Hopeful Update

Hi Friend

Last month, we made a direct call for support to help stabilise the Centre of Hope during a tightening financial season.

To those who responded, privately, quietly, and generously - thank you. Your support has already made a tangible difference.

Because of you, we were able to steady critical areas of the work in both Tanzania and Spain, and we are deeply grateful. Your generosity created breathing room at a moment when it was urgently needed.

At the Centre of Hope, 45 children started the school year fully equipped and ready to learn. School continuity was preserved, and vulnerable families were spared additional strain during an already difficult season. In Spain, our outreach efforts continued without interruption, even as financial pressure intensified.

However, we want to be transparent: we did not reach our full stabilisation target. While some income streams, including the shops, are beginning to pick up gradually, we remain in a very tight position and are still short of the funds needed to carry us securely through the next two months.

This is a critical window. If you are in a position to help - whether through a one-time gift or additional support - it would make a meaningful difference right now. Every contribution directly strengthens our ability to sustain the children, families, and outreach work entrusted to us during this challenging period.

Thank you for standing with us, especially in moments like this.

Blessings,

Paul & Gemma Carr

Snapshot of Progress

This past month

Tanzania

• 42 children supported with full educational requirements for the 2026 academic year (fees, uniforms, materials, mattresses, shoes)

• 34 children currently residing at the Centre of Hope

• 2 types of counselling delivered (group and individual sessions) preparing children emotionally for school return

• 2 family follow-up visits conducted to strengthen reintegration pathways and monitor caregiver wellbeing

• 1 vulnerable family newly identified (5 children) requiring urgent medical and educational intervention

• 0 school interruptions due to lack of fees or supplies among children at the Centre

Spain:

• 6 Mobile Shower outreaches delivered

• 43 individuals served

  • 35 men

  • 8 women

• 11 volunteers mobilised across the month

• 43 hygiene kits distributed

One moment that stayed with us

One moment that stayed with us this month was a counselling session with the mother of three children living at the Centre.

She has been battling epilepsy, and during periods of emotional instability, she would sometimes arrive distressed, demanding to take her children home. This created anxiety for the children and risked disrupting their education.

During a recent session, she calmly acknowledged the impact of her actions. She apologised. She committed to following medical guidance and to protecting her children’s stability.

It wasn’t dramatic. But it was important.

For her children, it meant safety. For her, it meant growth. For us, it was a reminder that family restoration is rarely instant, it is built conversation by conversation.

A Moment from Spain

This month, something quietly encouraging happened during our Mobile Shower outreach.

Students from Aloha College joined us to serve, the children of our ambassador, Veronika Tye.

They stepped into an environment that can feel confronting at first. They handed out items, observed conversations, and witnessed dignity being restored in real time.

It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t dramatic.

But it mattered.

Because when young people choose to step toward compassion rather than away from discomfort, something deeper is being built, not just support for today, but a generation that understands service, dignity, and responsibility.

Focus for March

In March, we are focusing on three priorities:

1. Strengthening Stability Across Both Regions

Ensuring educational continuity at the Centre of Hope while maintaining steady outreach support in Spain, protecting what is already in place before building further.

2. Financial Stewardship During Weather-Related Disruption

Navigating the impact of recent adverse weather affecting charity shop income, carefully managing resources to safeguard programme continuity.

3. Targeted Follow-Up and Family Safeguarding

Deepening family monitoring visits, reinforcing reintegration pathways, and developing a structured support response for the newly identified vulnerable family.

Thank you for walking this journey with us.

Real change is not built in headlines - it is built in daily faithfulness.