Under the Sun, February 2026

The birth and life of a midwife

Alongside Hope supports Indigenous parteras in Mexico

By Jose Zárate

Doña Juana Jiménez Cruz’s calling to midwifery began in a dream. At age 25, a woman appeared to her — unknown, yet deeply familiar, as ancestral spirits often are when they visit in dreams — teaching her to care for mothers in labour and use the healing plants of the earth. Unsure at first, Cruz confided in her mother, who recognized the vision immediately. “It is the same light,” she said. “It only moves from one pair of hands to another.” Embracing that inheritance, Cruz assisted in her first birth, a relative who trusted her more than she trusted herself. She prayed for strength to be an instrument of life, and the delivery went well. From that moment, she was no longer simply Juana — she had become la partera, the midwife. Cruz began practising Indigenous midwifery in the Tzeltal community of San Juan Rómulo Calzada, Ocosingo. But word of her gift spread beyond her village to neighbouring communities of Ramón Balboa, Palma and Luis Espinoza. Women began calling for her when their time came, sometimes in the quiet hours before dawn, when the only light was a small lamp. “The road is dark,” Cruz told me, “but it always opens when the child is ready to be born.”

I met Cruz in July in Chiapas, Mexico. As part of the Tejiendo el Buen Vivir (“Weaving the Good Life”) initiative supported by Alongside Hope, the Indigenous organizations XILOTL in Mexico and ODIGUA in Guatemala are revitalizing ancestral health practices and women’s leadership within their communities. Her hands, weathered by 28 years of attending births, carry the memory of her mother and grandmothers before her. Her presence reflected a quiet authority born from service, devotion, and an unbroken bond with the sacred rhythms of life.

From the early months of pregnancy, Cruz accompanies mothers with care, offering guidance on nutrition, rest and emotional balance. As birth approaches, she remains a calm and caring presence. Her tools are simple — olive oil, cotton, alcohol, gloves, a small clock — yet her true instruments are patience, intuition and prayer. Before every birth, she invites the mother to light two candles at the church — offerings of gratitude and protection.

Some births hold a deeper mystery. When a baby is born with a caul — a thin protective membrane considered “a gift”, Cruz carefully preserves it in white cloth so the parents can bring it to the church within 40 days, blessing the newborn’s life. Each ritual honours not only the child and the mother, but also the continuity between the divine and the everyday.

Through nearly three decades of service, Cruz has carried the wisdom of her ancestors while adapting to the present. Her path, however, has not been without struggle. She endured years of domestic violence before finding the courage to reclaim her dignity and independence. Through the accompaniment of XILOTL, she participated in training that strengthened her self-esteem, leadership, and understanding of her rights.

Empowerment also took practical

form. The same steady touch that calms labouring mothers began shaping dough for the oven, the result of a bakery cooperative she established with her daughters. Supported by XILOTL through a small seed grant, the initiative improved their income and allowed her to reinvest in materials for her midwifery practice. Her leadership skills led to her election as a representative in Sembrando Vida (“Sowing Life”), a federal program promoting sustainable livelihoods and ecological stewardship.

Cruz is aware that her work must continue beyond her lifetime. “If someone wants to serve,” she says, “I will guide them, so the work of the midwives does not disappear.” Her devotion to teaching and mentoring ensures that Indigenous midwifery remains a living practice. Through her, the knowledge of grandmothers continues to flow.

The second phase of Tejiendo el Buen Vivir, led by XILOTL and ODIGUA in Guatemala, seeks to strengthen this legacy. By incorporating Indigenous midwifery into its Salud Integral (“Integral Health”) component, the program recognizes the role of parteras in maternal and neonatal care, the transmission of ancestral knowledge, and the importance of equipping women with the tools they need to lead.

Jose Zárate was the Latin American and Indigenous Program Coordinator for Alongside Hope for more than 25 years.

Prayer and gratitude are inexplicably linked, writes the great 20th century theologian Henri Nouwen.

“As our prayer deepens into a constant awareness of God’s goodness, the spirit of gratitude grow within us. Gratitude flows from the recognition that who we are and what we have are gifts to be received and shared. Gratitude releases us from the bonds of obligation and prepares us to offer ourselves freely and fully for the work of the kingdom.”

