ALONGSIDE HOPE
(formerly called
Primate World Relief Development Fund)
Alongside Hope: Anglicans and partners working for change in Canada and around the world. Donate by reaching out to Alongside Hope directly, giving through monthly donations with PAR or placing an envelope on your church's collection plate.
(formerly called
Primate World Relief Development Fund)
Alongside Hope: Anglicans and partners working for change in Canada and around the world. Donate by reaching out to Alongside Hope directly, giving through monthly donations with PAR or placing an envelope on your church's collection plate.
Light for St. Luke's
St. Luke’s Hospital in the West Bank is operated by the Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Jerusalem. The dedicated staff serves a population of about 455,000 Palestinians, including 57 marginalised villages and four nearby refugee camps. But an unreliable power grid and expensive fuel makes health care delivery a challenge during the best of times, and a crisis during the worst of times.
Right now, we have an extraordinary opportunity to brighten the future of St. Luke’s with the installation of 407 solar panels. A generous donor has stepped forward with a matching challenge: every dollar given to Light for St. Luke’s will be matched, up to $176,000.
Your generous support will help us meet this match and reach the total project cost of $352,000, fully funding all 407 solar panels and making every watt count. Your gift today goes twice as far. Whether large or small, every contribution helps us move toward the full match and brings us closer to completing this vital project.
Every watt counts
“This is a strategic investment in energy security and operational sustainability,” says the Very Reverend Hosam Naoum, Archbishop of the Diocese of Jerusalem. “It will enable the hospital to function reliably under challenging conditions and contribute to a more environmentally friendly and sustainable approach by lowering carbon emissions.
This project will bring prayerful attention to healthcare in the Holy Land, and enable St. Luke’s to continue to provide compassionate, essential medical care to all who need it.
How you can help
There are many ways to get involved, either as an individual or with your parish.
St. Luke’s Hospital in the West Bank is operated by the Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Jerusalem. The dedicated staff serves a population of about 455,000 Palestinians, including 57 marginalised villages and four nearby refugee camps. But an unreliable power grid and expensive fuel makes health care delivery a challenge during the best of times, and a crisis during the worst of times.
Right now, we have an extraordinary opportunity to brighten the future of St. Luke’s with the installation of 407 solar panels. A generous donor has stepped forward with a matching challenge: every dollar given to Light for St. Luke’s will be matched, up to $176,000.
Your generous support will help us meet this match and reach the total project cost of $352,000, fully funding all 407 solar panels and making every watt count. Your gift today goes twice as far. Whether large or small, every contribution helps us move toward the full match and brings us closer to completing this vital project.
Every watt counts
“This is a strategic investment in energy security and operational sustainability,” says the Very Reverend Hosam Naoum, Archbishop of the Diocese of Jerusalem. “It will enable the hospital to function reliably under challenging conditions and contribute to a more environmentally friendly and sustainable approach by lowering carbon emissions.
This project will bring prayerful attention to healthcare in the Holy Land, and enable St. Luke’s to continue to provide compassionate, essential medical care to all who need it.
How you can help
There are many ways to get involved, either as an individual or with your parish.
- Visit alongsidehope.org/light-for-st-lukes and download the suggested announcement, prayer and a message for children and youth.
- Donate to the project and double your impact. Give online or mail your cheque to Alongside Hope, 80 Hayden Street, 3rd floor, Toronto, ON, M4Y 3G2 and write Light for St. Luke’s in the memo line, or call 1-866-308-7973.
- Share this campaign around your community or parish.
| ah_may_31.pdf |
National Volunteer Week gives us a chance to celebrate those who help Alongside Hope come alive across Canada. Our volunteers share stories, build important relationships, and help their parishes stay linked to the work done with partners around the world. Some volunteers are responsible for keeping the bulletin board updated or ordering resources for their church. Others lead workshops, serve on our Board, or work on ways to engage youth. Many of our volunteers serve as the bridge between their parish and their diocesan representative. No matter how they serve, each volunteer brings a unique perspective. Their time and their willingness to show up and make a difference — not just in their own parish, but in communities beyond Canada — is so important.
