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By Rev. Canon Greg Jenkins

IT'S A FAMILIAR feeling, that urge to look away.

When we hear news of war and displacement, or become aware of systemic injustices and human suffering, the weight of it can feel unbearable. It’s tempting to look away, to turn off the news, to protect ourselves from the ache of empathy. But as followers of Christ, we are called to do the opposite. Through Alongside Hope, we as Anglicans in Canada choose to turn toward the pain of the world, not in defeat, but in faith.

When we face the world’s brokenness, of which we are a part, we begin not with despair but with prayer. A real, honest, unpolished prayer: “Okay, God. This is where things are now. So, what next? How do you want to show up, through us?” In this way, acceptance becomes the fertile soil where hope takes root and begins to grow. This is not a passive acceptance but an active one; a willingness to stand in the uncomfortable reality of our situation, trusting that God is already at work, calling us to be part of that work.

Through Alongside Hope, we face what is difficult because hope cannot take root in apathy or denial. As we respond, our approach intentionally resists the colonial model of acting on others or imposing outside solutions. Instead, we commit to genuine partnership, listening first, standing alongside, and responding in ways that honour local leadership and knowledge. This work requires humility and a willingness to be uncomfortable as we confront our own assumptions and privilege. But it is in this space of shared effort and respect that true transformation takes place. Here are but a few examples:

Across the lands now known as Canada, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples have faced centuries of colonization, attempts at cultural erasure, dispossession of their lands, and ongoing systemic discrimination. Walking in solidarity with Indigenous-led programs demonstrates our commitment to meaningful reconciliation through action and partnership. Through the Indigenous Partnership Program, Alongside Hope responds to community-identified needs, aligning this work with national and international calls to action, such as the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action. Through funding and collaboration, we support Indigenous-led language revitalization initiatives for preserving and teaching traditional languages for future generations. Water justice has also become a central focus of our work. Guided by Indigenous leadership, and through the Pimatisiwin Nipi (“Living Water”) Group, we’re honoured to support tangible, community-driven initiatives. Together, we’ve secured clean running water in approximately 60–75 homes in Pikangikum First Nation and raised $150,000 toward a water truck for Kingfisher Lake First Nation, a need identified by First Nations’ leaders of Mishamikoweesh.

In Guatemala, we walk alongside Indigenous communities, partnering on sustainable development initiatives rooted in local knowledge and leadership. This three-year project, guided by community-identified priorities, focuses on reducing poverty, improving food security, and strengthening local leadership. The six Q’eqchi’ communities in Alta Verapaz province continue to live with the lasting impacts of institutional violence from the civil war that ended in 1996, facing challenges like extreme poverty, limited social infrastructure, and low literacy rates. Despite these obstacles, they remain deeply committed to building resilience. Through this project, community-led workshops share knowledge and skills in agriculture, animal husbandry, and local leadership. A particular focus is placed on empowering women’s leadership and advocacy.

In Kenya, a delegation from Alongside Hope, including Su McLeod from our diocese, recently visited our partners there. The northern region has been severely impacted by climate change and drought. Despite these challenges, hope is taking root. Community members are growing kitchen gardens with seeds provided through the program and raising chickens and goats, which offer additional sources of protein. These initiatives do more than provide nutrition; they strengthen family relationships by reducing stress-induced intimate partner violence and creating economic opportunities. A community bank has been established, enabling members to access funds for education, start businesses, and cover medical expenses and transportation to hospitals. By facing the harsh reality of climate change, these communities are cultivating resilience, security, and hope.

In the last fiscal year, PWRDF / Alongside Hope partnered with more than 70 organizations across 32 countries and was recently named to the 2024 Charity Intelligence Top 100 Charities List. In a world increasingly marked by intolerance, isolationism, and hate, this work has never been more critical. Stepping into the work of justice often means stepping into discomfort, but it is within this discomfort that we are called by God to humility, deep listening, and courageous action. Through Christ, who bore the pain of the cross, we witness glimpses of the resurrection unfolding each day, as we live into our name: Alongside Hope: Anglicans and partners working for change in Canada and around the world.

Greg Jenkins is the Diocesan Rep and Chair of Alongside Hope Huron.

Photo: Mawuyan showing her kitchen garden in Kenya. Photo by Su McLeod, Diocese of Huron Representative in the 2025 Alongside Hope Delegation to Kenya (used with permission)