Fathers: Building a Legacy of Hope

Papi. Papa. Baba. Père. Tatay. Dad. Father. 

Whatever name we use for our fathers, there is something notable about having a dad who is present, loving, and kind. Some very special dads of some very special children chose to spend time with the Enable the Children (ETC) team at the end of May to engage and learn more about the special needs of their children.  

Breaking Stigmas 

In Sierra Leone (as in many places in the world), there are a lot of negative perceptions surrounding children living with disabilities. The ETC team is working diligently and tirelessly to be hope in hard places. They engage communities and families, educating them to be understanding of the differences, so that children living with special needs get the care and nurture they deserve to grow and develop into the adults God created them to be.  

Engaged Dads 

At the end of May, the ETC team welcomed 25 dads for a half-day session to encourage, equip, and empower them to share and learn about supporting their children who are living with disabilities. They were joined by two representatives from the inter-religious council who shared about disability and faith.   

Attendees were engaged in good discussion and left feeling encouraged. Educating those who attended, the ETC team shared with the participants the importance of supporting not only the children in their own homes, but also other children and their families within their communities.  

One of the attendees, an eighty-one-year-old foster dad, shared his story. He and his wife adopted an abandoned 2-day old child from a local hospital 17 years ago. He shared what it was like raising their child and the care and support he and his wife gave and continue to give. His story moved the participants and team alike. 

Thank You Dads! 

Dads play a vital role in their children’s lives. Every time the ETC team invests in dads, they invest in the future of children. Every dad who takes the time to learn about the unique needs of their child ignites hope in the entire community. Thank you to the ETC team and to the dads who are making a difference in the lives of their children and the children in their communities, transforming lives for generations. 

Learn more about World Hope International’s Enable the Children program.