It is hard to place a value on the difference Viva’s phone mentoring programme has made so far. It has not only been life-changing for families, but life-saving too – as this short testimony from the Philippines clearly illustrates.

Lockdown has created a lot of space for introspection: for looking back at our lives and seeing how often we have papered over the cracks and holes in our lives.

What it has exacerbated for many people is the sense of loneliness, depression and feelings of hopelessness.

Viva’s phone mentoring programme has sought to both create community connections, and also mentor those who are trying to figure out their lives.

Parents and children are facing stark decisions about their future and are really struggling, especially when combined with the isolation of lockdown.

Viva’s partner network in the Philippines reached out to Nelly, who used the phone mentoring programme to help her navigate and improve her family situation.

What the mentors realised, once they had built a relationship with her, was that Nelly herself was dealing with deep depression, had lost all hope and was seriously considering taking her own life.

Through their work with Nelly, the mentors helped her reconnect with a community who offered her hope, and supported her, both emotionally and physically, through her dark times.

She says the phone mentoring programme “saved her life” and she is now continuing to work through her difficulties, supported by a caring and loving community.

Her mentor said, “When she was about to take her life, she remembered our lessons as she was looking at her little children. She confessed to me that, because of our phone calls, her plan to end her life was not realised.

After hearing her story, I prayed for the restoration of her work and God answered our prayer. To God be all the glory.”