This year, we’re highlighting three volunteers whose stories show just what it means to serve; Youth Council member and former Alongside Hope intern Heather Wilks‑Jenkins, Mapping Exercise Facilitator, Tom Mugford, and long‑time diocesan volunteer Greg Jenkins. Each of them brings a different perspective, but all three remind us why a diverse team of volunteers matters so deeply. Heather, who was an intern at Alongside Hope last year and a member of the Youth Council, had the opportunity to provide hands-on demonstrations of the Solar Suitcase during last year’s major fundraising campaign. This shifted her perspective on Alongside Hope’s mission. “Learning about the Solar Suitcase project and seeing it in action really opened my eyes to how meaningful this work is.” Her experience didn’t stay with just her; she watched those in her own diocese become inspired too. “Watching how the project inspired people in my diocese to get involved was incredibly impactful. Seeing the relationships that formed through this project showed me how much connection is at the heart of Alongside Hope’s mission.” She believes that as the Alongside Hope community expands, volunteers will continue to influence it. “My hope is that volunteers continue to be a big part of the organization.” And she wants that circle to widen. “I really want us to spread the word and get even more people aware of and involved with Alongside Hope.” Mugford, who is from Newfoundland and Labrador, has years of church experience and a strong sense of community. “My inspiration for beginning my volunteering journey came from many years of commitment and practice with the church as an entity and as a worship facility in space and community.” Mugford now serves as the province’s only trained facilitator for Mapping the Ground We Stand On, leading workshops across Newfoundland and Labrador. “I’ve done 8 to 10 in the last number of years. It’s been interesting.” He has also been able to share the Mapping Exercise with youth.“I brought it to the school and had a conversation with intermediate and senior high children about what it looks like to be present in what we now call Canada.” Mugford’s work is shaped by both his Indigenous identity and his Christian faith — something he shares openly. “I’m very humbled that my life experience as an Indigenous person and as a Christian has allowed me to be my authentic self in spaces… not as one or the other, but as part of the whole.” He also helps refine the workshop, so it honours the diversity of Indigenous peoples. For Mugford volunteers are the glue that holds the organization together. “Volunteers are sometimes the heart of an organization; they need to feel part of the process and very much involved.” And staying connected, he says, is what keeps that heart strong. The Rev. Greg Jenkins has been involved with Alongside Hope since 1999. For him, volunteering is simply part of living out the Gospel. “For me, it was the application of the gospel. We read the gospel story, we hear what God is calling us to do, an organization with Alongside Hope is where we put that gospel into practice.” When his bishop asked him to join the team, he didn’t hesitate. “He said, ‘You can think about it.’ I didn’t have to think about it. It was an automatic absolutely.” A key moment for Jenkins came when he met international partners at a National Gathering. “Meeting our partners personally in 2024 really brought it all home.” It helped him see how real and deep these relationships are. “We hear the word relationship tossed around a lot, but this brought home how we are part of a global community.” He describes the partnership as something that grows beyond what any one group can do alone. When we’re all brought together, something miraculous grows out of it. Jenkins hopes volunteers continue to discover the spiritual richness of this work. “There’s the kind of volunteering where you just feel called to do the work… you bring an energy with that. My hope for them is really that depth of spiritual experience… it helps us grow so much spiritually and in our sense of wholeness and peace.”
Heather, Tom, and Greg each serve Alongside Hope in different ways — through youth leadership, Indigenous reconciliation and diocesan representation. But their stories share a common thread: volunteering with Alongside Hope is about the relationship.
Here’s how to become an volunteer:
Contact our Volunteer Coordinator: Reach out to Kim Umbach, Volunteer Coordinator, for information on available roles.
Contact a Diocesan Rep: Connect with a representative in your region to find local opportunities.
Join Events: Participate in monthly Zoom prayer sessions (second Thursday of each month) or host educational workshops in your parish.
