Three extraordinary young people breaking the cycle of poverty
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Honore, tailoring in his workshop. Photo: Jehojakim Sangare, Compassion International
Tearfund’s partner Compassion’s primary goal is to help children grow to reach their full, God-given potential. Our Frontline Church Partners across the world invest deeply in each individual, helping them discover their talents and use their skills to escape poverty, bless those around them, and glorify God.
Honore, Jandel and Karla are three extraordinarily talented young people from Compassion’s programmes in different parts of the globe. Each one, with the help and support of their local church, has discovered a passion, and worked to hone their skills. Keep reading to learn about how these youths are breaking the cycle of poverty.
Honore from Burkina Faso, West Africa
Life was already challenging for Honore when he lost his father. Pegdewende, his mother, worked various part-time jobs to care for Honore and his three siblings. They lived in an impoverished region of Burkina Faso, and Honore strived to build a better future.
As a teenager, Honore expressed a lot of interest in sewing clothes. “My sewing journey started in primary school. During school breaks, I enjoyed going into my brother’s sewing workshop to help him,” says Honore.
Thankfully, his local church’s Compassion centre offered tremendous support to Honore in achieving his entrepreneurial dream. Participating in holiday youth camps allowed Honore to sharpen his skills in fashion design.
“The youth camp trainer realied that Honore was the most talented student,” says Jude, the centre director. “From there, we discovered his passion for sewing could allow him to become a great tailor. That is why the centre provided two sewing machines for Honore to keep practicing and start a business.”
Throughout the years Honore improved his sewing skills, and his desire was to start a fashion design business grew. He saved his small income as an apprentice to buy his first sewing machine.
Honore, left, and Judes, his Compassion centre director, outside Honore’s shop. Photo: Jehojakim Sangare, Compassion International
“I am happy the centre always walked alongside me in achieving my plans. The centre director’s thoughtful advice and encouragement allowed me to succeed in the national sewing exams. I couldn’t have become a successful tailor without the unfailing support of the centre staff.”
“I want the youth to have big dreams allowing them to reach their God-given potential,” says Jude. “Honore was excited about fashion design and the church is ready to push him to the top of his ability.”
Receiving the sewing machines has unlocked Honore’s inspiration to become more creative in men’s outfit design.
“It is my greatest joy and pleasure when I make new shirts for customers. I love to see people well dressed, so I spend my days taking customers’ measurements and sewing beautiful African-style outfits with excellence to the satisfaction of customers,” says Honore.
“I thank God that my sewing business is growing well, but I have more than one reason to be happy and thankful. I have hired two people, and I can also contribute to the expenses of my family.“
"I pray that my brand, HK Fashion, grows beyond the borders of Burkina Faso through quality work and its uniqueness,” says Honore.
Because of the lack of job opportunities in his area, many young people are left hopeless and addicted to alcohol and drugs. But Honore is well prepared to exit Compassion’s sponsorship programme. He serves as a role model to other young people around him as he breaks the cycle of poverty within his family.
Jandel from the Philippines, Southeast Asia.
Jandel’s desire is to use his artwork as his voice; an expression of who he is, and an agent to deliver the message of God and his faithfulness.
Jandel is 18 years old and a promising young artist. He’s an excellent science, technology, engineering and mathematic student studying at a local public school in the Philippines. He hopes to combine these passions by becoming an architect.
Surrounded by his recent works, Jandel works on a new painting. Photo: Edwin Estioko, Compassion International
Jandel paints regularly - even the plywood walls of his family’s house. He enters art competitions - and wins them. He was the winner of Compassion Philippines’ National Painting Competition. Yet, when he was little, he couldn’t even finish a simple stick-house drawing.
“To be honest, I was not into art before,” he says. “One day I asked my father to teach me how to draw. Little by little, I fell in love with art. At nine years old, I joined the Arts Club in my Compassion centre. There I learned how important it was for me to use my God-given talent to glorify the Lord. And so, I decided to practice and explore art to reflect God’s glory.”
Jandel is the youngest child of a hardworking farmer. Many Filipino farmers toil the land from sunrise to sunset with their water buffalos, using traditional farming tools. They earn very little, so Jandel’s parents were delighted when their son was able to join Compassion’s sponsorship programme at the age of seven. For Jandel, it was the programme that opened his eyes to the beauty of the arts.
Jandel with his father, sister and mother, surrounding by his art. Photo: Edwin Estioko, Compassion International
“The weekly art class at the Compassion centre was my stepping stone,” he says. “The staff supported me, and that enhanced my artistic skills. They always encouraged me to enter art competitions, and that developed my self-confidence.”
Today, Jandel is enjoying the opportunity to reach his potential and to express his “feelings and faith in [his] God” through his art, paintings and sketches as he builds his future.
Karla from Honduras, Central America
“Baking goes beyond the idea of sweet flavours to me. It’s more about pouring love into each recipe,” says Karla, a 15-year-old entrepreneur in Honduras. Karla developed a passion for baking as she watched TV cooking shows.
“Opening an oven with freshly baked pastry was all that I had in my mind, yet I lacked the experience.”
Karla outside her house decorating the cupcakes she made. Photo: Juana Ordonez Martinez, Compassion International
To fulfil her dream of making professional cakes and desserts, Karla wanted to study vocational training at a baking academy. Karla’s father is a construction worker, and the only wage-earner for the family, so her family couldn’t afford the tuition.
But Karla persisted in her pursuit of becoming a certified baker — with the help of her friends at the Compassion centre.
“When I filled out my Compassion plan for the future, I stated that I’d love nothing more than to become a baker,” says Karla. “From that moment forward, the centre's staff has supported my dream.”
Karla’s talent, creativity and craftsmanship were noted by the Compassion centre's staff. Besides her baking, Karla is a talented painter, and art decorations came easily to her. But it was her work ethic and perseverance that convinced the staff that she would be a dedicated student.
“Karla is an inspiration to youth because she never gives up. Because of her perseverance and talent, she was granted a full scholarship to enrol in the bakery academy - and she’s thriving,” says Johana, the centre director.
Once a week, Karla takes a 30-minute bus ride from her community to the baking and pastry academy. Her training is already paying off. Her cakes, danish pastries and other delights have become high-demand products for every local celebration.
As her bakery products became more popular, Karla was given access to an industrial stove at the Compassion centre so now she can bake in bulk.
Karla’s thriving business has grown through sales and profits. With the help of her father, Karla learnt how to make detailed budgets that list her earnings and production expenses. Though Karla is still a teen entrepreneur baking at home, she’s planning to launch a bakery shop in a couple of years.
Karla with a plate of biscuits she baked. Photo: Juana Ordonez Martinez, Compassion International
Besides cakes and pastries, Karla recently learned how to make pizza, which brings to mind memories of her dear sponsor, Mary, who runs a restaurant of her own.
“I relate to my sponsor, Mary, because cooking is our thing. When I correspond with her through letters, I share my excitement about baking and making pizza, and I know she gets me,” says Karla.
Karla’s childhood dream of putting on an apron and a baker’s hat has come true. After a long day at the oven, Karla appreciates the flour and yeast on her apron because they show how much she loves baking.
That, she says, is the reason why her cakes taste so good.
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