The theme of this issue of Under the Sun is gratitude, and it affects the work of Alongside Hope in many ways. We are grateful to you, our donors and supporters for your generosity. We are grateful to our partners for the work that they are doing. And our partners are grateful to all of our supporters who help them make a world of difference each day.

This cycle of giving is indeed what drives our work. In this issue you’ll read stories about Indigenous midwives in Mexico, how our partnership with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is making a difference, a monthly donor who is grateful for the legacy of giving her mother gave her, and more.

May we all remember to be thankful for all that we have been given.

A partnership that keeps on giving

On the ground in Alberta with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank

By Lois Reid

On a sunny afternoon in November, I found myself on a coach bus driving south from Calgary, along with Alongside Hope board members, staff and other volunteers in the diocese. We were travelling to visit farmers who support the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and its work to provide humanitarian aid overseas.

In 1983, a group of Mennonite farmers from Alberta had received bumper crops of wheat. At the same time, Ethiopia was

in the middle of a devastating drought and famine. The farmers loaded their grain into containers and shipped it overseas, and many were fed. This “Christian response to hunger” was the birth of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, an organization that now counts 15 Christian development and aid organizations as its members, including Alongside Hope.

The Foodgrains Bank raises millions of dollars each year from farmers, church congregations and local communities. Their funds support local organizations in 37 countries, providing emergency food, training and equipment, all for the goal of restoring sustainable livelihoods. Alongside Hope is able to pool its resources, talent and expertise with other members, bringing hope to people in need.

Our host at the farm was Abe Janzen, the Alberta Rep for the Foodgrains Bank. Our tour guide was Gerald Dijkstra, a long-time supporter of the Foodgrains Bank. We visited Rimrock Cattle company where the manager, Shiloh, gave us tour of his cow/calf operation. We learned how leading industry practices guarantee the best possible conditions for the animals. We also learned about an innovative technology — a newly approved biodigester that changes methane into natural gas — which protects our environment. Shiloh buys grain from a Foodgrains Bank farmer at a discounted price and that profit goes directly to the Foodgrains Bank. Thank you Shiloh!

Down the highway, Dan and Laura grow grain and teach city kids about

caring for farm animals — horses, ponies, pigs, goats and llamas. Laura not only teaches a love of animals, she also shares the love of God. She offers riding lessons, teaches a musical ride (to Christian songs) and provides farmhand job experience. Their gentle resolve to love the land, and love the people was so inspirational, that I wish they could give the sermon at my church next Sunday. They grow grain, sell it and a portion of the profit goes to the Foodgrains Bank. Many in their church are farmers who, for decades, have been growing acres of grain and sending the profits to the Foodgrains Bank. Thank you Dan and Laura!

Finally, we landed on the front porch of Gerald Dijkstra’s home for lunch, prepared by his wife Sheri and her friends. We to listened to Dawn Giles, who, with her husband, Murray, felt led

by God to somehow make a difference. But how? They were humble grain farmers, working hard. Ten years ago they started with 25 acres designated for the Foodgrains Bank. They grew the grain, sold it and sent the profit to the Foodgrains Bank. They asked a neighbour to join them. Then two, then five. After 10 years, they now have 12 farmers growing, selling and donating to the Foodgrains Bank, donating a total of $986,000! Thank you Gerald, Sheri, Dawn and Murray! Memories from that day are vast and varied: the mountains, the open land that goes for miles, the animals, the dedication of the farmers, their faith in God, their belief in helping others. Together, in Christ, we are making a difference.

Lois Reid is the Alongside Hope representative for the Diocese of Calgary.

Legacy of Alongside Hope drives priest’s commitment to its future

By Gillian Doucet Campbell

For the Rev. Cate Ratcliffe, Alongside Hope isn’t just a cause she supports, it’s part of her story.

Raised in Nova Scotia, she says she doesn’t really remember a time she didn’t know about Alongside Hope. “My dad is a proud Nova Scotian and would always tell the story of the organization starting in Springhill because of the mining disaster. A very good thing to come out of a terrible tragedy.”

