Since 2013, global leaders from more than 50 countries have come together in-person for Collaborate, a pre-Summit intensive hosted by the CAFO Global Network.
Collaborate began as a gathering for child welfare leaders to encourage one another in sharing expertise and best practices to grow vibrant, locally-led networks worldwide.
With the temporary closure of international travel in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our leadership team prayed and sought direction from the Lord on how to best serve leaders and their growing networks in this new season. We wanted to help leaders foster relationships locally, in addition to helping them connect with leaders in other networks. With this, a new vision began to take shape with Collaborate+.
As an extension of the in-person gathering, Collaborate+ brings the structure and spirit of Collaborate to global networks worldwide as they gather together for local content and discussion in conjunction with the live connection to the annual Collaborate event.
Networks hosting Collaborate+ events apply to receive matching mini-grants and participate in a six-month Cohort offering coaching, resources and information for hosting a successful event.
Ten years and a growing network of leaders
What began in 2013 with 50+ leaders attending Collaborate at CAFO Summit has now grown to more than 1,000 attendees from more than 40 networks in 48 countries during our 10th anniversary event this year.
Dozens of leaders traveled to CAFO2023 Summit in Oklahoma City, while hundreds joined virtually from their homes or offices via Zoom and hundreds more attended their locally-led Collaborate+ event.
While the numbers continue to grow, we believe the relationships that are born from and develop through these events are truly where change begins to happen. Shared experiences and learning in community fosters meaningful change with a ripple effect for improving the lives of children and families in communities worldwide.
Stories of impact through Collaborate+ events
In order to give you a glimpse of how these locally-led events have impacted our leaders, we’d like to share some of their stories below.
“During our Collaborate+ event, we got connected with the Family Life International Fellowship. They are an organization that deals with street kids. They reconcile street kids with their families or foster/adoptive families. A week after the event, we partnered with them and connected five children with their biological families.”
Abraham, Sierra Leone
“What really stood out for us was the talk on equity and inclusion given by an activist who is a person living with a disability. The topic had a great impact on us all as she was able to explain passionately about inclusion in relation to children with disabilities in our everyday activities and ensuring they have access to resources and opportunities in ways that are similar to their non-disabled peers. This will inform quality programming for vulnerable children with disabilities.”
Koko, Nigeria
“For the first day, we had a social worker speak to us on how we can mobilize the church for foster care. On the second day, a family lawyer gave us insights into the legal processes for adoptions. This was followed by a psychologist who presented how the church can fulfill the Pure Religion Project. She shared a stirring story of how she grew up in kinship care and subsequently adopted a child after years of childlessness in marriage. In the afternoon, we switched to watching the streaming sessions. One common thread that ran through our local session and the one in Oklahoma was that we had to engage in adoptions because we were adopted children of God, as shared by the pastor from Ethiopia. We had church and ministry leaders who came from outside our region (province) in attendance.”
Kingsley, Ghana
“This meeting was a turning point for many pastors, leaders and local government authorities who changed their attitudes and mindsets towards vulnerable children. A new relationship was formed with a local doctor who attended our event. He was motivated by the CAFO online conference and has now opened the door for volunteers and vulnerable children to receive free treatment in his private clinic.“
Jonathan, India
“Family care and church leaders started to respond to small needs. Church members started to raise money via small contributions so as to give vulnerable children education and good health services. More than 32 churches and member governments started thinking about how they could improve their work in the community to give their assistance.”
Gilbert, DRC
We believe Collaborate+ is a catalyst for relationships. When cultivated, these relationships can produce lasting change for vulnerable children and families worldwide.
Learn more about joining the CAFO Global Network and supporting children and families worldwide through your investment and sponsorship of Collaborate+ events.
-David Hennessey is the Director of CAFO Global Network.