This year, we’re highlighting three volunteers whose stories show just what it means to serve; Youth Council member and former Alongside Hope intern Heather Wilks‑Jenkins, Mapping Exercise Facilitator, Tom Mugford, and long‑time diocesan volunteer Greg Jenkins. Each of them brings a different perspective, but all three remind us why a diverse team of volunteers matters so deeply. Heather, who was an intern at Alongside Hope last year and a member of the Youth Council, had the opportunity to provide hands-on demonstrations of the Solar Suitcase during last year’s major fundraising campaign. This shifted her perspective on Alongside Hope’s mission. “Learning about the Solar Suitcase project and seeing it in action really opened my eyes to how meaningful this work is.” Her experience didn’t stay with just her; she watched those in her own diocese become inspired too. “Watching how the project inspired people in my diocese to get involved was incredibly impactful. Seeing the relationships that formed through this project showed me how much connection is at the heart of Alongside Hope’s mission.” She believes that as the Alongside Hope community expands, volunteers will continue to influence it. “My hope is that volunteers continue to be a big part of the organization.” And she wants that circle to widen. “I really want us to spread the word and get even more people aware of and involved with Alongside Hope.” Mugford, who is from Newfoundland and Labrador, has years of church experience and a strong sense of community. “My inspiration for beginning my volunteering journey came from many years of commitment and practice with the church as an entity and as a worship facility in space and community.” Mugford now serves as the province’s only trained facilitator for Mapping the Ground We Stand On, leading workshops across Newfoundland and Labrador. “I’ve done 8 to 10 in the last number of years. It’s been interesting.” He has also been able to share the Mapping Exercise with youth.“I brought it to the school and had a conversation with intermediate and senior high children about what it looks like to be present in what we now call Canada.” Mugford’s work is shaped by both his Indigenous identity and his Christian faith — something he shares openly. “I’m very humbled that my life experience as an Indigenous person and as a Christian has allowed me to be my authentic self in spaces… not as one or the other, but as part of the whole.” He also helps refine the workshop, so it honours the diversity of Indigenous peoples. For Mugford volunteers are the glue that holds the organization together. “Volunteers are sometimes the heart of an organization; they need to feel part of the process and very much involved.” And staying connected, he says, is what keeps that heart strong. The Rev. Greg Jenkins has been involved with Alongside Hope since 1999. For him, volunteering is simply part of living out the Gospel. “For me, it was the application of the gospel. We read the gospel story, we hear what God is calling us to do, an organization with Alongside Hope is where we put that gospel into practice.” When his bishop asked him to join the team, he didn’t hesitate. “He said, ‘You can think about it.’ I didn’t have to think about it. It was an automatic absolutely.” A key moment for Jenkins came when he met international partners at a National Gathering. “Meeting our partners personally in 2024 really brought it all home.” It helped him see how real and deep these relationships are. “We hear the word relationship tossed around a lot, but this brought home how we are part of a global community.” He describes the partnership as something that grows beyond what any one group can do alone. When we’re all brought together, something miraculous grows out of it. Jenkins hopes volunteers continue to discover the spiritual richness of this work. “There’s the kind of volunteering where you just feel called to do the work… you bring an energy with that. My hope for them is really that depth of spiritual experience… it helps us grow so much spiritually and in our sense of wholeness and peace.”
Heather, Tom, and Greg each serve Alongside Hope in different ways — through youth leadership, Indigenous reconciliation and diocesan representation. But their stories share a common thread: volunteering with Alongside Hope is about the relationship.
Here’s how to become an volunteer:
Contact our Volunteer Coordinator: Reach out to Kim Umbach, Volunteer Coordinator, for information on available roles.
Contact a Diocesan Rep: Connect with a representative in your region to find local opportunities.
Join Events: Participate in monthly Zoom prayer sessions (second Thursday of each month) or host educational workshops in your parish.
| 17_april_26th_alongside_hope_website.pdf |
Delivering hope to new moms in Lesotho’s remote areas
alongsidehope.org/news/delivering-hope-to-new-moms-in-lesothos-remote-areas/
April 4, 2026
In hard-to-reach parts Lesotho, where steep slopes and winding footpaths make every journey a test of endurance, access to healthcare can mean the difference between life and death for expectant mothers.
