have for redemptive work—work that lets us all join in the renewal of all...
Published 12/05/22
with guest Dr. Ray Aldred, Director of the Indigenous Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology. How does looking back at Canada’s history with Indigenous Peoples inform how to participate today in reconciliation? And what is the role of faith in this conversation when so much hurt was endured in the name of the Church?  Reverend Dr. Ray Aldred, Director of the Indigenous Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology, reminds us that reconciliation is a process, not a one-time event. He...
Published 11/14/22