Project Life Caretakers: Meet Maria Verniz

STRATEGY

In 2018, Maria Verniz invited me into her home to document her story. I was sent to meet her to document stories of men and women serving as caretakers in a program called Project Life. All of the caretakers in Project Life are sponsored and supported by families in America.

When we returned stateside, we crafted individual profiles on each of the caretakers. We also created a web platform that showcased one story and provided a call to action to sponsor a caretaker.

RESULTS

Through the Project Life campaign, the leaders were able to not only get all of their caretakers sponsored, but they have added more caretakers into the program since them.

By sharing her story, many others like Maria were able to be sponsored, allowing the program to continue to growth and care for more families. Read more about Project Life and Maria’s story below.

STORY

PROJECT LIFE CARETAKERS

The Project Life program delivers aid to HIV-positive/AIDS widows and their families.

International partner, Noemia Cessito, explains why Project Life started:

"When awareness and the reality of HIV/AIDS first came to the Dondo Community, I saw despair in the eyes of the diagnosed. Some committed suicide. Others lived in a constant state of depression. Project Life brings hope.”

The Project Life caretakers walk miles to care for the sick and dying. They clean, cook, and bathe their patients. They provide hospital transport and fix leaky roofs. Through Bible studies and prayer, they offer encouragement to the family.


Most families in Project Life benefit from our food pantry services and Tessa Grace Nutrition Center, where they receive infant formula, vitamins, and supplements. For those without families, we provide a funeral and burial.

The sponsorships enable caretakers to serve. Each caretaker needs four sponsors to receive a salary and monthly food supply.

To learn more about the Project Life caretaker sponsorship program, visit here.

MEET MARIA VERNIZ

Maria Verniz became a caretaker in Project Life because she too knew the pain and suffering that often comes with life in deep poverty. Project Life caretakers care for the sick, dying, and hungry. Maria knew that life all too well herself.

Maria faced years of infertility. This word is taboo in Mozambican culture. Yet she carried on and became a prayer warrior. Her first husband left her because of this news. But her second husband was different. He married her, even though everyone knew she could not bear children. He took her hand in marriage and they never stopped praying for a child. One day, years later, the Lord answered their prayers. Maria bore a son. He grew up, helped around the home and they were a family.

However one day, her seven-year-old son was placed on their doorstep. He had been murdered. This crushed Maria and her husband’s hearts. This gave birth to Maria’s desire to care for the sick and dying. She had a community around her and her husband that lifted their spirits and carried them through heartache. Today, Maria does that for all her patients.

Women like Maria, give their community hope and something to live for even on the darkest of days.