The Strong Families Program in India has allowed staff to witness the dedication of the students who are given fresh opportunities to pursue their educational dreams. Even when school went virtual for the students, they remained focused on their studies and asked for helping when it was needed. Adya*, a young girl in the program,… Read more
The aroma in the slums is strong. Daily, men faithfully show up to sort through remnants of leftovers and recyclable materials, taking their job seriously. It’s with this work they care for their families – the sorting and piling, and like any job, there are advantages and disadvantages. To abate the smell of what they’re… Read more
After many weeks of sheltering in place, Samuel*, an only child in the Strong Families Program, wanted to plan an afternoon with his mom. He envisioned going with her to a place with views of the city and its mountains, and he wanted someone trustworthy to be their “driver” for the evening. Samuel and his… Read more
The Canaan community, across the busy stretch of highway from the Back2Back Haiti campus, has long received the fruits of relief efforts and donations. When the land was first purchased, staff dreamt of a day when they would work alongside families in the community and establish relationships and sustainability. Today, this vision is a reality…. Read more
“They’ve forgotten how to be kids.” It was an assessment made by Back2Back’s staff psychologist, Lili, as she and other staff members watched the children and teens reorient themselves recently to the community centers. It has been almost a year since schools were shut down and all students in Cancun transitioned to virtual learning. “They… Read more
Maintaining connection between children and families is a top priority for Back2Back staff all over the world. Lockdowns, safely distancing, and potential hiccups with internet connections haven’t always made it easy. However, the staff is not easily kept down. As the holidays approached, the desire to remain connected grew stronger in Cancun, and Jenn Holden,… Read more
Deepa* reviewed the lined paper in front of her carefully. It was the second draft of a letter to her sponsor, and the first one she had written in English on her own. Deepa, along with her brother, Tanay* are two children in the Strong Families Program in India who have shown great growth and… Read more
A Blessing in Disguise Connection has been something we’ve all craved at some point in 2020. Across the world, staff have diligently worked to provide connection for vulnerable children and families as various mandated lockdowns have been followed. In one part of Cancun, the story is the same – families have followed procedures set forth… Read more
Shalom – A Staff Team Retreat Staff retreats are one way Back2Back staff take time to intentionally gather for community, to grow spiritually, and to refresh themselves physically, emotionally, and socially. A retreat was planned for the Haiti staff in the fall of 2019, but due to in-country turmoil, it had to be postponed. Recently, Staff… Read more
What They’re Learning in Their Time Apart Staff have learned a significant amount of information about the children they serve in India the last several months. While some work stateside and patiently waiting to return to India, they meet virtually with all the children who call the Back2Back campus home, as well as with the… Read more