The Board of Vulnerable Children Society: Linked by Connection and Commitment to Ethiopia

As Vulnerable Children Society (VCS) launches our new website, we wanted to take an opportunity to share a little bit about ourselves and highlight what drew us to join this Board and what keeps us passionate about our work.

We are a small group of dedicated women from across Canada – Vancouver Island to Prince Edward Island. Many of us have been involved with VCS for years, committed to the mission of the Society: supporting Ethiopian kids and teens to reach their greatest potential. We have diverse experiences, backgrounds, and skills, linked by personal connections to Ethiopia and a shared belief in the importance of giving each person, beginning in childhood, an equal opportunity to not only meet his/her/their basic needs, but to thrive. We care about our communities, we value and promote equity, and we believe that we have a responsibility to help those in need – whether they are in our local Canadian communities or in other parts of our increasingly interconnected world.

Three of us have children from Ethiopia, creating a lifelong connection to the country. We stay informed on what is happening in Ethiopia and engaged on the needs of children and families. We feel that in supporting our NGO partners that create holistic programs for children and providing teenagers the space to develop skills and explore opportunities we play a small, but meaningful, part in improving the lives of children.

When we reflect on what we find the most meaningful about our work with VCS, two things stand out. The first is the commitment of our NGO partners and their staff. Their work is truly inspiring, and it is so very clear that they pour their hearts into this work, despite the many challenges they face. It is rewarding to be able to play a small part in supporting the work that our partners do. The second is the actual difference that the work is making. As Board members, we have visited project sites and connected with mothers who have expressed what a relief it is to not have to worry about feeding and clothing one of their children. We have visited the home where the young women are learning new skills so they can join the labour force and witnessed what a huge difference this makes for their lives. Seeing this is so encouraging. We cherish progress updates as much as we know our donors do and celebrate all the achievements and success of the children in the programs supported through funds donated to VCS.

For all of us, the direct use of funds for programs is an essential aspect of our work, and something that keeps us deeply committed to VCS. We are a volunteer run, working Board. This means that we are not compensated for our time, and the proceeds that we fundraise go directly into programs and our very limited operational costs. Knowing that we have the trust and support of our donors, many of whom donate year after year, is incredibly meaningful to us. 

Thank you for supporting the work that we do, and for believing in us to direct your donations into meaningful and impactful projects. Together, we will do good work!

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