That legacy runs deep. When Ratcliffe was a teenager, her mother served as a parish representative for Alongside Hope (then PWRDF), spreading the word about the organization and rallying support for its work. “I especially remember the boxes of Christmas cards being delivered to our house as a fundraiser,” she says. “Christmas and Alongside Hope have been connected in my mind for about as long as I can remember.”

Now Rector of the Parish of Hatchet Lake & Terence Bay located outside Halifax, Ratcliffe’s support for Alongside

Hope is ever present. Not only is she a facilitator with Alongside Hope’s “Mapping the Ground We Stand On” workshop, she’s now part of a new and growing community of monthly donors — Partners in Hope — committed to walking alongside communities around the world and close to home, with compassion, consistency and hope.

For Ratcliffe, monthly giving is both a practical and deeply meaningful way to live out her faith. “Honestly, having several postal strikes in the last year or so really opened my eyes to the value of regular giving,” she explains. “Although there were still options to give, organizations that rely on donations across the country really struggled. Giving on a regular basis helps sustain the work beyond those higher giving times.”

Alongside Hope matters to Ratcliffe because of the way it reflects the Gospel teachings in its work, treating people with dignity and respecting partners. “It lives out our mission as Christians to love and serve the people of God, and I deeply appreciate that it does so without strings

attached,” she says. “It also works with people on the ground, encouraging them instead of assuming we know best. It’s a way for us to live out our faith through action.”

From reconciliation with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island to empowering women and girls around the globe, Ratcliffe finds hope in the breadth and depth of Alongside Hope’s work.

“Alongside Hope plants seeds now for the blooms of hope in years to come,” she says. “That process means everything.”

When you become a Partner in Hope, you’re showing our partners and their communities that they’re not alone. It assures farmers, families, young people, partners, community builders, and so many more, that someone in another part of the world believes in their future.

“A monthly donation can make a world of difference,” Ratcliffe says. “Together, we can continue to change the world for the better.”

Gillian Doucet Campbell is a Halifaxbased writer and fundraiser.

Scan the QR code to become a Partner in Hope or visit alongsidehope.org/ become-a-monthlydonor.

Learn more about the benefits of becoming a Partner in Hope on page 4.

Our partners share their appreciation

14/02/2025, Utooni Development Organization partner, Alongside Hope, visited various UDO water projects in Makueni and Machakos counties. UDO prides itself on such a development partner @followers

Our Dorcas House (Survivors Empowerment Program) teams successfully completed the monitoring and supervision mission in Kaziba, assessing the impact of our three-year program with financial support from Alongside Hope

We met with the members of the Mutual Solidarity (MUSO), who are demonstrating exceptional resilience. Despite the slowdown in their work due to the war, some have been able to develop farming, fish ponds, crops and literacy centers.

Did you know? Breadfruit is one of the world’s most underutilized superfoods – yet it’s packed with incredible nutrition – rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, with a low glycemic index and high nutritional value.

That’s why the nutrition program at the CNEWC, Cap Haïtien, uses breadfruit flour to feed children healthy, energizing meals every day. Healthy food. Local crops. Stronger communities.

We are proud to partner with Trees That Feed Foundation and Alongside Hope, who –together with the Haitian Women’s Federation in St. Marc – are helping bring breadfruit back into local communities. From growing small saplings one at a time to creating and sharing nutritious breadfruit products with pride.

Together, we’re growing health, resilience, and opportunity – one sapling (and one child’s meal) at a time.

#rayjonsc #breadfruit #nutrition #haiti #sdg2 #strongcommunities

Water Brings Life to Nemakonde! Safeguarding Water Through Tradition: Bira Ceremony at Ruwaka (Madziya) TSURO Trust, with support from Alongside Hopeformerly PWRDF and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, successfully implemented the project “Water Brings Life to Nemakonde” in Chimanimani District, Ward 7, Manicaland Province.

The Nemakonde landscape, known for its beautiful valley, hills, and cultural heritage, has long faced challenges of limited access to reliable water for both domestic and agricultural use. To address this, the project constructed a gravity-fed water conveyance system drawing from the perennial Ruwaka watersource.

