IF I CAN stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin        

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

(Emily Dickinson)

What a delightful day it’s been! From dawn till dusk, the air has been tinged with joy and accomplishment. The sound of children’s laughter echoed through the streets, their excitement contagious as they eagerly awaited their school reports. And when those reports finally arrived, revealing their hard-earned successes, the atmosphere swelled with pride and celebration.

In a world often overshadowed by sadness and brokenness, where problems seem insurmountable, there’s a glimmer of hope that shines through. Despite facing their own hardships, people continue to bring goodness into the world. And when I reflect on this at the end of the day, it’s as if evil cannot truly prevail. Truth, beauty, and kindness emerge as beacons of light, lifting us from the depths of darkness.

So, I say to you, and to myself: it will be fine. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, let’s hold onto this belief. Let’s continue to cultivate goodness, to spread kindness, and to embrace the beauty that surrounds us. For in these acts, we find strength, resilience, and the power to overcome.

In our country, today marks another bank holiday, yet we devoted our time at HOCT with a spirit of love and grace, pouring our best efforts into every task. When passion drives our work, each moment unfolds in a symphony of beauty and joy. It’s as if work ceases to be work at all.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mugoya Swaliki for his dedication to food distribution, to Mihaela Florentina Stoica for her stunning collage work, and to all the generous souls at Help One Child Thrive, both friends and sponsors. May blessings shower upon each and every one of you abundantly.

What a beautiful day this was! We work with so much love. Come and help a child! At Help One Child Thrive there is only joy and gratitude. You get to see the good, beautiful, bright side of humanity, each day.

At the end of each day, my heart is so full, I am so happy to see the results of our work. Little children that have their food, tables that are filled in with all the necessary information for our reporting, photos ready to be posted everywhere on our social media.

We work a lot at HOCT, a lot. But somehow, I can no longer imagine my life without HOCT. This sweet sensation of exhaustion is what gives my life sense and meaning.

I am grateful for the hard work of my beloved team, Mugoya Swaliki who worked even though he felt very ill today, and Mihaela Florentina Stoica who has her busy life too, but who never forgets to help me.

How else could we celebrate May 1st at HOCT? We worked… and we worked, and we worked.

We work with love.

It’s been a beautiful month, so much has happened – even today – a full day of work, shopping, distribution, receipts, school payments and a Birthday party – all in all, life as usual at HOCT!

Rain or shine, through ups and downs, we stand together, working hard and supporting each other. Our dedication shines through, even on the toughest days.

In a world where it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, we choose to focus on the positive, doing our part to spread kindness and create change. Together, we’re making a difference, one step at a time.

Sometimes, I feel that the collections of photos that we build and post each day speak much more than I would be able to express through words.

It’s Wednesday.

We worked with love.