The Esperanza Centre provides a new and permanent home for the work of our partner ACIES. ACIES offers children in the impoverished urban neighbourhoods of Esperanza and Quiritimayo educational programs that respect and value their Indigenous heritage. Until now, ACIES did this work in space loaned to them in an abandoned market.

Construction of the centre, which began in 2017, saw some setbacks. But last October, members of Heart-Links’ board of directors were present for an informal opening and in January of this year, ACIES and their programs took full possession.

It’s a truly beautiful building that makes use of rainwater and natural sunlight and reflects the Indigenous culture of the region. The children who participate in programs there helped design the fountain and plant the herb garden. The entire neighbourhood, which is made up of rural Indigenous migrants who have come to the city in hope of a better life, see the building as a community hub. Adults, youth and children participate in programs there and contribute to its care.

For ACIES, having a permanent home for their programs has strengthened their organization and inspired more people (university students, for example) to volunteer their time and their skills to creating a more just world.

Both Heart-Links and ACIES are very grateful to OECTA for contributing to this project, which has really brightened the lives of people in this community.

When Sr. Joanne joined, the Sisters of St. Martha had just celebrated their 100th anniversary. Their accomplishments included founding, among many other hospitals they started in Canada, St. Mary’s Hospital in Inverness, Cape Breton, and the St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish. Marthas also pioneered in household management, health care, education and social work throughout the country.

“Our roots as a congregation go back to the Antigonish movement,” Sr. Joanne says. “There is a strong connection to community development. The link is in our DNA. We believe that change often comes out of grassroots movements.”

Collaboration is also a key value for the Sisters, who always make decisions as a group.

Why do the Sisters of St. Martha support Heart-Links? Sr. Joanne says, “Heart-Links speaks to us in our roots in the Antigonish movement and a commitment to the same values of solidarity and collaboration. We recognize the like-mindedness. And as we get smaller, we see the future differently and those connections become more important.”

She adds, “We truly see ourselves as sisters and brothers and want people to be who they are, to learn and for them to be teachers to us.”

We asked Sr. Joanne for her thoughts on the pandemic and how the Sisters are managing. “We are doing what we can to help each other and to stay connected in meaningful ways,” she says. “We started a weekly Together in Isolation publication that includes poems, reflections, family news and pictures.” It is one small way, she says, to reduce isolation and keep spirits high.

There are 74 Sisters currently in the Congregation. Recently, the Sisters deconstructed their Bethany Motherhouse in an environmentally focused way, and they are now living together in community in small houses and at Parkland Antigonish facility. All have been safe and healthy during the pandemic.

Sr. Joanne had some final thoughts at the end of our call: “Our interconnectedness cannot be overstated at this time,” she says. “If we really believe in collaboration and equal work, we must trust people, give them the freedom to do what is right for them.”

Thank you, Sr. Joanne, for speaking to us. Thank you, Sisters of St. Martha, for your unwavering support of Heart-Links and the people of Peru over all these years. We, too, recognize you as a like-minded partner in creating a more just world.

Have you considered donating to Heart-Links like the Sisters of St. Martha? You can make a gift right here or fill out our printable Donor Form and mail it with your cheque to Heart-Links, 201 King Street, London, ON, N6A 1C9.

This post is part of Heart-Links’ series Spotlight on Our Supporters, which introduces readers to some of the amazing people and organizations who donate to Heart-Links—and why.

On a stormy day one November, David caught the train from Toronto to Windsor. He was off to visit family near his hometown of Essex. He rarely took the train, but he felt good about his decision as the snow began to fall.

As he settled in for the trip, David struck up a conversation with the stranger next to him. Her name was Lina. They chatted about his extensive travels, her work in the financial world and her involvement with a small charity called Heart-Links. David says, “What captured my interest was her heart-felt belief in the need to assist the people in Peru and to help them achieve more financial independence. This was not a sales pitch for a donation but a deep-felt desire to give the people in this sector of Peru the means to have a better life.”

