Education is not only a fundamental right to every child, but also as a tangible pathway out of poverty.
1) Education through coffee!
In March, we helped our partners in Laos launch Atollo Coffee, a social enterprise dedicated to uplifting the poorest mountain communities in Northern Laos.
Atollo — named from the Latin ‘adollo,’ meaning ‘to lift up’ — turns every cup of coffee into a force for good, with 100% of profits reinvested in education, skills training, and opportunities for children, youth, and families.
Above is one of the first beneficiaries of the Atollo Social Enterprise project, learning to roast coffee.
Beyond generating income, the project provides rural youth with practical business experience in marketing, social media, branding, quality control, and entrepreneurship, equipping them with skills that enhance their future employment prospects.
In just a short period, we’ve helped our partners set up roasting equipment, refine coffee quality, engage the community, and lay the foundations for ongoing training, turning a simple cup of coffee into a tangible pathway out of poverty.
2) A new school in Liberia.
Recently, we helped build a new school on the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia, in one of the city’s most vulnerable communities.
New Nation Christian Academy is a lower elementary school serving a growing area of over 2,000 people, where more than 90% are unemployed or living in poverty. Over half of the children under 12 are not in school.
The school opened in September 2025 with 72 students, six teachers, a principal, a registrar, and a janitor. Its mission is simple but vital: to give children access to education who might otherwise be left behind.
Above, grade two are enjoying their new school/class.
We are proud to continue supporting this goal by sponsoring 10 children, helping them receive the education they deserve and shaping a brighter future for the community.
It costs £100 a month to sponsor all 10 children. This month, why not fund a full month of education for them? If 10 is too many, you can sponsor 1 child—or a few—at just £10 each. | Donate here.
3) A visit to Zimbabwe.
In March, we visited our long-standing partners in Zimbabwe—Crossover and The Michael Project—and saw first-hand the impact of our support.
At The Michael Project, we witnessed their extraordinary work with vulnerable children and families, including preschools, a children’s home, and adoption and foster care programmes. Their preschool on the grounds of a government prison was especially inspiring, bringing together children of inmates and staff to learn and play, fostering community, dignity, and hope.
We also visited Crossover, a CRY-supported project working with local schools to produce classroom resources, train teachers, and coach mentors.
Seeing classrooms alive with learning and engagement was a powerful reminder that the right tools and support can give every child the chance to grow, thrive, and reach their potential.
You can find out more about our partnership work with these two projects by clicking here.
4) Coming Up | CRY Education & Humanitarian Forum 2026
Every two years, we organise a forum that brings together all our partners working across Africa, along with a few special guests. The purpose of these gatherings is to provide a space where leaders in the same sector can share ideas, exchange best practices, encourage one another, and pray together.
Above: Our COO speaking with Webster and the Tanzanian team in Kenya in 2024 during our last forum; this year, Tanzania will host the event.
Under the banner of "Better Together," this movement of African leaders seeks to strengthen and shape the future of African youth. The forum is almost entirely led by native leaders, ensuring a deep cultural understanding of the communities and needs being addressed.
The next forum will take place in Arusha, in Tanzania from 11th to 15th May, bringing together leaders from 16 African nations.
We kindly ask for your prayers as we finalise logistics, visas, and travel arrangements.
We look forward to sharing more about this forum over the next few months. Watch this space!
5) Buy A Gift That Counts
We are pleased to introduce our NEW charitable gift catalogue — a simple way to give a gift that truly counts. You can now donate towards the purchase of a tangible service or item for a child in need in the world. We invite you to explore all the different gifts by visiting www.cry.org.uk/gifts.
6) The Beyond Legacy
We invite you to help shape futures that rise beyond poverty. On this linked page, you can find out how to leave a gift in your Will. By doing so, you can be assured that your legacy will shine as a lasting beacon of hope for children facing some of the most desperate circumstances on earth — long after your lifetime.