Moliehi Mohare, 20, knows this all too well. She began her antenatal visits at a clinic closer to her home, unaware that the small facility didn’t offer delivery services. When she learned the nearest health clinic where she could safely give birth was seven hours away, she braved the long, rocky journey through the mountains to reach the Bobete
Health Centre’s Maternal Waiting Home, supported by Partners In Health and Alongside Hope.
Delivering hope to new moms in Lesotho’s remote areas https://www.printfriendly.com/en-gb/print?
Upon arrival, Mohare was welcomed by nurses and received a baby starter pack containing a onesie, receiving blanket, hat, cloth diapers and baby shirts. “I didn’t know that Bobete Health Centre provided these things,” she said. “I had brought what I could from home, but it wasn’t enough. I’m really happy and grateful for the support I found
here.”
Alongside Hope’s World of Gifts has featured the new baby starter packs for the last three years and they are a favourite gift for donors and churches. During Advent in 2022, St. Andrew’s in Cole Harbour, N.S. raised money to buy new baby kits for the Bobete Clinic. For every $25 that was donated, a diaper was added to a display in the
Narthex to encourage donations. At the end of the campaign, the diapers were donated to a local women’s shelter and $2,000 was forwarded to Alongside Hope. You can still support the program here. (Makes a great Mother’s Day gift!).
Like many women in remote communities, Mohare began her antenatal care late, not realizing she was pregnant until six months because her periods had continued. She arrived at Bobete in time to spend the final weeks of her pregnancy at the maternal waiting home, where she and other women received three meals a day and health
education from nurses.
Lesotho continues to face one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates, an estimated 566 deaths per 100,000 live births. Given the challenges of inaccessibility to health care, many women must make a perilous choice between risking childbirth at home or enduring a dangerous journey to reach care.
Thus, Alongside Hope has stepped in with crucial support. Working with Partners In Health (PIH) Lesotho, the project has helped ensure that expectant mothers like Mohare are not left behind. Through the starter pack initiative and covering transportation costs for appointments during the first trimester, pregnant women are not only encouraged to come to Bobete, but this has also extended the reach of the health centre beyond Bobete’s usual catchment area.
Mojaba Mokoena, a registered nurse and midwife at Bobete, says the starter packs have a meaningful impact on the women she cares for. “These packs truly ease their worries,” she explains. “Many arrive anxious because they don’t have enough for their newborns, but receiving these items brings them relief and restores their sense of
dignity as they get ready to give birth.”
Alongside Hope’s support reaches beyond supplies, also covering emergency transportation for pregnant women when ambulances aren’t available, and offering beds, mattresses, blankets, and food to those staying at the maternal waiting home. For mothers who must be referred to hospitals for delivery, financial assistance is
provided to help cover their costs.
Through this support, Alongside Hope is helping women like Mohare bring life safely into the world, no matter how far or difficult the road may be.
– with files from Partners In Health Lesotho
alongsidehope.org/news/delivering-hope-to-new-moms-in-lesothos-remote-areas/
April 4, 2026
In hard-to-reach parts Lesotho, where steep slopes and winding footpaths make every journey a test of endurance, access to healthcare can mean the difference between life and death for expectant mothers.
Moliehi Mohare, 20, knows this all too well. She began her antenatal visits at a clinic closer to her home, unaware that the small facility didn’t offer delivery services. When she learned the nearest health clinic where she could safely give birth was seven hours away, she braved the long, rocky journey through the mountains to reach the Bobete
Health Centre’s Maternal Waiting Home, supported by Partners In Health and Alongside Hope.
Delivering hope to new moms in Lesotho’s remote areas https://www.printfriendly.com/en-gb/print?
Upon arrival, Mohare was welcomed by nurses and received a baby starter pack containing a onesie, receiving blanket, hat, cloth diapers and baby shirts. “I didn’t know that Bobete Health Centre provided these things,” she said. “I had brought what I could from home, but it wasn’t enough. I’m really happy and grateful for the support I found
here.”
