Children’s Relief International

It was more than a benefit dinner…more than a silent auction…it was an experience in African culture!

As guests arrived at the Kingsland Center on May 22, they were greeted by the pounding of African drums and strolled past a small African market where rice, beans, bananas and mangoes filled colorful woven baskets. After seating, guests clapped and tapped their feet to the procession of Ghanan dancers.

Hosts dressed in African skirts (capalanas) served a meal of Mozambican frango (chicken), rice and peri-peri (hot sauce). Dr. Mutsuo, Anita Frederick, and Perry Marshall shared their life-changing experiences in Mozambique. Peter Ziniel from Ghana concluded the evening with his stories from Africa.

Over $26,500 was pledged over the next five years to help CRI provide food, medical supplies, microloans and education in interior villages where extreme poverty goes unchecked. A special thanks to those who gave and to the businesses who donated their goods and services for the silent auction, as well as the volunteers who made this event possible.

If you would like to contribute to the Taste of Africa Event, please go to donate page and click Give to Our Projects – Taste of Africa, Chicago Event.

If you would like to host a Taste of Africa Event please contact

Once again “thank you” to all who donated time and money to help make this event a success.

As shared by Shared by Noemia Cessito:

600! That’s how many are enrolled in our schools this year. How far we have come!

Back in 1982, I heard that said the children in Africa were dying from hunger and hopelessness. I prayed, God I want to go to Africa. I want to talk with these children about Jesus. God said, Yes!

I arrived in Mozambique two years later. It was a time of civil war and a communist regime. All the children in the country were considered the property of the government. I couldn’t get permission to do any evangelism because of opposition to the church. So I volunteered to work in the pediatric and orthopedic wards of a hospital. I saw a lot of soldiers return with wounds from battle and broken bones. But my heart remained with the children. There were so many wandering the streets. Finally we were able to start a small work in the villages of Dondo and Mafarinha.

Later Children’s Relief International began a partnership with us. We needed a classroom and they helped us build it. We needed chairs and tables and supplies and we got these too. Then a kitchen.

I began to dream bigger dreams. But I never imagined our work would become what it is today. We are going to educate a new generation of Mozambicans who know God and who live with hope and integrity.

God bless you for your part in making these 600 possible.