We believe that everyone should have access to nutritious food, clean water, quality education, and healthcare. Many solutions to these issues are addressed by initiatives that are designed and managed by the Church’s various administrative areas across the world. In addition, the Church also carries out selected global initiatives each year. Working with other organizations in 2022, we focused on addressing challenging issues such as chronic diseases, barriers to education, needs of displaced people, and many others. These initiatives focus on building sustainable solutions that promote self-reliance and dignity for all.
One such focus in 2022 was on child nutrition. To address this critical need, the Church provided a $32 million donation—its largest one-time contribution to a humanitarian organization—to the United Nations World Food Programme. Additionally, a $5 million donation was provided to United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to support its “No Time to Waste” global nutrition campaign. These combined contributions will help nearly two million individuals across dozens of countries. We continue to collaborate with other organizations to provide education and funding to help parents recognize the signs of malnutrition and gain access to needed healthcare.
Church members in the Philippines, Guatemala, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and Mozambique have joined forces with community health workers and civic organizations to screen children for signs of malnutrition. They have also worked with families to develop solutions for the many causes of malnutrition. These include awareness campaigns, cooking classes, access to nutrient-rich foods, and clinical services like vaccination and deworming.
In 2022, the Church completed the sixth year of its holiday initiative, Light the World. In 10 cities across the United States, community residents brightened the lives of those in need around the world by donating to the Church’s giving machines. Because the Church covered the operational expenses of the machines, charitable organizations were able to receive every penny donated toward their humanitarian efforts.
This year, the donations of Church members and friends to Light the World provided meals, clothing for children, polio vaccines, chickens to help struggling families, feminine hygiene kits, and more. People from around the world contributed, with total donations exceeding millions.
Another focus in 2022 was improving healthcare worldwide. The American Red Cross was able to acquire new machines for the collection and maintenance of blood platelets through a $5.1 million donation by the Church. Sickle cell disease research is vital to helping alleviate this condition, which disproportionately impacts community members of African descent. This project is aimed at reaching more members of the Black community by inviting them to participate as blood donors in the ongoing studies to eradicate this disease.
Learning for Life in a New Country
When Ayibu was only six years old, he and his parents were forced to flee South Sudan with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Eventually, they found refuge in Biringi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
UNICEF’s Learning for Life program, with funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was able to provide Ayibu’s teachers with training in psychological care and conflict management. This made them well prepared to help him integrate into his new school. Ayibu now says he plans to become a doctor one day so he can help others who have fled their country.