Alongside Hope’s World of Gifts has featured the new baby starter packs for the last three years and they are a favourite gift for donors and churches. During Advent in 2022, St. Andrew’s in Cole Harbour, N.S. raised money to buy new baby kits for the Bobete Clinic. For every $25 that was donated, a diaper was added to a display in the
Narthex to encourage donations. At the end of the campaign, the diapers were donated to a local women’s shelter and $2,000 was forwarded to Alongside Hope. You can still support the program here. (Makes a great Mother’s Day gift!).
Like many women in remote communities, Mohare began her antenatal care late, not realizing she was pregnant until six months because her periods had continued. She arrived at Bobete in time to spend the final weeks of her pregnancy at the maternal waiting home, where she and other women received three meals a day and health
education from nurses.
Lesotho continues to face one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates, an estimated 566 deaths per 100,000 live births. Given the challenges of inaccessibility to health care, many women must make a perilous choice between risking childbirth at home or enduring a dangerous journey to reach care.
Thus, Alongside Hope has stepped in with crucial support. Working with Partners In Health (PIH) Lesotho, the project has helped ensure that expectant mothers like Mohare are not left behind. Through the starter pack initiative and covering transportation costs for appointments during the first trimester, pregnant women are not only encouraged to come to Bobete, but this has also extended the reach of the health centre beyond Bobete’s usual catchment area.
Mojaba Mokoena, a registered nurse and midwife at Bobete, says the starter packs have a meaningful impact on the women she cares for. “These packs truly ease their worries,” she explains. “Many arrive anxious because they don’t have enough for their newborns, but receiving these items brings them relief and restores their sense of
dignity as they get ready to give birth.”
Alongside Hope’s support reaches beyond supplies, also covering emergency transportation for pregnant women when ambulances aren’t available, and offering beds, mattresses, blankets, and food to those staying at the maternal waiting home. For mothers who must be referred to hospitals for delivery, financial assistance is
provided to help cover their costs.
Through this support, Alongside Hope is helping women like Mohare bring life safely into the world, no matter how far or difficult the road may be.
– with files from Partners In Health Lesotho
| april_19th_full_alongside_hope_reading.pdf |
Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre Visits Christ Church
December 3, 2025
“Christ Church, Dartmouth was honoured to host a visit from Tim Bernard, Executive Director, Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (MDCC) at its service on Sunday, November 23. MDCC and specifically the return of Mi'kmaw belongings from the Smithsonian, was a focus of the Lenten Alongside Hope fundraising at Christ Church. In introducing his message, he brought the voices from the MDCC Elder Advisory Council in a short video. The elders voices reminded us that the land holds Mi'kmaw dreams and knowledge for thousands of years. For too long Mi'kmaw history was treated as though it had disappeared. Mi'kmawey Debert is about reclaiming that history and truth. MDCC is about return, re-connection and renewal. MDCC will offer a permanent space for Mi’kmaw cultural stewardship, a year-round public centre on ancestral lands, healing programs, language learning, and education for all ages and a gathering space for all Mi’kmaw Chiefs and Council. It is planned that the building will be open in the fall of 2028. In addition to Tim's message, a Survivor's Flag was accepted and blessed.” (Andrew Sherin, Christ Church Alongside Hope Parish Rep)
Tim Bernard described the project as “one step closer” to reality—a place of stories, healing, and community where Mi’kmaw people can share their knowledge and connection to the land. A dynamic and meaningful centre for Mi’kmaw people and for visitors from across Nova Scotia, Canada, and the world, this will be “a coming home place.” Visitor experiences will encompass archaeological sites, outdoor trails, and immersion in Mi’kmaw worldviews and perspectives of the near and distant past.
