Indigenous peoples are among the most vibrant and interesting people on our earth. Many of them have inhabited their native regions for hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of years.
They provide us with rich links to the culture, heritage, and history of their nations. And as God’s marvelous handiwork, created in His image, they hold incredible value and help us to better understand the full nature of our loving Heavenly Father.
In our experience, indigenous peoples are among the poorest and most vulnerable groups in the world. Because many live in remote areas with limited modern advances, their lives can also include intense suffering that we might think of as a thing of the past.
Struggles of Indigenous Peoples
*Indigenous people make up 19% of the world’s extreme poor.
*Their life expectancy is up to 20 years lower than non-indigenous people.
Due to living in remote areas and underserved communities, many struggle to find water, sometimes trekking long distances each day to tote home water that is full of disease and contamination. They might also lack proper bathroom facilities to allow for good hygiene and healthy habits.
In addition, we’ve found that they often lack sufficient food and nutrients. To make matters worse, may don’t have access to (or money to cover) proper medical care. Even the smallest injury or illness can lead to death. And mothers often give birth at home without adequate attention.
At Operation Blessing, we care deeply about these amazing, but underserved, people groups. Much of our outreach around the globe benefits indigenous peoples.
From the colorful Maasai villagers in Kenya, to indigenous people groups in the jungles and mountains of Peru, to tribes throughout Asia, we provide these groups with clean water, opportunities in business and agriculture, and the medical care they desperately need. Along with that, we provide life-changing, and even life-saving, surgeries for desperate patients. In some cases, we can even offer nutrition programs, safe housing, and educational advancements.
We also embrace their unique cultures through programs that help them to turn their special skills with arts, crafts, cooking, sewing, weaving, etc… into profitable business ventures.
Operation Blessing Serves Indigenous People During Times of Disaster
Meanwhile, in times of natural disaster, these indigenous groups often suffer more severe consequences than those who live modern lifestyles. We’ve recently reached out to native Hawaiians following wildfires in Maui, pastoral nomadic groups in Africa during floods, and the Taroko tribe in dire need of aid after an earthquake in Taiwan.
Please join us in celebrating and supporting the indigenous peoples of the world, as we honor the many varied tribes, tongues, and nations that our God has put upon the earth.
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. – Revelation 7:9
Are You Ready to Change the World?
Partner with Operation Blessing. We are a charity that has a track record of helping people in ways that are responsible and effective. When you join our family, you are helping people throughout the world in a way that can continue for generations.
- Partner with us: Join the Operation Blessing family and become a monthly supporter.
- Be a digital volunteer: Follow us on social media and share our posts and articles with friends and family to get the word out about those who are in need.
- Pray: Nothing is as powerful as prayer. Pray for our efforts and people all over the world who desperately need miracles in their lives.
*Statistics from https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples