The Faith Movement: Making children’s Christmas wishes come true 

DIMAPUR — At least 83 children from underprivileged families will have their ‘Christmas wishes’ fulfilled through an initiative called ‘The Faith Movement,’ started by the Medemer Fund.

The Medemer Fund is a crowd-funded project dedicated to bringing about change and empowering children.

Anen Longchar, who started the project in 2019, translated the nomenclature as ‘a friend helping out a friend’.

In late November, the Medemer Fund made a series of posts on Instagram under ‘The Faith Movement 2.0’, where it shared Christmas wishes of children residing in the Neighbourhood Home located in Midland, Dimapur.

Among the children, Gugun, aged 7, wished for a “T-shirt, black colour”.

“…A donor can make the wishes of one of these kids come true. DM (Direct message) us if you want to be a part of the movement and make their wishes come true,” read the caption of the post.

The response was “incredibly overwhelming” with donors coming forward to fulfil the Christmas wishes of all 35 children from the Neighbourhood Home in just four hours, said Anen.

Encouraged by the response, the team decided to include two more locations, including a missionary school.

“All 83 kids now have sponsors who will be turning their Christmas wishes into reality,” said Anen, adding that the children eager to open the packages and share their joy with their friends. 

Community support

Speaking about the activities of the Medemer Fund, Anen emphasised the crucial role of community support.

“I often describe us (the team) as mere intermediaries, akin to brokers in the real estate realm. Similar to how brokers link you with homes, our team connects you with individuals in need of your assistance. Therefore, every effort we make to aid these children mirrors the collective kindness, generosity, and love of everyone involved. This encapsulates the essence of the Medemer Fund- a manifestation of friends helping friends,” she explained.

Anen recalled that ‘The Faith Movement’ originated as a ‘Christmas Handover’ in 2021, benefitting 23 children from Kohima and Dimapur through presents from generous donors.

“We identify children from underprivileged families, and with the help of donors, we make their most desired Christmas wishes come true,” she explained.

Motivated by the challenges faced, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Anen felt compelled to start something that would bring cheer during the festive season. “Many were going through tough times, so we conceived the idea of a Christmas handover- a kind gesture to bring joy and remind people of God’s love. Every Christmas season, we maintain this tradition, and while some are regular donors, others join when we share projects on social media, contributing either cash or kind,” she shared.

In 2022, the Christmas handover was renamed as ‘The Faith Movement,’ reflecting faith in God’s provision and the team continued the movement at Cradle Ridge Home, a facility for children affected or living with HIV and AIDS.

The team also regularly organises fundraising projects via social media to empower children by providing financial assistance for their education, establish libraries and address mental health, while fostering a sense of community and gratitude to God. Anyone who wishes to contribute, can do so through the team’s Instagram handle @Medemerfund.

For Anen, the Medemer Fund has helped realise her passion for helping children. This desire grew stronger, prompting her to seek guidance through prayer, and eventually decided to make it practical.

A volunteer’s experience

The impact of the Medemer Fund transcends the children.

Recounting his experience while delivering a gift to a terminally ill girl during his association with the 2021 Christmas Handover project as a volunteer, Ben Longchar said he was overwhelmed by the family’s hospitality and left speechless on witnessing the parents’ unwavering love and support for their child despite the difficulties.

“As I climbed the stairs to the main road, tears welled up, and I had to pause to let the overwhelming emotions settle. That night, what I witnessed in that house epitomised the strength of the human spirit,” he shared.

“I did not know the giver nor Karishma and her family, yet there I was, as the intermediary, with blurred eyes, experiencing an indescribable aspect of life. Participating in that act made me feel truly alive, offering a new understanding, perspective, and approach towards life,” he added.

“The gift itself was just an object, but the orchestration of compassion for the needy, the generous heart sponsoring the gift, and the willing volunteer presenting it, formed a grand melody of the human spirit echoing through the essence of living,” he continued.

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