“Alongside Hope [previously PWRDF] is supporting the three-year project “Home to Mi’kma’ki: Phases II and III” in partnership with MDCC valued at $50,000 per year ($150,000 in total). The project is being implemented from November 2024 to October 2026. The project is supporting community members associated with MDCC and staff to travel to the National Museum of the American Indian (NMIA), part of the Smithsonian Institute, to repair, restore and stabilize historic artefacts belonging to the Mi’kmaw People. These historic artefacts will be returned to Mi’kma’ki and be displayed in the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre when it opens for people to learn more about the culture and heritage of Mi’kmaw People.” (Jeanine Cudmore, Alongside Hope Program Coordinator)
December 3, 2025
“Christ Church, Dartmouth was honoured to host a visit from Tim Bernard, Executive Director, Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (MDCC) at its service on Sunday, November 23. MDCC and specifically the return of Mi'kmaw belongings from the Smithsonian, was a focus of the Lenten Alongside Hope fundraising at Christ Church. In introducing his message, he brought the voices from the MDCC Elder Advisory Council in a short video. The elders voices reminded us that the land holds Mi'kmaw dreams and knowledge for thousands of years. For too long Mi'kmaw history was treated as though it had disappeared. Mi'kmawey Debert is about reclaiming that history and truth. MDCC is about return, re-connection and renewal. MDCC will offer a permanent space for Mi’kmaw cultural stewardship, a year-round public centre on ancestral lands, healing programs, language learning, and education for all ages and a gathering space for all Mi’kmaw Chiefs and Council. It is planned that the building will be open in the fall of 2028. In addition to Tim's message, a Survivor's Flag was accepted and blessed.” (Andrew Sherin, Christ Church Alongside Hope Parish Rep)
Tim Bernard described the project as “one step closer” to reality—a place of stories, healing, and community where Mi’kmaw people can share their knowledge and connection to the land. A dynamic and meaningful centre for Mi’kmaw people and for visitors from across Nova Scotia, Canada, and the world, this will be “a coming home place.” Visitor experiences will encompass archaeological sites, outdoor trails, and immersion in Mi’kmaw worldviews and perspectives of the near and distant past.
“Alongside Hope [previously PWRDF] is supporting the three-year project “Home to Mi’kma’ki: Phases II and III” in partnership with MDCC valued at $50,000 per year ($150,000 in total). The project is being implemented from November 2024 to October 2026. The project is supporting community members associated with MDCC and staff to travel to the National Museum of the American Indian (NMIA), part of the Smithsonian Institute, to repair, restore and stabilize historic artefacts belonging to the Mi’kmaw People. These historic artefacts will be returned to Mi’kma’ki and be displayed in the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre when it opens for people to learn more about the culture and heritage of Mi’kmaw People.” (Jeanine Cudmore, Alongside Hope Program Coordinator)
| ah_april_12_reading.docx |
March 26, 2026 By Janice Biehn
In 2025, Alongside Hope continued its almost decade-long project to provide life-saving solar power to rural health clinics without reliable electricity. Coming Alongside Hope with Light raised more than $170,000 to install Solar Suitcases in Mozambique and Madagascar. The Solar Suitcase is mounted to the clinic wall and connects to a solar panel on the roof. The suitcase opens to reveal two medical grade lights, a fetal Doppler, a head lamp, phone charging outlets and more, all powered by the sun.
Since 2016, Alongside Hope has funded 79 Solar Suitcases in Mozambique’s Nampula Province, working with local partner EHALE, and supply partner We Care Solar. This third phase in 2025 raised funds to install an additional 35 Solar Suitcases in Mozambique, and 14 Solar Suitcases in Madagascar with Pivot Health.
Reliable electricity is essential for safe childbirth, nighttime emergencies and patient care. Without reliable electricity at night there can be tragic consequences. Health workers struggle in near-darkness, unable to detect life-threatening conditions, treat complications or deliver timely emergency care.
In Madagascar, many facilities in Vatovavy region operate without stable power. Pivot Health is a non-government organization that works alongside the Ministry of Health. When the 14 Solar Suitcases arrived in Madagascar, expert technician Wadson Muchemwa trained the Pivot and Ministry of Health teams in Solar Suitcase installation and maintenance. “This involved a combination of didactic and hands-on learning with a core group,” said Madeleine Beebe, Director of Development for Pivot Health. “They then went on to install the Solar Suitcases and train health staff at each centre on their upkeep and use. The core group worked with Wadson to absorb the information they needed and master the installation process.”
Now 14 maternity wards in Nosy Varika and Mananjary are fully equipped with dependable lighting and power for childbirth, nighttime emergencies and maternal and newborn care. These upgrades mark a major step toward more resilient service delivery across the region, reducing health facilities’ vulnerability to power interruptions and strengthening the safety and quality of care in remote communities.