The conversation left David with a desire to learn more and to support the cause in a small way. Since this chance meeting many years ago, he and his wife, Sharon, have donated regularly to Heart-Links. David says, “If someone asks me how this involvement with Heart-Links started, I say because of a lady on the train.”

While David and Sharon have no direct connection to Peru, David has been there a couple of times on work-related travel that has taken him to over 60 countries around the world. Their desire to help others started many years ago when they realized how many people in the world are suffering from lack of adequate food, clothing and water. In our interview, David told us, “My wife and I donate to a number of charities because we want to help people find ways to sustain a reasonable level of life.”

Since Lina Bowden—the lady on the train—is a long-time Heart-Links supporter, we reached out to share David’s story with her and get her side. What did she say?

“This story reminds me just how valuable our human connection is. I feel blessed to have struck such an important human connection with David that day—and I am just as blessed to know the great leaders of the programs in Peru that Heart-Links supports. Our humanity is alive and rich when we seek to connect at a deeper level with each other. Thanks, David, for caring enough to engage in dialogue with me that day and for acting on something that spoke to your heart.”

We thank you, too, David, for supporting Heart-Links and for sharing your story with us. And, thank you, Lina, for inspiring David that day on the train.

Have you considered becoming a donor to Heart-Links like David? You can read more about our giving options right here or email info@heart-links.org for more information. Ready to make your donation? Go to our online giving page to give now.

We are proud to list the names of many of our donors on our webpage dedicated to Our Supporters—both to say THANK YOU and to recognize their ongoing commitment. If you wish to remain anonymous, that’s okay, too. We will honour your wish.

This post is part of Heart-Links’ new series Spotlight on Our Supporters, which introduces readers to some of the amazing people who donate to Heart-Links—and why.

In time they would reconnect. “Her kindness and generosity was inspiring. It influenced my whole life,” says Jennifer. While Jennifer was an undergraduate at Western University, she remembers donating what she could to Heart-Links. She later became a lawyer and was able to give more. In 2008 she became a monthly donor.

Jennifer’s understanding of the people of Peru and the importance of the work Heart-Links was doing there became even more meaningful in 2012 when she began to travel to South America with her new job. She was able to see with her own eyes what Sr. Janet had seen so many years before. Jennifer says Sr. Janet was “ahead of her time then. She believed in empowering people and supporting women and their families with very basic tools.”

Jennifer continues to give to Heart-Links so many years later because she has “a very positive feeling about Heart-Links. The volunteers are passionate. The organization focuses on the fundamentals and laying the foundation for people to build better communities. It feels like a partnership.” Jennifer also says she continues to give because of practical things. She believes the funds are used wisely and that a high proportion goes directly to the projects.

Jennifer is now mother of two, with a 16-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter. Her outlook on parenting and the world has been forever influenced by Sr. Janet. “We don’t take for granted what we have,” she says. That’s why she tells her kids to “look after yourself and your community. But your community is big. And it includes the world.”

Jennifer’s perspective on women and their capacity for effective leadership has also been shaped from her experiences with Sr. Janet.  Now that Jennifer is in the fortunate position of being able to mentor women in a variety of economic circumstances, she does so with just as much passion and strength as she witnessed in Sr. Janet. “We can support other women who are less fortunate than us,” she says. “If you support women, you support families.”

Thank you, Jennifer, for supporting Heart-Links and for sharing your story with us.

Have you considered becoming a Monthly Donor to Heart-Links like Jennifer? You can find out more about our monthly giving program right here or email info@heart-links.org for more information. Ready to start your monthly donations right now? Go to our online giving page and choose the Donate Monthly option.

We are proud to list the names of all of our Monthly Donors on our webpage dedicated to Our Supporters—to say THANK YOU and to recognize their ongoing commitment. If you wish to remain anonymous, that’s okay too. We will honour your wish.

*This is the first of Heart-Links’ new series Spotlight on Our Supporters, which will introduce readers to some of the amazing people who donate to Heart-Links—and why.