We have great news: The Source Center will open another cell of day care! 20 young people with disabilities will be able to visit.

A new cell will be equipped on Chervenoi’Kalina Avenue in the building of the former Zheku. This premises of the Centre were donated by the Lviv City Council, and part of the funds in the amount of 75,000 Canadian dollars for repair was allocated by the Canadian Foundation Alongside Hope (PWRDF, Toronto). The check has already passed the Honorary Consulka of Canada in Ukraine Mrs. Oksana Vynnytska.

By Abdi Ali, Supporter Relations Program Officer

A flood of support

At Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, parishioners have been working together to support women farmers in Kenya most affected by record-breaking drought. A newly formed committee led the effort, with many members who were new to Alongside Hope. Yet they’ve embraced the work wholeheartedly. Their dedication helped raise just over $5,000 to improved farming jobs for women and their families. In November, the committee organized a gathering featuring Kenyan desserts, sustainable Kenyan coffee and chai, and stories about the resilience of the women this project supports.

A fundraiser that sticks!

Soup, buns and bright futures

At St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Qualicum Beach, B.C., a simple bowl of soup filled more than bellies. Parishioners gathered for a Soup and Buns lunch, learning how a Solar Suitcase can bring safe, reliable light to midwives delivering babies in remote parts of Mozambique or Madagascar. The cause resonated deeply and by the end of the day, the community had raised $690, with additional donations coming directly to Alongside Hope the following week.

Three parishes, one purpose

The Meota parish in the Diocese of Calgary (Christ Church Millarville, St. George’s Turner Valley, and St. James Priddis) came together in a show of community spirit, united for a potluck-style fundraiser in support of Alongside Hope. Thanks to admission proceeds, door prizes, and generous donations, the event raised an impressive $2,005 to support Alongside Hope’s work with partners around the world.

While most people celebrate their birthday with cake and candles, Roslyn Macgregor marked her 79th birthday on Halloween with a crowdfunder for Alongside Hope. The former representative for the Diocese of Montreal invited friends to join her “Hallowe’en Broomstick Ride,” a playful and prayerful tradition that mixes imagination with a longing for healing in our world. “I have so much to be thankful for,” she said. “I don’t need more stuff.” She and Sister Dorothy sat together on her verandah, imagining themselves soaring through the night sky, spreading compassion, love, mercy, hope and justice over places most in need. Friends from around the world joined in prayer from their own homes. Macgregor’s Hallowe’en Broomstick Ride raised $3,200 in support of Alongside Hope’s World of Gifts “Pump It Up” project, which provides solar panels to power water pumps in Haiti. “It is fun, it is serious, and somehow it connects us,” she said. “Who knows what kind of difference it makes in us, and maybe even in the world?”

YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU!

To make your gift, scan the QR code, visit alongsidehope.org/give-today, or mail this form to the address below.

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Please enclose a personal cheque marked “Void.”

more at www.alongsidehope.org

Alongside Hope wants to hear from you! Please share your fundraising success stories to inspire others and to spread the word about the good work you have done! Email info@alongsidehope.org and tell us all about it. Many thanks to all of our donors. @alongsidehope @alongsidehope @alongsidehope @alongsidehopecan

Perogies for peace

At St. John’s Anglican Church in Tillsonburg, Ont., parishioners celebrated the church’s 125th anniversary with a Ukrainian-themed Alongside Hope lunch, complete with perogies, cabbage rolls, and bright displays of Ukrainian culture. In exchange for the festive meal, the community donated $843 to support young Ukrainians with disabilities as they develop the skills needed to live independently, especially during the challenges of war. The event brought together all ages and guests, including the Bishop of Huron, The Right Reverend Todd Townshend, who offered the grace and joined in the celebration.

Partners in Hope

Looking to make a world of difference every month? Become a monthly donor and join the Partners in Hope. Your consistent and predictable gift helps ensure our programs have the funding they need. When you become a Partner in Hope, you’ll receive:

• Spring and Fall Impact Reports that let you know how your gift is bearing fruit;

• Invitations to special webinars and updates from the field;

• A custom lapel pin — a symbol of the hope you have for the future.

Become a Partner in Hope today at alongsidehope.org/give-today.

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