“As any midwife knows, babies decide when they are ready to be born,” said Maothaline Antonie Raharilalaina, a midwife and head of Fanivelona Health Centre in Nosy Varika District. “Before, when a birth happened at night, we would use the flashlights on our phones for light. It is such a relief to know that we no longer have to manage nighttime deliveries in the dark.”
While the work in Madagascar has proceeded smoothly, the installation of Solar Suitcases in Mozambique has faced delays due to administrative challenges and unprecedented flooding in Nampula and neighbouring Zambezia province, which damaged roads and bridges. However, Alongside Hope and EHALE are now confident the 34 suitcases will be installed in the very near future.
Nurse Itelvina looks forward to the installation of the Solar Suitcase in her clinic.They can’t come soon enough for Itelvina, a nurse at the Zimpeto Health Centre. “Performing a delivery in the dark is one of the most difficult experiences I have faced as a nurse, and it is a constant challenge here.”
Nurse Zulmira of the Boquisso Health Centre echoes Itelvina’s anticipation. “It will be a great advantage because with this support, light will reach the areas that remain dark at night. It will improve the quality of patient care and make our work easier. It will also reduce costs for the facility. Sometimes we have to turn off other machines just to keep the maternity running.”
While nurses and midwives and patients await, EHALE and Alongside Hope are working to finalize the installation plan, as well as select people who will be trained in specific considerations for the installation of the suitcases.
The needs in Mozambique are considerable. Despite the challenges in implementation, Alongside Hope remains committed to enabling health care workers to deliver babies safely during the night. For 2026, plans are underway to install 25 more Solar Suitcases in Nampula Province as well as neighbouring Zambezia Province.
In 2025, Alongside Hope continued its almost decade-long project to provide life-saving solar power to rural health clinics without reliable electricity. Coming Alongside Hope with Light raised more than $170,000 to install Solar Suitcases in Mozambique and Madagascar. The Solar Suitcase is mounted to the clinic wall and connects to a solar panel on the roof. The suitcase opens to reveal two medical grade lights, a fetal Doppler, a head lamp, phone charging outlets and more, all powered by the sun.
Since 2016, Alongside Hope has funded 79 Solar Suitcases in Mozambique’s Nampula Province, working with local partner EHALE, and supply partner We Care Solar. This third phase in 2025 raised funds to install an additional 35 Solar Suitcases in Mozambique, and 14 Solar Suitcases in Madagascar with Pivot Health.
Reliable electricity is essential for safe childbirth, nighttime emergencies and patient care. Without reliable electricity at night there can be tragic consequences. Health workers struggle in near-darkness, unable to detect life-threatening conditions, treat complications or deliver timely emergency care.
In Madagascar, many facilities in Vatovavy region operate without stable power. Pivot Health is a non-government organization that works alongside the Ministry of Health. When the 14 Solar Suitcases arrived in Madagascar, expert technician Wadson Muchemwa trained the Pivot and Ministry of Health teams in Solar Suitcase installation and maintenance. “This involved a combination of didactic and hands-on learning with a core group,” said Madeleine Beebe, Director of Development for Pivot Health. “They then went on to install the Solar Suitcases and train health staff at each centre on their upkeep and use. The core group worked with Wadson to absorb the information they needed and master the installation process.”
Now 14 maternity wards in Nosy Varika and Mananjary are fully equipped with dependable lighting and power for childbirth, nighttime emergencies and maternal and newborn care. These upgrades mark a major step toward more resilient service delivery across the region, reducing health facilities’ vulnerability to power interruptions and strengthening the safety and quality of care in remote communities.
“As any midwife knows, babies decide when they are ready to be born,” said Maothaline Antonie Raharilalaina, a midwife and head of Fanivelona Health Centre in Nosy Varika District. “Before, when a birth happened at night, we would use the flashlights on our phones for light. It is such a relief to know that we no longer have to manage nighttime deliveries in the dark.”
