Building Stronger Communities Together

A heartbreaking reality came to light in one of the communities RiverCross serves. Children as young as seven and eight years old were engaging in drug trafficking and drug peddling. Even more distressing was the fact that some of these young children were not only selling these homemade illicit drugs but also using them. They saw it as a source of income—a desperate attempt to provide for themselves because their caregivers couldn’t meet their basic needs—simple things like breakfast, lunch, and supper.

Even worse, some parents turned a blind eye. Seeing their children bring in money without asking for food seemed like a solution, not a tragedy. But beneath the surface, their silence left their children alone to walk down a dark and destructive path.

Yet even in the darkest situations, hope is never out of reach. RiverCross believes that God has already placed the right people in the right places to care for children in distress. The organization is committed to helping vulnerable children thrive by empowering their caregivers with training and resources—all to work toward a world where every child is treasured in their community and transformed by the love of Jesus.

When RiverCross mentors learned about this situation, they knew they couldn’t stand by. They began engaging with the parents, speaking with them about the dangers of allowing children to walk this path. They emphasized the importance of intervening in their children’s lives, guiding them instead of ignoring them.

The team also reached out directly to the children, inviting them to join the RiverCross Clubs—a safe space where they could explore healthier ways to live. Here, children learned critical life skills through interactive sessions, including listening to the audio drama, Bridge to Freedom, and engaging in discussions with their peers. Through games, stories, and meaningful conversations, they began to glimpse a world of hope beyond the darkness they had known.

But RiverCross didn’t act alone. The organization collaborated with parents, community healthcare workers, police, and social welfare services to build a support network that could protect and uplift these young lives as they discovered new possibilities.

Today, signs of hope are emerging. Children who once felt trapped in dangerous behaviors are learning about healthy relationships, self-regulation, and finding peace in spaces where they feel valued. Parents who once felt powerless are beginning to understand the importance of guiding, protecting, and loving their children.

A community that once seemed overwhelmed by darkness is now beginning to step into the light. This isn’t just the work of RiverCross—it is the work of God’s love, reaching out through the hearts and hands of many to transform lives.

Would you like to be part of this transformation?

You can help children in crisis discover hope and healing. Sponsor a RiverCross Club today, providing a safe space where children can learn life skills, build healthy relationships, and experience God’s love.

Sponsor a RiverCross Club: Your support covers mentorship, life-changing training, and resources for vulnerable children.

Together, we can build stronger communities and bring hope to even the darkest situations.