by International Samaritan | Dec 13, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
In Honduras, “everyone knows how to make nacatamales,” says Ronia Romero, our program director in Tegucigalpa. And the cooking typically starts at four in the morning on Christmas Day! With an early start, the nacatamales (a mixture of meat, rice, vegetables, and... by International Samaritan | Dec 6, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
When Christmas nears, the Jamaican Christmas cakes start appearing. “The newspaper man gets a cake, the garbage man, the neighbor, the church, the school,” said Sonja Robinson, our Program Director in Jamaica. “She makes 50 to 60 cakes!” Sonja said, about her older... by International Samaritan | Nov 22, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
In Ethiopia, “there’s no such thing as Christmas morning gifts,” said Selam Kahsay, our Health and Wellness Specialist. Instead, their Christmas Day celebrations revolve around food, coffee, and time with family and friends. “On Christmas Eve, we’re very caught up in... by International Samaritan | Nov 15, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
Food has a unique way of bringing people together, and that’s true all over the globe. As we prepare to gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving and Christmas, we asked a few of our international team members to share their Christmas traditions and a favorite... by International Samaritan | Nov 8, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
“When you’re dancing, you’re not so concerned about your troubles. You’re asking, ‘Am I in sync with everyone?’ It’s a momentary break from your problems, and you get a bit of joy,” said Grace Flavia Ibanda, one of our team members in Uganda. Joy is what Grace wants... by International Samaritan | Nov 4, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
As we go to the polls in America next Tuesday, I thought you might enjoy the remarks I made at the University of Michigan Board of Regents meeting on October 17. May we all treat each other with grace and dignity, regardless of whether we vote to go blue or to go red.... by International Samaritan | Oct 25, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
Four years ago, I made “a big ask” of a successful business owner and well-respected Catholic philanthropist I had only recently met. A big ask for us is finding people willing to sponsor ten of our scholars at $3,000 each–or $30,000. Before answering my request, she... by International Samaritan | Oct 21, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
You’re not alone. For our scholars breaking the cycle of poverty, you’ve found students across the globe who are equally determined to get an education. For our team members supporting our communities, you’ve found resources and friends in each... by International Samaritan | Oct 11, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
Never in my life have I seen such profound change in such a short time as the transformation that has taken place in the Dandora (Kenya) and Kiteezi (Uganda) communities since our teams began awarding scholarships there just over a year ago. In Uganda, the mothers who... by International Samaritan | Oct 4, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
I used to work at the city garbage dump in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Starting at the age of six, I would accompany my mother to the garbage dump, where I helped her look for clothes or food that came from the garbage trucks. We’d go, even in heavy rains and hot...