While the work in Madagascar has proceeded smoothly, the installation of Solar Suitcases in Mozambique has faced delays due to administrative challenges and unprecedented flooding in Nampula and neighbouring Zambezia province, which damaged roads and bridges. However, Alongside Hope and EHALE are now confident the 34 suitcases will be installed in the very near future.
Nurse Itelvina looks forward to the installation of the Solar Suitcase in her clinic.They can’t come soon enough for Itelvina, a nurse at the Zimpeto Health Centre. “Performing a delivery in the dark is one of the most difficult experiences I have faced as a nurse, and it is a constant challenge here.”
Nurse Zulmira of the Boquisso Health Centre echoes Itelvina’s anticipation. “It will be a great advantage because with this support, light will reach the areas that remain dark at night. It will improve the quality of patient care and make our work easier. It will also reduce costs for the facility. Sometimes we have to turn off other machines just to keep the maternity running.”
While nurses and midwives and patients await, EHALE and Alongside Hope are working to finalize the installation plan, as well as select people who will be trained in specific considerations for the installation of the suitcases.
The needs in Mozambique are considerable. Despite the challenges in implementation, Alongside Hope remains committed to enabling health care workers to deliver babies safely during the night. For 2026, plans are underway to install 25 more Solar Suitcases in Nampula Province as well as neighbouring Zambezia Province.
| solar_suitcases_light_the_way_to_safer_healthcare_in_madagascar.pdf |
| voices_of_hope.pdf |
| 12_march_22nd_alongside_hope.pdf |
Mission to Seafarers: Thank you letter and Flying Angel Spring 2026 newsletters are posted on bulletin board for reading.
Mission to Seafarers Christmas Shoebox Campaign: Every Christmas we collect shoebox items and send to Mission to Seafarers in Halifax. This list is deemed as essential items the seafarers generally and personally need onboard—Hat, Scarf or neck warmer, Gloves, Socks, Wrapped hard candy (no chocolate), Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Shampoo or body wash (no larger than 375ml to fit in a shoebox), Shaving foam, Razors, Deodorant, Lip balm, Playing cards, Souvenir of Canada, Pen/pencil, Small packages of tissues, Comb, Christmas card, Bible (supplied by mission), Mementos of NS, PEI or Canada.
Their team of shoebox experts quality checks the contents of shoeboxes we received if they are already stuffed with items. Otherwise, the items placed in the box are carefully identified and limited only to the above list. The list is deemed as essential items the seafarers generally and personally need onboard.
All shoeboxes are gift-wrapped by a team of volunteers, signifying the gifts are produced with joy, love, and passion, driven by the spirit of Christmas.
(https://www.missiontoseafarershalifax.ca/)
Their team of shoebox experts quality checks the contents of shoeboxes we received if they are already stuffed with items. Otherwise, the items placed in the box are carefully identified and limited only to the above list. The list is deemed as essential items the seafarers generally and personally need onboard.
All shoeboxes are gift-wrapped by a team of volunteers, signifying the gifts are produced with joy, love, and passion, driven by the spirit of Christmas.
(https://www.missiontoseafarershalifax.ca/)
The Lions Club is happy to accept donations of used eye glasses and hearing aids. Please bring them along to any of our churches to be collected later. SMB Lions Club have the following equipment available for loan, free of charge, to members of the community: Chair Lifts, Wheelchairs, Hospital Beds, Walkers, Crutches, Canes, Bath/Shower chair accessories.(https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/stmargaretsbay/)
Help the Anglican Parish of French Village with their Community Outreach:
Pop Can Tabs: You can help purchase a Wheel Chair for a Veteran by bringing Pop Can Tabs (or tabs from other containers) tabs to Saint George’s Church and place them in the labeled container in the vestibule or reach out directly to the Parish--Parish Office -[email protected] or Website Administrator - [email protected].
Pop Can Tabs: You can help purchase a Wheel Chair for a Veteran by bringing Pop Can Tabs (or tabs from other containers) tabs to Saint George’s Church and place them in the labeled container in the vestibule or reach out directly to the Parish--Parish Office -[email protected] or Website Administrator - [email protected].