April Updates

For more than 40 years, ICF has partnered with a network of highly dedicated indigenous ministers who serve as our eyes and caring hands within their local communities. These ministers identify the greatest needs within their villages and then work closely with ICF to request, receive, process and distribute our lifesaving aid. Our goal has always been to support programs that sustain life (food, water, and medicine) and programs that create skills or capabilities toward self-sufficiency (education, technical schools, micro commerce, and skills training).

One of our most important programs relative to sustaining life is our de-worming program. Intestinal/parasitic worms are a huge problem in remote areas of Africa. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that nearly 1 billion people have or are at risk of contracting this condition. Further, children in rural Africa are the most susceptible. The worms thrive in the digestive system of a person – often a child, and they feed off their host. This exacerbates the crisis which already exists concerning food shortages and incidences of malnourishment. It causes children severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. It also results in children being kept from attending school.

Parasitic worms are often contracted through drinking contaminated water, eating contaminated food, and not having access to proper sanitation. These problems are very common in the areas where ICF works. While we strive to address these underlying issues, we need to treat the children that are suffering as a result.

Our local missionary partners describe the problem with parasitic worms as “taking the childhood from our children” and leaving the children malnourished and vulnerable to other illnesses.

Our food, water, and educational programs will be useless if we don’t provide this key treatment to children in need.

ICF has been providing deworming medications in our shipments of pharmaceuticals for the past several years and currently have active deworming programs in Liberia, Kenya, and Uganda. Our goal during 2020 is to treat more than 10,000 children in Uganda and with your help, we hope to ship deworming medications sufficient to treat more than 90,000 children in Liberia.

This little pill administered twice per year will protect these children from parasitic worms. Please help us to help them lead healthier and happier lives.

We are pleased to report that our new fish farm project in Togo is progressing well. They are currently installing the water circulation equipment and should be ready to fill the ponds and introduce the fish in the coming weeks. Our local minister is excited about the huge impact that this project will have upon his orphanage and the local village.

Regular giving helps us support projects like this one in Togo. We call these donors Hope Ambassadors because they help ICF to provide critical resources to those who truly face life and death needs in Africa and India. If you would consider becoming a Hope Ambassador, please visit our website at www.icfaid.org or call our office at 920-729-5721.

Please know that every gift, no matter how large or small, is an answer to our prayers and an investment in the life of a child. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your continued prayers and financial support.